A Different College Experience

For many, the college experience is defined by drinking, sex, impulsive decision-making, and a journey of self discovery. It's packaged as a consequence-free zone to have the "best time of your life." But the reality is that what happens in college doesn't stay in college. There are real, lasting consequences to your decisions. Student ministry leaders Ben Trueblood and Brian Mills have seen this firsthand. With decades of student-ministry leadership under their belts, they have seen too many lives fall apart because of the world's view of what the college experience should be. You don't have to have that kind of college experience. Fortunately, just as the gospel redeems all of life, the gospel redeems the college experience. It tells us there is another way. In this book, Ben and Brian provide a biblical and practical guide for how you can have a fun, joy-filled, and spiritually enriching college experience while avoiding the pitfalls that have captured so many before you.

PICK UP A COPY NOW HERE

3 Important Rules - Listen, Learn, Lead

Listen, Learn, and Lead from Volunteer Training @lhstudents on Vimeo.

Some Simple Do's and Don'ts of Small Group Leaders

Do's and Don'ts of Small Groups from Volunteer Training @lhstudents on Vimeo.

How to use Social Media as a Small Group Leader

How to use Social Media as a small group leader from Volunteer Training @lhstudents on Vimeo.

Who is your next?

We preached a series called NEXT in #LHStudents.  The first sermon during the NEXT series was - WHO IS YOUR NEXT?

We asked the question who is next for you to reach out too?  Who has God put in your path or on your heart that you need to share Christ with this year?  We were all someone's next may we now find out next.  

Hear this story of a girl who saw her NEXT give her life to Christ the week after we preached this sermon.  

Next Series Testimony - "You Were My Next" from Long Hollow Student Ministry on Vimeo.

How to WIN in your small group. Practical Steps!!!

How to win in your small group from Volunteer Training @lhstudents on Vimeo.

Sermon Series to Preach in 2014

Here are a few sermon series we have you can preach in 2014:

Theology of a Teenager takes you on a 4 week journey with videos where you can challenge your students in their thinking.  Check it out HERE  Videos HERE

Real Talk is a 4 week series w/ videos that challenges your students to have real talk about issues at hand in their lives.  Check it out HERE and Videos HERE

Dodgeball the Series.  2 week study that challenges your students to be evangelistic minded.  Check it out HERE

2 week sermon series to challenge your students how they have the cure and need to go and share it.  Comes with a powerful video drama that you can download for free and show.  Pick it up HERE

OTHER SERIES WITH LIFWAY CALLED SERMONS ON DEMAND.  CHECK THEM OUT HERE

2 Books to Take your Students through in 2014

Challenge your guys to start the year with this 40 day journey over 8 weeks.  

Buy it now HERE

Take this 40 day journey for girls over 8 weeks and do w/ your students the first of 2014.  

Buy HERE 

2013 year end review of Long Hollow Student Ministry

We had an amazing year in 2013 in LHStudents.

over 420+ baptism
All events broke records
started 2 campuses and watch those Youth Ministries explode.
Added 50+ additional volunteers
Did Quest in a Hotel for the first time.
Had 3 crusades in 1 week.
over 150 students going through discipleship programs.
and so much more.

I am so proud of of the volunteers and students in our ministry.  It is a honor to serve with them and to see all God is doing through Long Hollow Student Ministry.  Grateful to a church the supports and funds youth ministry!!!

Here is the highlight video for 2013:


A Look Back at 2013 - Long Hollow Student Ministry from Long Hollow Student Ministry on Vimeo.

3 different Small Group Curriculums to use in 2014-2015

Here is some great curriculum to use in home groups, wednesday nights, sunday school, maser teacher or in a discipleship group.

Check them out.  All were written by @RachelLovingood and the @LHStudents staff.  

8 week study that walks you through the "grey areas" of life.  This was huge for us and made our students really think.  Based on the Book "Chasing Elephants" by Brent Crowe

Pick it up HERE 

THRU is my favorite as it walks your students through God's word in chronological order over 52 weeks.  1 years worth of curriculum for only $300.  Was one of the best things we have done.  Try it out this year.  

Buy it HERE

reclaim takes you on a journey through your identity.  This curriculum is where the dream of the girls book "Salvaging my Identity" by Jennifer Mills and Rachel Lovingood.   This is an 8 week study that was a lot of fun for our students.  Check it out HERE 

Why Community is important for Adults, Students and Children:

Ever since I was a kid I hated going to Sunday school/small group.  I always got in trouble during Sunday school as a kid and had to be taken to my parents for discipline.  I will never forget when I was in the 7^th grade and during Sunday school our class had a spit-wad fight…nor will I ever forget what happen to me when my dad found out about it. I did have some great teachers through the years, I just strongly disliked going each week.  This mindset about Sunday school/Small Groups stayed with me even into adulthood. 

