Some people ask me, “How many infomercials do I need to sit through about your product?” Others sometimes say, “It must be like 1/3 training and 2/3rds promo for your products?”  Nope.  It is not that way at all.  Our $5 Training initiative was born out of a passion to give quality training that youth workers can afford.  We prefer that people are able to bring their entire teams and therefore, build community with one another as they stretch their thinking together.

Our seminars are completely legit.  In my mind, they are as good as any seminar you can get at any youth worker gathering in North America.  We spend hours and hours developing them and testing them.  We choose the topics based off of input and feedback from networks of youth workers throughout North America and we carefully develop the schedule to maximize deep learning in such a short period of time.

Now, with that said, there is a sense of marketing to this, of course.  We want to expose you to the many wonderful things that Barefoot is up to and one of the ways we do this is by telling our story through our training.  BUT, it isn’t an infomercial by any stretch of the imagination.  Simply said, it is a look inside of our heart and there you will find exactly what drives you, the Jesus Creed, to love God and love others.

So come to our training!  Our training season kicks off on August, 28th in the greater Chicago area.  We hope that you’ll join us.  For more information on our complete training schedule, seminar descriptions, etc., visit HERE.

The entire day of training only costs $5 per person and we’ll be covering three main topics that every youth ministry I know is always evaluating how well they are doing and seeking to find the most helpful practices in order to have as much impact as possible.  The three areas we will be covering are (1) adolescent spiritual formation for the mission of God (2) effective practices of healthy teams and (3) collaborating with parents.

Register your contact info at www.5dollartraining.com and you will be able to get more details on each of the three seminars as well as the dates, specific locations, promotional helps, etc. when the site goes live.  We’ll be doing all three seminars in each of the 12 cities this fall.

The other day we went out on the streets in Kansas City to have a little fun and shoot a promo video for our training.  The video is a little long but it made me laugh in spots…


The three seminars we will be facilitating in each city cover the themes of (1) spiritual formation for the mission of God, (2) dynamics/practices of healthy teams and (3) collaborating with parents.  More details for each of these seminars and an easy registration process will be available when our website goes public in the next few weeks.  Watch www.5dollartraining.com for more information.  I will also post here when the site is launched.

Not only is the training inexpensive, the training will actually be given to all attendees at the end of the day.  When the day is over we will give you a flash drive with all of the training on it including the presentation slides, seminar handouts (in a .doc so you can customize it for your church) and any other elements we might use that day.

If you want affordable and practical training to inspire, equip, challenge and encourage your youth ministry staff and volunteers then plan to join us in or near one of these cities: CANADA: Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg USA: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and Portland.

Is this true in your ministry context – are students ignorant when it comes to the stories in the Bible?  Are we in need of more curriculum, etc. that helps students more fully understand the story of God?  What is the cause of this reality (actual of perceived)?

Over the last few years I’ve deeply engaged in a learning model most commonly referred to as applied or experiential learning.  The applied learning model (think: David Kolb) has been around quite a while and it has taken on a variety of different forms.  Probably one of the most simplistic ways to describe applied learning is “hands-on” or “practicable” learning.  Of course, applied learning is about so much more than just hands-on experiences but at its core it is about creating moments for students to link theory and practice or thinking and doing.

I mention applied learning because I think that so much of the reason behind a statement like, ‘…students don’t know the stories of the Bible” has less to do about the students and more to do with the way youth workers attempt to educate them.  Perhaps it is better said, “Youth workers are not helping students to learn the stories of the Bible.”

In what ways are you helping students to know the stories of the Bible?  Is it the way you are choosing to educate or are the students in your ministry just not getting it?  Or are you content with how the students in your ministry are leaning into and living out the story of God?

Among other characteristics, applied learning is about:

• Ongoing assessment of the subject matter and the environment in which the matter is passed on
• Beginning with the learners in mind, rather than the educators
• Facilitating opportunities for guided reflection that leads to the ongoing ability to link ideas with practices
• Facilitating dialogical opportunities that lead to shared or communal learning
• A holistic approach that integrates the subject matter with the daily life of students
• Embracing of a variety of methods that encourage and value different types of learning styles

I’m really curious to know… Do you value applied learning?  Are you implementing applied learning methods in your youth ministry?  If so, which methods and if not, why not?  Do you think that there is any connection between students not knowing the stories of the Bible and the way we educate them? Or is it as simple as just not teaching them the most helpful subject matter?

Each of the conversations were punctuated with experiential learning environments consisting of such activities as sharing food and conversation with the homeless, collecting food for a local help pantry, participating in the Eucharist, intentional conversations in which to discuss the experiences, numerous forms of art expressions and so on.

