BURNOUT

Hey Fellow Youth Pastors!

This past week at our leader's meeting we talked about the topic of burnout.  Let's face it, this time of year all of us are exhausted!  We've made it through back to school, football games, multiple band practices and even the Thanksgiving Holidays.  Not to mention that Christmas is on the horizon and we are juggling Christmas parties, Christmas shopping and making travel plans for the holidays.  We haven't even touched on the normal every day stuff that you continue doing like your job, family and ministry.  Whew, I'm exhausted just typing all of those things!!!

I mention all of this because this is the time of year where a lot of leaders get overwhelmed by all of these things.  The heavy demands of their schedule will choke out their passion for serving Junior High students.  It is normal and it happens to everyone.  There is a story in 1 Kings 19:1-10 that details Elijah's struggle with this very topic (okay maybe not serving junior high students but...ministry none-the-less).  The Cliff Notes version of the story is that Elijah had been busy doing what God was telling him to do, battling the prophets of Baal, and he had been chased out of the region by Jezebel (King Ahab's wife).  She threatened his life and told him that the next day he would certainly be dead.

Not great news for Elijah right?  Elijah's response was "take my life"!  He didn't just want to quit God's service, he wanted to check out of existence!  This time of year it is really easy to feel like that.  It is easy to feel overwhelmed and like there is no other option other than withdrawal.  Now for some of you it may be the right move.  Many of you may be over committed and aren't spending enough time at home and may need to transition.  For others, you may just be overwhelmed by the stress of this time of year.  Let me encourage you to pray about it and to get some rest over the holidays.  It is amazing what a little space will do to clear your head.  If you are feeling overwhelmed, I would love to meet with you and talk to you about it.  

Let me also encourage you in saying this: you are making a difference in junior high students' lives!  Trust me I can see it.  The encouraging words during connection group, the pats on the back before and after the service, direct hits in the head with dodgeballs and the conversations that you and I are having about tough issues in their lives is making a huge difference.  

Here are some ways to help prevent burning out in ministry and your personal lives:

1. Consistent Time with God - Find a time that works for you and stick to it.  Include consistent prayer, Scripture reading, and personal evaluation.  I always do it at the beginning of my day but everybody has different energy levels.  

2. Time Off - Find time for yourself.  Even if you can't take a full day, find some time somewhere and spend it listening to God and praying to Him.  Turn off the cell phone and don't check Facebook or Twitter.  Maybe I'm just talking to myself here.

3. Fun - Schedule time to do things you like to do.  For my wife it is time alone painting or scrapbooking.  For me it means jogging, catching up on episodes of "Community", drawing or writing.  Each one of us has interests that God has given us.  Nurture those things and watch God use them.

4. Personal Growth - Schedule time in your week for personal development.  For me that means picking a book of the Bible to go through and study.  Oh yeah, and it needs to be something I'm not teaching that week!  I also schedule time to catch up on the news, read about Bible Archaeology (yawn) and listen to podcasts.  Maybe for you it is reading a book or catching up with a friend on a weekly or semi weekly basis.  If you are not in a Lifegroup maybe it means joining one.  I don't know what it is for you but God's desire for your life is that you grow!

All of these require you putting them on your schedule and doing them.  I know, I'm the world's worst and rescheduling things that "aren't important" but really are!  Please let me know if you are feeling burned out and need to talk.  You guys are really important to me and I want to see you succeed.  I'm praying for you guys and will talk to you soon.

Matt

Just a few reminders...

Hey Peeps!

First off, I wanted to say what a great job you have been doing.  Connection has been happening with students and it is a credit to the work that you've been doing on Wednesday nights, Sunday nights, events and all of the stuff in between.  Thanks for all of your hard work and sacrifice!  I know that between juggling family, work, ministry and maybe having 1/2 a second to yourself, it is not easy.  I really appreciate you guys.

I wanted to remind you guys of a few things:

1.  INCIDENTS - If an injury occurs, either at 201 or anywhere else that a Vibe function is taking place, please let me know about that injury.  Over the past few weeks I have had a few phone calls that have taken me by surprise just because I wasn't aware of a situation.  I COMPLETELY understand that injuries will happen, especially when you put a bunch of junior high students together in one place!  We just need to be on top of those things and report them when they happen.  Thanks for understanding!

2. SERVICE PROJECT - This Saturday we have a service project at Rasor Elementary from 9am-3pm.  We will paint stars on the sidewalk by the carpool lane, paint benches, rake leaves, and pick up trash from around the building.  Lunch will be provided and a suggested $5 donation for supplies.  I also need leaders to help supervise the work being done.  Please let me know asap if you are able to help.  It will be a great time to build relationships with students and serve at the same time.  Thanks!

