Before we jump in, here are two big ideas to note:

When communicating to students, we’ll always believe your best option (if possible) is to have a live communicator deliver the large group message. Even better? Having a live communicator that your students both know and trust. Students are always more likely to engage with someone they know over someone they don’t.

In an ideal world, you would also have several equipped, live communicators with whom you could build a teaching team for your youth ministry (more on how to do that in this blog). However, if this is something you’re still working toward, these hacks are designed to get you by until that ideal world becomes a reality.

8 Hacks For Using Teaching Videos

1. The Ultimate Backup Plan

We recognize teaching videos do not give the same vibes as a substitute communicator, but they serve a similar purpose. Teaching videos can be your speaker whenever another better option for a communicator doesn’t exist. Your current team may literally only consist of you. Perhaps you’ve identified some people, but they still need some training. Maybe you have a teaching team, but it’s a busy season, or a last-minute emergency popped up. Maybe you and your team are just tired and need a week’s break from teaching prep. Whatever the reason may be, you’ll always have a teaching video ready to use when you need it.

2. Watch, Learn, Teach

Some people learn best by seeing others who have more experience in action. The XP3 team is intentionally inviting the best communicators we know to deliver our teaching videos. Watching them can be kind of a “Communicators 201” class for you and your team. Even if you plan to teach live, watching our communicators deliver the message first will naturally help viewers become better communicators. You might be reading this hoping to one day communicate on different stages in your church.  Using these teaching videos as a guide is a way to help you get there.

3. Delegate and Breathe

The average youth ministry leader has A LOT on their plate. Honestly, the responsibility of live teaching is one of the few that can actually be delegated when necessary. You’ll still need to prepare by watching the video to make any comments of correction or difference due to your theological preferences, but let the teaching videos do most of the heavy lifting for you. Also, the responsibility of teaching is what often scares most volunteers away from student ministry, so leading with “you won’t have to do any of the upfront teaching” often helps with your volunteer recruitment. 

4. Elevate Diversity

We believe every student needs to see both someone on stage who looks like them and someone on stage who doesn’t. Depending on where your youth ministry is located, who chooses to volunteer, and what programs students choose to attend; it can be difficult to turn that belief into reality. We intentionally strive for racial, gender, and ethnic diversity among our communicators in each series of teaching videos we produce. So, using the teaching videos brings that same diversity to the students in your ministry.

5. Multiply Your Impact

Maybe you’re leading a ministry that has separate middle school and high school gatherings, multiple services, or multiple campuses. With teaching videos, you can develop a system where, at whatever times/spaces make sense, certain groups receive video teaching while others receive live teaching.

6. Partner with Parents

For series on heavier or more sensitive topics (like sex, dating, mental health, etc.), you can use the teaching videos to allow parents to preview the content prior to teaching it to their students. This will better prepare parents for engaging in conversations about sensitive subjects and ensure that everyone is using the same language when navigating these topics.

7.  Engage On-The-Go Students

We believe every kid needs to see both someone on stage who looks like them and Think of your students who are travel athletes, marching band players, or cast and crew in the school or local theater production.  Due to those interests, they might miss several weeks in a row of your youth gatherings. Instead of just missing completely; a better option might be to make the teaching videos easily available to them to view on their own time. Some leaders create a private YouTube channel for this or Google drive for this. Empower them to stay connected to what their peers and small group leaders are learning even when they aren’t physically there.

8. Smaller Groups, Bigger Impact

Something we’ve heard from leaders of smaller youth ministries (15 students or less) is that having a speaker stand in front of smaller groups can feel awkward. Yet, watching a teaching video together might actually feel more natural. For those of you who have already purchased XP3 teaching videos, the “Integrated Teaching Videos” might be the best option for a smaler ministry. Look for that folder in your curriculum dashboard and reach out to your Orange Specialist if you have any questions.

I hope several of these hacks are helpful to you and make a positive impact on your youth ministry! Ultimately, here are two things to keep in mind. First, you and your teaching team are the last word on what is taught to your students. Yes, you may play a video to communicate the bulk of the teaching, but you are in control of how that video is set up and how that video is to be interpreted after. You and your team are still in control of how the Gospel is being taught in your ministry, exactly how it should be. Second, trust your gut on whether teaching videos will truly work and add value to your ministry. You know better than anyone what is best to help your youth engage with the teaching. We hope you have the freedom and resources you need to bring that engagement to your youth. 

XP3 teaching videos are best purchased alongside our XP3 curriculum. Click here to learn more and even download a sample of curriculum and teaching videos to try them out today.

The post 8 Reasons Why You Should Use Teaching Videos In Your Youth Ministry appeared first on Think Orange.

Factors like . . . 

Budget 
Type of programming 
Assets needed 
And how your curriculum will support your larger ministry strategy. 

With all of that to consider, you may wonder, “Where do I even start?” 

While this blog won’t answer all of your questions, there are a few things you should know about Orange Curriculum that can help you decide if it’s right for you. 

Orange curriculum is built on core theological truths

Our starting point for what we teach kids and students is the Greatest Commandment. That’s because we want to focus on what Jesus said matters most–love. 

Love God (Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, your soul, and your mind.) 
Love Others (Love your neighbor)
Love Life (As you love yourself)

These three major ideas show up regularly throughout our entire teaching plan from birth through high school. They are broken down further into 9 specific theological concepts to ensure that as kids journey through their development, they can get a full understanding of what it means to trust God and follow Jesus with their whole life. 

The 9 Core Theological Insights Include:

God’s Son is Jesus (and Jesus came to solve the problems resulting from our sin)
God’s Image is reflected in every human
God’s Creation reminds us that we have worth
God’s Family is the church and it will still exist in every generation (Jesus promised that)
God’s Message is summarized in one commandment 
God’s Love is the key distinctive of Jesus’ followers
God’s Character can always be trusted
God’s Story is good news and offers hope for everyone
God’s Spirit will keep transforming us to become more like Jesus

Each series highlights and focuses on at least one of these core truths and shows kids and students how that truth about God connects to their everyday lives.

Throughout the curriculum creation process, we make sure that our scripts are edited for theological content by experts and academics in theology. We hope the content we create is both theologically accurate and open for the 80+ denominations who use Orange Curriculum to see a pathway to their own theological nuances. 

Every series is developed with kids and students in mind

This sounds obvious, but let me explain.

On top of being theologically accurate, we also aim to be developmentally appropriate. 

Several years ago we started The Phase Project, where we met with over 200 child and adolescent development specialists, teachers, psychologists, pastors, and parents to research and discover more about how kids grow and learn over the course of their lives. 

