In my last blog, I talked about vision.  Before I get into a few details, I’d like to share a story I came by Lee J. Colan, Ph.D called Vision is Greater than Sight

About 350 years ago a shipload of travelers landed on the northeast coast of America. The first year they established a town site. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness.

In the fourth year the people tried to impeach their town government because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. Who needed to go there anyway?

Here were people who had the vision to see three thousand miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there. But in just a few years they were not able to see even five miles out of town. They had lost their pioneering vision. With a clear vision of what we can become in Christ, no ocean of difficulty is too great. Without it, we rarely move beyond our current boundaries.

 My prayer for youth ministers and leaders is that you continue moving forward in all that God has for you!  Don’t be content!  Keep the vision alive and active! Below are three clear ways to keep your vision in front of your ministry.

1)      Be deliberate. Our time with young people is short; we must be deliberate about what we pour into them.  Whatever your vision is for them, find ways to break it down. That way they don’t just hear it, but they become a part of it.  You may have a vision that you choose to break down into six steps.  This could be something you impart over the next six weeks, months, or years so that you can really produce something in them.  Your vision is a seed. For a seed to grow, it must get deliberate attention. Put the vision on the web site and flyers. When young people walk into the door, they should see it.  Remember, a vision is on life support if your kids don’t know it. Always find ways to merge the vision into your messages. A recent study found that 61% of young adults who were once involved in church are now spiritually disengaged. This is why our vision must be deliberate. Ecclesiastes 9:10

2)      Continually Demonstrate. As a youth minister, keep in mind how much of an example you are.  Youth will not become what you teach; they will become what you are!  Are you the vision you’re trying to impart? If it is service, do you serve?  If it is leadership, how are you leading?  If it is discipleship, who are you mentoring?  If it is evangelism, do your kids see you evangelizing? Yes, I know we should do all of these, but I also know that you have a gift to do one of these more exceptionally than the others! For a vision to catch, it must first be demonstrated.  Young people are looking for examples, not preachers! Anyone can preach a good word or pull off a good event, but not everyone can be an example. Remember, you mean more to your kids than you will ever know. Demonstrate to them your vision to walk in integrity, authority, mercy, understanding, purpose, and love! 1 Peter 4:9-11

3)      Always discuss. Effective vision casters speak the vision! Jesus was always speaking the vision.  Every time He got the opportunity to speak, He made known the importance of doing the will of his father! Regardless of the size of the crowd, Jesus was speaking vision! Where is your ministry headed?  Who knows it?  Talk about it one-on-one, in messages, in blogs, on Facebook, and on twitter.  Keep sharing the vision that God has given you to accomplish! Spend time finding new and innovative ways to communicate the vision. Get your leadership team on the same page. Your assignment is very important, and it must be shared!  Habakkuk 2:2

Thanks for reading. I would love to hear some feedback! Until next time!

As youth ministry continues to progress it’s obvious that styles will change.  I mean if you’re still rocking campfires and singing Kum-By-Ya as the best event ever then you might want to upgrade your idea folder. With so many ideas in circulation it’s never been more fun to serve in the role of a youth pastor/leader. However we must be very careful not to run our groups on great ideas rather than vision.

Every leader is responsible for where they are taking those who follow them.

The word vision isn’t to be just a catchy buzz word.  Vision is a word used to define where you’re going. Vision is the precursor to get you where you want to be. Vision along with planning and action equals dreams fulfilled. Having a vision of what kind of young person you’re looking to produce has to be intentional.  Every youth pastor will have to give account for what they produced in their kids.

Jesus was very intentional about developing his disciples. He trained them and then sent them out fully confident they would train and develop others. Jesus’ vision wasn’t to be the coolest, have the biggest crowds, raise super spiritual people or just entertain. Jesus was building something that would last even after he went away. His goal in ministry was redemption. His mold of ministry was reproduction.

It’s awesome to know that we’re the ones entrusted with communicating his vision. Who are the young people you are training up to take your position?  What is your vision for your youth ministry? Remember a God-ordained vision that has been birthed in prayer and backed up by scripture will always live longer than you.  Yes, part of our ministry is to bring fun, excitement, with a little bit of crazy, but that has to fit inside the overall vision.  When you do an event…what is the vision or goal behind it?  When you prepare your message, does it motivate them to obtain the vision you have set for them.

