small group leaders

10 Ways to Show Your Small Group Leaders You Care

December 17, 2012 by doug 6 Comments

I know a lot of youth groups slow down a little or take the next couple of weeks off (during Christmas Break) and small group leaders get a little break. That’s a good thing! During this time, it’s great to make sure they know they’re loved and valued and essential to the health of your youth ministry. Drop them a short note or a quick text or a Merry Christmas… anything that communicates value.

As you prepare your care structure for next year, consider these 10 simple ideas to show small group leaders how important they are:

1. Call them the day of their small group. Take notes on the conversation and follow up with them the next day or week about something they said they were going to try in their small group.

2. Whenever you send something to your own small group students, make extra copies and send them to your small group leaders as examples.

3. Email them as a group and let them know about a lesson you taught or something that “worked” with your own small group.

4. Send them articles that you read about teenagers, culture, family or youth ministry in general.

5. Mail an actual note letting them know how much you appreciate them and couldn’t do ministry with out them. EVERYONE loves getting mail!

6. Ask them how you can pray for them personally… not just for their ministry to teenagers.

7. If they use the words, “If I only had…” or “I need to find a… ”… try to get it to them! How nice is it when someone else makes your job easier for you?

8. When you come across a teenager who is in a small group, ask him/her if they’d write their small group leader a note of affirmation (offer to mail it for the student).

9. Schedule a short, face-to-face meeting before or after youth group/church/etc… Get in the habit of regular “just wanted to connect and see how you’re doing” meetings. Let them know they’re not alone.

10. Send a short email reminding them that you’re available to answer any questions they might have about their small group. Do this often… ministry to teenagers can sometimes be lonely!

I realize these are very basic (and doable) ideas, but there’s a lot of power in the simple, basic ideas that communicate concern for your leaders. Leaders typically don’t leave a ministry, they leave leaders. Be the type of leader that your volunteers don’t want to leave.

Question: What else would you add to this list? Share it here.

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Filed Under: Leadership, posts, youth ministry Tagged With: care, conversation, follow-up, Leadership, shepherds, small group leaders, teenagers, volunteers

How to be a GREAT volunteer youth worker

August 27, 2012 by doug 8 Comments

After 29 years working on a church staff full-time, I have been a volunteer youth worker for the last two years and have come to better appreciate helpful, non-guilt-producing tools that help me better care for/shepherd the guys in my small group.

A friend of mine (who is a great youth worker Savannah Christian Church: Savannah, Georgia) tweeted a photo of a tool she created for her small group leader training. I loved it! I asked to get a copy and she was happy to share it with me and you (Thanks Allison Murray).

Here’s what I like about this tool:
1. Her asks are realistic for a semester.
2. She is establishing expectations that she wants me to relationally invest teenagers
3. She cares about me (as a volunteer) to help me “think thru” opportunities.

[note: the only thing that might be confusing is that "Element" is the name of their youth ministry--see #1 below]

Question: What expectations do you have of your volunteers? Are they clear/concise? If you’re a volunteer, do you feel like you know what is expected of you? What do you like/not like about this tool–how would you make it better?Share your thoughts here.

[Are you getting Doug's daily blog in your email inbox?] If not, it’s real easy–go here.

Filed Under: Communication, Leadership, posts, youth ministry Tagged With: Allison Murray, relational youth ministry, Savannah Christian Church, small group leaders, volunteer training

5 actions of a good small group leader/shepherd

October 13, 2011 by doug 6 Comments

A couple days ago I wrote about being a lousy small group leader this past summer. Yesterday was the second week that I’ve been back with my small group of 10th grade guys (after taking the summer off) and I’ve challenged myself to be a better small group leader/shepherd.

Here’s some thoughts that came from a little Bible reading from Philippians chapter 1.

Five ideas to help you become a better small group leader from Paul/Timothy:

This letter is from Paul and Timothy (Philippians 1:1)

1. Stay in touch with your people: texts, phone calls, letters, etc…

I always pray for you… (Philippians 1:4)

2. Pray for them: simple–go to the King with the names/requests of your flock.

And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again. (Philippians 1:6)

3. Know that God isn’t finished with them yet: this is good news for all of us, but when working with teenagers it’s important to remember that God is still working, crafting, molding them into the likeness of Jesus.

God knows how much live love you and long for your with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:8)

4. Love them: sure it’s a broad action, but it can be made specific when you think of ways to express love.

I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will deep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. (Philippians 1:9)

5. Have a vision for what they could become as followers of Jesus: there’s something powerful about a caring adult who will speak prophetically into a teenager’s life. One of the reasons I’m in leadership today is because someone saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself.

I know 5 actions is a lot to consume and consider…but, I also thought it might give you something to think about as you care for those God has entrusted to your care.

Question: what do you think? Is this doable as a small group leader?

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