At first, this became a book: It’s Just a Phase, Don’t Miss it. . . but that book became a launch pad for further research and discovery for how best to help kids learn about God and understand how to follow Jesus in age-appropriate ways.

Our teaching scripts, small group activities, and supplemental media are all written and edited with these developmental characteristics in mind.

This would include how we craft core teaching ideas for each phase of a child’s life. We hope to create a pathway that builds from what a child foundationally learns in First Look curriculum, gets developed through 252 Kids and Preteen, and is further explored through XP3 middle school and high school. 

From the bottom lines and key questions we write to the memory verses, specific stories, and passages we choose to cover, we pray that each piece of Orange connects to how a child learns in their specific phase of life and gives them solid truth they can carry with them into adulthood.

Our Curriculum operates on a 2 or 3-year Scope and Cycle. You’ve probably heard the term Scope and Sequence, which lays out the linear direction for a class. However, we want to be as intentional about what concepts and stories we repeat throughout a kid or student’s experience with Orange Curriculum, so we’ve designed a Scope and Cycle that is intentional about what gets reviewed. 

Each year at Orange Conference, we release the latest version of our Scope and Cycle that highlights the focused stories for that upcoming school year. It’s also available on our website for download. Each annual scope is tied to an overall Annual Focus that provides direction for how we will connect the content from God’s Word to a family’s everyday world.   

Orange is designed with similar segments for ease of use

As the content is put together into a teaching plan and instructional design, we use a similar pathway built on seven segments that add together to create a cohesive experience for kids and students when they come to your church.

Prelude: Setting the tone for the experience.

This includes everything that happens before a kid or student enters the environment. Orange curriculum includes all sorts of planning materials to help you prepare for people to arrive and experience your next gen environments. This includes thinking through how you decorate the rooms and hallways, the music you play as people walk in, preparing supplies for small group leaders and large group communicators, loading media to presentation software, and sending emails to leaders to give them a heads up about what to expect that week.

Social: providing time for fun interaction

No one is ready to begin diving into learning when they first walk into the room. That’s why we create intentional time where kids and students can have fun and ease into the heart of the content. Social allows for small group leaders to welcome kids and students and ask them relational questions that catch each other up on the past week. For our First Look and 252 curriculum, we also include a fun activity that teases the big idea for the day and gets the brain ready to experience the story.

Transitions: moving smoothly from one thing to another

We make sure that transitions are mentioned and at times scripted all throughout Orange curriculum. They can make or break a person’s experience. Transitions are especially important for younger kids who need time to refocus from one activity to the next. These can also be done with lighting and music that cue everyone that it’s time to pay attention to something different.

Story: communicating God’s truth in engaging ways

We are very intentional about how we help kids and students experience learning about trusting God and following Jesus. We use what we’ve learned about child and adolescent development to inform how we craft large group teaching so kids can not only learn something true about God but also enjoy their time learning and have a simple way to put that truth into practice.

Each curriculum also offers optional media packages that include teaching videos that present the lesson in a fun, memorable way that keep kids and students interested. They present all the same information that would be covered in a live large group script to connect with what will happen later during Small Groups.

Worship: as inviting people to respond to God

We think it’s important for kids and students to experience worship on their terms. That’s why we script out suggested worship segments that allow kids and students to sing songs they would like to sing. For our First Look and 252 Kids Curriculum, we have Orange Kids Music which includes a monthly worship song written specifically for the big ideas covered in that lesson. For our XP3 curriculum, we have suggested worship set lists for youth leaders to use and implement as they are able. 

Groups: creating a safe place to connect.  

After Large Group, kids and students head to small groups. For First Look and 252 Kids, this means engaging with all sorts of fun activities that review the Bible story, highlight the memory verse, apply the Bible story to their lives, and pray together. They are all created with kids in mind and offer several learning pathways to connect with kids however they learn best: with play, discussion, arts and music, physical activity, and thoughtful introspection. 

In XP3, Small Group time is often about dialogue so we give you focused questions to help them talk through what stood out to them, processing what they’re thinking & how it applies to their circumstance.

In every age group, part of Small Group includes helping kids and students discover practical ways to live out their faith with faith skill or practices.

Orange Curriculum includes four major categories for these faith skills: 

• Hear – listening to God through the words of Scripture and the world around us
• Pray – talking to God in prayer
• Talk – talking to each other about what God is doing in our lives
• Live – living for God, not just in the songs we sing but in the choices we make 

We highlight these in phase-appropriate practices we think will help give kids and students a way to own their own faith and grow in their relationship with Jesus.

Home: prompting action beyond the experience

While the first six take place in the context of the church environment, the segments aren’t finished. At Orange, we believe that what happens at HOME is more important than what happens at church. Orange Curriculum partners with Parent Cue to offer families all sorts of ways to continue at home the conversations started at church. These resources include devotionals, parent take-home resources with questions and activities, and for XP3 – Bible reading plans on YouVersion. These are included with your monthly curriculum downloads, but they are also available through the Parent Cue app. 

Nurturing a faith of their own

Okay, now that was A LOT of information, but what’s great is that on top of all the content that Orange Curriculum offers, your annual license also includes access to an Orange Specialist who can help you set everything up, choose what’s best for your church, and get you want you need to help train volunteers and cast vision to parents and leaders. They’re just an email or phone call away. 

At Orange, our mission is not just to raise kids and students, but actually to raise adults who have an everyday faith that transforms how they love God, themselves, and the rest of the world. We pray that through all they experience with Orange Curriculum in your church, they’d have a faith of their own that will last.

Learn more about Orange curriculum and try it free for 30 days! 

The post What Most People Don’t Know About Orange Curriculum appeared first on Think Orange.

A Weekend Retreat can take many forms. You could scramble your weekly schedule, take a bus to a Retreat Center, or you could do something totally innovative and new all together. Either way you spin it, there are essentially three groups of people we plan our weekend retreats for – parents, volunteers, and of course, our students. At the same time, each of those groups needs us to consider different things when planning our Weekend Retreat experiences.  

So what are some of the things they hope we, as ministry leaders, don’t forget when planning a Weekend Retreat for them?

Volunteers

Let’s assume you have all the volunteers you need for this Weekend Retreat and have sent them the materials they need to lead well for it, too! But what if we took this one step further?

In my first years of ministry, volunteers regularly told me “Well, I wasn’t sure what I could and couldn’t do in that scenario, so I didn’t do anything.” While training them for the retreat, I didn’t realize I was essentially giving them a book to read about swimming, but then throwing them in the deep end without floaties when we arrived.