Changes are inevitable so you might want to put away your DC talk and Switchfoot cd’s but remember this…some things don’t change and VISION is one of them. In the next few days I’ll share three ways to keep your vision out in front of your group. Until next time!

There are several youth leadership conferences that I’ve gone to as a youth pastor.  While many have been good, and very refreshing, most focus the majority of their time on how to stay relevant in a ever changing youth culture. There are new perspectives to gain, ways to communicate, hairstyles (lol), methods to try, and countless “how to’s” that one MUST do to be labeled as an effective youth minister. Does all of this make one a good youth pastor?  Well, I don’t know about that, but I can tell you that there are a few concepts in youth ministry that don’t change.  Today let’s take a minute to look at some core elements of a youth minister.

Youth ministry is about relationship!  Mentoring and inspiring young people to become Christ-followers are the goals of a youth pastor. It’s important that all the details don’t steal  our attention away from the young people we are called to develop. While it is a fact that organization in ministry is very helpful, young people are looking for access to their leader or leadership team – not just a well thought out service. You can have a technically great service (set up, ice-breaker, lights, awesome worship, hilarious video, small groups, and an interactive sermon) and still miss a life becoming transformed. Youth pastor/leader, who are you making time for?  What young person has access to you? Don’t forfeit relationships for effectiveness. Remember true effectiveness is measured by the influence you hold.  The greatest thing you can do in this youth culture is producing a strong believer who commits to be the one and model your example.

I think believers could use a little more crazy! And stop playing it so safe.  I’m not talking about insane crazy, but more like moving into some unbelievable “Crazy Faith.”  Where our faith gets results that makes non-believers go… “Did you see that?…It was crazy.” The type of crazy I’m talking about is NOAH, MOSES, EASTER crazy.  Where you decided to take the word of God and really believe it! Jesus many times marveled at the “Crazy Faith” of some of the people who made the choice to believe Him.  Have you made that choice?  Do you have normal, well-informed faith or is it a “crazy faith” that believes God over what people say and what your eyes see?  Over the next few weeks I want to give you some “crazy faith” tips as together we grow our faith. I know God has great plans for you.  Don’t settle for safe but step out with some crazy faith and believe BIG because God wants to use you!

1. Order the book!!! Go to Stevensexton.com
2. Many have offered to change their profile pic on Facebook and Twitter for a few days.
3. Tell others in your circle of influence about the book
4. Re-post videos about Be the One on your Facebook.
5. Go through this book with a group, youth group, life group, etc.(This is a great discipleship product)
6. Talk to your Pastors, youth leaders, FCA and FCS leaders, ect. Let’s set up a phone meeting with your pastor and myself. (I have a burden to instill the message of being the one God has called this generation to be.)
7. Pray for open doors for this book.

You can buy yours today by going to the resource tab at stevensexton.com. Get ready to have your life challenged and changed by the truth in this book as God takes you into more! Please be praying about your involvement in this assignment! Thanks for coming along side me to get this message out. Let’s change the world! In Him, Steven Sexton

Tomorrow 12/15/10, I will be receiving my first copy of “Be the One.” This book will birth a desire to partner with God to see great things happen in our families, schools, communities and nation. “Be the One,” is challenging, encouraging, practical, easy to read, and convicting. The reason for posting this article is; I need your help.  I want to get this book into as many hands as possible.  Why?  Because it is time to awaken the remarkable potential that lies inside every believer.  Help me get the word out about “Be the One”! Talk to your friends, youth pastors, pastors, parents, FCA’s, FCS, YoungLife groups, K life groups, small groups. In a couple weeks, I will have the cover ready for all who want to post it on their social media sites.  Start writing about it on your statuses so the awareness of what God is about to do can come into focus.  Let’s change the world together.  You can make a difference!! I know you are busy, but what if…by your faithfulness God started a movement in hearts and minds all over the world.  Change is coming and I’m asking you to be a part of it.  I need your help!

“Be the One” will be released in three weeks…I’ll be back in touch with you soon.

To God be the glory,

Steven