3. STATIONS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT - James Meeker as done an excellent job of putting a map together along with places for us to stand on Wednesday.  When you come in, grab a name tag and a card with a position that is marked out for you on the map.  Once all of the cards have been taken, we will know that the building is sufficiently covered.  It is just a way for us to make sure that our students are safe and that an adult is present in case something happens...as it usually does when no one is there!

4. CONTACTING STUDENTS - We have fine tuned our connection group lists recently, which was a big part of the Connection Night that we just had, so you should have an updated list of your students.  Please be diligent in contacting them throughout the week.  The best way to do that is in mass communication.  Due to the society that we live in, it is a safer way to contact students while at the same time protecting you, the leader.  I would highly suggest that when you contact a student by phone, you make an attempt to talk to their parents beforehand.  You can say something like, "Hello my name is ___________ and I am  _________'s Connection Group Leader/Dgroup Leader at Vibe/ jr High Ministry at Chase Oaks Church.  I just wanted to introduce myself to you and say 'Hey'."   It can be that simple.  But it will put the parent's mind at ease and will make future communication with that student less awkward.  

You guys are awesome and I thank God for your leadership and help with Junior High students.   Have a great week!

New Vibe Leadership Positions

Hey Friends,

Over the past year, our numbers at Vibe have grown tremendously.  Since that time, I've been as busy as a one-armed paper hanger (my step dad's favorite phrase) trying to accommodate those needs. Many times I have stepped back from the madness and uttered the phrase that Jethro (not Bodine, Moses Father-in-law) spoke to Moses "This thing that you are doing is not good".  Because of this it has become apparent to me that we are going to need some more structure in place to handle the volume of students that set foot in our building and to care for them the way that God wants us to.

Because of that, I have asked a few leaders to step up and take on more responsibility in the ministry and help us all focus on the things that will help this ministry grow.  It is really cool to see God work in such a way that these individuals are working out of their strengths and as a result, making everything run a little more smoothly.  Here are the following volunteers and a brief description of their responsibilities:

 

James Meeker - Systems Director:

Has a knack for putting systems in place that make Wednesday nights flow more smoothly. Understands that processes are a means to minister to Junior High Students.  If the night doesn’t flow smoothly, students will get turned off to the program and as a result they will not connect to others and are further from a connection to Christ.  James will assist in making sure leaders are in place on Wednesday nights and systems are in place to handle a variety of situations.

Angie Gregory - Connection Captain: (With Connection Team - Beth Watson & Paula Harrington)

Will emphasize the value of connecting with students on a Wednesday night.  She understands that connecting with an adult team member will point students toward a connection with Jesus Christ.  Will touch base with leaders to make sure they are connecting with kids.  She will also follow up with leaders when they miss a Wednesday night. Can occasionally give leaders help with ideas of how to better connect with students.  

Curt McClellan - Dgroup Captain:

This individual “gets” what Dgroups are about.  Will emphasize strengthening personal relationships and infusing the Gospel into those connections.    He will stress the value of being transparent but also knows the value of discipleship.  He wants to see all of our dgroups excel at connecting people to God, people to people and people to need.  

Scott Brown - Creative Engineer:

An idea person for Wednesday nights and events.  Someone who has a talent for coming up with new ways to do things.  Has a flair for the creative and at times the dramatic.  Ultimately this leader knows that God is the God of creation and part of His nature is creativity.  As a result, our programming needs to reflect that.  

Again, I am very appreciative for all of you guys and for what you do on a weekly basis.  I am also appreciative of these individuals for stepping up and accepting the challenge to make Vibe a better environment for our students. Please give them your full cooperation so that we can work more efficiently as a body of Christ followers devoted to serving our Junior High students.  Take care.

Matt

Some Reminders

Hey Guys,

LAST NIGHT - Last night was another good night.  We had around 180 students there and it was the first night that we used the new system (Arena).  Check in was a lot more successful than in weeks past, which was non existent, which is not hard to beat:)  Don't forget to push students toward check in stations on Wednesday nights.  It will help us keep track of attendance and helps us find student info when we need to contact parents.

I was able to take a group of 6th grade guys last night and talk about the lesson.  They were pretty engaged in what was happening and had a lot to say.  It makes me really excited about the direction of Connection Groups.  I would love to hear from some of you about how your groups went.  

CONTACT YOUR STUDENTS  - I mentioned to you via email last week that Paula had a great idea with her group of 6th grade girls.  She contacted them outside of Wednesday night and asked them to sit with her last night.  It seemed to go really well.  I would encourage you guys to do the same.  It will give you an opportunity to contact them with a purpose.  Let them know what side of the room/location you will be at and then look for them next Wednesday.  It will help with discipline but more importantly, it will help you build a connection with your group.