• Communicate your schedule, discipline policy, and expectations to your volunteers well in advance in order to set yourself and your team up for success.
• Is there a volunteer who is First Aid certified? Would they mind you sharing that with the group?
• Are all of your volunteers small group leaders or are there different roles?
• Do you want to handle all discipline or is there something you’d like the leaders to say in your absence?
• Do you expect your leaders to be engaged in a free time activity too, or can they take a break then as well?
• If you’re going off-site for your retreat, is there anything tricky about the travel time or location they need to know before arrival?

Think through what your volunteers need to hear from you to be confident in their God-given gifts and calling for the weekend. They will be so thankful you did!

Perhaps the most important thing to remember when it comes to volunteers is encouragement.  I like to ask for what I call 5 Under 5! This concept is simply 5 things under $5 that would make a leader smile if they showed up at the retreat. This could be as simple as a handwritten note or hug and as complicated as their favorite plantain chips only sold at a local store! The hardest part of this is following through. You don’t have to spend a large amount of budget on this to pull it off. If 3 – 5 volunteers say they love a particular candy, purchase the family size and have a designated spot for volunteer-only snacks. Little things like this will make the biggest difference.Consider what makes your leaders feel most celebrated and incorporate that into the weekend.   

Parents

While it may seem odd to consider you are planning this retreat for parents, I’d offer that this is one of the greatest ways parent partnership happens. Partnering with Parents is a core value of Orange and I am often guilty of sharing the packing list or schedule and considering that partnership. (Accept my sincerest apologies for stepping on toes). Let’s say that a Weekend Retreat allows for about 48 hours of relational equity between a student and a Small Group Leader.  What if we looked at this Weekend Retreat opportunity to grow the same relational equity with parents as we are getting with the students?

In order to maximize this, we need to partner with parents not only before the retreat but during and after, too.

• Consider including the following question on your registration form: Is there anything we need to know to best serve your student this weekend? or something similar. This has opened the door to us knowing more about homesickness, a recent family split, and even a fear of sleeping on the top bunk! This not only helps your weekend go more smoothly but also helps the parent/family remember you are on their team.
• Have you sent the packing list with plenty of time to make it possible for the parent to succeed?
• Do you have a way to communicate an ETA if your retreat is out of town?
• What is your plan to share pictures? (Consider a chat app or even social media as an easy way to do this).
• What about after the retreat? If you are an XP3 Curriculum partner, then you are familiar with Parent Cue. There are topics that are included with a subscription that cue a parent at home as to what to ask their child about when it comes to that week’s lesson. You could do the same for the retreat!
• What are the top 3 – 4 ideas you hope your students walk away with after the retreat? Pre-draft an email with those and a few questions for parents to ask their students when they return home. Some email software even allows you to schedule this to be sent when you return home! If you can’t schedule it, put the date you will send it on your calendar.
• Keep a note in the Notes App on your phone of some really awesome moments from the weekend. Write a handwritten note to families when you return – even just one is a win – of ways you saw their child shine and see the partnership flourish.  
• Have your youth on the retreat write thank-you notes or a text to their families for sending them! Anything you can do to bolster that relationship is the goal here.

But again, make sure you are taking this beyond information sharing! A partnership is two parties doing something to move in the same direction. How can you leverage this retreat as a way to remind parents you desire to partner with them?

Students

Last, but not least, students tend to be the main event of a Weekend Retreat. And that’s so exciting! One question to consider is: What is your win for students at the end of this weekend? Each denomination and church may have different goals with a weekend away but you are uniquely situated to determine that for your students. By empowering your leaders well and setting your parents up for success, you are guaranteed students will win too at the end of this Weekend Retreat.

• Have you provided spaces for both extroverts and introverts to thrive? An easy win is to bring a large sheet of butcher paper and some markers for a low-key doodle station or provide an indoor movie option for free time.
• On our weekend retreats, we also ask the students to bring snacks. We divide it sweet/salty based on last name or grade (depending on the breakdown) and then keep the leftover snacks in our ministry area when we return for students to eat when they hang out after school. It’s a win-win!
• You may also want to incorporate students into the planning of the retreat. Is there a game you want to run by them or a spot where they could kick off a session with prayer? Consider involving them in the leadership of the weekend, too!
• You may also want to think through rooming assignments, transportation needs, and any ministry-particular policies surrounding these things when it comes to your students.

Ministry Leader

You and I both know that as a ministry leader, a Weekend Retreat can be taxing. It is a joy to serve students and also can be difficult for us personally. Talk with leadership about taking a day to rest and recover when you return from your Weekend Retreat. Even as a volunteer ministry leader, this is a great conversation to have! Sleep in, plan some soul care, and do not touch email that day.

The best part of Orange is they have a few things that will help with the planning, too:

• Contact your Orange Specialist (OS). When I took students on my first weekend retreat, I set up a call with my OS and they helped me think through everything – transportation, packing list, schedule, meals, etc. Orange Specialists are a phenomenal resource you don’t want to miss.
• Join the Facebook Group, “Rethinking Youth Ministry: A Youth Ministry Community From Orange”. Do a quick search for Weekend Retreat in the group or make a post to get some ideas from members in the group. It’s a great resource!
• Check out the FREE Weekend Retreat resource – EVERYTHING. This guide takes you step by step on planning an incredible weekend and did I mention, it’s FREE?

On the first retreat I ever led while serving students, we got lost, nearly ran out of fuel in our van, and the pizza for lunch got irreparably burned. Those students are now juniors and seniors in college and STILL reach out to say how meaningful that weekend was. 

Perhaps the biggest thing you don’t want to forget when planning a weekend retreat is that God has called you to this work and you are doing a great job. Trust God has already equipped and empowered you and will encourage you along the way as you lead.

We can’t wait to hear how your next Weekend Retreat goes!

The post Your Next Weekend Retreat: How To Serve Students, Volunteers, and Parents Well appeared first on Think Orange.

The last kid in your ministry has finally been picked up, you’ve spent hours vacuuming tiny pieces of glitter and confetti out of the carpet, and décor has been taken down and packed away to be used again and again (and if we’re being honest…again). Looking back at all that happened, you know that God moved in an amazing way and people grew in their everyday faith. And just as you get to sit down to give yourself five minutes of congratulatory rest, someone asks the dreaded question…

“So how are you going to top this next year?”

It’s a question that gets asked in so many ministries, no matter the age group. As soon as we finish one great event or program, we’re already jumping to see how we can make it better for next year. Or bigger. Or more extreme. And that pressure often doesn’t come from outside sources like parents, kids and teens, or lead pastors. Most often, it comes from ourselves. We think we HAVE to do more and more to make the kind of impact we desire for our kids and teens. Worse, we often think that they NEED the bigger and better to want to come back to the events we offer.

