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SERVE WEEK 2020
Like so many of us, Covid crushed our plans for the summer. No trips. No camps. No mission trips. If we were lucky, we were able to have limited or restricted gatherings with appropriate social distancing and safety precaution. And some of us, were left to online contact through Zoom, YouTube, Facebook, or other social media platforms. It's been a tough summer.
This would have been my second summer, the end of my first year. I arrived in June 2019, and jumped into a handful of student meet and greets. We hosted a series of events that we quickly threw together. It was simple, but it worked. But summer 2020 was to include a number of summer activities (bonfires, pool parties and such), summer camp options, a middle school mission trip, and a high school mission trip. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't frustrated when everything got shutdown. The shutdown forced a total redesign of our summer ministry schedule. In-person group events and activities were a no-go. Everything was online or 1-on-1. We spent a little more time on Zoom with meet ups and small gatherings. We increased our reach to students by asking our leaders to be a little more intentional with text messages, snail-mail notes, and social media engagement. It was ideal, but we did our best. The only thing I kept coming back to, was our missing mission trip. I really wanted to begin the process of helping students see the importance of serving others. How could we get our students to serve, while staying within the boundaries of the covid guidelines and restrictions? Enter the virtual mission trip.
Early in the summer, ideas for virtual mission trips started popping up around social media. At first glance I was skeptical. Students serving independently? On their own? Hmm. Then I started seeing pictures and reading the stories. Youth groups from all over were attempting these virtual mission trips, and reporting some fun moments shared by their students. Could it really work?
I wasn't sure that our group was ready for something like a virtual mission trip. Again, I was just wrapping up my first year with our students. Of this first year, I had only been with students for about 8 or 9 months. We were still getting to know each other, building trust, and shaping our new ministry.could we drum up enough interest? Would students sign up? Would they actually participate in something like this? I had my doubts. Then came the question...What would the students do? How would we construct a weeks worth of activities that we really couldn't physically be there to lead? And, how would we know if the students actually did anything? After about a month of thinking and praying about it, I decided to give it a try. I was sure how it would all come together, but one of the Core Values at our church is, Bold Failure Paves Bright Futures. Our church supports new things, even if everything crashes down on it. So with the confidence of knowing it would be okay, I sat down and created SERVE WEEK 2020.
Serve Week 2020, was created to give my students an easy way of serving the people around them, while helping them discover that they were made to serve. I combined a short video devotion with a prompt that led them to a daily serve challenge. There was a devotion and aa challenge for each day of the week, Monday through Friday. We then encouraged the students to take a few pictures of themselves accomplishing the challenge, that we would share on our social media.
We asked the students to sign up for Serve Week, hoping that by signing up, they would see and keep their commitment. We had about 10 students sign up. For a group our size, in the circumstances that we're in, that's not bad. I built a couple pages on our student website as our "home base" of information. Each morning, a few social media prompts reminded students to visit the website for the daily devotion and challenge. Halfway through the day, another reminder went out asking for photos to be sent in. We then shared the pictures on the following day. The week wrapped up with the students gathering at our church's community garden to harvest and weed. We worked, had pizza, and spent some time hanging out together. [ affiliate links ]
Here's what I learned...
1. Simple is Okay - I know I am one who can go "over the top" when it comes to planning events and activities. But bigger isn't always better. I chose to keep Serve Week simple, focusing on little things that the students could do on their own, or with just a little help from their parents. With the variety of restrictions, guidelines, and opinions differing from state to state and person to person, I wanted to make sure students were able to participate at a comfortable place. Plus, this was our first attempt on something like this, so simple was the best way to go. 2. Keep Expectations Low - Usually I am on the other side of this one. I generally keep higher expectations for my students. But knowing that not everyone would feel comfortable or ready to participate in our Serve Week, I decided to have real, but slightly lower expectations. I think this helped me see Serve Week as more of an experiment that we were trying, and less of an event where we expected some huge response. In the end, I was super delighted with the response from our students and our parents. 3. Make it Doable - With each daily challenge, I came up with something that I thoughts students could actually accomplish. The challenge was based on a concept or idea, with a number of possible options for completely the challenge. This gave freedom for the students to be creative and carry out the challenge the way they thought, using the gifts and talents they had. They were free to use our ideas and suggestions, or come up with their own. They key, however, was to make it something that the students could actually do one their own. 4. Have Fun with It - When doing the daily challenge, make sure it's something that is fun. Include family, friends, and leaders. Make it something that appeals to the students, something that they might want to do, or are already doing. Take pictures of and with the students. Strike a pose. Be silly or goofy. Have fun. 5. This is Going to be and Annual Event - The biggest thing I learned from our Serve Week is that it's something I want to see become part of our summer calendar. The thought of being able to schedule a week for students to serve the local community is a great thing. Not only does it provide students with an entry point to serving, but it allows for a week of focused missions and service within your community. I am already thinking about Serve Week 2021, and how we might use this week as a way for our students, families, and leaders to leave an impact on our community. So, what did our Serve Week 2020 look like? Well, I'm happy to share it with you! You can click on the links below to watch the daily devotion with the serve challenge and to see the webpages I created with additional ideas. You're free to borrow any ideas that you find helpful. (I know I borrowed ideas from other youth workers and organizations.) Did you host a virtual mission trip? How did it go? What did you do? Would you be willing to share your week, ideas, resources with others? Let us know! - jay
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THANKS FOR WATCHING!