I’ve come away from the experience feeling very inspired and encouraged.  Possibly the most inspiring element to the weekend was the relational composition I noticed between the various groups of students.
I’ve spoken to and trained many students at various gatherings throughout North America over the last decade or so and never have I more clearly witnessed a sense of true community and cooperative learning than while at St. Luke’s.

The mutual trust and respect, acceptance, care, gentle honesty, admiration for one another and the overall sense of missional cooperation that the students shared shone brilliantly through a long day of serving others all the while practicing the discipline of fasting.  This, along with a creatively designed schedule and a terrific bunch of committed students and volunteers, led to a day of sudden wonder!  [BTW- For those of you who have been recently astonished by what you have seen God do in the lives of the students within your group, I'd love to hear your story!]

This recent experience has led me to think deeply again about how I attempt to equip youth workers to create environments for transformational youth ministry.  Realizing that we can’t explore all of the elements of a transformative environment on a blog post I limit myself today to helping us think through three primary elements of the transformative environments we shape for our students.

The three elements for this conversation are time, space and matter.  Perhaps you have heard others express what they mean by these three environmental elements, as they are certainly not uncommon.  However, for training and equipping purposes, I choose to define these three elements as follows:

Time – not just minutes and hours (chronos time that is quantitative) but an undetermined period of time or an intentional pacing that cultivates a non-anxious, peace-filled, calm and reflective environment in which something unpredictable can occur (karios time that is qualitative).

Space – not a buffer zone but a sacred, ascetically intriguing and astonishing physical and or mental ‘room’ in which to contemplate and consider the wonder, beauty and creativity of God’s narrative and mission.

Matter – not solely the theme or the name/purpose of an event but the cooperating substance or content that evokes the imagination, imparts for a recreated life and inspires toward transformation.

Creating environments of transformation is some of what we are called to do as youth ministers and educators.  Along with the work of the Holy Spirit and the enduring activity of God, we seek to establish an influential set of conditions that provide a framework in which to help our students more deeply experience God.

What other factors besides time, space and matter are important for a healthy, effective and transformative environment?  How might you define the elements of time, space and matter differently than how I have defined them?  What are the ’set of conditions’ in your particular ministry context that provide for an experiential framework purposed for spiritual discovery and growth?

Hi Chris,

I know you do consulting with YS.  Can you help me out?  I’m in my first year of youth ministry and I’m wondering if you can help me know some of the important factors involved in working with teams.  I am working with a great team of volunteers who are mostly much older than me.  I have never really been on or led a team before.  I’m relational but not really good at leading my team mtgs.  Can you help me know what kinds of things I should be thinking of?

Thanks,

Richard (White Plains, NY)

Here are a few really key points of thought/discussion regarding how healty teams interact.  I hope they are helpful…

1. Care for one another — Of course, without concern for another, you are selfish.  Selfishness has no place on any team.  Effective teams are selfless and live out a genuine concern or one another.
2. Open, honest and truthful — Effective teams are open to new ideas, honest about their feelings and truthful in how they communicate those feelings.  To be an effective team you must be willing to share your ideas and feelings.
3. Trusting – Team members trust each other.  That is to say that team members think the best of one another and rely unconditionally on their cohorts for the overall success and effectiveness of the team.
4. Opportunity for consensus — Not all decisions can be led by consensus.  However, effective teams at least allow for the opportunity of consensus when making small or big decisions.
5. Commitment — The reason why teams can work together in a trusting way is because each team member put forth a unswerving commitment to the task(s) at hand.  Ineffective teams have members of those teams who partially commit or only commit when it is convenient for that particular person.
6. Peacemakers — Effective teams make sure that they are operating as peacemakers.  Occasionally there will be a conflict to manage.  Effective teams work together to find ways to make peace arise from disagreement and discord.
7. Listening — You cannot be an effective team if you are not willing to genuinely listen to one another.  This does not simply mean giving everyone a chance to talk.  It involves that for sure, however, it also involves making a conscience effort to genuinely hear from one another.
8. Expressive -Good teams become great teams when the members of those teams are able to express their feelings.  Sometimes those feelings will be things like doubt, fear, uncertainty, celebration, joy, anger, etc.  We are all human.  We are going to have feelings and great teams allow for its team members to express how they are feeling in healthy and appropriate ways.

Any of you want to contribute other helpful points of thought/discussion?

For the last couple of months I have been volunteering in the youth ministry (called rezlife)  It’s been great to be able to help out such a great team of ministers.  I’m looking forward to engaging deeper as the weeks and months go by.

Anyway, jumping head first into a new youth ministry has been tough to say the least.  After 12 years of doing youth ministry as a paid youth pastor and now being on ‘the other side’ of it all as a volunteer, I have learned a ton.  One of the things I have learned is how difficult it is to get plugged in as a volunteer!  So I crafted this little list of 13 things I’d do if I was ever back in the church as a youth pastor.

