Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Today we're talking
about pro tips for how to retain
your volunteer team for thelong haul.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Welcome to the
Ministry Coach Podcast, where we
give you weekly tips andtactics to help you fast-track
the growth and health of youryouth ministry.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
My name is Jeff
Laskola and this is Kristen
Laskola, and today we're goingto talk about something that
youth pastors want to talk aboutall the time, because it will
always be not a challenge, butsomething that you've never
really arrived at and can checkoff your list is how to retain
your volunteers.
Like you can never say, oh,I've retained them, like I can
(00:45):
just let my foot off the gas now.
This is like an ongoing thing.
As long as you have a teamworking under you volunteers,
leaders, directors, interns,whatever you're calling them, or
a mix of all of it you've neverarrived at.
Well, I retained them.
It's like you've got tocontinue to retain them.
(01:06):
You know, it's like that thingof like when people get married
and they're like, well, I gotyou.
Now I can just, you know, putmy feet up and the relationship
kind of unravels.
It's like, well, just becausesomeone's on the team and we've
successfully recruited them,maybe you even trained them and
you're very proud of likeequipping them and training them
(01:26):
.
But how do you keep them onyour team?
How do you keep them interested?
And I talk a lot about this atyouth ministry conferences,
workshops, whatever it might be,because this is now like we're
in it for the long haul now,like you've done the preliminary
work and how do I keep you onmy team and some of my
(01:48):
volunteers?
You may have heard me mentionon episodes prior.
They've been on my team foryears years and years and years
and years.
And so a while ago I startedteaching other youth pastors.
Well, how do you keep thesegems of people engaged in youth
ministry that long?
And I think my longestvolunteer right now is like
(02:09):
something like I don't I'm goingto get the math wrong, and then
someone's going to see me atchurch and be like, no, it's
actually this, so I don't know.
But years and years and yearsand years.
So, number one, I think one ofthe best ways to retain your
volunteers.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
And again, these
aren't like manipulative tactics
, these are just good, but theycan be if you want them to be.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
We don't want them to
be.
They're just good habits ofrelationship that you need to be
aware of.
And it's to become a pastor toyour team.
And I want to stop for a secondon the word pastor, because
people get weird about that wordand for a variety of reasons.
But here's all pastor reallymeans is shepherd, that's it.
(02:50):
Like the word pastor reallyisn't even found in the Bible.
So it's a position that we'vecreated to reflect the work that
God asks us to do.
What does he ask Peter to do?
Feed my sheep, take care of mysheep.
And that, I think, kind ofbirthed this concept of what we
call a pastor someone who caresfor the flock and the sheep.
So we're not getting weirdabout well, who's a pastor,
(03:13):
who's not?
Who can have that title, whocan't?
Like, if you're shepherding andcaring for God's people, then
that's a pastor.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Right, by definition,
you're pastoring a flock.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Exactly so.
You know you're looking at yourstudents and you're like that's
a pastor by definition.
You're pastoring a flock,exactly so.
You're looking at your studentsand you're like that's my flock
, but we've talked about before,your leaders are also your
flock.
So putting on that pastor hatfor them as well is really
important.
And I think why people stay ona team, especially when they're
just getting their feet wet andthey're like I don't know about
this whole youth ministry thing,you, as the ministry lead, have
(03:49):
such great power and influencein that.
Because I remember when I wasstarting out in junior high
ministry, this super sweet girlnamed Holly, who's still one of
my best best friends, asked meto volunteer with junior hires.
I'm like what, I'll go check itout, but I no promises Right,
and it took me a while to like,click with the ministry and
(04:12):
click with the students and theother leaders.
But you want to know why Istayed Holly.
Every time after youth groupshe would like pull me aside.
How did it go?
And how was your small group?
And what did you think?
And I'd be like I don't know.
The kids like weren't reallylistening.
It was kind of tricky.
