"I've finished 'Raising the Bar' and wanted to write to say thank you.
I've made a series of changes, found someone to lead with, and have really felt the change in the levels of trust with the young people across the last number of sessions.
Tonight two of my youth said it was the best session we've ever had. I don't think it's a coincidence that it's coming after having finished you book. I love the encouragement to "Stay long enough to get good at it" at the end - I am now "no longer floundering"... let's see if I can stay long enough to get good!
Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience and for staying the course in youth ministry!"
Rachel Mander
Volunteer Youth Leader, St Polycarp's, Hillsborough, Sheffield
PAID WORKER SURVEY
I often have conversations with paid youth workers who speak of their felt lack of support in their churches - definitely not the whole story, but a common theme. At the same time, I receive emails from senior church leaders saying they're struggling to fill YCF positions. I think those two things might be linked.
So, I've just finished a survey on supporting paid YCF workers. I asked nearly 100 paid youth, children and families' workers about the support they have already experienced and what they would like to see to enable them to stay and to thrive.
If you're a paid worker, is what I've written fair? Do get in touch to tell your story. Why not point your senior leader towards the survey and ask to meet up afterwards to discuss it?
Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay
ABOUT THIS WEBSITE
Why does this website exist? Because I wrote a book and needed a place to sell it. Why did I write Raising the Bar? Because over 30 years of youth ministry, I'd realised that, by God's grace, despite all my awful mistakes, I'd managed to learn some things that were worth passing on to other youth leaders. I want youth leaders to stay in youth ministry. Our young people need that. I also want youth leaders to get really good as quickly as possible. Our young people deserve that. So, Raising the Bar is the most important thing that any youth leader can read on this website.
The other resources help you put into practice the things in the book and so get really good as quickly as possible. I once called Raising the Bar a manual for youth ministry. My friend and colleague looked as if I'd said something outrageous and said it was way more than that. It's not just a how-to guide for pretty much everything you'll need to do in youth ministry, though it is that, it also tells massively encouraging stories of God's neverending grace and kindness, worked out in the lives of real young people and their leaders.
"For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."
Romans 11.36
HEAR DAVE SPEAK
DAVE'S RECENT BLOGS
AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-CREATED EMMAUS ROAD
Nothing unusual about that, you might think. This photo is created using https://huggingface.co/spaces/AP123/IllusionDiffusion. I put in something like 'Path in Israel with three people walking along in robes in the first century'., but I also hid a message in it, written in white on black. If you want to see the whole picture that Cleopas and his friend realised in Luke 24, squint at the picture. Now imagine making this into a jigsaw puzzle and revealing it a piece at a time on the screen during a talk. Check it out on a big screen before you use it. People don't see the writing.
If you want more creative ideas for Bible talks, have a look at my book Raising the Bar.
Six points from Luke 24.13ff:
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Jesus did miracles
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Jesus died
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Jesus said he would rise on the third day
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The tomb was empty
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The angels said he had risen
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The prophets spoke of his death and resurrection
Can you see the full picture?
ABOUT RAISING THE BAR
"'Raising the Bar' comes highly recommended. If you are a paid youth worker or a volunteer this book is invaluable. The book is a handbook that will help you week on week as you serve your young people. It has chapters on the 'why' of youth work but also the 'how to'. So for instance, if you want to run a residential this book will help with both the planning and the delivery of a safe week or weekend away. Likewise, the book will give you tips and frameworks on how to run a quality evening session from the games right through to the talk.
A fantastic book that is written for the church - buy a copy and also buy one for your friend in ministry."
Tim Neale
Insight Christian Schools Work Trust
MORE RESOURCES FOR MINISTRY
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ABOUT RAISING THE BAR
Raising the Bar is aimed at both paid and voluntary leaders. It's been called a 'youth ministry handbook' and 'youth work bible'.
The book gives enough help to start a group, and gives you the skills, ideas and encouragement to keep going long-term. Learn to deal with conflict. Grow values in the ministry. Build a strong team of leaders. Plan a residential. Respond to a disaster. Leave a legacy.
It's full of stories to inspire you.
"Each time I open it, I come away from it encouraged and equipped to do what I can for the Lord.., thinking 'I'm going to make mistakes... BUT LOOK WHAT GOD CAN DO DESPITE THAT.'
It reminds me that there is only one thing we need to get right - Jesus - and He'll take care of the rest."
Eleni Brooks
Youth Intern
"To have a resource like this to put into the hands of my leaders is invaluable. It's so helpful to be able to say to them 'the chapter on X will help you with this'. My leaders love it too because it makes them feel more confident in the ministry we share. Thanks Dave!"
Ross Mungavin
Youth Pastor
"Comprehensive, practical and soundly theological"
Becky Hepworth
Youth Worker
Park Church, Stoke-on-Trent
I've written this practical manual to help you grow effective Christian youth ministry from start to finish. Reading this £10, nearly 400-page book gives you over 27 years of experience. It's packed with loads of how-tos, from writing a Bible talk to leading a small group, dealing with conflict, to working with parents and the wider church. It also has key values for church youth work to remind us what's important - all shared with lots of STORIES involving God's power to transform lives.
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"An invaluable resource"
Scott Rushby
Youth Pastor
Testwood Baptist Church
Southampton
What’s new with churchyouthministry.com?
Check out my new survey on supporting paid youth, children and families' workers here. I think you'll find it suprising, challenging and a helpful discussion starter. There's also a new blog with questions for youth workers to ask at interview. Some great new ideas for Cherishing your Youth, including partner dancing and team challenges. Let me know what you think here or get in touch if you need any more help. If you've been on the site a few times and I've never said 'Hi!' in the Chat, it's probably because you've turned off cookies. Turn them back on and I'll try and say, 'Hi' some time!