Empowerment Leadership Model for Small Groups, Teams, & Families
Course 3, Lesson 6
________________
Youth Ministry Leadership Team
starting correctly a team of people who want to help teenagers
successfully face their difficult challenges
and grow in their Christian faith
Note: This model reduces much of the stress by running the Youth Program as one where the teenagers do a great deal of the work usually done by the leaders in order to not hold back spiritual and personal growth of the kids.
Note: Whenever "group" or "team" is used, it can mean "group", "team", or "family".
________________________________________________
Tuning-In to the Target Population
TYPE OF GROUP: YOUTH LEADERSHIP TEAM
therefore,
the TARGET POPULATION is: PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP TEENAGERS IN THEIR FAITH AND TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE
TUNING-IN STEP ONE: Understand the situations of potential group members. What are their lives like? What kinds of things do they face? What might be going on in their lives? What is normal behavior for them?
Potential Youth Group Leaders are those someone strongly feels they are interested in teenagers. They may be identified by church leadership, but even more accurately by friendship groups, spouses, or even their own family's children. Some of these will not be consciously aware of their good way with teenagers.
Some would really like to be involved in the church youth work but are not confident and do not think they have the necessary skills. Some are concerned for kids but have not yet considered helping teens through church leadership. Some may be assertive leaders who are likely busy with other responsibilities, but might want to put this as a higher priority. They might require a bit of time to become more available, but be willing to join the team if they only had light responsibilities at first. Those with smaller children might seemingly be too busy, but amy want to drop some church responsibilities to join this team to build a strong youth program for the time when their children are teens. *** And much more "anticipatory empathy" can be developed. This should be given some time and thought until a fairly thorough picture of possibilities is developed. |
TUNING-IN STEP TWO: What might potential group members be THINKING about their lives? About themselves? What do they want out of life?
Some think that they would like to make a difference for Christ. But, they might also consider their lives too busy and with not enough time for enjoyment. Some will think that they should be more involved with the work and ministry of the church.
*** And much more "anticipatory empathy" can be developed. This should be given some time and thought until a fairly thorough picture of possibilities is developed. |
TUNING-IN STEP THREE: What might potential group members be FEELING about their lives? About themselves?
Many will be feeling a need for more significance in their lives. Some will be feeling overwhelmed with life, even though they are doing as well as the next person. Some will have sufficient confidence and others will not and need to be encouraged.
*** And much more "anticipatory empathy" can be developed. This should be given some time and thought until a fairly thorough picture of possibilities is developed. |
TUNING-IN STEP FOUR: Regarding the group or program you will propose, what might potential group members think and feel about it? And what might they think and feel about you, the leader?
Almost every one will regard the youth program to be very important. Most will, at first, not think of themselves as not such leadership material, and some will consider themselves not "spiritual" enough.
They will be wondering if you have the commitment to stick with them while they are learning what to do on the team. They are wondering if you will provide enough direction for them to not be confused about their responsibilities. They wonder if you will protect them from the criticism of those who have unrealistic expectations of the youth program. *** And much more "anticipatory empathy" can be developed. This should be given some time and thought until a fairly thorough picture of possibilities is developed. |
TUNING-IN STEP FIVE: What do you think and feel about the potential group members? About the group as a whole? About leading the group? About your skills, the facilities, etc.?
I definitely feel the need for an effective ministry with the youth of my church. However, I have some fears that I won't find enough volunteers to join the youth ministry team and need to depend more on the Lord to provide them. I also am unsure that we can compete with all of the secular things that attract the teenagers. I am aware that I will have to also trust the Lord to bring the kids to the program. I also care a great deal about the teens of the church.
|
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Formulating a Motivating "Offer of Opportunity"
Formulating a Motivating "Offer of Opportunity"
Decide upon a generalized purpose statement that embodies something critical that (1) the group members want to accomplish and (2) that they need each other to achieve. It also must be a purpose that you want to help the group achieve. Design a purpose statement that connects what you want to offer with the critical needs of those you will invite to join the group.