Oh man, I know Like, and shewould talk me through it and
work through it and talk to mysmall group, or, you know, help
(04:34):
coach me, and you know evenlittle things, like every time a
holiday popped up, she had alittle.
I still have these socks.
She got me for Valentine's day.
You know just these sweetlittle gestures to say like I
see you and she really.
You know I was in a datingrelationship at the time and she
don't be jealous, jeff.
(04:54):
I was like 18 years old, okay,um, and she would like.
You know I was trying to decidewhether I should break up with
him break up get rid of thatloser?
I did and I it was hard.
You know I was like I don'tknow and she's like talking
through it with me and you knowit was like she cared for me as
(05:16):
a person, not just like allright, here's the deal.
You need to be here seven tonine pm every tuesday night.
Here's your small group room.
These are your small group kids.
Make sure you take attendanceand turn it in at the end of the
night, like it wasn't this likeprocedural type of role.
It was like she was inviting meinto relationship and modeling
that and it gave me theendurance to survive as a young
(05:39):
small group leader.
I'm like these kids are sodisrespectful or like these kids
don't listen to me, or it'sreally hard being a small group
leader where I'm like these kidsare so disrespectful or like
these kids don't listen to me,or it's really hard being a
small group leader sometimes.
And I have to say, looking back, she's the reason I kept going.
And then my motivation slowlychanged as I became a better
small group leader and better atmy job and it got so good that
(06:02):
she asked me to be her internand that's kind of where my
ministry career started.
Is I just kind of stuck in there.
And so I just wonder, on yourteam, you know, speaking to our
listeners, is there someone onyour team that has some youth
ministry potential?
But they need a shepherd tocome alongside them and to be
that person who cares for themas they start to get their feet
(06:24):
wet.
You know, not everyone clickswith ministry roles like that.
You know some people they justclick right in and it's easy.
But a lot of people are liketrying to get their bearings,
and that's where you come in asthe ministry lead to, kind of
shepherd them and then once andit's not just when they're new,
I know that's the context we'retalking about right now then
it's not just when they're new,I know that's the context we're
(06:45):
talking about right now, butit's not just when they're new.
This is going to be for theduration that they're with you,
you know, caring for them, likewe had a fire in our town
yesterday, I don't know andwhere was that.
Palma Valley.
It was and so we're checking inwith the leaders that live
there.
You know, is everything okay?
(07:06):
Are you guys evacuated?
Do you need anything like beingthere for these life things
birthdays, graduations, babies,weddings um the highs fires, the
highs, the lows, job changes,and just being that constant
presence, that constantencourager.
I'm so honored.
This fall I'm performing awedding for two of my volunteers
(07:27):
that fell in love under mywatch and I knew it and I was
kind of trying to manipulate thesituation.
So I'm like, yes, yes, you twotogether, um, and they dated and
fell in love and are engagednow.
And they asked me to performtheir wedding.
And it's so cool because, like,I got to be there for both of
them as they were a part of myministry, they both were leaders
(07:50):
and you know, we spent a lot oftime together and they said you
know, we would love it if youwere the one to do the wedding.
And that just showed me likewow, like the relational equity
we have is like it goes beyondthe ministry.
You know, it's not just like,oh, they're, you know, they work
for me or I'm Transactional.
(08:11):
Yeah, it's like we are doinglife together.
And I will say there's a caveatto that, an asterisk, a
parenthesis, whatever.
That's hard because I don'tknow if you guys have
experienced this yet or not.
Like I feel sometimes so sadbecause I do get so close to
these people and then, all of asudden, they leave you know,
(08:32):
eventually, or they move or geta job somewhere else or decide,
you know, while we're having akid, you know we're going to
step down.
Or you know, like it's just,we've gone the distance and then
all of a sudden they're offyour team and it doesn't mean
they're out of your life, likeit's just we've gone the
distance and then all of asudden they're off your team and
it doesn't mean they're out ofyour life, but it does.