But what if it can be different? What would happen if we released the pressure to create the next best thing? What if instead we worked to create the next good thing that our kids and teens need?

Hear me out.

I’m not saying don’t go big or go bold! Instead, I want to give each of us permission to keep on creating good content and events, instead of constantly exhausting ourselves trying to outdo what we’ve done before. And to do that, I think we should keep a few things in mind.

Good Can Be the Goal

Now, I may be saying something a little controversial, but since you’ve read this far, I’m sure you won’t be too surprised to hear it. Not every event or program has to be the best thing ever. For the overachievers and perfectionists among us (me included!), this was a pretty painful realization. I LOVED trying to outdo myself. I WANTED every event to be the best thing that has ever happened. Of course, I’m not saying don’t put in 100% effort or don’t put in your best work, but it’s important to remember a lot of what we do is out of our control. Sooner or later, a game we play is going to bomb. A message we give isn’t going to land in the way we thought it would. And sadly, there will be a time when a kid or teen tells you they didn’t have a great time.

And all of this is okay. It’s bound to happen! God can still work in events that aren’t your absolute best. And chances are, it probably was much better than you thought. A good event or program can be the goal in ministry.

Prioritize Community in Ministry

Nothing really beats the absolute privilege of taking the time to get to know a kid or teen in our ministry. That time can happen during deep conversations around a campfire, through small group questions after hearing a thought-provoking lesson, or even when laughing hysterically during a game that ends with you covered in some sort of homemade slime. The community and connection built during your events and programming are where life change can truly happen!

So what would it look like to focus on building community within ministry? For some of us, it may mean including more time for small groups to be together during an activity. For others, it may mean changing up our event to be less centered on activities and more on conversations. If this is a big change for your style of event, it may be helpful to meet with leaders to cast vision on why relationships are so important.

Keep the Focus on Jesus

This is something I’ve been guilty of myself, more times than I would like to admit. Sometimes I would get so distracted trying to find the best game to play on stage, or the perfect playlist to have running in the background of a weekend. That my eyes would wander from my ultimate goal: creating a place where kids and teens meet Jesus. Honestly, that distraction came right at the beginning of my planning. Instead of creating an overall goal for what I wanted to see happen, I would find myself looking to “outdo” myself…or worse, outdo what I had seen others do.

We can create amazing times of worship where our teens can meet with God without getting lost in the lighting plan or perfect chord progressions. With hilarious games that build bonds between kids and leaders, even if some are games you’ve played the year before. We can keep an eye on the details without getting lost in them and losing sight of our main goal: helping our kids and teens know they are loved by us and by God.

I hope you now feel empowered when it comes to your events and programming in your ministry…both the good AND the great!

If you feel like you need a little more help in the planning department to help you get to good, we have you covered! Check out the new Family Ministry Planner, which is a great one-stop shop when it comes to planning out your ministry year, events and all!

The post Why Better Isn’t Always Best in Next Gen Ministry appeared first on Think Orange.

Because you are a smart leader, you also know that teenagers don’t learn the same way adults do and they certainly don’t enjoy the same things adults do. (Or speak the way adults . . . no cap.) 

But, isn’t it easy to forget that is the case? 

Maybe that’s why sometimes . . . 

We try to explain big theological concepts to students that were transformative for us, but not relevant to the everyday world teens are navigating. 

We play worship songs that are too abstract for teens to understand. 

We expect students to pay attention and stay off their phones for a really long lesson when even the adults around the room are bored. 

We have all been there. That’s because there are two mistakes leaders tend to make when it comes to engaging kids:

1. Adults tend to assume, “They are like me now.” 
   
   Now, none of us would say that out loud, but it can be easy to act that way. We can get so excited about what God is teaching us personally that we want to teach the same exact thing to them. Or, we expect them to be able to behave like an adult. Not only is that rarely effective, we also miss out what we can learn from engaging their perspective. 
   
2. Adults tend to assume, “They are like I used to be.” 
   
   Sometimes, we forget how much the world has changed since we were teenagers. We forget that teenagers are living in a world with smart phones, social media, and YouTube. Not to mention they are being raised by a generation that may have different parenting styles and values than the ones that influenced us. 

That’s why if we want to engage the next generation effectively, we think there is one idea that has the potential to transform everything: phase. 

Phase Defined: A time frame in a kid’s life when you can leverage distinctive opportunities to influence their future.

When churches become intentional about understanding and leveraging what is actually happening in the stages of a kid’s life, it changes how they . . .

Partner with families at pivotal transitions.
Teach comprehensively from preschool through college.
Train leaders how to work with specific age groups. 
Improve dialogue and cooperation between ministries.
Resource parents to interact with teens in the home.

Every kid at every phase is changing in six ways: physically, mentally, relationally, culturally, emotionally, and morally.

So, what do we need to know about phase in order to engage youth ministry effectively?

Your Role: Mobilize Their Potential

Read Their Mind…

So students in the four phases of high school will believe they can win.

• Know what can be expected of them and know how they think so they will hear what you say and know what to do.

High schoolers think like a philosophers.

They want to discover meaning and learn best by processing out loud. Teenagers who think like philosophers look for principles that will give their story meaning. They relate to a God who guides their decisions, promotes love and forgiveness, empowers their freedom, enables them to live more fully, moves them toward a greater purpose and identity, and connects them to a bigger story. 

“Children are most like adults in their feelings. They are least like adults in their thinking. More information does not make them think like us.” — Catherine Stonehouse

Discover Their World…

So students in the four phases of high school will feel they belong.

Freshmen are asking, “Where do I belong?”
They are looking for a new friend group. When adults connect teens with similar interests, teens value community. 

Sophomores are asking, “Why should I believe?”
They want to challenge limits. When adults listen carefully and respond with questions, teens clarify values. 

Juniors are asking, “How can I matter?” 
They are ready to make a difference–now. 
When adults provide consistent opportunities to lead and serve, teens refine skills. 

Seniors are asking, “What will I do?”
They want to know where they are headed. 
When adults encourage experiences and simplify options, teens create vision. 

DON’T MISS THIS: The buffer in every crisis is love.

Interpret Their Motives…

So students in the four phases of high school will discern what they should do.

• Moral emotions are instinctive. Moral development is not.
• If you want to help a high schooler develop a moral conscious, you have to interpret and influence their motive.
• The ultimate motive is love.

