But what if the conference came to the church? What if training were specifically designed to address the unique needs and passions of an individual church? What if this training were followed up by ongoing coaching to assist in the implementation of the training? With all the value of conferences one aspect that’s a struggle is the implementation of what is heard. In a conference there’s so much information that many times it’s like a fly taking a drink of from a fire hose. When there is so much information and “training” there’s only a small percentage of what is heard really applied to the local church student ministry. This is an issue no matter how great the conference.
Who we are...
Our team has a heart for the health of the church, youth ministry, youth leaders and students. We love the privilege of serving youth ministry and the church by offering ongoing relational coaching to youth ministry leadership. Although consulting feels like a professional approach to ministry effectiveness our desire is not only to be professional but very personal. While providing assessment and ministry advice our greatest value comes from a longer term coaching relationship.
Here are a few of the words to describe our values...
Relationship - Whether it is our relationship to God, relationship with students or the student directors, life to life / relational ministry in our opinion is the most effective way encourage and assist student ministries. Relationships that begin in the consulting process will hopefully be long term as people and ministries grow and experience new challenges.
Longevity - Healthy student ministries are typically led by leadership who has been around for 4 years or more. Healthy student ministry directors in healthy church situations results in longevity and deeper impact. Youth leaders who are better equipped, coached and well supported will be more likely to stay in a ministry position for the long haul.
Leadership - Every believer is called to lead. Our desire is that staff and students would better understand their giftedness and how to serve within their ministry context. Life 2 Life brings tools to the table to help leaders discover, develop and utilize their God given abilities.
Coaching - Consulting can sometimes be defined in these 2 steps.
Assessment
Advice
We go way beyond these 2 steps. With relationship being a value our desire is to stick with a church for as long as needed to insure implementation of healthy effective ministry. Of course clear and focused assessment and calculated advice is necessary, but there must be more. After assessment and advice, Life 2 Life seeks to provide ongoing support and coaching in areas that need special attention.
God Dependent - ministry isn’t just about assessment, strategy and team building. Ministry is really about the power of God working in and through people. It doesn’t matter how much ministry experience one has if God is not fueling the consulting process. Creating and sustaining an environment of prayer is essential in any ministry and consulting process.
Listening - With a personal approach to consulting we desire to understand the depth and complexity of issues a ministry is facing. Before applying advice and support it’s important to fully understand. This means asking great questions and truly seeking to hear what is being said about particular ministry situations.
Gentle Honesty - The last thing any ministry leader needs is someone who won’t share the real issues. Sometimes the truth is difficult to communicate and even more difficult to hear. If the real issues aren’t addressed and dealt with it’s kind of like putting a band aid on a tumor. Truth must be shared in patience, wisdom and gentleness but it must be shared.
Who can benefit from “Life 2 Life”?
What kind of churches could benefit from a relationship with Life2Life? There are several stages student ministries experience that are prime situations to benefit from outside assessment.
Here are 3
Transition Stage -
Your ministry is in a transitional stage and in need of staff leadership. Having no student ministry leader doesn’t have to mean no effective student ministry. Our desire would be to help the ministry to continue to have an impact on the students who are there and work towards seeing the ministry in a healthy position for the new leadership. This may include training of adult leaders, assistance in the interview process and shepherding of existing staff. We can also help to fill some of the gaps that are left when a ministry is without a leader. Whatever your particular needs are, Life 2 Life will tailor make it’s relationship to fit the unique needs of the church during this challenging and exciting time.
Struggling Stage -
Perhaps your ministry is in the place where there is great potential in the leadership but there is a gap between solid leadership and effective ministry. Life 2 Life can assess the strengths, weaknesses opportunities and barriers. From there we can provide advice, on site training and ongoing coaching of the ministry leadership. This approach will reasonably assure implementation of healthy ministry strategy and practice while shepherding the heart of the ministry leadership.
Healthy Stage -
Sometimes the most dangerous stage for a ministry is when things are going really well. Perhaps you have seen several years of effective ministry but don’t want to get in a rut. We can add an extra set of eyes to what you are seeing and ask questions to promote thinking outside the box. This relationship may include a greater emphasis on student leadership or thinking through how to implement a intern ministry to serve youth ministry on a broader level.
The Process -
The first step in building a relationship is a series of phone interviews to determine if the consulting relationship will be beneficial to the church. In this step there must be honest dialogue about the issues facing a students ministry and if Life 2 Life can truly serve the ministry with excellence. It is also in the step that clear expectations will be agreed upon. That way there are no surprises about what will be delivered in the consulting process.
The second step will include an on site visit. This visit can last up to four days depending on how long it takes to gain exposure to all the programs the student ministry has to offer. The purpose of this visit is to give the consultant a feel for the culture and heart of the church. It will also act as a great opportunity to build and deepen relationship with the student ministry staff / leader that will yield fruit in the weeks / months ahead.
Step three is all about creating an assessment plan that will focus on assisting the ministry in meeting it’s goals / challenges. This plan may include...
Coaching of the ministry leader /staff
One time or ongoing training of adult leadership
Advice on pastoral issues
Consulting in the area of strategic planning
Speaking to students
Parent training
Staff team development / team building
Spiritual shepherding of staff team / leader
Advice / assistance on hiring student ministry staff
Student Leadership development / retreats
Communication Plan
Pastor / leader speaking assessment
The fourth step is the implementation of the plan. The length of the consulting relationship will be determined by the church but also by Life 2 Life’s reasonable ability to serve effectively.
You can reach us at life2lifecoach@gmail.com
One Person's Recommendation...
Dear Jeff,
I was the Chairman of our church's search committee when we were looking for a new Director of Youth Ministries. We met David in our search process and our church decided to hire him as a consultant to help us in our transition time while we were looking. David helped us define what we were looking for in a director, and ways to lay a solid foundation in our youth ministry on which to build. He did training sessions with our Discipleship group leaders as well as with our youth staff. His model of training and discipleship is still in place within our student ministry, four years later.
Our youth ministry was going through some very difficult and challenging times and David helped us build community, accountability and communication not only between staff members, but with parents and students, as well. Our staff was young and somewhat immature and David was able to gently ( and not so gently, when needed) shepherd them and guide them. He also provided some much needed, unbiased reflections on personnel and programming changes that needed to happen.
We found David very easy to work with. He is discerning and wise, transparent and real. He doesn't claim to have all of the answers and is open to ideas and input from others.
I would say that David's greatest strengths are that he is an excellent communicator and listener and has a gift for "seeing the big picture" and not getting bogged down in "church politics." He also makes all shareholders (parents, youth staff and students) feel "heard" and affirmed. His knowledge of scripture and understanding of the youth culture plus maturity and discernment makes him somewhat unique in the field of youth ministry!
I would say the biggest influence he had on our youth staff was to change the focus from programs to relationship building and discipleship.
As far as weaknesses, honestly, I can't think of any, except that we couldn't have more time with him. (He was in Atlanta and we were in Memphis)
I am not sure exactly how long he officially consulted with us, maybe 8 months. We have continued to call on him for input and insight. I am still praying that someday he will get a call from the Lord to move to Memphis and be on staff at our church ! :)
I hope this helps you as you determine how best to serve your students and staff. David is the best!
Grace and peace-
Darilyn Christenbury