Even as a pastor, I continued to cringe at the idea of a small group, until about 6 months ago.  I thought, why do I need to be in a small group, I am a pastor. Arrogance… I know. 

Then this last January, Jennifer and I joined a small group with some friends.  As a result, it has become one of the highlights of my week.  We have made some amazing friends through small group and weekly have healthy fellowship with other adults about life and where we are spiritually. 

In my book –“Checkpoints”, we even wrote a whole chapter on why community is important & I would again say, it is a must for a healthy spiritual walk & lifestyle. 

Quote from Checkpoints – (buy checkpoints HERE)

“True Christian community is hard work but it is the most fulfilling investment of time and energy you will ever make.  If done correctly you will cultivate deep friendships that will last the rest of your life.  It is the primary instrument God has chosen to shape you into the image of His Son.  By its very nature it protects you from isolation as a friend’s unconditional acceptance challenges you to live life out in the open.  It is an environment promoting maturity as conflict is consistently addressed in a healthy way, where forgiveness is sought and freely given, and positive peer pressure surrounds you.  It diligently guards against bitterness and anger, tactics of the Enemy that seek to supplant unity.  Christian community cultivates an environment of trust as each member openly shares every facet of his life with brothers who care, not just with their words but their actions.  Men who live in true Christian community make time for each other and hold each other accountable to living a life set apart from the world.” 

5 thoughts on why I think all adults, students and children should be involved in a small group:
1.     The Bible instructs it. 
2.     We all need healthy, godly friendships to keep us on track.
3.     Your kids need to see you making spiritual community important.  Our Sunday night small group is also one of our kids favorite parts of the week as well.  They actually get a lot out of it as their babysitters typically do a bible story & verse of the week with them, while we are upstairs meeting as adults. 
4.     It lets you see that you’re not alone. That others are dealing with issues or struggles as well. 
5.     It gives you people you can trust and depend on.  When hard times arise, you’re surrounded with encouragement, love & support from a group of people that genuinely care about you and your family.

Debauching 5 excuses about why not to be involved in a group:
1.     “We don’t have any babysitters” – Ask your youth pastor at your church to help with this.  You should be able to have some great students within your church who can help commit to come for a couple of hours each week.  You always can find a babysitter and a good one if it is important to you!  
2.     “We can’t afford to pay a babysitter weekly.” – I would say you can’t afford NOT to do this! If you split the cost w/ your whole small group then it is only a few dollars each week, which is a pretty cheap investment into the spiritual vitality of your life and marriage. 
3.     “I am just too busy” – Well, aren’t we all?!  Who is not busy these days?  You always can make time for what is important to you.  Change your priorities.  Stop saying you can’t and trying say ‘I can’. 
4.     “I get enough “Bible” teaching at church.” – It is not about “getting more of the bible” it is about developing healthy community in your life and marriage.
5.     “I will have to talk in front of people.” – Yes… but you don’t have to answer all the questions and I would bet that after just a few weeks you would get comfortable and start opening up.   

A trend I am noticing: Have students today lost a healthy fear of their parents & of authority?

A trend I see among students today is that they no longer have a healthy fear of their parents but instead an unhealthy expectation for their parents to always take up for them. 

Not all, but most students today if you look at them and say, “I am going to have to call your parents.” will respond with “How about I call them for you and they will come up here and talk to you about this.” Such a different response than how I was brought up, taught to have a healthy fear and respect of adults and authority.

Teeangers know their parents will take up for them instead of hold them accountable to the situation.  

When I was a kid, if an authority figure looked at me and said “Brian, I am going to call your dad,” I would have begged them (if not paid them) not to do it!  I would have done anything to keep my dad from coming up to the school or church, simply because I had a healthy fear of my father.  You see, my father loved me enough that he did not always take up for me, but instead I always knew that he expected me to be a responsible young man & if consequences were presented because of a poor decision on my part, I had to own up to it.  

As I watch the news, read tweets and blogs and as I spend a lot of time with students and their parents, I am seeing this reality of teenagers having a huge disrespect for authority and even more, an unhealthy expectation of what they expect out of their parents. 

So what are we to do as parents?  When do we need to step in & stand up for our kids?  How do we stand up for our kid in a healthy way without just "bailing them out"?  What is a healthy expectation to have for our kids?

I definitely am not the expert, nor do I have all the answers.  I am learning so much myself in this area of parenting young kids. Author, Tim Elmore, writes of this often and I am always challenged as a parent by what he writes.  

