Conversations About Viral Movements And Longevity In Next GEN Ministry
Here’s a conversation on Viral Moments and Longevity in Next GEN Ministry. Join ythology and We Are One (WAO) youth ministry in Imlay City, Michigan.
Two important conversations in student ministry revolve around, creating a viral movement. There is exciting and growing, and, the longevity of youth leaders.
Here are some principles for creating a viral movement:
VIRAL MOVEMENTS
Here are 10 principles to create greater internal movement in the church and student ministry, and, to create greater external movement in the culture for your ministry.
Internal Movements
1. Everyone in the ministry knows the vision and the mission of the ministry
Say it, say it again, and say it one more time. Can everyone else in the ministry repeat the vision of the student ministry?
2. Placement of leaders in their sweet spot creates great effectiveness for everyone
Burn out VS. Burn on is real. Matching competency creates ultimate success and saves leaders from burn out. So, when volunteers are working in their sweet spot, our leaders will burn on and not burn out.
3. A culture of unity and relationship that builds an atmosphere of acceptance and love
What is the vibe of the ministry in one word? It’s not enough to only know the names of our students. We must know the stories also.
4. A plurality of leadership In a singular vision
It takes all kinds of people to reach all kinds of people. Valuing diversity on the leadership team will reflect diversity growth in the ministry. our youth leaders must be made up of an enter, cultural, social, and generational background.
5. Student involvement
Ownership creates momentum through workforce. But this takes training and development continually. Student leaders will create viral moments when they owned the ministry and the message.
External Movements
The external movements are what happens outside in the culture around the church. This is most effective when the internal culture is healthy. Because healthy leaders build healthy youth ministries that build healthy students who build healthy families who then build healthy communities.
1. Training everyone on the team to have an outreach or community mentality
It is not us against them. Hosting and greeting principles (early and often) Will help the student ministry to be attractive and additional.
2. Common language outside of the establishment
Are we misunderstood? Choice of words, phrases, illustrations, branding, and etymology increase communication. The whole church, taking the whole gospel to the whole world requires the Saints understanding the mission of Christianity.
3. Relationship with key church, parachurch, government, and community leaders
Being a part of the story of a community is an important way to affect change in a community. Attending community meetings, resourcing community problems, and meeting community needs simply requires understanding and relationship.
4. Strategic meetings with non-stakeholders to get feedback
Sitting with people outside of the ministry and asking questions (individuals, or public panels, Q & A, informational meetings, and surveys) Will inform a youth ministry and strategies to reach the schools and families. Invest in professional coaching that can help you with this kind of research.
5. Social media presence that is consistent and relevant
Social strategy that is noticeable and unified across platforms can be a viral advertising and marketing tool. The times have changed. Involvement of gifted influencers on each social platform will be an important apologetic in spreading the message of the gospel and the mission of the church.
LONGEVITY
When you first start out in Next Gen leadership you might be considered a peer who is not much older than the teens, and, a novice by the parents of the children you lead.
But, as you age you mature. And go through very important phases and changes. Here are a few:
•A peer or friend in the first few years has a lot of similarities to the youth
•A big brother or sister at like year 5-10 grows in influence and still remains close to the youth
•A cool aunt or uncle at year 10-15 has now gained a lot of experience
•A father or mother at year 15-20 becomes a very experienced leader and has a lot of influence on the parents and the youth
•A grandfather or grandmother at year 20+ is a whole different influence on not just the youth or the family, but also, the church
These phases of personal growth, relational growth, professional growth, and spiritual growth create a cycle of maturity and greater ministry success for a Next Gen leader.
Listen in on some great conversation about viral movements and longevity.