Welcome

We at national youth ministries thank God for you and your commitment to youth! Thank you for loving, lifting, leading and living students. This monthly e-publication is about you, the youth leader. Every issue aims to encourage excellence and spark ideas in you as you endeavor to “make disciplined-learners (disciples)” of youth for Jesus Christ. We want to help you win, build and send them to fulfill the Great Commission. You are our heroes in this charge. We believe in you! Pray daily. Live like Jesus. Tell the Truth. Serve others. Give generously. You’ve got Momentum! —Jay Mooney, national youth director

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From Leader to Leader

Jerry Standridge and his wife Amanda have served as the youth pastors at Christian Assembly of God since the fall of 2000. Last year Jerry’s role as the Pastor of Student Ministries was expanded to include responsibility for all of the ministries within the student ministries department. Jerry graduated from Thomas Edison State College with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science & Technology (Nuclear Engineering) in January 2002. He is currently preparing to enroll in the graduate program at Global University with a focus on Leadership. Jerry and Amanda were married on December 27, 1994. They have three wonderfully rambunctious children; Elizabeth (8), John (3) and Luke (1). Like many of you, as a volunteer youth leader, I’ve struggled with the tough task of balancing a family, a flourishing ministry and a full-time job. I’ve dealt with the temptations to try and do everything my fulltime counterparts were doing, as well as the frustration of never having enough time to do all that I wanted to. I would like to share with you five things I have discovered over the years that will help protect you from the dreaded early burnout whether you are full-time, part-time or volunteer. Some of these I learned quickly, others were learned the hard way. “Love God” – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). This is an easy one because it is the foundation for which we all exist. “Love Students” – “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12-13). This is another obviously easy concept to grasp, although I have found that it is not always easy to put this into practice when dealing with teenagers. “Find God’s vision for your ministry” – By understanding God’s vision for your ministry you will get a clear picture of where you are going and what you are to accomplish for the Lord. This gives you a foundation on which all of your planning, events and services are focused on. “It’s OK to say ‘No’” – Over the course of your ministry you will get lots of great ideas and suggestions, many of which you will come up with yourself. However, just because an idea is great doesn’t mean you have to do it. By being grounded in your vision you will be able to say “no” to ideas that are not in line with your vision. “Failure is an option” – Don’t be afraid to try new things. Contrary to popular belief, it is OK to fail as long as you are moving toward your vision. A dream that doesn’t seem impossible to most everyone else isn’t really a dream worth shooting for. Dare to dream.

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Sermon Outline

Hold the Line Satan’s War Strategy. “The enemy is wearing us out in the last days. That’s why we are so tired on Sunday and not Saturday” (Daniel 7) Daniel 7 – Paraphrase the chapter Daniel 7:21 The design of Satan is to wear out the saints in the last days by long oppression and a constant course of hardships put upon them, ruining their estates and weakening their families. Through a constant barrage of temptation Satan is trying to break the will of the church. This is similar to the Military tactics of the late 17th and 18th centuries. Video Segment – “Patriot” – Last battle scene – Start just before the march out to the battle field, all the way through to where the Continental Army retreats and the British General says, “It ends today.” Pause. Caution: just after the British Calvary starts to charge the General gets mad and says one curse word which will need to be edited or muted. Why did people line up during the battles of that era? It was a contest of the wills. Which side could break the other side’s will first? Once an army broke formation and began to run away they were easier to defeat. Why? Because it is always easier to take someone out from behind. Every day the enemy comes against you. Reinforcements arrive? Video Segment – “Patriot” – End of video segment one all the way through the second confrontation where the armies line up and the British fire one round of shots. Pause. Daniel 7:22 The church is the only army dressed and ready for battle, but are unwilling to fight. We put on the uniforms when we come to church and we march around like we are part of the battle, but when the enemy starts attacking we take off running. Then all of sudden it’s youth convention and everyone spends two days with the Lord, and they are re-energized. The reinforcements finally show up. God gives us fresh strength and we head off to the battlefield to find out that the enemy is still stronger than us. Or maybe for you it’s youth camp, and you spend a week listening to a great evangelist who challenges you and you say, “I want to do that. That’s what God is calling me to do.” Then you get home and Satan starts throwing grenades at you. Your parents get on your nerves or Satan starts reminding you of all you have done. He convinces you that you are not good enough and that he is stronger than you are. “Hold the Line” Video Segment – “Patriot” – End of video segment two all the way through where the British begin retreating and General Cornwallis says, “You dream General.” Matthew 24:6-14 Large flags were used as “scoreboards” during battles. You could always tell which side was winning a skirmish by the flag that was raised. You can probably imagine how much those flags meant to the soldiers. Seeing their flag raised must have been a tremendous encouragement to the warriors. Seeing an opponent’s flag raised, on the other hand, may have been an incentive to fight harder. There is always a turning point in any war –– one deciding factor. Exodus 17:15-16 – God is our banner “Jehovah Nissi” It’s not the man, it’s the banner. Jesus is our banner! Victory is ours through Jesus Christ! Video Segment – “Patriot” – The American flag being waved in the air. Today you stand face to face with the enemy. The battle ground is this city, your schools, your work place. We are the key. We must “hold the line.” We are the front-runners. In David’s time they didn’t go for the big or the strong –– they went for the young and the fast Let’s finish this battle!