Here are just a few thoughts that I have on this issue simply from a youth pastor perspective and from what I am learning as a parent...  

10 Thoughts from a Youth Pastor perspective:
1.     Realize your kids can do wrong.  He/She is not perfect.  
2.     It is not always another kids fault. Be willing to see fault in your own child.
3.     Realize your kid knows you, knows how they expect you to respond, and knows how to play you.  They will act different with you in the room, than they did when they knew they were busted. 
4.     The adult that calls you, don’t go in on the defense against them.  Especially, if it is a caring adult who is just trying to keep order or help all parties involved.  If your kid sees you attack another adult for getting onto your child, then you've just taught them automatically throw blame on someone else and not take responsibility for their part in the issue. 

5.     Have an understood & CLEAR list of consequences for your student.  Students need expectations of what their consequences should be before an incident arrises. Not to carry around the mentality of, “Well, I know my parents will get me out of this, they always do.” 
6.     Let them fail while they are under your roof.  Use these moments while they're in your home as teachable moments! Teaching them to fail-forward. 
7.     Don’t be a friend be a parent!
8.     Don’ t just be present at home physically, but be involved in their lives.  Most kids I see that bully others are usually ones who lack a solid home life.  Not always but most of the time. 
9.     Listen to your child but also listen to the other side.  There are two sides to every story. 
10. As always, in discipline, discipline in love & not in anger.  Students need expectation as much as we do as adults, just lead in love and not out of anger. You child needs to know you are proud of them and believe in them no matter what.  

DISCLAIMER – Although I don’t have teenagers in my home yet, I am just surrounded by thousands of teenagers and their parents every week and walk through many situations with them.  I am a learning parent and, just like all of you, I want to be all God has called me to be as a parent. 

What are your thoughts to this?  What do you see? 

Parenting Helps:

Long Hollow has many HERE

Tim Elmore Blog

Authentic Maturity

Checkpoints – A Tatical Guide toManhood

Salvaging my Identity for Girls

 Send your teen to Student Leadership University

Send your teen on international mission trips.  

The Importance of Small Group leaders Sticking w/ the Lesson

The Importance of Sticking w/ the Lesson from Volunteer Training @lhstudents on Vimeo.

LifeChange Book by Jordan Easley

I am excited about my friend @JordanEasley new book coming out called Life Change.  This is a must buy book.

I would recommend picking this book up for all the seniors in your youth ministry this year as well.

Watch the video for more on the book:

BUY THE BOOK HERE 

Here is what just a few have said about Jordan's book:

Drew Worsham isn't only a internationally-known magician, he's also an incredible man of God.  Drew has traveled the globe sharing the hope of Jesus Christ as a Magician and a Mentalist.  He is incredibly gifted and has dedicated his life to sharing Christ to the next generation.

After reading Life Change, this is what Drew had to say:  "While reading this book, I found Jordan time and time again answering questions that I didn't realize my heart was asking.  Every human desires change but we struggle to figure out how to make it happen.  In this amazingly practical book, Jordan helps us realize and believe that life change is found only in the accessible presence of Christ."

Matt Lawson is the author of Twisdom and also leads one of America's great Student Ministries at the First Baptist Church of Woodstock, GA.  The roots of Matt's passion for Student Ministry run deep.  Matt is one of the champions that continuously ask the question, "How can we see God do something great in this next generation?" and he's built his life and ministry around finding the answer.

After reading Life Change, this is what Matt had to say:  "Most of us are rarely satisfied with who we are and are constantly fighting for change.  Jordan Easley's Life Change will help anyone navigate the stages and steps of spiritual change and point to real people who've been through it."

As the Vice President of Student Leadership Universityand a top-rated Speaker in many of our largest Student Ministry venues, Dr. Brent Crowe understands the incredible opportunity we have in shaping next generation leaders.  SLU is the leading ministry in partnering with churches and challenging students to step out of the status quo and become the leader God created them to be.  As a High School student, I attended SLU and can honestly say that without this ministry, I wouldn't be where I am today.  I highly recommend Brent's books, Reimagine and Chasing Elephants.

Brent had this to say about Life Change:  "In a world saturated with self-help books and drowning in a sea of secular humanism comes an essential read for this in need of change.  In Life Change, my friend Jordan Easley takes us on a journey through the Gospel of Mark, where we interact with characters desperate for transformation.  Like all great teachers, Jordan uses the Bible to illuminate our need and also provide clarity to the answer of authentic and lasting change.  This book was written for all who are thirsty for change--come to the water and be filled."