It is different, you know,because there's not that
consistency all the time andthat part is hard.
(08:52):
So it's like you, you investand you love hard, but the cost
to you is when people have toeventually leave.
But the goal is that you never.
You want them to be able tostay on your team as long as
possible because they're beingcared for, loved, known and seen
.
Number two a way to retain yourvolunteers is make sure you're
(09:14):
giving them a partner.
Very few small group leaderswant to be a solo leader.
That's really hard to do, tocarry all the relational weight
in the spiritual weight of astudent group, whether it's just
like needing someone fordiscipline, for moral support I
mean to be the only adult in theroom.
(09:36):
Maybe some people thrive likethat, like get out of my way,
I'm ready to lead.
I don't want to shareleadership with anyone, but the
model I've seen work really wellis that one week someone is in
charge of navigating thediscussion and the other person
is in charge of like more thelogistics, like taking
(09:57):
attendance, having new studentsfill out info cards, the
discipline aspect, the crowdcontrol aspect, any order of
business that you guys mighthave.
Or you can do a hybrid of thatwhere each leader does like half
of the discussion sheet andthen they pass the baton on
discipline.
So, it's like while you'releading the opening questions,
(10:20):
I'm getting everyone kind ofquiet and dialed in and then
I'll lead the Bible questionsand then you do kind of the
crowd control thing and so we goback and forth.
And then when you do events likesmall group night out or games
that involve small groups asteams, it's really great to have
another leader there as well.
So I believe that contributes tolongevity for small group
(10:42):
leaders because they don't feelthere's less chance of burnout
on a lot of levels and it's notas big of a deal when one of
them has to take a night off,which inevitably does happen.
Just to put it in perspective,I think it's reasonable in a
month, for I would love leadersto attend 100% of them, and a
(11:03):
lot of them do.
But if you have a leader thathas a very hectic life attending
three out of the four, I thinkI would let that go as, yeah, I
mean you're here the majority ofthe time.
If it starts to turn into 50-50, we probably are going to have
a conversation.
So anything below 50-50 is likeall right, your life is not
(11:26):
conducive to this schedule rightnow.
Why don't we revisit thisanother time, when maybe your
schedule changes but I feel like75% or above is like a good
score just for your information.
That's kind of what I think, butjust my opinion.
And when the night is reallyhard, they have someone to
commiserate with.
You know, like I just feel likesometimes you have one of those
(11:49):
small groups that's like sorough and you feel so alone.
If it's just you Like I know,when I used to lead church
services by myself I didn't haveleaders or volunteers it was
just way more exhausting, waymore heavy.
I used to come home andcollapse and now like I'm a good
tired but I'm not like depletedon every level, and that's what
(12:11):
we want to prevent fromhappening to our leaders just
not being depleted on everylevel.
I had to lead a discussion.
Then I had to.
This kid was crying and so Ineeded to pull them aside.
And then these girls arefighting and so I had to do that
, and then I couldn't find thiskid.
Where did he go?
Like you know, you just needhelp.
And the number three, I think,is special perks.
(12:32):
I think if you make your teamlike leadership is special and
it should feel that way Not thatwe're privileged in some way
Leaders are servants, we knowthat.
But because these people put inso much time for free which
blows my mind that they're likeready to serve every single week
I think you need to maybe spoilthem once in a while or pull
(12:55):
out some special perks or stopsfor them.
Spoil them once in a while, orpull out some special perks or
stops for them, whether that'sjust great like leader only
events.
Maybe you have a game night anddinner at your house.
Maybe it's one of the leader'sbirthdays and you throw a party
for them in their small group.
Maybe a leader has a latemorning class and has time in
the morning and you treat themto breakfast and just ask them
(13:18):
about their semester at college.
You know, whatever it might be,I think you just need to make
sure you're constantly lettingthem know how much you
appreciate, especially ifthey've gone above and beyond in
some area.