How would you like to form a Youth Ministry Leadership Team for our church that will work with God to build strong Christian teenagers?
|
____________________________________________________________________________________
Establishing the Agreements of "The Contract"
Establishing the Agreements of "The Contract"
The Contract is the set of agreements between the members of the group– and, also, the group and its members with the leader. The Contract establishes the understanding and commitment necessary for the group to accomplish its purpose.
For most of the first meeting there will not be a group, only a collection of individuals working at deciding whether or not they want to form a group. Starting with item #10, the group has begun and has its own responsibilities.
To get a group started right, the leader will:
1. Present the possibility of a group experience.
2 . Help prospective group members consider the offer.
3. Help those who want a group experience actually form a group.
4. Help the new group define their expectations through agreements that will help them
be successful at achieving the group purpose.
CONTRACTING STEP ONE: Using the “tuning-in” that you did before this first meeting, help the potential group members know that you care for them and somewhat understand them and their life situations.
Lend a vision about the benefit of group participation, especially the benefits of working together.
Addressing everyone, ask them to stay for the whole meeting, even if it looks like they will not be able to join the group being offered. Let them know that their contributions at this time will be helpful to the group that does form. Some may change their mind as the meeting goes on and join the group.
"Thanks for coming to this meeting. We will be discussing the need to build a strong Youth Ministry Leadership Team and if the Lord might want you to be a part of it. There will be no pressure from me to be a part of this, but I would hope that you would join if Jesus wants you to."
"You were all recommended by others as someone who relates well to teens and seems to care about them a little more than most. I know that many of you are very busy, but the future of the teenagers of our church is very important and the secular world and the evil one is trying to draw them into many things that are not good for them or their future faith and success. The situation is a lot more critical than appears on the surface. So, some of you might find it possible to rearrange your priorities." "It is the church's hope that the Youth Ministry Leadership Team would be large enough that workload will be reasonable for everyone. I will be using a model of team leadership that will aim at building a highly efficient and effective team." "You all have many talents that the Lord can use for the benefit of the teens. But, working as a team, those talents will multiply and be woven into a powerful leadership force for preparing the teens of your friends in the church to build a faith that will last." "Please stay for the whole meeting if you can. Even if you decide you do not want to be on the team, your contributions might be of help to the team that does get started." "What do you what to happen with the teens of our church? What do you think our church needs to do?" |
CONTRACTING STEP TWO: Offer the group in as simple a way as possible. Communicate the “Offer of Opportunity” and seek their feedback about joining.
Plan helpful actions that will engage the possible feelings, thoughts, and actions of potential group members in a way that will help them overcome doubts and commit themselves to the group. Anticipate problems that might come up when you offer the group or program, such as concern for confidentiality.
Plan helpful actions that will engage the possible feelings, thoughts, and actions of potential group members in a way that will help them overcome doubts and commit themselves to the group. Anticipate problems that might come up when you offer the group or program, such as concern for confidentiality.
"So, how would you like to form a Youth Ministry Leadership Team for our church that will work with God to build strong Christian teenagers?"
“What do you think of this opportunity?" "Who would like to join this team?" |
Be patient with your offer to join the Youth Ministry Leadership Team. Remember that many will feel intimidated at first. Some may not join now, but will later after repeated invitations and once a successful team has been developed. How many accept the offer at this meeting will also depend upon how well church leadership has been preparing the saints for works of service (Eph 4:12) through sermons and other leadership actions. You can start small and build slowly, if need be.
CONTRACTING STEP THREE: Help potential group members either accept the group as offered, modify the group, propose an acceptable alternative, or reject the idea of a group altogether.
Help individuals propose (or propose yourself if potential group members are unable) any needed modifications to more clearly define the purpose of the group, a purpose that is very motivating because it is seriously desired by group members. But remember, the purpose must stay one that fits your own purpose and calling from God.
Help individuals propose (or propose yourself if potential group members are unable) any needed modifications to more clearly define the purpose of the group, a purpose that is very motivating because it is seriously desired by group members. But remember, the purpose must stay one that fits your own purpose and calling from God.
