Nikomas.com

Glad it's been helpful!

2011-02-01T15:26:41.381-06:00

Glad it's been helpful!

Great great article. This has been a great deal of...

2011-02-01T15:07:25.888-06:00

Great great article. This has been a great deal of help for my research paper for Senior English. I thank you and very much appreciate your work.

I agree. I've already settled this problem in...

2010-12-20T16:29:44.506-06:00

I agree.

I've already settled this problem in our house hold. I've already picked my girls husbands. I've even notified them that they must wait for my girls.

My goal is to keep them single till their junior y...

2010-12-13T15:20:35.466-06:00

My goal is to keep them single till their junior year of college. Kids change so much between 18 and 20 that a high school relationship has almost no chance of lasting, especially when the people involved attend different colleges. The result is heartbreak, and often failure in college.

The saying around this house: Don't date anyone unless you can see yourself married to him/her.

When considering the evangelistic approach I first...

2010-12-08T00:58:22.617-06:00

When considering the evangelistic approach I first started with the end product in mind and second considered the view point of the non-Christian. My assumptions were that:

1. Getting there: No matter how fun, exciting, or attractive the event is...its not worth going to unless it can be done with a friend. Thus, relationships supercede the actual event. Relationships are the #1 attractional factor to the event.

2. Being There: Having fun is still important too. Relationships can't carry the entire load. There has to be some kind of emotional connection to the experience if the student will enjoy the experience once they are there.

3. Coming Back: A student needs to feel like they connected if they will ever come back.

That's why all of our small groups are now doing 2 to 4 attractional style events per year with the purpose of inviting a friend to it. It's not just about hanging out with your group, it's about inviting. These events are typically a lot safer than a big event (it's no different than other parties they attend on the weekend) and best of all, since the group is smaller, they can immediately connect to people they don't know and be involved in the discipleship process (small groups). It not only plants the seed but also gives the student a place to grow the seed.

If you don't mind me asking, what do you see as the attractional element that non-christian teens are looking for that is missing?

What I love about HCC's new strategy is that a...

2010-12-08T00:39:42.643-06:00

What I love about HCC's new strategy is that all people, no matter the age or ministry, are striving to reflect the faith/deeds of Micah 6:8. Now how we get there is obviously different, depending on the target. But I don't think you need a different outcome for each age level, you just need a different means to get there.

Part of what I love about the strategy is that it has a cognitive and faith development strategy implemented. It applies a mix of a neo-piagetian and Vygotskian ZPD approach. I like this approach cause it not only recognizes the students current ability, but also stretches them to take the next steps in faith development rather than just playing off of their current level.

That's why the evangelistic push is in all 3 atmospheres. Specifically, Walk Humbly gives students the opportunity to invite them to an attractional, fun, safe event that their group hosts (similar to the .deW strategy but using parties, trips, etc) and the Love Mercy gives students the opportunity to take it to the next level by not just inviting them to an event, but involving them in a community.

That's probably what I really like about this strategy the most is that evangelism isn't just confined to one program, but instead ingrained into every aspect of the discipleship process. It's a constant give/receive process, instead of just one sided.

(love the conversation!)

Again I am not sure that you are looking at the st...

2010-12-07T22:48:56.341-06:00

Again I am not sure that you are looking at the student who does not attend church or who is not looking for church in general. This looks good from a churched student perspective. The entry points don't appear to have much of an attractional element to them.

"The only problem was, our strategy was diffe...

2010-12-07T22:44:09.721-06:00

"The only problem was, our strategy was different from the children's ministry and the adult ministry"

In this initial post the thing that I struggle with is that the rest of the church is not working with adolescents. I would encourage you to think through the faith development process alongside the cognitive development process and I think we need to provide a place for us to help them evangelize their friends. I do not believe students can do evangelism on their own like adults can.

The pendulum has swung the opposite of the direction it was headed with most of our YM were in a youth ministry. We have forgotten that there is a need to provide a place for students to bring their friends and for them to feel safe and not preached at.

In search for results have we forgotten the need to just plant seeds. This is what I loved about .deW (even though I know it was a program I developed)

Chad - That's true. Some can't see it thro...

2010-12-04T23:13:04.010-06:00

Chad - That's true. Some can't see it through to success, but it's gotta become more than an idea, don't you think? A creator, I would assume, has to have the ability to get their ball rolling beyond just the concept.

You're right though, like the insight!

Those are great points. On some of them though I t...

2010-12-04T22:40:26.334-06:00

Those are great points. On some of them though I think about how there are people who are sustainers and creators. Creators can see a need and articulate a response nobody else in the room can. They can't sustain it worth a flip though. They need people with them to create the system that comes behind the idea. That's the bigger problem if you're a creator. You have to have the self discipline to not commit to something you can't sustain or don't have support for.

The again some people like to jump on bandwagons.

Really good point. It's kind of hypocritical t...

2010-12-04T22:08:12.784-06:00

Really good point. It's kind of hypocritical to only go half-way (or barely go at all) towards a change. It's almost better to do nothing at all than to do something for self-image.

The "change your facebook profile pic to a ca...

2010-12-04T22:03:10.915-06:00

The "change your facebook profile pic to a cartoon character to stand against child abuse" craze sparked this issue. I just don't get how that makes a difference for victims of child abuse.

Youth groups have done some grave damage to young ...

2010-12-02T16:00:46.720-06:00

Youth groups have done some grave damage to young men and women in the church. But that's when the group becomes about a show and popularity rather than community and faith. Granted, it's tough to compete with Jersey Shore and concerts, but there's a way to be up to date and biblical.

