THINGS I WOULD CHANGE OR PUT A DIFFERENT EMPHASIS ON ...

1. PERSPECTIVE: (How does a young youth worker learn to gain perspective?)

   I would take a look at the "end" before I began.

   1. What would I want to see accomplished?
   2. Would I be able/willing to pay the price?
   3. Would I finish the job?

2. HEALTH: From the start I would develop both a spiritual regimen and a physical regimen. To keep myself spiritually powerful, healthy, active and happy.

   NOTE: Diet, exercise, pace, and rest.

3. EDUCATION: I would take two years in a good Bible School and a year or two working close with a winner in youth and children's work. If I had to support my family, I would work and serve part time in a small church, learning by experience.

   NOTE: I would endeavor to spend more time with older "saints", experienced winners, learning their wisdom. I would seek for wisdom.

4. CHANGE: I would accept the fact that my philosophy would be necessarily changing as I matured. I would know that stretch & flex are necessary.

5. CHURCH: I would think and pray as seriously about my first church, as I would about my "first" marriage.
   1. The history and philosophy, doctrine and vision of the pastor.
   2. The history, philosophy and vision of the deacons.
   3. The history of the church.
   4. The potential of the area.

   NOTE: I would prefer a small growing church—money & perks would be secondary.

   CAUTION: Watch an existing strong music program or club program.

6. COMMUNICATION: I would put a priority early in my ministry on the importance of "communication." Not simply the area of teaching or "platform" but in sharing my ministry. Ignorance creates its own dark vacuum. In this dark vacuum, problems spawn and grow. Misunderstandings, misinterpretation, lies and fantasies grow to dangerous size. We must communicate! I would make a special effort to communicate my ministry with my church, pastor staff, deacons, parents, etc. By ...
   1. "Leaking the positive."
   2. Pass along the positive to key leaders.
   3. Be represented at key church meetings.
   4. Create a prayer letter and/or utilize the Church newsletter.

   NOTE: You can't afford to be too busy to communicate!

7. JOB DESCRIPTION: I would ask for or create a job description to be sure where my responsibilities started and ended. I would ask for authority to match my responsibility.

8. POLITICS: I would realize the importance of Church politics and would learn early "the facts of church life,"(power, ambition, ego) in order to ...
   1. Flex—give and take.
   2. Compromise. (I would be industrious ... not ambitious!)
   3. Predict direction.

9. PARENTS: I would work more with parents. However, I would be cautious of creating a controlling power which could ultimately turn on me and/or cripple my ministry.

10. INCREMENTS OF PROGRESS: (Develop) The traditional marks of growth, attendance and activities (full calendar) we will always have with us. This indication of growth isn't altogether honest. I personally would strive to "be patient and faithful" and to look for individual growth signs and lifestyle changes, settling for smaller and deeper signs of maturity. Working from the heart out. I would look at growth from a different perspective. Plow, plant and water while I wait or the first patch to bear fruit!

11. PLATFORM: I would place less emphasis and dependence on (The performing Arts!) platform performance." platform "showmanship." More on person-to-person and small group teaching and interaction in the right environment. We are creating "spectator " Christians ! Glitz christianoty!

12. ADMINISTRATION: I would work more on "administrating" without being an administrator. Working with the "troops" is my strength and reward. I would endeavor to disciple my administrators.

13. EVANGELISM: (Develop) I would place a heavier emphasis on evangelism. This is the heart of real growth. New Lives. New potential.

14. DISCIPLESHIP: I would start early to attract & develop disciples.
    1. Research and find potential leadership.
    2. Create my own curriculum.
    3. Disciple my leaders.
    4. Soon as practical, I would create an ongoing discipleship program.

15. TOOLS: I would acquire quality tools—personal tools—just as soon as I could.
    1. Computer.
    2. Library.
    3. Video Camera.
    4. Good Camcorder.