1. After three or four weeks of consistent attendance, I’d make sure I introduced them to the students at the large and small gatherings — in a talk show host kinda way. I think I’d wait the couple of weeks to minimize the revolving door.
2. I’d highlight the new volunteer in a e-newsletter, e-blast, Facebook group or any other way possible.  I’d do this in cooperation with # 1.
3. I’d introduce them to students just as if I was introducing a new student to the group.  “Hey Rob!  Come here for a sec.  Have you met Chris yet?  He’s new to the group.”
4. Give the new volunteers some sort of mechanism that the students expect might lead to conversation with the new volunteer.  Something like a survey of sorts or even a tag (a non-verbal invitation) on one of the students shirts that gives permission for the new volunteer to ask them a question or two.  A verbal one is totally cool, too.  It would be great if we could invite our students to be the one to start the conversations.
5. I think I might work to introduce them to a small group first.  Having the names of at least three or four students would really help to get to know the students in a larger setting.  Knowing a persons name is a great way to say hello at the very least.  Something like, “Your name is Rob, right?”  And go on from there…
6. It might also help to allow for there to be a mechanism aligned with the talk or message or lesson that gives permission for a new volunteer to ask a student or two what they thought about X, Y or Z from the talk.  This could be during the gathering or after it is all over.
7. I’d make sure that the newest volunteers are the ones getting the most face time with the students.  Opportunities like serving food, receiving the offering, sitting at the registration tables, passing out information, etc. can lead to some great conversation.
8. I’d work hard to do a two-three minute video interview intro that could be on the screen before worship or after or some other time.  I probably wouldn’t overkill it so if I did this, I wouldn’t do # 1 but I’d still do # 2.  Although, I think a “live” intro is always the best there are some folks who might be better represented on a video.
9. If the new volunteer had a specific talent or gift and they felt comfortable I’d have them perform their magic show, sing a song, read their poetry, paint, teach, juggle, etc. very early in the process of engaging with the group.  This might more immediately draw students who share an affinity into a conversation.  This is a hard one because a lot of youth pastors I know don’t want to give the stage up to anyone, especially a volunteer.
10. I think I would assign a veteran volunteer to show them the ropes for a few weeks in a row.  There is nothing like the feeling of standing in a room all by yourself.  Crazy awkward.  Remember how you felt as a teenager when that happened to you?  Yep.  It still feels the same.
11. Name badges on lanyards work great to identify volunteers.  Visitor lanyards can even look different to help them stand out.  BTW – this is a great security mechanism too.  Especially if you have a large group and the number of adults can make it hard to know everybody.  I think if I were a youth pastor again, I’d have the volunteers where a shirt or a lanyard.  Something.  Anything.  Without some kind of designation new volunteers just look like the weird uncle everyone has.
12. I know I’d do a better job following up with new volunteers.  An email or a phone call asking, “How can we make your time better or make you feel more comfortable?” can go a long way with a newbie.
13. I think I would be much more vocal with the students about the value of incarnational ministry than I ever was as a youth pastor before.  I would probably say something like, “All of you know that we are all about community; about relationships.  You may have an adult or two you don’t know approach you and try to engage you in a conversation.  Don’t be wigged out.  This is part of what we do.  We care about you and we want to get to know you better.”  Whatever… I am sure you can think of something better or something the better reflects your ministry context.  Either way, say something.  It’ll cast some vision (think: Hybels well-known phrase, “vision leaks”) to your already established volunteers and students.

Can you think of any more?  I am sure you can think of a ton more.  I’d love to know how some of you are engaging new volunteers.  Share your wisdom!

I should mention that much of this list above is what I know “works” — it is what our youth ministry does with new volunteers and I have appreciated it. Our context might be very different than yours so take the above 13 with a grain of salt.  Regardless, reflect on how well you are doing in this area.  If you feel like your volunteers with tell you the truth and not just what they know you want to hear ask them what their experience was like.

This year, because we are all Scot McKnight freaks here, we are discussing some of Scot’s most recent works.  We also have another host this year named Erik Leafblad.  Erik is one of our newer staff members and has become a fast friend and valued co-worker.  Mike and I are thrilled to have Erik hosting with us this year.

You can check out Prelude 2009 here: http://www.preludegathering.com/.  We know that the economy is putting a damper on many of your training budgets this year so we’ve done our best to keep the cost low and give you a positive experience.  I hope you will consider joining us!

Before you read my review you need to know that Michael and I worked together for nearly three years when Sonlife still had its operations near Chicago.  So, needless to say, I am a bit partial to the way that Michael thinks and writes.  I’ve really grown to miss Michael’s talents and gifts as he now works for the organization he founded called Echo The Story, LLC and I now work at Youthfront some 500 miles apart.