“Do you want to propose any changes to the team’s purpose? Presently it is the purpose of the Youth Ministry Leadership Team to help one another work together and with God to build strong Christian teenagers. Do you want to modify this in any way?”
|
CONTRACTING STEP FOUR: Lead a discussion on the cost of group membership for successful work toward accomplishment of the purpose. Things to consider may include but are not limited to the following: (a) time necessary for meetings and program; (b) help one another be successful with responsibilities rather than operate independently, (c) pray for one another and their responsibilities, (d) pray for the program, (e) pray for the teens, (f) etc.
“Leadership meetings are on Thursday nights from 7 to 9. Would that work for you? Does any other time seem better? We might be able to change the time.”
“To be successful, group members will need to work together to do what is reasonable with regard to your time and available resources. Can you do this?” |
CONTRACTING STEP FIVE: Acquire from each potential member an agreement to be a part of the group, committed to the group’s purpose and willing to pay the cost of membership.
Restate your “Offer of Opportunity”.
If anyone does not want to join the group, ask them to stick around for the rest of this meeting and offer ideas. Let them know that if at any time they change their mind and want to join the group and its purpose, they just need to say so.
Restate your “Offer of Opportunity”.
If anyone does not want to join the group, ask them to stick around for the rest of this meeting and offer ideas. Let them know that if at any time they change their mind and want to join the group and its purpose, they just need to say so.
“Do you want to do this? Do you want to help our church's teens develop their faith so that it is strong enough to resist distancing from the faith and last for their lifetimes? This will mean meeting every Thursday night from 7 to 9 as well as other times as you decide on activities and programs?"
|
CONTRACTING STEP SIX: Ask for commitment of group members to each other. Note that at the beginning of a group the purpose cannot be repeated too often. It must be ingrained in everyone's mind as the ultimate reason for getting together as a group. Other agendas and purposes must be prevented by this conscious action at focusing effort.
“Can each of you commit, not only to the team and its purpose, but also to every other member of this Youth Ministry Leadership Team? This means that you commit to help each team member in his or her role in helping the team achieve its purpose. Can you each make this commitment?"
|
CONTRACTING STEP SEVEN: Help the potential team agree to and accept your role as team leader. Give and explain your own commitment to help the individuals become a highly functional team and to help the leadership team work toward success at its purpose. Make clear why you cannot be considered a member of the team because your focus needs to be, like a coach or consultant, on helping the team develop and grow into a strong team. Explain that you cannot do that and also focus on helping the teens in any other way. Make sure they know that success is and must be in their control.
“As team leader it is my job to help your team do its best to achieve the team purpose. It is not my position to be a member of the team. I cannot be a part of the team’s process if I am to continually analyze what is going on and determine what the team and individual members need to do to be successful."
"My role is kind of like a coach, and your team is like a football team. I help. You do the work of the team. As long as you are in agreement to work at helping each other to succeed as the Youth Ministry Leadership Team, I will commit to help you as a team to my best ability, with God’s help.” “If you think of Jesus’ leadership style, He was not a member of the group of disciples. We speak of ‘Jesus and His disciples’, recognizing that He had a different function than each of the twelve.” “In the same way, I must not do what you are capable of doing. Otherwise, I will hold the team back from the growth that brings obedience and success. It is your team, and you must become capable to do the work. I will not be distant or inactive, I will just be doing those things that will help you develop into a strong team that works toward its purpose.” “Maybe, in time, after the team as a whole has learned to do most of its own leadership, it will be less necessary for me to stand back in order to see the big view and analyze the team’s effectiveness. At that time I can become a little more active, but still not as a full-fledged team member. But for the time being, I need to have a very objective view of things from outside of the group.” “Do you agree to this leadership arrangement?” |
CONTRACTING STEP EIGHT: When they agree, it is time for you to commit yourself to help the group and its group members.