You know, if someone does aspecial project for me, that was
really hard and I'm soappreciative.
It appreciative.
It's like, hey, pick arestaurant, any restaurant in
(13:40):
our town, I'll pick up dinnerfor you and I'll bring it.
Try to do that.
My old uh campus fester used tocall it surprise and delight.
You know, just that extralittle like oh, that was a
little yeah perk in my youremember that stuff more than
anything else.
I still have the socks fromholly and like she would do the
cutest things, like onvalentine's day, we all got a
(14:01):
rose, and candy and then, likeshe would just always
acknowledge us in some kind ofsweet gesture that I was like
that's so sweet, or you know,leaders always eat last and it's
always like they're at the endof the line, letting the kids go
once in a while.
Flip that you know like.
Let always eat last and it'salways like they're at the end
of the line, letting the kids goOnce in a while.
Flip that you know like.
Let the leaders go first.
(14:21):
They do that sometimes, like atour whitewater camp they flip
the line so all the kids arelike lined up and so excited to
eat and they're like all right,well, the Bible says the last
shall be first and the firstshall be last.
So then they make the wholeline rotate and everyone who was
first I think you could do thatwith leaders of like hey,
leaders, no ifs, ands or buts,get up here.
(14:43):
You guys are eating first,before it's been contaminated
and while there's still freshthings available.
So just make life good for aleader.
Sometimes, when we do thebattle, which is a extra chaotic
, crazy event, I have a wholelike green room set up for them
like hey, at any moment, it'sgetting too loud, too crazy, too
(15:05):
hot, come back here cold drinks, sorry, just spit at you there
it is there, it is, it's gonnastay there.
uh, cold drinks, snackies, candy, whatever.
And snackies, snackies, candywhatever, snackies, snackies.
They don't like the healthysnacks.
I did realize that.
I tried to like oh like we'regoing to be working hard.
(15:25):
Maybe they want some hummus andvegetables.
No, they want Dr Pepper andM&M's.
That's it so even the leaders.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
We're not talking
about longevity.
We're talking about get methrough the night, give me that
sugar boost.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
We're talking about
longevity.
We're talking about get methrough the night.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Give me that sugar
boost.
Well, I'm like a lot of you arelike adults.
I thought adults liked more.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Yeah, it's like treat
yourself.
I think it was because I'm likewhy is all this stuff still
left?
So, yeah, give them lots ofgoodies, just like you would
with the kids on those eventsthat require more from them.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
You sometimes will do
like leader only merch drops oh
yeah, I forgot about that whichis, like you know, when you do
like a regular merch, the kidsobviously are buying that, and
so you're recouping and probablymaking a good amount of money
from that.
But the leader ones?
That's totally out of budget.
You're not charging themobviously for it and just so
you're giving them a shirt, asweatshirt, a hat, you know,
(16:17):
whatever it might be.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Yeah, that's a lot of
fun.
It's like leader additions only.
And you know, as I'm talkingabout it, I'm thinking like
we're so good at well, I hopewe're so good at doing our youth
ministry calendar for the year.
Here's my camps, here's myevents, here's, you know, our
service projects, whatever itmight be.
Think our service projects,whatever it might be.
(16:39):
Think of that with your leadersas well.
What's my leader calendar?
All right, we have a retreat inNovember and then we do a beach
day here, and then we do dinnerat my house here, then we do a
volleyball tournament there.
So it's almost like you'rerunning these simultaneous teams
of like the youth ministry andthen the people who run the
youth ministry.
It's like, you know, you haveto be cognizant of both of them,
(16:59):
because if they're not gettingthose times to just be leaders,
I think people kind of burn out.
I think a lot of times peoplejoin a team for the team not
necessarily for the task.
Yeah, they joined the team forthe team, not the task.
I like that.
Or the task yeah, they joinedthe team for the team, not the
task.
I like that, Okay, and kind ofwhat goes into that.
