Nick Blevins Family Ministry Podcast: Children | Youth | Students | NextGen

In this episode, I break down the 5-part strategy my church uses to partner with parents. I walk through these five steps, talk about what they look like practically – week to week, and month to month – for us. I also draw a roadmap, detailing how churches can begin to take steps toward partnering with parents, while not doing it all at once. The ultimate goal of parent partnership is to help parents take one step in leading their child spiritually. I hope that this 5-part strategy helps you do that.

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Links Mentioned in this Episode

A Strategy for Partnering with Parents Ministry Boost Course

5-Part Strategy for Partnering with Parents Notes

5-Part Strategy for Partnering with Parents PPT

Key Things to Acknowledge when Partnering with Parents

1. Parents have the most influence in the life of their child
2. Partnering with parents is critical
3. Every parent is not in the same stage in their parenting or in their faith
4. Partnering always feels like “extra” because it's not “always coming” like Sunday is

5-Part Strategy for Partnering with Parents

1. Communication
2. Resources
3. Events
4. Small Group Leaders
5. Community for Parents

Resources for Parents

• DriveFaithHome.com
• HomeFrontMag.com
• Crosswalk.com
• Homeword.com
• Parent Cue
• SaddlebackParents.com
• Parents.PortCityChurch.org
• TheParentHub.net
• KidsMinistry.Lifeway.com
• Fuller Youth Institute

Roadmap for Partnering with Parents

1. M

In this episode, I talk with Christina Teevan about special needs. Christina leads a special needs ministry in Ashland, Ohio, that is all about serving special needs families in the community and helping other churches and organizations serve them well. Christina consults, helps train volunteers, and has a lot of wisdom for parent partnerships. In this conversation, she breaks down what some of that looks like and gives tips for churches that are committed to serving special needs families.

Christina Teevan

Connect with Christina on Facebook and Ashland Special Needs Ministry Facebook Page

AshlandSpecialNeedsMinistry.org

Email: [email protected]

FREE Ministry Boost Webinar on Volunteer Training- Sign up HERE Links Mentioned in this EpisodeJoni and Friends Camp – Check out the family retreats offered by this great organizationAshland Special Needs Ministry Areas of Expertise

1. Rooms/Enivronment
2. Curriculum
3. Volunteers
4. Training

Action Items

1. Connect with some organizations in your community that serve special needs families
2. Consider partnering with other churches to provide a respite night for special needs families
3. Act on specific things that are barriers to special needs families in your church

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Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In this episode, I talk with Keith Ferrin about his new book, The Expert Interviews: All About Family Ministry. We touch on some of the interviews and conversations Keith includes in the book, and then he shares highlights and common themes that came out in those conversations but weren't written about in the book. Finally, Keith talks about some of the resources he's put out all about helping kids love the Bible.

Keith Ferrin

Connect with Keith on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

KeithFerrin.com

FREE Ministry Boost Webinar on Volunteer Training- Sign up HERE Links Mentioned in this EpisodeLike Ice CreamBible Praying for ParentsHow to Enjoy Reading Your BibleFalling in Love with God's WordRapid Bible Read ThroughAction Items

1. Evaluate your personal faith and health
2. Get the book

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In this episode, Student Minister, Jess Berryhill, shares about the special needs ministry she has built for the students at Mt. Pleasant Church. She walks through the story of how their special needs ministry started, the heart behind it, what helped it grow, and what it looks like now. We also talk about including special needs students versus separating them from the whole of student ministry, what trips and retreats look like, and how to partner with parents throughout the process.Jess Berryhill

Connect with Jess on Facebook and Instagram

Email: [email protected]

Mt. Pleasant Church

FREE Ministry Boost Webinars on Baby Dedication and Volunteer TrainingSign up HERELinks Mentioned in This EpisodeBoosts for Mt. Pleasant Special Needs Ministry

1. Moving youth group to Tuesday nights with the Upward basketball league
2. Hosting a Night to Shine through the Tim Tebow Foundation
3. Getting connected with organizations in the community doing great things with social needs families
4. Tapping into student IEPs and having conversations with parents

Action Items

1. Evaluate your own student ministry
2. Ask: Are there opportunities in the community or conversations that would further our special needs ministry that I need to pursue?

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In this episode, I talk with Craig Cable of Group Publishing. Craig oversees the publishing of different ministry resources, and also has experience in safety and security. He is now leading an initiative church security, and helps train ministry leaders on how to create safe environments. Craig talks about common mistakes he sees churches make, best practices leaders can have in place to be proactive, and how to begin implementing a plan for security at your church.

