Time to take their Temps!

See You at the Pole time is such a varying time in youth ministry. Stories come to us of 80+ students at the Pole and stories come to us of 1 student at the Pole. It's heartbreaking, but my heart could not be more proud of those few who literally stand at the Pole alone.

Converge... where 2 or 3 are gathered though, He is definitely there with them. Those students are healthy...they've got it right. Their school is their mission field, and they're prepare to take their stance on that chilly 3rd Wednesday of September year after year.

Many times as youth pastors we think are students spiritual temperatures are astronomically higher than they really are. Students pray out loud, are on our student leadership teams, and some even lead worship. THAT doesn't crack it though... what are they doing at school?

It's easier to become so consumed with our own ministry within the four walls of our youth room and our students temps in that youth room that we forget to take their temp where it really matters. I like to say that if students aren't living for God at school, they're not really living for God. It sounds harsh, but sorry...it's so true that it hurts. ALOT! Here's a virtual Hello Kitty Bandaid for you! Or Spider Man if you're more into that kind of thing =)

Everything about our weekly gatherings with our students should be about their mission field...their schools and environment around them. We get caught up on trying to get kids in that we forget what matters is sending kids OUT. Our focus should be on equipping them to be a Christian at football practice, in biology class, at lunch, and even when taking a test. Making sure they're nice to the new kids in youth group is good too... but definitely not as life changing and molding.

Take a look at your students...did they actually show up to See You at the Pole? If they did, ride that momentum like a biker in leather on a Harley. Resource them with every stinking Campus Missionary thing you can find on the world wide web. If not, examine your own approach to youth ministry.

Perspective. To do youth ministry we need to have a campus ministry perspective. As a full time youth pastor you should be on your school's campus no less than once a week. Part time youth pastors...once a month. Volunteer youth pastors you're not off the hook either...once a semester. Don't you dare give me any boloney about not being able to eat lunch at school either, haha! The last time I checked most schools are still asking for volunteers to help work concession stands at sporting events. I know the school will not turn down your money to watch a basketball game either =)

We'll come back tomorrow with more roads to get all up in your school! Lots of juicy school secrets =)

<3 Tiff