“Since you’ve committed yourselves to the team, to one another, and to my help, I’m with you. I’ll help you as best as I can.”
|
CONTRACTING STEP NINE: Explain that they have just formed a group: two or more people who need each other to work on a common purpose.
“You have just done the most important thing for team success -- you have become a group with a purpose that you will work on together as a team to achieve.”
|
CONTRACTING STEP TEN: Go over a little more carefully who is to be a "true" member of their group. Explain that membership has benefits like cooperation and friendliness and respectfulness. Ask them if anyone cannot give those things to the people in the room who have accepted membership. Usually they will readily agree, and this may be important later if any of those things are withheld from someone.
Ask the group if there is anyone they know of who should be invited to be a member of the group, but was not.
Ask the group if there is anyone they know of who should be invited to be a member of the group, but was not.
“Now you need to decide upon membership, who you want to be a member of your team. Do you agree that each of you is to be a member and receive the advantages of membership, advantages such as friendliness and help?”
“Do you want anyone else in the group, anyone not here now?” |
CONTRACTING STEP ELEVEN: Help the group explore the feelings of each member about being in the group so that work in the group can be as free as possible of fear, ambivalence, anger, embarrassment, etc.
“It will help if the group will ask each member how it feels to be on this Youth Ministry Leadership Team.”
"Seek out if anyone has reservations and fears. Help each of your members to express hopes and expectations." |
CONTRACTING STEP TWELVE: Help the group explore what kinds of individual behavior will be expected of each of the members if the group is to go well and be successful in working toward the group purpose. After dealing with individual behaviors that will help the group succeed, discuss what behaviors will be detrimental to group success.
“It would be a good idea at this time to discuss among yourselves what might be required from each of you to help the team successfully work at accomplishing the team’s purpose of running a ministry to the youth of our church that helps them become strong Christians.”
|
CONTRACTING STEP THIRTEEN: Help the group consider what it will need to do as a group, i.e. the group as a whole rather than the individual members. Help them to identify things like creating a "can do", positive, accepting atmosphere. There is no need for the group members to understand the span of their responsibilities. But they do need to know that the group as a whole will need to do many things – as a group. Considering some of them at the beginning of the group will focus the minds of group members on their existence as a group as a whole rather than as individuals.
“You might want to think of your team as a football team. There are many things that each of you must do for the team to be successful, as we have already discussed. For example, one of you might have to block, another go out for a pass, and another throw the football.”
“But, like a football team, there are many things you will have to do as a group. The football team as a group needs to get the ball across the goal line. You as a team also have responsibilities such as making every team member feel important, accepted and capable of fulfilling a significant role on the team.” “So, what other things can you think of that you will have to do as a team? What can your team do, and must do, that no individual member can accomplish? For example, only the team as a whole can make the group a safe place to suggest and try new things for the sake of our teens.” |
YOU AND THE GROUP PAUSE AND DISCUSS
“Let me run through a few of the team’s responsibilities. The team will need to stay on track and keep focused on its purpose. Most teams and groups fail because they do not fully understand and faithfully pursue their purpose. You will need to see that everyone on the team is helped. Etc. Etc.”
“Sometimes the team will be like a wrestling tag match. One of you will say something to somebody. That somebody will not understand. Another of you will explain what was said in your own different way of saying things. That will probably help the person understand what the first person said to him or her. Maybe somebody will become defensive. Then someone else will reassure that person of his or her worth, even though what was said might be true. Occasionally, and this is a sign of a strong team, one of you will invite another to help in the process, such as saying, ‘Mike, you have a good way of saying things. Can you tell Carol what you heard Mary saying to her?’ This is called synergy, and it shows how much more you can get done working as a team.” |
CONTRACTING STEP FOURTEEN: Help the group discuss general goals necessary to achieve the group's purpose.
“You now need to decide what you want to do together in the sense of goals and general activities. For example, what do you want to accomplish? After you decide that, then you can begin to decide on activities and programs that will accomplish those goals, people to recruit to lead those programs, how to get the teens significantly involved to make things happen, etc."
|
Copyright 2012 Dick Wulf, Colorado, USA