As a Seminary Professor, Dr. Alvin Reid has dedicated his life to training and equipping Student Pastors.  He has a burning desire to see the Gospel change the lives of students and he believes God wants to use us in fostering that change.  He wrote a great book called As You Go that reminds us that every step is an opportunity to be a part of that journey.

Dr. Reid had this to say:  ""Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."These words by Leo Tolstoy remind us how easy it is to become idealistic about change without considering ourselves.  In Life Change, Jordan Easley offers practical, biblical help for the person who understands the only way to change the world is to stare in the mirror.  You will be encouraged, challenged, and engaged by this book."

Ron Luce launched a ministry many years ago called Teen Mania Ministries, and since then, they've been packing out stadiums forAcquire the Fire Events and presenting the Gospel to hundreds of thousands of teenagers around the world.

Ron's response to Life Change was pretty simple. He said:  "Life Change is an insightful book offering freedom, wisdom, and hope with excellent biblical examples of real people who desired change but realized it was impossible apart from Jesus, "The Change Agent."

"Each of us knows, intuitively, that there are both small and big changes we need to make in our lives.  Yet we also know that it's much easier to stay as we are, because change is hard.  Jordan Easley shows that it's possible, and not as hard as you think, to make those life changes, and he gives you practical, doable steps to get you there, starting with embracing the power of Jesus Christ to change you at your deepest level."

Clayton King

Founder and President, Crossroads Ministries

Teaching Pastor, New Spring Church

"Are you searching for something different?  Looking for something new in your life?  Read Life Change!  It will help you navigate to the future that God wants for you.  I believe in Jordan Easley.  I believe in Life Change!"

Ronnie Floyd

Author and Senior Pastor, Cross Church

"Life Change is written in simple, user-friendly terms people of every age will enjoy.  Jordan Easley addresses the challenges of life change with a step-by-step practical approach, centered on Jesus Christ, the true change agent.  As Jordan so aptly states, "No matter the circumstance, change is possible through Jesus Christ," and this book can provide the catalyst."

H. Edwin Young
Senior Pastor, Second Baptist Houston

To order your copy of Life Change today, click HERE.

"You can really change!  That is the clear affirmation given  by Jordan Easley in Life Change.  Read this book and discover the reality of spiritual transformation now and forever."

Jack Graham
Pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church

To order your copy of Life Change now, click HERE.

"In Life Change my friend Jordan Easley guides us through Mark's Gospel with a focus on personal transformation.  Life Change will make you uncomfortable with where you are while providing clarity about where you need to be."

Andy Stanley
Pastor, North Point Community Church

To order a copy of Life Change today, click HERE.

David Landrith Testimony during Crosspoint.tv service

101 lessons I have learned over the years in Youth Ministry

Over the years I have had the chance to work in some of the top churches in America and for some of the greatest leaders in the country.  As a result I have learned so much over the years.  

I took the time to write down 100 quick thoughts I have learned over the years as a youth pastor.  I still have so far to go and so much to learn but am grateful for what God has taught me this far.  Can't wait to see all I get the chance to learn in the future.  

I could probably list over 500 lessons and counting but here is 101 lessons i have learned over the years in youth ministry.  