Back to school,
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MEET JAY
Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of almost 30 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently serving as the Director of Family Ministry at Covenant Community Church, in Wheeling, WV. Jay has been married to Amy for 24 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, vlogger, and social media junkie. He is also the host of our new podcast, Conversations with Every Day Youth Workers! Jay is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and connecting and networking with youth workers to help them serve their students with passion and excellence.
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Mid-Summer Update
PODCAST EPISODE 11
Some things to listen for...
- We're looking for podcast guests! Come and share your story as a guest on an upcoming podcast!
- We're looking for youth workers who are crushing it! Have you mastered small groups? Maybe you have an incredible ministry to girls. Maybe your helping boys become men! We want you hear from you!
- Got a resource you want to share? A book, curriculum, a camp, or an organization; if it can help youth workers, we'd like to talk with you!
- DYM National Day of Volunteer Youth Ministry Training is coming! And, Jay is hosting the conference for Western PA, Eastern Ohio, and Northern West Virginia!
Visit our website: http://www.TheYouthWorkerDaily.com for all the details and to register for DYM National Day of Volunteer Youth Ministry Training.
SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US!
You have a story; what God is doing in your life and in your ministry. As youth workers, we watch as God moves through what we do to change the lives of our students, their families, our leaders, and even us. Too often we find ourselves with this God-sized story and no one to share them with. That's why Conversations with Every Day Youth Workers exists. We want to hear your story!
Come and be a guest on the podcast! Share your story. Pass along the ideas, lessons learned, and experience you're having. You can celebrate your wins and work through the fails. Whether you are in a big church or a small church, what you are doing with students matters, and I love hearing what God is doing within your ministry. Reach out to me! Click on the link below and be a guest on an upcoming episode of Conversations of Every Day Youth Workers! We will set up a time to talk and set a date for the podcast to air! |
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MEET JAY
Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of almost 30 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently serving as the Director of Family Ministry at Covenant Community Church, in Wheeling, WV. Jay has been married to Amy for 24 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, vlogger, and social media junkie. He is also the host of our new podcast, Conversations with Every Day Youth Workers! Jay is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and connecting and networking with youth workers to help them serve their students with passion and excellence.
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SEASON WRAP UP W/ Jay Higham
PODCAST EPISODE 10
Share your story with us!
Come and be a guest on the podcast! Share your story. Pass along the ideas, lessons learned, and experience you're having. You can celebrate your wins and work through the fails. Whether you are in a big church or a small church, what you are doing with students matters, and I love hearing what God is doing within your ministry.
Reach out to me! Click on the link below and be a guest on an upcoming episode of Conversations of Every Day Youth Workers! We will set up a time to talk and set a date for the podcast to air!
have you missed an episode?
Meet jay
Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of almost 30 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently serving as the Director of Family Ministry at Covenant Community Church, in Wheeling, WV. Jay has been married to Amy for 24 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, vlogger, and social media junkie. He is also the host of our new podcast, Conversations with Every Day Youth Workers! Jay is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and connecting and networking with youth workers to help them serve their students with passion and excellence.
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As a youth worker who has served within the church for decades, (not just leading my students, but also preached numerous times from the pulpit, made hospital visits, officiated weddings, counseled students and adults, and stepped up to help out in other larger leadership roles) I can't tell you how many times I heard that question! When are you going to become a real pastor?
I think it's a question that a great many of us have heard. The truth is, youth workers are pastors; real pastors. Sure we might not call have the title, or be recognized by the church leadership as a pastor. And, yes, depending on the church or denomination, there might be exams and interview to be completed before getting the official title. But if we set all of that aside, at the heart of what we do, we are pastors!
So, as I drove home from a youth workers convention, having just had a couple conversations regarding the question, I had the idea for this t-shirt; "Yes...I am a REAL PASTOR!
Since I already had a t-shirt press and connections with a t-shirt distributor and printer, I decided to make up a few t-shirts and offer them up to youth workers. Well, that was about 6 or 7 years ago. Just recently, while going through some boxes in our storage, I found a few t-shirts left over from the original printing. I also found some of the original graphics that I can press onto any other t-shirt. Then I found a box of blank t-shirts!
The original shirt is a basic, black cotton tee with white letters and my domain name, www.JayHigham.com.
I have this shirt in the remaining sizes and counts.
- Adult Small: 5
- Adult Medium: 5
- Adult Large: 3
- Adult XLarge: 1
But I also have a limited number of prints. 12 to be exact. That means I can press the graphic on one of the following...
Thanks for your support and consideration. Oh, and if this tee isn't what you're looking for, don't worry, next week I will be updating my online store with some brand new t-shirt options created for the every day youth worker! So stay tuned!
Each t-shirt is only $10, which includes shipping and handling!