High schoolers are motivated most by freedom. ​​If you try to motivate a 17-year-old through excessive limits, it may work against their basic motive and incite frustration and rebellion. But when you guide them with love, you collaborate on boundaries and give high school students opportunities to prove they can be trusted. Then you influence them to make responsible decisions and expand their opportunities.

Play To Your Audience…

So students in the four phases of high school will discover how to relate to God.

• Your job is not to redefine God to high school students. Your job is to help high school students rediscover how to relate to God in a new way in high school.
• How high schoolers relate to God: God’s story empowers my story.
• When you mobilize their potential, you help a high schooler keep pursuing authentic faith and discover a personal mission.

Three Ideas to Help High Schoolers Mature in their Relationship with God.

1. Give an application. In your lessons, say something they can do this week.
2. Ask a question. They are going to ask someone hard questions.
3. Make it an experience. Challenge them to do something that matters.

How Understanding the High School Phase Changes Your Ministry

When we are intentional about engaging high schoolers and creating developmentally appropriate ministries, it changes everything-definitely more than what can fit in a blog. But, here are a few ways understanding the high school phase changes what you do in your ministry and how you partner with other life-stage ministries. 

Ministry Strategy 

When you understand how teenagers learn and grow, it will change how you partner across life-stage ministries. As a kids leader, you will partner differently with the middle school ministry leader (if that’s not you) because you know that what you teach in your youth ministry needs to build on what they learned in the past. You will also be strategic and intentional as you move them to what’s next, because you know the finish line for their faith isn’t graduation. 

When every life-stage ministry works together, you increase momentum for next gen ministry as a whole.

Ministry Programming 

When you know students learn best through processing out loud, it changes the way you communicate in large group and equip small group leaders. When you know they think like philosophers, it changes what questions are asked in small group and what topics you address in your teaching calendar.

Phase changes everything when it comes to how you teach and what you teach kids and students. That’s why XP3 High School Curriculum is created to be both theologically sound and developmentally appropriate for your youth ministry. 

Here are some ways that shows up in the youth ministry curriculum: 

• Phase cues in the Small Group Leader Guide to help leaders orient to how their group may process the topic. 
• Large group scripts that are written and edited to be developmentally appropriate. . 
• Worship leader guides that include phase appropriate song recommendations. 
• One bottom line per week.

Training Leaders 

Volunteers sign up to serve because they care about the faith and future of teenagers, too. 

But, if they don’t understand phase, they may . . . 

Get frustrated when teenagers talk about everything except the message in small group

Shut down a student’s big questions 

Or, over enforce rules that make students not want to be there. 

At the same time, when you understand phase, you know that you need to recruit consistent volunteers in your youth ministry because high school students only trust people who show up consistently.

Partnering With Parents 

When you understand that every year comes with unique opportunities to leverage to influence a kid’s faith and future, you will also equip parents to understand those opportunities. You will cue parents to have more intentional conversations at home and lean into important conversations differently at each life-stage.

To help you and the parents in your ministry navigate these unique phases, check out the Phase Guides. These 18 guides provide essential insights and practical advice tailored to each phase of a child’s life. Equip your team and parents by exploring the Phase Guides today.

If you want to learn more about how to integrate Phase strategy into your ministry, check out the Phase Starter Kit today! 

The post Navigating Youth Ministry in the Four Phases of High School appeared first on Think Orange.

You know that preschool ministry is so much more than childcare; it’s helping kids develop a foundation of faith. That’s why you spend a lot of creating environments, training volunteers, and planning lessons to help kids grow in their everyday faith. 

Because you are a smart leader, you also know that preschoolers don’t learn the same way adults do and they certainly don’t enjoy the same things adults do. (Cue Baby Shark as proof.) 

But, isn’t it easy to forget that is the case? 

Maybe that’s why sometimes . . . 

We try to explain big theological concepts to preschoolers that were transformative for us, but too abstract for them to understand. 

We play worship songs that are a bit graphic for little ears. 

We expect kids to sit still for a really long lesson when even the adults around the room are bored. 

We have all been there. That’s because there are two mistakes leaders tend to make when it comes to engaging kids: 

1. Adults tend to assume, “They are like me now.” 
   
   Now, none of us would say that out loud, but it can be easy to act that way. We can get so excited about what God is teaching us personally that we want to teach the same exact thing to them. Or, we expect them to be able to behave like an adult. Not only is that rarely effective, we also miss out
   what we can learn from engaging their perspective. 
   
2. Adults tend to assume, “They are like I used to be.” 
   
   Sometimes, we forget how much the world has changed since we were kids. We forget that kids are living in a world with smart phones, social media, and YouTube. Not to mention they are being raised by a generation that may have different parenting styles and values than the ones that influenced us. 
   
   That’s why if we want to engage the next generation effectively, we think there is one idea that has the potential to transform everything: phase. 

Phase Defined: A time frame in a kid’s life when you can leverage distinctive opportunities to influence their future.

When churches become intentional about understanding and leveraging what is actually happening in the stages of a kid’s life, it changes how they . . .

Partner with families at pivotal transitions.
Teach comprehensively from preschool through college.
Train leaders how to work with specific age groups. 
Improve dialogue and cooperation between ministries.
Resource parents to interact with kids in the home.

Every kid at every phase is changing in six ways: physically, mentally, relationally, culturally, emotionally, and morally.

So, what do we need to know about phase in order to engage preschoolers effectively? 

Phase Defined: A time frame in a kid’s life when you can leverage distinctive opportunities to influence their future.

• The phase that should matter most to you is the phase they are in now.
• The phase that matters most happens before or after this phase.
• Adults tend to assume, “They are like me now.”
• Adults tend to assume, “They are like I used to be.”
• Every kid at every phase is changing in six ways: physically, mentally, relationally, culturally, emotionally, and morally.

Your Role | Embrace Their Physical Needs

Read Their Mind…

So kids in the three phases of preschool will believe they can win.

• Know what can be expected of them and know how they think so they will hear what you say and know what to do.
• BIG IDEA: Preschoolers think like an artist.
• Preschoolers blend reality with imagination and learn best through their senses.

“Children are most like adults in their feelings. They are least like adults in their thinking. More information does not make them think like us.”

— Catherine Stonehouse

Discover Their World…

So kids in the three phases of preschool will feel they belong.

Zero to One: 

Kids in this phase are asking, “Am I safe?” 

In the first year of life, a baby needs to know they are safe. When adults consistently respond to a baby’s needs, babies establish trust. 

One & Two: 

Toddlers in this phase are asking, “Am I able?”

When a toddler is one and two years old, they discover new abilities. When adults patiently allow toddlers to try new things, they develop confidence. 