Michael is a rare mix of creative genius and operational guru.  I’ve met few people who can create wonderful ideas and at the same time find a way to get them implemented.  He’s a freak.  Michael brought many great ideas to Sonlife and helped cultivate a great environment for creativity and learning.  Much of what we did in reculturing Sonlife was done through Micheal’s leadership and organization.  Today, much of what I do through Youthfront is in some way influenced by Michael.

I read his book having known him as a person, watched him lead and having witnessed first hand the impact of what Michael refers to as “Storying”.  I confess my personal connection with Michael makes me approach the book through the lens of belief and optimism as opposed to a sense of immediate criticism — as I often find myself approaching most books.

Let’s start at the very beginning:

Title:  Great title and true to the content of the book.

Cover:  Sweet!  In my opinion, one of the best covers YS/Zondervan has done in a while.

Part One: True to the nature of the book — narrative.  I especially like Michael’s transparency.  It’s easy to see his passion for the spiritual formation of students drive his desire to create new ways of helping students encounter God.

Part Two (chapters 5-7):  In my opinion, these three chapters are probably the most helpful for the reader.  Michael does a great job helping the reader know the why’s and how’s of storying.  His attention to topics such as statistics of literacy and media, the shift from oral to digital communication and a few pages on the helpfulness of storying as opposed to reading straight from the Bible give great insight into how storying can be helpful with our students.

Part Two (chapters 8-11):  In these chapters Michael clearly explains the process of storying.  First, he helps the readers with great reminders on the divergent learning styles of our students, the means of creating learner-centered environments and using experiential learning methods with our students.  I especially like how Michael has adapted a proven method of applied learning (read: Kolb) and overlaid his process of storying onto it; giving the reader greater clarity to the implementation of the storying process.  Second, Michael helps the reader understand the opportunities for spiritual formation in our students through the articulation of a process comprised of several stages that foster within students a sense of illumination and and active engagement in the imagination. Finally, in chapters 10 & 11, Michael gives practical helps on storying essentials and facilitating dialogue that will allow for vast and immediate impact.

Conclusion and Resources:  Michael provides a plethora of resources that will assist you in your storying experience.  These resources include a DVD that I hear (I didn’t actually look at it) is a complimentary tool that will allow the reader to use the book as a training guide for their teams of youth workers.  Michael calls it a “mini-workshop”.

I think this book can be a very helpful tool for you as you help your students more deeply engage in God’s narrative and mission.  Shaped by the Story is a great tool to help you shift your teaching methods and practices without leaving the power and purpose of God’s narrative behind.

I spent the last couple days in Pittsburgh at the National Youth Workers Convention.  I had a fantastic time connecting with old and new friends.

My seminars were definitely a highlight.  I did a critical concerns course on Thursday and Friday with my friend Kelly Lashly who is a youth ministry prof over at Sioux Falls Seminary.  The participants were very engaged and the conversation was inspiring.  There are so many youth workers throughout North America doing such cool things to aid in the spiritual formation of adolescents.

My missional youth ministry seminar was good also.  I really enjoy the conversations I am having with youth workers around narrative theology, the gospel, missional living, etc.  I am hopeful that youth ministry is moving towards a very healthy future — especially when we consider how we might better connect to and contribute within the missio dei.

I also did a seminar for volunteers that was a blast!  The seminar is called, “What Every Volunteer Youth Worker Should Know.”  I snatched the idea from my friends over in England at Oasis.  The seminar and a new book/training guide I am coming out with designed for volunteer youth workers is an adaption of what a guy named Danny Brierly wrote several years ago.  I am always blown away by a room filled with a 100 or so people who have, in many cases, taken vacation time, paid their own way and our away from their family for a weekend of training.  The sacrifice of youth workers and the love they have for rising generations is amazing…

I also had the chance to consult through YSConsults with a dozen or so youth workers.  I was particularly excited to meet with two guys from Eastern PA named Dustin and Corby who are doing some really cool stuff in the area of missional youth ministry at Manheim Brethren in Christ Church.
A couple other highlights were spending some time with my good freind Doug Jones and Guy Wasko.  Doug writes over at Perigrinatio and is working on a few writing projects with me and Guy is student ministries pastor at Allegheny Center Alliance Church.  I spoke last night at Guy’s youth group and it was a ton of fun.  Guy has really done a great job crafting an environment for multi-cultural ministry and helping his students imagine a life of living in the ways of Jesus

I am headed home for a few days to see and be with my family, check in on the ministry teams at Youthfront and finish a couple of books!  If you are planning to be in Nashville at the upcoming NYWC, let me know and we’ll grab some coffee and chat.