That's a pretty good deal!
meet jayJay Higham is a veteran youth worker of almost 30 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently serving as the Director of Family Ministry at Covenant Community Church, in Wheeling, WV. Jay has been married to Amy for 24 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, vlogger, and social media junkie. He is also the host of our new podcast, Conversations with Every Day Youth Workers! Jay is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and connecting and networking with youth workers to help them serve their students with passion and excellence. |
Say Hello to Josh McLemore
PODCAST EPISODE 09
Please follow, like and share! Thanks!
AMPLIFIED LEADERSHIP - Dan Reiland
The leaders you develop today will determine your ministry’s future.
If you want your ministry to reach its maximum potential, all that God wants for you, it is essential that you develop strong leaders. In Amplified Leadership, “pastor’s coach” Dan Reiland gives you a proven process for developing new leaders that are established spiritually and trained practically. Not just a checklist of things you should do, Amplified Leadership provides an intentional development process that starts with your relationships and ends with empowered leaders who are ready to make an impact. With personal examples and proven advice, Reiland gives you the tools you need to:
The ability to develop leaders is a life-changing gift. When you successfully empower and release people to leadership, you give them the opportunity to fulfill their potential and advance the mission of the church. |
meet josh mclemore
Josh McLemore is the youth worker at Douglas First United Methodist Church, in Douglas, GA. Josh is also the host of the podcast, Church Hurts, and a Grow Strategist with StuffYouCanUse.com. Josh is married with 2 kids. Check out Josh's links below.
Josh's Twitter: twitter.com/joshmclemore |
DISCOVER GROW CURRICULUM
If you are looking for biblical material that is revenant, easy to teach, and applicable for today's students, check out Grow Curriculum.
We use Grow Kids with our children's ministry, and we love it. Easy to use. Biblically solid. And, packed with activities, ideas, hacks, and helps. Plus, it is incredibly affordable. Take a few minutes to discover and learn about Grow Curriculum. |
meet jay
Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of almost 30 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently serving as the Director of Family Ministry at Covenant Community Church, in Wheeling, WV. Jay has been married to Amy for 24 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, vlogger, and social media junkie. He is also the host of our new podcast, Conversations with Every Day Youth Workers! Jay is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and connecting and networking with youth workers to help them serve their students with passion and excellence.
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Do you know travis deans?
PODCAST EPISODE 08
Please follow, like and share! Thanks!
ORDER YOUR TEE & SUPPORT TYWD!
Order your very own The Youth Worker Daily Tee,
and support the blog and the podcast! |
Meet Travis Deans
Travis Deans is the Western Pennsylvania Coordinator for the National Network of Youth Ministries, co-executive director of Teens For Christ, and Family Life Pastor at Cherry Tree Alliance Church. He graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 1996 with a degree in youth ministry and has worked full-time with Teens For Christ for 24 years equipping students to be missionaries to their high schools.
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Watch the interview video
save the date...
STUDENT OUTREACH CLUBS
Student Outreach Clubs are an of Equal Access Act club that churches can equip their students to launch and lead in their schools with a focus on outreach - sharing the love and truth of God with every student in their schools in creative and fun ways. Public schools are a mission field and churches need to equip their students to be missionaries to reach that field! Imagine the students from your church sharing the Gospel with their school's football team, musical cast & crew, basketball team, marching band, etc. Student Outreach Clubs are a way for them to do that.
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meet jay
Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of almost 30 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently serving as the Director of Family Ministry at Covenant Community Church, in Wheeling, WV. Jay has been married to Amy for 24 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, vlogger, and social media junkie. He is also the host of our new podcast, Conversations with Every Day Youth Workers! Jay is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and connecting and networking with youth workers to help them serve their students with passion and excellence.
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Reaching Your community WITH micah marshall
PODCAST EPISODE 07
support the youth worker daily!
The Youth Worker Daily is growing! The vlog, the blog, resource page, and now the new podcast! Help us keep these free resources going! Our hope is to continue creating and offering tools, tips, resources and helps so you thrive in you ministry!
Please take a few minute to check out our new webshop with t-shirts, mugs, books and more! When you order, a percentage of your purchase comes back to support The Youth Worker Daily! Thank you for helping us reach and encourage youth workers like you! |
meet micah marshall
33 years old and married to Bethany Marshall! Experienced Youth Pastor with a demonstrated history of working in full time youth ministry for nine years. Eight years which have been with a ministry now faith based nonprofit organization that Micah founded called Refuge Youth Network. Hired by several churches (different denominations) as their youth pastor over separate sites across Central Pa. Micah loves hanging out with his wife and dog Timber! He is also a huge Star Wars, Marvel and Sci Fi fan!!
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Meet Jay Higham
Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of almost 30 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently serving as the Director of Family Ministry at Covenant Community Church, in Wheeling, WV. Jay has been married to Amy for 24 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, vlogger, and social media junkie. He is also the host of our new podcast, Conversations with Every Day Youth Workers! Jay is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and connecting and networking with youth workers to help them serve their students with passion and excellence.
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Author
Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of over 28 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently serving as the director of family ministry at a church, located in West Virginia. Jay has been married to Amy for over 23 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, vlogger, and social media junkie. He is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and training youth workers to love and serve their students with passion and excellence.
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