Ministry in Motion (MIM) Ezine, November 24, 2006

-- The Reconstruction of A Youth Worker- “A Conversation About Youth Worship Part II,” by R. Scott Miller.

-- Book Review: "Overcoming Barriers to Growth," by Michael Fletcher, reviewed by Teena Stewart.

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I was devastated. I had gone to visit a young man who had been quite involved in the church, but for some reason had suddenly quit coming. His wife continued attending church, but when I inquired about her husband, she only responded, “You need to come visit.” And so I did.

When I brought up the subject about his absence in worship, I discovered something I did not want to learn. My flippant, smart aleck comment at the wrong time offended John.

Certainly, my offense was not as serious as King David’s, but John became my Nathan. He pointed out my sin and I was convicted.

In my role of supervising pastoral leaders and churches, I have the opportunity to observe many, many leaders – both lay and clergy. One of the most devastating flaws of a leader is a lack of self-awareness, which often results in being unaware of how one’s behavior impacts and effects other people.

Since ministry is all about relationships, a lack of awareness of how other people are responding can be fatal. A leader may believe people are opposing his or her leadership, but, in reality, they may be responding to the leader’s personality or manner of behavior that can undermine his or her ability to lead effectively. <To read more of Tom's article, click here>

Tom Hanover has served in a variety of pastoral leadership roles for over 30 years, the last four as a District Superintendent supervising the ministries of more than 100 pastors and churches in southwest Ohio. He has a BA (cum laude) from Taylor University, and MDiv and DMin degrees from United Theological Seminary in Dayton.

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Last month you heard from a number of students about why youth worship is important to them. I would like to continue to explore this topic a bit more with two other questions.

My first question to this group is: How has the participation in youth worship at your church changed you?

Drew: The youth worship is what led me to become active in the church. It is what got me interested in the church.

Beth: Because of the youth worship I have definitely become closer to God. It gives me an opportunity to worship with my peers and still have a lot of fun. Without having a youth service, I'm afraid that I would not be as involved in my church and youth group as I am now. All my best friends I met at church, and they have always been there for me because my church and youth group are my second family.

Amanda: Youth worship has allowed me to open up more to God instead of running away. It helped me to realize that praising God can be for everyone and it can be fun instead of just for older people who have been around for a long time.

Timaji: It gave me a sense of security because I felt so much more comfortable around my peers. The youth minister I had was the one that really brought me closer to God. I can't tell you how much of a difference youth worship has made in my life and my relationship with Christ. Through that community and worship, I have been able to mature so much in my faith that I don't even recognize myself anymore.

Stephanie: I have become a lot more open to others. I used to be very shy, but through Youth worship I get to be open and have fun worshiping God with my friends.

Tim: Honestly, if it wasn't for our youth worship I would not be nearly as strong of a Christian as I am today. By having a youth program like this, I am surrounded by others with the same beliefs and this really makes for an awesome atmosphere to be in.

My second question was: What kind of impact - good or bad - is there on your church’s youth program by having a youth worship service?

R. Scott Miller is the Director of Christian Education and Youth at Milford First United Methodist Church in the suburbs of Cincinnati, OH. In his 15 years of youth ministry, Scott has written and developed much of the youth programming used in his churches. Scott has a B.A. in Radio/TV and Journalism from Morehead State University and an M.A. from Asbury Theological Seminary. Scott is the author of 7 Things Christians Don't Do and What To Do Instead by Abingdon Press.

Few pastors do not worry about church growth, but it is an indicator of church health. Understanding growth barriers and making appropriate adjustments in how leadership interacts and operates is crucial if a church is to stay healthy.

The barriers differ according to where a church stands regarding their number of active members. Fletcher defines these clearly indicating that the first growth barrier occurs at around the 100/200 mark and the second at the 700/800 mark. By becoming aware of where their church stands on this growth graph, pastors can make adjustments in how they interact with key staff members and leaders in order to hurtle the barrier. Every stage requires a change in how leadership operates, not merely organizing external ministries. The focus must include readjusting internal leadership operations.

Michael Fletcher is more than qualified to explain the ins and outs of church growth. Since he began pastoring Manna Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the church has grown from 350 to 4,000 active members. Though knowledge of how to lead a congregation through growth blocks is intuitive to an elite few, for most it is a skill that many pastors innately lack, but Fletcher believes they can be taught these leadership skills. It starts with developing a clear vision and conveying it to their leadership and members. Pastors must move from being shepherds to ranchers and recruit more qualified help rather than operating as the key leader. Fletcher explains this more fully in his book.

The book includes a forward by C. Peter Wagner who gives high praise to Overcoming Barriers to Growth calling it the best guide book available today on church growth. The book is simple and straightforward so that church leaders can easily grasp its concepts and implement them.

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MIM Ezine November 24, 2006