Three & Four:

Preschoolers in this phase are asking, “Am I okay?”

When a preschooler is three or four, they learn a few rules and expectations. When adults set boundaries and discipline with love, preschoolers cultivate self-control.

DON’T MISS THIS: The buffer in every crisis is love.

Interpret Their Motives…

So kids in the three phases of preschool will discern what they should do.

• Moral emotions are instinctive. Moral development is not.
• If you want to help a preschooler develop a moral conscience, you have to interpret and influence their motive.
• The ultimate motive is love.
• Preschoolers are motivated most by safety.

Play To Your Audience…

So kids in the three phases of preschool will discover how to relate to God.

• How preschoolers relate to God: God’s story is my story.
• When you embrace their physical needs you help a preschool know God’s love and meet God’s family.

Three Ideas to Help Preschoolers Mature in their Relationship with God.

Ignite their imagination. Build their confidence in a really big God.
Activate their senses. Help them see, feel, hear, and taste.
Structure their experience. Have a predictable schedule.

How Understanding the Elementary Phase Changes Your Ministry 

When we are intentional about engaging elementary kids and creating developmentally appropriate ministries, it changes everything-definitely more than what can fit in a blog. But, here are a few ways understanding the preschool phase changes what you do in your ministry and how you partner with other life-stage ministries. 

Ministry Strategy 

When you understand how kids learn and grow, it will change how you partner across life-stage ministries. As a preschool ministry leader, you will partner differently with the elementary preschool ministry leader because you know that what you teach in your preschool ministry will provide a foundation for what they learn next. You will also deepen your partnership with middle school ministry leaders because you care about how you move kids to what is next. 

When every life-stage ministry works together, you increase momentum for next gen ministry as a whole. 

Ministry Programming 

When you know preschoolers learn best through experiences, you will incorporate activities that engage all five senses. When you know preschoolers think like an artist, you will leverage movement, music, and art in your preschool ministry environment. When you understand that preschoolers are wired to experience wonder, it will change how you tell Bible stories to incite wonder for a big God. 

Phase changes everything when it comes to how you teach and what you teach in your preschool ministry. That’s why First Look Curriculum is designed to be both theologically sound and developmentally appropriate. 

Training Leaders 

Volunteers sign up to serve because they care about the faith and future of preschoolers, too. 

But, if they don’t understand phase, they may . . . 

Get frustrated when preschoolers have short attention spans. 
Ask kids questions in small group they don’t understand. 
Or, not understand why there are so many songs and art activities in your ministry. 

At the same time, when you understand phase, you know that you need to recruit consistent volunteers because preschoolers can be terrified by an unfamiliar face. You also know that who you recruit to volunteer matters, too. 

Partnering With Parents 

When you understand that every year comes with unique opportunities to leverage to influence a kid’s faith and future, you will also equip parents to understand those opportunities. You will cue parents to have more intentional conversations at home and lean into important conversations differently at each life-stage. 

If you want to learn more about how to integrate Phase strategy into your ministry, check out the Phase Starter Kit today!

To help you and the parents in your ministry navigate these unique phases, check out the Phase Guides. These 18 guides provide essential insights and practical advice tailored to each phase of a child’s life. Equip your team and parents by exploring the Phase Guides today.

The post Navigating the Three Phases of Preschool Ministry appeared first on Think Orange.

Actions speak louder than words.

We’ve all heard the saying before, but what does it really mean for us? For our kids? For the families in our community?

Well, for starters, it’s about more than just learning Bible stories – it’s about taking what we learn and living it out in our lives everyday. .

And this year, we’re focusing on one powerful action: loving like Jesus. Orange VBS (Very Best Summer) or some of you may know it as Vacation Bible School brings you a summer where kids feel empowered to adventure beyond simply talking about their faith and learn to live out their faith. 

Imagine a week where kids not only hear about Jesus’ love but also learn to express that love through their actions. By the end of your VBS, they’ll walk away with tangible ways to love like Jesus and live like Jesus, by praying, loving, serving, forgiving and showing simple acts of kindness.  

Join us in VBS 2025 as we learn to live it out and show others that our actions truly do speak louder than words!

Discover How to Love Like Jesus with Live It Out VBS!

Live It Out VBS (Very Best Summer) is not just a theme; it’s a call to action. 

It encourages children to actively live out their faith through their words and interactions with others. 

This year, we’re taking the spirit of camp – the camaraderie, the daily activities, the immersive nature – and applying it to our theme. Live It Out VBS combines the fun and adventure of camp life with meaningful Bible stories, fun worship songs, and engaging small group activities that teach kids how to love like Jesus.

What does it look like to Live It Out?

In John 13, we see Jesus give a command to His disciples. He knew His time with them was coming to a close, and He would soon be sentenced to death on a cross. While spending their last moments together, He left His followers with one thing: “I give you a new command. Love one another. You must love one another, just as I have loved you. If you love one another, everyone will know you are my disciples.” He said, “Everyone will know…” They were with Jesus, and Jesus was with them because of their love for one another. Jesus showed His disciples how to love, and in turn, the way we love and treat one another speaks volumes about who we follow.

Amidst a world where people are hurting and divided, we have the opportunity to remind this generation what it looks like to Live It Out. This summer, we invite you on a journey to discover how to love like Jesus, not just through words, but in action too. Jesus displayed how we are to be kind to one another, forgive one another, pray for one another, serve one another, and more. We can’t wait to go on this journey with you as we make this summer one you won’t soon forget!

As we teach kids about what it means to follow Jesus, kids will receive hands-on, fun, and engaging content that helps them continue to grow in their faith. We’ve tailored this curriculum to cater to your entire children’s ministry, ensuring that every child, from preschoolers to preteens, can truly Live It Out and discover how to love like Jesus. 

Memory Verse

“I give you a new command. Love one another. You must love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 13:34 NIrV

Day 1

Bible Story: John 13:1-17 – Jesus washes His disciples’ feet.
Bottom Line: Love one another.

On the first day, we’ll be discussing the story of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet which is a beautiful example of humility and service. Understanding and practicing love for others at a young age will teach kids how to develop empathy and compassion for one another for the rest of their lives.

Day 2

Bible Story: Mark 10:13-16 – Little children are brought to Jesus.
Bottom Line: Be kind to one another.

Day two will focus on the story of the little children being brought to Jesus. We’ll be exploring the theme of kindness and ask the question, “When has someone been kind to you?” Kids will learn to be kind to others because Jesus was kind to others too.

Day 3

Bible Story: 1 John 4:9-12 – God’s love for us.
Bottom Line: Forgive one another.