Had I not grown up in a youth group, who knows if I would've been in ministry. Why? Because it was the life of the pastor that intrigued me and opened my own mind and heart up to questioning what God would want with me. There may be some instances where a youth group is counterproductive, but on the whole, I don't think this is true.

Love it.

2010-11-23T11:06:26.922-06:00

Love it.

I am SO excited that we will be serving the Senior...

2010-11-22T10:15:12.698-06:00

I am SO excited that we will be serving the Senior Village. I personally love old people and have a tender heart for widows. I used to deliver meals on wheels to people in the senior village, but had to stop this year due to school conflicts. So I'm pumped that I get to go back and build relationships there :)

I agree with you in principle. We are moving to a...

2010-11-19T14:15:41.660-06:00

I agree with you in principle. We are moving to a model where our small groups are "the thing" while retaining our large group gathering and monthly "block party" events, but with less emphasis.

However, I don't think that there's a dichotomy between attractional ministry and effective ministry. You noted yesterday that "If you win them with flash and awe, you win them to flash and awe." This is true, but it's possible to create an event that is attractive and even flashy, but is also focused on getting students connected immediately, so that it's the flash that attracts, but the relationships that win.

Again, I'd say I'm moving in the same direction as you are, but I'm not sure that all attractional ministry has to have the "funnel" shape you've laid out in your posts. Not all attractional ministry lacks substance. In addition, different students need different "on ramps" and for some, it may be a big event, and for others, it may be an invitation to a friend's small group.

You may have already seen this, but a good defense of attractional youth ministry can be found at http://www.morethandodgeball.com/youth-ministry/guest-post-not-ashamed-of-attracting-students.html.

Thanks for the great thoughts and for being courageous enough to challenge paradigms.

-Benjer

This is really excellent and explains perfectly an...

2010-11-19T10:16:51.557-06:00

This is really excellent and explains perfectly an approach that is so much more biblical than the "if you hype it, they will come" approach. Thanks for sharing this -- I'm linking this on our blog so our readers can benefit from this, too. Your description and graphic would, I think, may it easy for youth pastors to share this idea with their churches and fellow ministry leaders. Thanks, Brian

I agree. It's not what one typically thinks of...

2010-11-18T15:40:51.121-06:00

I agree. It's not what one typically thinks of when they think of youth ministry, but is just as valid and important! This is the exact point that I think we need to teach adult leaders (and ourselves). Interacting with teens outside of small group time is just as much ministry as teaching them during group time.

Since there have not been any comments let me see ...

2010-11-18T14:20:02.433-06:00

Since there have not been any comments let me see if I can get things started. I believe I would argue that it is ministry. Unless, ministry is a program. When we are spending time with people and our hearts are driven to forward the message of the gospel there are few thongs that we do that are not ministry.

Just think of the times you hve played golf with a student or other youth ministers during those times we call work hours. When we turn in that receipt for reimbursement it becomes ministry. I believe you are doing the same things you would on the golf course. Except there are no expenses. You are spending time in fellowship and conversation with people that you hope to help move forward in their relationship with Jesus.

Just to get some conversation going!

For a second I said "Wait a minute, nikomas a...

2010-11-17T11:15:12.984-06:00

For a second I said "Wait a minute, nikomas and rachel are adopting manny"
if only that was possible.

I like the idea of bringing the small groups toget...

2010-11-08T10:11:05.224-06:00

I like the idea of bringing the small groups together for a big event on occasion. I haven't thought of that. Though we recently did that to welcome our new High School guy and I really liked the atmosphere. Students who I wouldn't typically see on Wednesday (because they're not in my small group) were introducing me to people in their group. It had a big event feel with a small group, relational undertone. We may have to consider that a little more.

How we are dealing with it is coming tomorrow :)

...and you definitely need to start blogging again. It's hard to find good Jr. high ministry blogs these days!

Good stuff Nikomas. I've definitely had the s...

2010-11-08T09:30:23.814-06:00

Good stuff Nikomas. I've definitely had the same experience (though I don't think I've ever explained it so clearly).

A few years back we adjusted our strategy based on some of these same thoughts. Now we still have some big events but they're almost exclusively (other than one fall overnight "lock-out" style event) connected to our small group program. Once every month or two we cancel our typical SG programming and have some sort of big event (dodgeball tournament, pumpkinpalooza, christmas party, etc) in it's place. We try to structure the events in such a way that small groups can experience them together. We then encourage kids to invite their friends (as usual for a big event) but when they come they immediately connect with a SG. Same is true for new kids who may show up on their own. Rather than having to try to connect to others in a giant group they are put with a small group and have a much smaller number to meet and they have an adult or two caring for them right off the bat.

It's worked well for us thus far. Definitely interested to hear how you guys are addressing the issue. Coming in part 2?

Good to hear from you again Nikomas. Maybe I'll get back to blogging again soon...but who knows. I like the thought but I've got to carve out the time again.

Thanks for sharing!

hi, great article. I was wondering where did you g...

2010-11-02T19:33:08.472-05:00

hi, great article. I was wondering where did you got all the background info. I am writing an essay on youth ministries for a college class and a need several sources. It would really help if you could share that with me.

Thank you

We haven't had trick-or-treaters in at least 7...

2010-11-02T13:27:07.568-05:00

We haven't had trick-or-treaters in at least 7 years. I think our house is too scary looking. This year we got new neighbors who have young daughter, so we brought the candy to them instead :)

This article was most helpful when it came to need...

2010-09-16T16:38:00.974-05:00

This article was most helpful when it came to needing historical references to the history of youth ministry. Which was the center of my Senior project for college. It was my main source. Thank you!