(17:21):
I'm not going to make numberfour a whole thing, but it's
like they have to have fun witheach other.
That's kind of wrapped up intothe perks of are you planning
specific times for them to havefun with each other, enjoy each
other again, because they'rejoining and staying for the team
, for the people and I rememberwhen this clicked for me, I
thought students leave always100% of the time your students
(17:44):
will leave.
However, I hope the teamdoesn't rotate at the same rate
that the students do, you know.
So you're losing a class everyyear, like every 12 months,
you're losing one class.
And so all this investment,maybe they come back and they're
leaders at some point, which isvery, very often in our
(18:04):
ministry but I want the leadersto have a far longer trajectory
here than oh well, I was justhere for my class and now I'm
gone, so you've got to give themsomething to miss you know,
because the students, theirstudents, are going to leave.
That's going to be hard enough,but it's like, oh, at least I
have the team at least and I'veheard leaders say that so many
(18:26):
times like I stayed at chaosthis long because of the team.
I love the team.
I love the people.
I love the friends that I workwith.
They've become my friends, likethis is so fun.
So you, as the ministry lead,need to give them opportunities
to have those relationships,those fun times.
You know you're going to be thearchitect of that.
(18:47):
Sometimes they get so goodthey'll plan it on their own and
they will invite you you knowor not, or not, or you know like
they develop friendships withinthemselves, which is.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Or get married.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
You better not leave.
Now that you're married, oralmost you know who you are, no
leaving, all right, I love themtoo much.
And then, lastly, this is kindof more on the logistical side
is set them up for success fortheir job what you're asking
them to do, so that's on you tobe organized and ready to give
them what they need to do thejob at hand.
(19:25):
So giving them a quiet smallgroup room to meet in.
You know, there's nothing morefrustrating than junior hires
especially are already sodistracted.
If they're in a room where theycan see every single person
that walks by or hear everyconversation, it's not going to
work.
Like they have to be isolatedfrom other groups to have a time
(19:45):
where they can focus.
And like I have a group thathas to be out in the hallway
because we're running out ofspace and every time someone
walks by to the drinkingfountain it's like well, we've
lost them.
And then the person walking byhas to do a little something to
get your attention.
And then I needed another drinkand I didn't have to get your
(20:06):
attention again and it's like,ah, we need more room.
So I feel your pain.
If you're in one of thosechurches that's like where do we
put all these people?
You have to get so creativewith your space.
We are having groups actuallymeet outside in our parking lot
now.
Luckily there's like a niceoutdoor venue tent, but it's
like we're running out of room.
I've had to use offices.
(20:27):
I mean, I've used everythingexcept for the bathrooms and the
janitor closet for small grouprooms, which I'm not opposed to
actually, what if someone Ithink one time someone met in
the leader's van, like at ourold property.
We were even smaller and one ofthe leaders had like a bigger
(20:48):
van, not a minivan and they alljust kind of sat in there and
did small group.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
I was like whatever,
um, yeah, it works.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
The best small group
I ever had as a small group
leader was out on a grass fieldat night at camp, because
something about it being darkyeah the kids, like everyone
cried at least once and was likesharing.
Like so vulnerably I'm likeit's magical in the dark here,
like you guys are just feelinglike every wall is coming down.
So don't be if your weather, ifyou I know not everyone lives
(21:18):
in great weather, but if you dogo outside it could be a summer
thing we got some space heaters,too.
That did help, because eventhough we're in san diego, it
still gets cold.
Yeah, I mean 50 degrees.
People bring your cats and dogsinside.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Yes, it's crazy out
there sometimes bundle up.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
It's gonna be 50, get
those mittens out, um, and then
make sure they have thediscussion sheet ahead of time.
So whatever questions they'regoing to be going over, I like
to give it to them the weekbefore, if I can, at least a
couple days before you know, sothat they can take a look at it
yeah.