Day three is all about forgiveness. God loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son for us and to forgive us of our sins. Kids will walk away from day three knowing that in order to live like Jesus, we need to forgive others – just as He did.

Day 4

Bible Story: Matthew 6:9-13 – The Lord’s Prayer
Bottom Line: Pray for one another.

Knowing when and how to pray for others is such a valuable skill for a kid to have, and that is exactly what we’ll be talking about on day four. We’ll be asking, “What do you pray about?” We will support this big idea with 1 Timothy 2:1 NIV. 

Day 5

Bible Story: Acts 2:42-47 – The believers share their lives together.
Bottom Line: Serve one another.

On the final day, we’ll be exploring the theme of service, discussing the story of the believers sharing their lives together. It’s vital for kids to learn to serve one another early in life, so we’ll be asking, “What are ways we can serve one another?”

These questions, stories, and big ideas will help kids in your VBS program internalize God’s truths and how they can apply Jesus’ command to Live It Out in their daily lives.

Decoration

How Can I Decorate for Live It Out VBS?
Decoration plays a crucial role in creating a successful VBS (vacation bible school) and we want to help you transform your space. No matter the size or location – into an environment where kids can Live It Out!

For small churches, consider focusing on creating a few key focal points to bring the theme to life. One example is a lake scene with a paddle, canoes, fishing poles, and life vests for a fun photo op. You could also create mini campfires with tissue paper where kids can gather around for small group discussions. Ordinary items that you may already own, such as string lights, pennant flags, and Christmas trees, can be a cost-friendly way to spruce up your space.

For larger churches, you can take these ideas and expand them. Create different “camp” zones throughout your space – A mess hall for snacks, a “cabin” area for story time, or even a “lake” for water games. The possibilities are endless!

And remember, your VBS doesn’t have to look like a traditional summer camp. You might choose to theme your VBS as a sports camp with different sports activities tied into the daily lessons. Or maybe, a science camp is more your style, and you can incorporate fun experiments that illustrate the theme of the day. Whatever path you decide to take, the goal is to create a space that excites and inspires your kids to Live It Out.

Get creative and have fun! If you want “s’more” ideas, check out our Pinterest board for decor inspiration!

You can also join the VBS Facebook group, where people share ideas and wins!

Why use Orange’s Vacation Bible School?

Imagine the sun is shining, and the birds are chirping. It’s summertime, and you’re feeling the pressure to put on an incredible Vacation Bible School. We want your decorations to scream, “Money is no object!” When, in reality, you’re actually ballin’ on a budget. You want your volunteers prepped, poured into, and – most importantly – present, You want kids to walk away from the week knowing that God loves them and that they should love others the same way. You want parents to be able to not only participate in but also actively lead conversations at home, and you want it all, and it’s a lot to juggle… How can you accomplish all of this in only five days? 

That’s where our team at Orange comes in. We had a team of counselors, pastors, writers, researchers, parents, and teachers working around the clock to create a VBS kit that is: 

• V: Versatile
  • Crafted to adapt seamlessly to any church setting and ensure engaging experiences for children in groups of any size or budget.
• B: Biblical
  • Centered around biblical truths tailored to meet developmental needs, making Scripture both accessible and impactful for kids in preschool – elementary school.
• S: Strategic
  • Equipped with all the essential tools and resources to align influence between volunteers and parents, ensuring a memorable VBS experience.

On top of those features, when you pair Orange VBS (vacation bible school) with Orange Curriculum, you expand the experience to a whole summer strategy. The VBS theme and content are strategically aligned with the June and July curriculum to give you and your kids a comprehensive learning experience. You can make Summer 2025 an unforgettable adventure for everyone involved.

Put Faith Into Action
Start preparing now for an unforgettable summer that’s not just about fun. It also needs to be about living out the love of Jesus. With the Live It Out VBS Kit, you’ll have everything you need to create an experience. An experience an event that will leave a lasting impact on every child at your VBS.

Preorder the Live It Out VBS Kit today and make Summer 2025 your Very Best Summer yet!

The post Introducing Live It Out VBS 2025: This Summer’s Vacation Bible School Experience appeared first on Think Orange.

When we talk about alignment, we mean to say that a team needs a set of common values combined with a shared strategy. When those two things are in tandem, a team finds alignment. 

Alignment isn’t a given. In fact, more often than not, teams experience more misalignment due to natural drift when life becomes hectic and you just need to get the job done. 

Alignment requires intentionality. 

Because of that, the four Orange curriculum teams work closely together to ensure that our content is aligned and all headed in the same direction. 

We work to keep alignment in the following areas:

Strategic Alignment

All four Orange curriculum offerings include the same basic structure for their programming through seven distinct segments:

• Prelude or Set Up
• Social
• Transitions
• Story
• Worship
• Groups
• Home

The way we implement each of these segments throughout each division is unique, but the goal for each one is the same.

All four Orange curriculum offerings also include the same devotional and discipleship practices that we call faith skills.  

• Hear
• Pray
• Talk 
• Live

This is how we help a kid or teenager build an everyday faith. 

All four Orange curriculum offerings include the same age-appropriate cues for championing parents through Parent Cue. 

Those are just a few alignment strategies you’ll find throughout the curriculum. We hope that the curriculum we create for churches helps leaders guide the next generation toward an everyday faith in the way of Jesus—with a perspective that transforms how kids and students love God, love themselves and their life, and love others.

Biblical Alignment

Throughout the course of the year, each curriculum division covers different Bible stories and passages that connect authentically with their intended audience. Orange is not only intentional about which passages we choose, but also about how we discuss them with kids and students. 

Our shared starting point is an aligned foundation upon nine theological truths based on what Jesus said was most important in the Greatest Commandment: love for God, love for others, and love for oneself. Every story and passage we use throughout each phase of the curriculum is attached to one or more of these nine faith foundations. 

We also align on a shared goal to stay true to a person’s eventual understanding of a particular Bible story, passage, or theological concept. That means that from preschool through high school, we are intentional about what a kid needs to know and is able to understand at each phase of their development—including specific details of a story, the vocabulary we use, and how we define complex terms. Our approach to each phase builds on the previous understanding to ultimately create a full picture of the Biblical narrative and theological concept.

Developmental Alignment

Kids learn differently at each phase of their development. Orange curriculum intentionally takes these learning methods into consideration and uniquely builds each series to address the specific needs of a child’s particular phase.