PINE COVE - We also did our first "Pine Cove Giveaway" last night and gave away a certificate for "$50 Off of Pine Cove".   Which reminds me, if you would like to volunteer for the Pine Cove Retreat please let me know ASAP.  Spots usually go fast so if you are interested please reply soon.  The dates are October 23rd-25th.  Here's a little secret...leaders go free!  Also, tell your students about Pine Cove and encourage them to take a flyer home.  Registration will be online this year.  Welcome to the 21st century.  

ATTENDANCE - PLEEEEEASE remember to contact me when you will not be able to attend on Wednesdays.  It really helps to do this in advance of Wednesday so that we can contact other team members to help cover Connection groups and building coverage.

DGROUPS - Dgroups will be starting September 27th from 6-7:30pm and we are meeting at 281 (where the Live services are held).  Our books are in and will hand those out at our first meeting together.  If you would like the book beforehand, please let me know.  After the first meeting we will then meet in people's homes.  Sign ups are going well and we are compiling the list of students and will let you know, if you are a dgroup leader, who your students are by next week.

WHEW!  I think that is it for now.  Thank you for your heart for Jesus and these students.  You guys are the best and I am thankful for your presence at Vibe.  Have a great rest of the week and weekend.

Matt

Connection

Every now and then you have a Wednesday night that you can sit back and say, "This is what Junior High ministry should look like.  This is what we are all about." Last night was one of those nights for me.  Austin and the band did a phenomenal job didn't they?  Thanks Austin for leading us into an energetic yet worshipful time with God!  Who'd have thought that our students would form their own conga line?  

Connection Leaders, once again you did an amazing job of getting your students to engage in conversation and connecting with them.  Thank you for filling out your Connection Group forms with their contact info.  I will process those and get a copy to you by next week so that you can begin communicating with them via email, text or Facebook.  Once you begin to build relationships outside of a Wednesday night, I think you will be surprised by how much they will open up to you and trust you with things they are going through.  In doing that you will begin to earn the right to speak into their lives and have an incarnational ministry with them.  You guys may be the only Christ follower that they speak to all week.  The more that you follow Christ in your daily lives and trust Him with all that you have and all that you are, the more they will see Christ in you (Colossians 1:27).

A few things to remember for next week.  Show up as early as you can on Wednesday.  I know we axed the 6:15 pow wow but we did that so that you can be present for the students as they are coming in.  Students begin arriving in bulk at around 6:00pm.  The earlier you come, the earlier you can hang out with them and connect with them.  I highly encourage you guys to show up as early as you can and shoot hoops, play pool, play video games, play volleyball, etc. We can tell students that we care about them all day long but when we spend time with them and hang out with them, they know that we do.  

Don't forget, we have a Leader's meeting this coming Tuesday at 281 from 7-8pm (the day after Labor Day).  Thanks again for all of your hard work and sacrifice on Wednesday nights.  You guys are the best and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have you as volunteers.  Talk to you soon.

Matt  

THANKS!!!

Hey My Peeps!

I just wanted to say thanks for the great job that you guys did last night of showing up and welcoming our new 6th graders.  I know that your weeks are busy with back to school events and full time work so I really appreciate all that you did last night!  Feel free to send me any feedback that you had from the evening or anything that you feel like we could do to make the night flow better.  

You guys did a phenomenal job of picking up on the connection group mixer.  I had meant to send you a detailed description of what would happen during that time but my computer crashed earlier in the week which prevented me from doing pretty much anything for the first part of the week.  My message for the night was hand written.  I can't say that I've ever had a hand written message before.  

As the weeks progress we will be fine tuning the connection groups so feel free to let me know how things are going or if you prefer to do a certain age group.  Also feel free to break the groups that you are meeting in up a little bit to make them more manageable.  If you have a group of 30 and you have multiple leaders, feel free to make two groups of 15.   

Again, connection is imperative this year.  It is the only way we will be able to connect others to Christ.  There are so many students searching for God and they just don't know it yet.  It isn't until they see Christ in you that they will realize that Jesus is the answer.  I love you guys and appreciate you greatly.  

In Christ,

Matt

PS:  As a reminder, if you know of any leaders that are interested in Junior High ministry please send them my way.

Welcome!

Hey Vibe Leaders!

Thanks for coming to our blogspot!  I am working on getting material uploaded to this site so please be patient.  Thanks for your involvement in Vibe and I look forward to what God is going to do with your investment of time.  God bless.

Matt Snellings

Junior High Pastor

Chase Oaks Church