No, I don't give it to them theweek before I give it to them
(21:59):
on the early of the week of yes,yes, Thank you, but you have it
done the week before.
Yeah, I try to have it.
It's hard because I'm notalways the one who writes it, so
then I always have to wait forthe person who wrote it to send
it to me so that I can send itout.
So sometimes it gets backlogged, but I always do it by Monday
for a Tuesday youth group whichis cutting it close, so I would
(22:23):
recommend earlier than that.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
I always thought you
did it the Thursday before.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
That's when I was the
only teacher, but now I have to
wait for everybody.
So, no blame, no blame, no blame, just saying.
And then thoroughly communicateall your camps and retreats
ahead of time, you know,especially if it's something
that leaders are going to have arole in.
But, like, if you know yourcamp dates, what's the harm in
(22:47):
just keeping it as a constant onyour leader communication, like
upcoming retreats and events,copy paste they see it every
single week and then teach themhow to lead their small groups
or help them in areas that theymight need it.
I've done like a coaching kindof thing with some of my small
group leaders before where I'vebeen.
Like, hey, I'd love to visityour group just to see what it's
(23:08):
like, sit down with them, Doyou have anything you want me to
help you with?
And they'll say, oh yeah,there's this kid who always
dominates the conversation.
I'll say, well, do you want meto lead and you watch me, or do
you want me to give you tips?
Like just being available tocoach them as they're going
through?
Like have a particularlydifficult kid, or some groups in
(23:29):
general are tough.
Like nobody talks, oh, really,okay.
Well, here's some ideas youmight want to try.
So just never leave themhanging.
Like you come alongside andcoach them and help them and
like how can we make your smallgroup better together?
And that's the goal that youalways like?
I was teaching a zoom thing thisweek and we were talking about
(23:50):
knowing the condition of yourflock how it says that in
Proverbs and like what is thecondition of each small group?
You're not in there, so makesure you're asking your leaders
good questions and helping themtroubleshoot.
Well, gosh, this kid isconstantly a distraction.
Give them ideas for how.
Like you're, you're theprofessional, you're the one in
charge.
(24:10):
Like the condition of the flockis directly related to you.
Like you got this.
And then this one's tough,depending on your context, but
making sure groups aren't toobig.
So that can really suck thelife out of a small group leader
.
If their group is so big thatnot everyone can talk, it's out
(24:31):
of control, it's just like wecan't get anything done.
It's so hard.
That's another reason that Ilove having two small group
leaders in each group, becausethen if the group starts to grow
to 12, 14, 16 kids, then youcan split it and give half of it
.
And it's never an easy split.
I'm not saying that it's alwayshard.
(24:52):
They always are going tocomplain, but they'll get over
it, they'll get used to it.
You might have to shufflearound a little bit but give
half to one leader, half toanother and then find new
leaders for those people, andthen it just keeps multiplying,
and multiplying, and multiplying.
But I've noticed that leadersget so overwhelmed and
discouraged when their groupsare too big because they cannot
(25:12):
lead an effective small grouptime, so they leave every week
almost like out of breath, likeI don't know.
That was a blur.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
Like.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
I mean, they were
just talking over each other and
it's hard for them to getcontrol at a larger size.
So be very careful of that.
My feeling is, once you startto get over 10 kids per small
group, you need to watch it.
You know, I've let it go longerthan that if the group is
healthy, but it rarely ishealthy when we start to move
(25:43):
into 12, 14, 16 and beyond.
So, hey friend, I just want tointerrupt this episode for a
second to let you know about anawesome opportunity for you and
your youth ministry.
So last year we launched ourcourse and coaching program
called Youth Ministry GrowthAccelerator and the response has
been amazing.
So we've helped tons of youthpastors grow the size and health
(26:06):
of their youth ministry and wewant to invite you to be a part
of that as well, because maybeyou're just sort of feeling
stuck in a rut, Maybe you don'tknow what to do next, Maybe you
just have a vague plan in yourmind of what you're doing and
you want some real help to getyou from where you are to where
you want to go.