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For Your Library

Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley. Book Summary: The Next Generation Leader has been challenging young Christians eager to learn, grow and lead in ministry or in the marketplace since its original release in 2003. Now with an all-new look, this repackaged version continues to advance the mission of the first release. Mentoring young leaders as they face the unique issues of a changing world has been pastor and bestselling author Andy Stanley’s passion for more than a decade. Here he shares material from his leadership training sessions, developed to address essential leadership qualities such as character, clarity, courage and competency. This is the perfect guide for any new leader — or for the mentor of a future leader! Quote from Book “Perhaps the two best-kept secrets of leadership are these: The less you do, the more you accomplish. The less you do, the more you enable others to accomplish. As a young leader, my biggest mistake was allowing my time to be eaten up with things outside my core competencies.” Purchase the book online: www.mpbooks.com

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Quotes for Leadership

Christianity is a battle, not a dream. -Wendell Phillips The most important of life’s battles is the one we fight daily in the silent chambers of the soul. -David O. McKay Life’s greatest tragedy is to lose God and not to miss Him. -F. W. Norwood By a Carpenter mankind was made, and only by that Carpenter can mankind be remade. -Desiderius Erasmus

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Statistics that Speak

Born again Christians account for a significant slice (40%, to be exact) of the consumer technology market. In fact, evangelical Christians are more likely than the norm to have cell phones, desktop computers, and Internet access. Americans watch an average of 45 movies every year [almost 4 per month]. In most cases, the technologies were used most widely by Mosaics (ages 18-21) and Busters (ages 22-40), followed by Boomers (ages 41 to 59), and least of all by Elders (60 or older). This was true of digital cameras and video cameras, DVD players, satellite television, computers (including desktop and mobile), and Internet access. On average, Mosaics own six digital technologies, compared with five for Busters, four among Boomers, and just three among Elders. Several technologies have caught on in such a way that each successive generation is significantly more likely than its predecessors to own or use the technology. The best example of this is the mobile music player (such as iPods): 40% of Mosaics own such a device, followed by 25% of Busters, 17% of Boomers, and just 3% of Elders. Similarly, podcasts, cell phones, GPS, and home theater systems followed the same pattern – Mosaics’ use of these technologies outpaces Busters, who in turn outdo Boomers, who leave Elders in their technological dust. “It’s not just that younger adults own more digital devices – they use and experience technology in a way that is very different from their parents. This is important because it means that each generation actually lives in a different ‘bubble’ when it comes to the rapid advancements of the digital age…For Mosaics, the tech world represents an indispensable means of identity, relationships, and self-expression. In short, technology is widening the generational gap – and that digital divide is expected to grow even deeper as the consumer audience splinters into hundreds of micro-audiences and technology tribes. Understanding these generational differences and micro-audiences and responding appropriately is important for facilitating relevant ministry to each group," says David Kinnaman, Vice President of The Barna Group and the director of the research. Stats from barna.org

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From the Field

BIBLE QUIZ Brennen DeFazio attends Crossway Church in Valencia, Pennsylvania, and he has memorized 10 books of the Bible over his eight years of quizzing. Of his time in Bible Quiz, Brennen states, “Knowing God’s Word has helped me to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus. Being involved in the ministry of Bible Quiz has helped me develop Christ-like character and to do my best in everything I am involved in. Bible Quiz has definitely helped me to develop discipline and to be more responsible.”

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Resources

Are you looking for a way to get your entire church involved in youth ministry? Here's your chance. Prayer zone partners (PZP) are for you. Adults who become PZP will adopt (a) school(s) by committing to pray for its students, faculty and administrators when they drive through a school zone, transforming it into a “Prayer Zone.” It's also for students and educators who “pray walk” in the halls or around the grounds of a school. For more information check out the website. Don't forget to get the PZP brochure to hand out at your church. The static sticker will be a constant reminder to pray every time someone drives through that school zone or opens their locker.

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