16. CYCLES: I would be more patient with my ministry. Rein in my zeal a little. Realizing there are "cycles" and "group chemestries." over which I have no control. My philosophy would be "plod and ride." When the going is uphill, plod. When you hit a wave, ride! Once the momentum is going, keep it going at all cost. When you are rolling, really rolling, you can climb any hill! (When your momentum stops, you are back to square one).

17. PROBLEMS: From the first, I would have spent more time preventing problems (positive). Consequently, less time correcting problems (negative.)

II. EMPHASIS AND PRIORITIES I WOULD CONTINUE ...

1. CALLING: I would continue to be, basically, a youth man ... Looking at a long haul ministry in one church.

2. SINGLE: I would prefer to remain single ... I like the freedom!

3. PRIORITY: My first priority would continue to be my spiritual source of power. Spiritual energy & vision. Quality time alone each day with God!

4. SPUNK: I would still make waves. I wouldn't simply buy the "party line" because it's the "party line." I would continue to fight the system as it continues to "secularize" & paralyze the true body.

5. TRAVEL: I would continue to travel the world and bring back vision, challenge and adventure from afar.

6. LEADERSHIP: Personal leadership based on love and respect ... reinforced by positive modeling ... rather than traditional leadership based on position.

7. TEACHING: I would continue to strive for "Christian Education" a distinct type of teaching that goes to the heart! "Heart to heart" teaching is more effective in changing lives than "mouth to mind." Teaching that is relevant that produces practical results ... encouraging students to become functioning members of the body. I would continue to place an emphasis on environment ... and use the environment to help my teaching.

8. RECORD: I would continue to record all of my speaking. From the start I would record class teaching, group teaching and outside speaking. All speaking would go into a book or computer.

9. MINISTRY: I would continue to push ministry* "doing the Word" over social programs. Social programs would maintain their proper balance as merely a means to the end of ministry* ... and changing lives! I don't like preaching "Four-wall Christianity" I would continue to place a special emphasis on ministering to the poor, orphaned and underprivileged on a regular basis ... and I would model this myself. (*Ministry: Discipleship. Working personally and individually with kids to develop and groom them into maturing).

10. DISCIPLESHIP: I would continue with a heavy emphasis on discipling. Lifestyle, dimensional, Christianity.

11. BIBLE SCHOOL: I would continue to encourage my kids to go to Bible School and challenge them to make a difference in the world. I would challenge them to fulltime ministry.

12. FUN AND GAMES: My philosophy toward fun and games would continue much as it has. A minimum amount of (social synthetics) ... fun, games and entertainment. I've learned one can easily exhaust his activity and entertainment potential all the while creating kids with a voracious appetite for more fun and better activities! I would just have what's necessary in line with the maturity of the group. Social interaction, fun, cohesiveness encouraged through "working" together in service to others.

13. MISSIONS: Foreign missions would continue to have a high profile in my ministry. I see my youth as the possible raw material for missionaries.

14. STREET KIDS: I would continue going after street kids. Fresh blood for my youth group. Winning them and keeping them.

15. ROMANCE: I would continue to "low key" romance and coupling. Emphasizeing more friendship and "group" socializing. The group ends up happier, more giving and more open to strangers.

16. BOYS: I would continue to place a heavy emphasis on working with boys. Invest in guys and you will have men. With a good group of guys, you will have a healthy group of girls. Conversely, with an emphasis on girls, you won't necessarily have many guys, and the guys you do have.

17. PARA-CHURCH: I would continue to work with and support para-church youth organizations. Great potential for new blood. And we need new blood!

18. SPAN: I would continue, as I have, stretching to work lightly with several age levels (children and junior high) sowing relationship in many age level "gardens." They are coming my way!

19. PROGRESSION: I would continue to have youth programs and activities built on a progression. Making sure the individuals in each major youth department were "looking forward" to moving up into the next age group. That the next department would be a different and new experience with a group of kids ready to receive their new members.

20. CONTROL: (Group discipline!) I would continue to hold tight control over the youth group.

21. I never let my youth group or its leaders go ahead of their leash!

22. LEADERS: I would continue to discover, attract and develop and disciple young leaders