Craig Cable

Email Craig at [email protected]

Call Craig at 970-292-4697

Group Publishing

FREE Ministry Boost Webinars on Baby Dedication and Volunteer TrainingSign up HERE Links Mentioned in This EpisodeCommon Risks We Miss

• Slips and falls
• Sexual misconduct
• Theft, burglary, and/or vandalism
• Medical incidents

Developing a Plan for Church Security

• Get leadership buy-in
• Determine a person or group of people to run point and be responsible for the plan
• Budget for background checks and re-screening
• Never leave a child alone with an adult
• Require training (with scenario training)  for volunteers
• Be proactive about having conversations concerning domestic disputes

Assessments for Church Security

• Children’s Assessment
• Youth Assessment
• Pastors' Assessment

Safe & Secure Church Training Kit

Action Items

1. List the things Craig talked about and use them as an audit for your church. Ask: What do we not have in place?
2. Check out the assessments
3. Look through the Safe & Secure Church Training Kit
4. Have a conversation about church security with the rest of your staff

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In this episode, I talk with author and pastor, Chap Clark. Chap has written many books and taught extensively on how to create church that will reach the next generation. He and I have a conversation about his new book, Adoptive Church. Chap shares a lot of wisdom and practical steps churches can take to create environments where the next generation is not just taught faith, but is given a a place to belong and adopted into a family of faith.

Chap Clark

Connect with Chap on Facebook and Twitter

St. Andrews Presbyterian Church

FREE Ministry Boost Webinars on Baby Dedication and Volunteer TrainingSign up HERE Links Mentioned in This EpisodeFuller Youth InstituteSticky FaithAdoptive ChurchGrowing YoungBranches CurriculumDownload Youth Ministry4 Steps to Creating an Adoptive Church

1. Get senior leadership to buy in
2. Agree on language and put words around creating an adoptive environment
3. Look at your structures and staffing and ask: What is our goal?
4. Have conversations that carefully evaluate the first 3 steps

Action Items

1. Read the book, Adoptive Church
2. Develop action steps from the book, based on your church and your ministry

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In this episode, NextGen Pastor, Corey Ray Jones, talks about the new building and community center his church recently opened. Corey walks through how their church went about learning the needs of their community, the people they talked to, the conversations that were had, and how they leverage the community center in every way to be FOR the people of their city.

Corey Ray Jones

Connect with Corey on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: [email protected]

CoreyRayJones.com

Southern Hills – The Church at City Station

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Episode 033: Corey Ray Jones on Productivity and Effective Planning

Parent Chat – Matt McKee breaks down key principles, questions, and conversations for parents as they raise their kids in an age of technologyAction Items

1. Check out CityStation.org
2. Ask: Is there a way we can leverage our space to serve the community?

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In this episode, Kenny Conley and Kevin Monahan host a panel discussion of NextGen leaders centered around the question, “Should I stay or go?” In ministry, we are constantly evaluating where God has us, and where he is calling us. We want to be prayerful, seek wisdom, and ask good questions in discerning this. These leaders, who have made decisions to stay and go in different seasons, share great insight and helpful tools for wrestling with this question.

NextGen Leaders

Kevin Monahan from 12Stone Church

Kenny Conley from Mission Community Church

Gina McClain from Cross Point Church

John Huber from Westside Family Church

Jim Murphy from The NextGen Blog

Links Mentioned in This Episode3 Questions to Ask

1. Has leadership or the vision changed?
2. Has my job changed?
3. Can I still lead or be led here?

Stay or Go? – Jim Wideman's survey to help you discern whether or not you should stay or go in ministryA Tale of Three Kings – Gene Edwards breaks down the stories of three kings from the Bible and offers practical, helpful teaching on brokenness and humility7 Signs It’s Time to Leave – Blog post by Carey NieuwhofWhen It Is Time To Go – Blog post by Kenny ConleyDear Pastor: Stay Where You Are – Blog post by Sam LuceAction Items

1. Check out the resources above if you are considering the question, “Should I stay or should I go?“

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leav

In this episode, I share a tribe conversation hosted by Ministry Boost for student ministry leaders. These leaders from all different churches talk about series planning, how they do small group leader training, and their best tips and practices for events/retreat training.

Student Ministry Leaders

Kevin Monahan from 12Stone Church

Jeffrey Wright from 12Stone Church

Blake Godbee from 12Stone Church

Kenny Conley from Mission Community Church

Justin McVey from Sandals Church

Chuck Butler from Cross Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode – Check out the live video here on the Ministry Boost FB Page

Habitudes – Habits and attitudes to adopt as you learn how to lead yourself

Resources

• Orange
• North Point Ministries
• TrainedUp.Church
• Ministry Boost

Apps/Tools for Student Ministry Leaders

• Trello
• Slack
• Google Drive
• Zoom

Action Items

1. Jump into a coaching group at YLCoaching.com

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In this episode, listen in as elementary ministry leaders share what they're doing in large group time, how they recruit large group volunteers, what teaching and storytelling looks like, and how their substitute system works across all their volunteer teams.

Elementary Ministry Leaders

Kenny Conley from Mission Community Church

Lisa Molite from Community Christian ChurchJarrod Harris from Mission Community ChurchSarah Richards from Church of the Open DoorAshley Davis at 12Stone Church, Snellville CampusBrandon Horst from Centerpointe ChurchLinks Mentioned in This Episode – Check out the live video here on the Ministry Boost FB Page

YouLead Coaching – Ministry Boost and Orange have partnered together to help facilitate tribes and coaching for ministry leaders who are in the same areas and facing similar things

Rejection Proof

Action Items

1. Jump into a coaching group at YLCoaching.com

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!