1. A Call to Ministry is a must:  There are days you will want to quit that you will need to reflect back on your call
2.  Relationships with your church are a must
3.  Relationships with your youth workers are a must
4.   Relationships with your community takes work but is the key. 
5.  Your Youth Workers are your most valuable resource
6.  Celebrate the wins with your team. 
7.  Share the gospel often
8.  A gospel centered event without effective follow up will never lead to disciples. 
9.  Loyalty is a must.
10.   Delegations without Definitions equals Disaster. 
11.   Leadership is a must. 
12.  Be clear in your vision.
13.  Bring the people along with you.  If you get too far ahead you will committee ministry suicide. 
14.  Don’t ask ask ask.  
15.  Don’t use all your “relationships coinage” all at once.
16.  Your family must be put before your ministry.
17.  School activities are a must to attend. 
18.  Preach out of God’s word and not just whatever is the most popular topic. 
19.  Never do an event without sharing the gospel 
20.  Discipline the students is a must. 
21.  Put your students around mature adults not just college students.  Teenagers need more adults in their lives. 
22.  Teenagers do not need more friends they need more leaders in their lives. 
23.  Communicate Communicate Communicate
24.  Don’t make it “Your” ministry.  Allow your family to do life with you in ministry. 
25.  Pride will kill your ministry. 
26.  The stage is not to make you famous but to make God famous. 
27.  Never overlook any student.  You never know if they are the one that God wants to use to start a movement in your community. 
28.  Never Assume. 
29.   Don’t be afraid to confront students or leaders.  Be humble but speak up. 
30.  Humble confidence is needed in your leadership.
31.  Ministry is always happening.  Sometimes “it” can wait until tomorrow. 
32.  There is nothing wrong sending someone to voice mail and calling them back the next day.  Just remember to call them back. 
33.  Hand written notes go a long way. 
34.  Be sure your students and volunteers understand the WHY so that they will do the HOW. 
35.  What good is a video if noone is coming to watch it.  Point: don’t spend all the time being creative and not building relationships. 
36.   Excellence is the only option. 
37.  Stay Simple.  The more complex you get the less impact you will have. 
38.  Stay Connected.  Don’t be a “green room” youth pastor.
39.  Share the stories often. 
40.  Pray for your pastor daily.
41.  Stay in line with the vision of the church. 
42.  Baptize weekly
43.  Know when to speak up and when to shut up. 
44.  Followship is just important as Leadership.  Know when to Lead and when to Follow. 
45.  Raise the bar with your youth workers and students. 
46.  Use Social Media often to share the story. 
47.  Be Self Motivated
48.  Stay away from Negativity.  Does not good! 
49.  Smile a lot,
50.  be quick to listen,
51.  say thanks often,
52.  find opportunities to hang with other staff members.
53.  Attend Church Weekly. 
54.  Never say “I can’t.”  There is always a way. 
55.  Don’t overcomplicate the gospel. 
56.  Equip the Saints to do the work of the ministry.
57.  Spend time w/ God daily and do it in the morning. 
58.  Reflect yearly
59.  Be Creative in your programming. 
60.  Don’t procrastinate. 
61.  Read books monthly
62.  Pray Pray Pray
63.  A Building does not keep people relationships do
64.  A big budget does not mean big success. 
65.  Never let discouragement set in
66.  Keep your integrity and Character high
67.  Don’t add to your numbers to impress others.  Just post what you actually had and rejoice in what God did. 
68.  Work Hard!!!
69.  To be an A leader hang out with other A leaders
70.  Know the “seasons” of ministry and prepare your family for them. 
71.  “People and rubber bands have one thing in common: they must be stretched to be effective." John Maxwell
72.  Whenever you encounter a hill, keep pushing & hoping. There's probably a downhill on the other side
73.   Never wait for a "storm" to hit. Always be ahead of the storm.
74.  Ask the question: What are we doing in our life today that if God removed his hand we could still do? What are you trust the spirit of God for?
75.  Never Over Promise and Under Deliver
76.  Never say anything behind someone’s back that you don’t have the guts to say to that persons face. IT will get back to them. You might not care if it does but either way it is ungodly!!!
77.  Go where God calls you no matter what everyone else says!!! Don’t allow others to write your story only God!!!
78.  Don’t be lazy Excute!!!
79.  Discipline = work. In sports/family/work/marriage it takes discipline. Discipline is not always easy or fun but is always necessary.
80.  Tradition is not always Bad
81.  Attending healthy conferences keeps you fresh.
82.  You never know who you are talking too!!!
83.  Give hilariously with your money always!!! Look at a man’s pocketbook and you will find his true love!
84.  Bigger is not always better
85.  Call people Back, Return emails, respond on facebook and twitter
86.  Time Management saves you hours in a day!!!
87.  Fail Fwd always. When you fail, not if, always learn and grow from your mistakes.
88.  You can’t score unless you shoot
89.  Always be honest even when it is hard.
90.  Own up to your mistakes
91.  You are one mistake away from a carrier ending decision.
92.   Never Overreact Stay Calm, take time to think about it then make a decision.
93.  Don’t talk too much people will lose respect for you. Be wise in what comes out of your mouth. Prov 18:21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
94.  Don’t burn bridges. Disrespect and dishonor will burn bridges. Stand up for what you believe but don’t take on battles that are disrespectful.
95.  Loyalty is not something that you should have to demand it should just be given.
96.  Always be ready you never know when something unexpected is going to happen
97.  Don’t let Orbital Decay happen. – When a rocket ship takes off it has amazing power. Once in space though it shuts off is busters and could get into orbital decay. It will then remain stagnate. The only way out of orbital decay is to hit the rocket busters again. This is also known as the S Curve Principal. Is your family, ministry or life in orbital decay?
98.  Cease every opportunity
99.   Keep your attitude in Check.
100.  Try something new, even if it is “not you.”
101. Love your spouse!!!  Never give up on each other.  God put you together. 

FOR PAST POST ON LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED:  GO HERE