So if that sounds likesomething you've been looking
(26:26):
for, go togrowyouryouthministrycom and
check it out for more details.
All right, let's get back tothe episode.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
Would you say that
you determine how many leaders?
I know you always say like youcan never have too many leaders,
but do you say on average youlook at how many small groups do
we potentially have?
And that's kind of how I shouldbase how many?
Leaders I should have.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
So if it was a
perfect world and you had an
even split let's say 10 boys, 10girls, and you would then be
looking at at least four leaderstwo girl leaders.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
two boy leaders yes,
and that would be the perfect
number.
However, if I were that pastor,I'd be constantly looking for
the next, because I'm like thesecond.
We have to split, we're up acreek, right, Right.
So I would always be lookingand recruiting, Even if I didn't
(27:18):
need that leader.
I never.
I hate being in the position ofI need you and I don't have you
.
I'd rather have some people kindof waiting in the wings.
So like hey, would you like tocome and observe or would you
like to do something else, youknow, just getting them involved
in the ministry.
But yeah, you're right, Twoleaders per group and I think
(27:38):
those are great ratios, as longas your small groups aren't like
20 kids you know and make sureyou guys check out the episode
we did a while back.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
It was how to recruit
the right volunteers for your
youth ministry, so we'll linkthat below.
All right, this is thecommunity comment of the day.
This comes from Yvonne Berko,who says thank you so much.
I never miss your videos andit's always very helpful.
We are doing our first Glow inthe Dark games tomorrow.
Thanks to y'all, I got goodideas.
Thanks, yay.
Well, we hope it went well,because that was actually a
(28:06):
while ago.
That's an older comment, but wedo appreciate you letting us
know.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Update us below if it
went well and if the ideas
worked.
We'd love to know.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
And also we didn't
mention sorry we were not here
last week.
We were in turkey.
Well, we weren't in turkey lastweek, but we were.
We usually record a week priorand it obviously it didn't work
out.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
We couldn't record or
publish because we were in
turkey on a new testament tourhighly recommend.
We got to go to some incredibleplaces and learn so much more
about the Bible.
We were in Ephesus, laodicea,thyatira Myrna.
No, we're inside Theropolis.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Heropolis.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
Metropolis.
It was so cool.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
A lot of opuluses.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
But yeah, I had been
to Israel years ago and seen all
of that and it was mind blowing.
Jeff didn't get to go this time, rub it in.
He went to Turkey and it wasthis whole like Paul's
missionary journeys and wow.
If you are looking to see theBible in a completely new way
and connect dots for yourteaching or your vocation,
(29:19):
definitely recommend turkey yeah, swimming in the gnc yes, and
shout out to gti tours andthat's who we went with.
They are not sponsoring thisvideo, they are just the people
that we went with through ourcompany.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Yeah, yeah, great job
.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Good food in turkey,
beautiful country and you get
nikes really cheap too.
I got nikes for 35 bucks Ithought they were even cheaper
than that.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Oh, you got hosed on
that deal my friend, they were
gonna give them to me for 20 andI just thought I can't pack
them you don't remember that?
No yeah, not those ones,different ones, and I was like
I've got no more room in myluggage, but yeah so cheap nikes
and great new testamentlocations and also jet lag is
the real deal.
Like holy cow that knocked meout for four or five years Ten
(30:06):
hours ahead.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
So it was a little
rough.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
All right guys.
Thanks so much for watching andlistening.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
And we'll see you
next time.
Today, we're talking about fivethings to help, or no?
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Welcome to the
Ministry Coach podcast.
This nope, why are you extraloud?
Speaker 1 (30:22):
I don't know.
Do numbers really matter inyouth ministry?
They do, but maybe not in theway you're thinking.
Stick around word up.