All of our content takes into account how kids learn and think at their age. We work to align a developmental strategy that builds on learning pathways that will connect with where kids are in their phase of life. This includes the ways we share Bible stories in a large group setting, the sorts of activities and questions we include in our small group lessons, and even the sorts of activities and devotionals we hope kids engage with at home.

Curriculum Alignment

In addition to these broad alignments, we choose times to align specific series throughout the course of a yearly scope and cycle. We often decide these series based on topics that are relevant to families as a whole, versus a specific age group . . . or times of the year when churches have a more holistic approach to their content, like Christmas, Easter, and summer. 

This sort of alignment can appear in a few different ways:

Full Alignment

This happens when two or more of the curriculum strategies align on everything—including theme, memory verse, and weekly Bible stories. More than likely, this happens between First Look and 252 Kids during the summer months of June and July. 

XP3 Middle School and High School also have several series where this happens throughout the course of a school year. The only difference would be that while stories are the same, themes might be different to connect with each specific age group.

Note that even with full alignment, Bottom Lines, Key Questions, and application points will often be different for each curriculum division based on their unique developmental phase. 

Seasonal Experience  Alignment

Whether it be an Advent Box or a Free Christmas Party Planning Kit, throughout the course of the year, we include different series and experiences with partial alignment, in which two or more of the curriculum divisions will include several of the same Bible stories for that month or series. This sort of alignment is typical during the Easter or Christmas holidays, when everyone covers the Nativity or resurrection stories, but does so in age-appropriate ways.

Topical Alignment

This happens when all four curriculum divisions align to cover the same broad topic or Biblical concept. Each division will have their own developmentally appropriate Bible stories and Bottom Lines, but together, they provide an intentional way for your whole family ministry to engage kids in learning about these important topics.

For example, this sort of alignment appears in this year’s teaching plan during the months of September 2024 and January 2025. For September, each of the four curriculum divisions will help kids and students discover more about what it means to shine the light of Jesus to the world around them, based on Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:14-16. In January, each division will focus on how kids and students can trust God to help them process their emotions. Each curriculum covers different emotions that are unique to each phase of development. 

Keeping Your Curriculum Aligned Isn’t Easy, But It’s Possible

The Orange curriculum teams are constantly meeting with each other to ensure that we stay aligned with what we teach and how we teach. We are always on the lookout for more ways we can align our curriculum to help churches and families build an everyday faith in the hearts of the next generation.

If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to reach out to your Orange Specialist. They’re always available to answer any questions you might have and help you make the most of Orange curriculum in your unique local church . . . and to help you champion alignment in your own ministries. And be sure to download our latest curriculum Scope and Cycle to discover the specific teaching plan for the coming year. We can’t wait to hear how you implement Orange curriculum in your church!

The post How to Achieve Strategic, Biblical, and Developmental Alignment in Your Curriculum appeared first on Think Orange.

This was certainly the case with the Quillins. Years ago, as a small group leader for their 5th-grade son, Preston, I’d catch their faces from time to time, as they dropped him off and picked him up on Sunday mornings. Some weeks, they’d wave Preston to the door, and quickly shoot me a smile that communicated, “Hey, I’m thankful for you, but I’m not interested in chatting.” Other weeks, they would reluctantly allow me to stop them when I had encouraging words to share about their son. They’d engage in minimal conversation. They were cordial, but guarded. Committed to coming, but cautious about anything more.

Their toes were dipped into the water as far as they planned to go.

Until that summer I went out on a limb and asked them to volunteer at VBS.

Reluctantly, Mr. Quillin said, “Yes.” But only if he could serve with Preston, who had, by that point, moved on to middle school. And as any VBS coordinator in dire need of volunteers, an emphatic, “Absolutely!” was my response.

Naturally, I handed them the more enticing responsibility for a father and son: Recreation. And they totally crushed it.

As an officer in the US Navy, Mr. Quillin had rules and regimens down pat, so a room full of rambunctious kids did not ruffle his feathers one bit. And Preston supplemented the structure with his cool, easygoing disposition. They were a power duo, to say the least.

I knew from Day 1 of seeing them in action, this was an opportunity I simply couldn’t pass up. I vowed to do everything in my power, not only to make VBS an enjoyable experience for them but to help them see the impact they had the potential to make if they continued past the summer.

That week, I seized every chance I had to toss words their way that validated the amazing job they were doing. Shouting a quick, “These kids love you!! Keep up the good work!” from across the room while I made my rounds was enough to etch a proud grin across Mr. Quillin’s face. I was certain my door had swung wide open.

But let’s be honest. VBS is a lot! So when the week was said and done, I gave them a bit of space afterward to recover before diving in for the big ask.

Later that summer, I carefully crafted my proposal. This time, I was going all in. I planned to recruit Mr. and Mrs. Quillin for the long-term commitment of co-leading a group. Not only did I see the potential they had to make an impact together, but I was about to have a bit of skin in the game. I was hoping they’d take on a group of 5th graders in the fall; one of which would be my own son, Oliver.

Sure, it would tug at their heartstrings a bit, knowing I had led their son as a 5th grader not so long ago, and now they had the opportunity to do the same for me. But in addition to my own personal ploy, I was confident this group was the right fit for the Quillins.

You can probably guess what happened. They said, “Yes.”

Isn’t that the best feeling, though? When you hear, “Yes!” rather than, “No!” To check something off your list. To fill a spot. To take one step closer to having every group covered. Ah, the immediate gratification is priceless. And while that is, indeed, a practical goal, I’m certain that if you keep steering with a long-game approach, you may find that you’ll have fewer Yes’s to strive for each year. The investment you make on the front end will pay off in the long run, because they will not want to step away from the impact you’ve helped them make.

As you consider recruiting volunteers in the months ahead, here are some things to remember:

Start with a small ask. 

For the Quillins, this was leading recreation at VBS. But not everyone may be able to commit an entire week of their summer. It’s great to have special events or Sunday morning subbing opportunities in your back pocket to use for the people you know have potential to eventually lead in a bigger way.

Use your words.

Everyone loves being the recipient of praise and gratitude. So when you do have people that agree to those short-term volunteer opportunities, be sure to pour words of encouragement and affirmation upon them every chance you get. Point out something helpful you saw them do, and let them know how big of a difference it made. Thank them more than once! And always be sure to send a note in the mail after the event is over.

Give it some time. Then ask again.

No one likes to be nagged. It may end up backfiring if you’re too hasty with another ask immediately following that first moment they chose to say, “Yes.” Give them some space before pulling out the recruitment tactics again. Find the sweet spot: just enough time to recover and reminisce fondly on the experience. But not so much time that they’ve long forgotten how much they loved it.

Find the right fit.

Just because there happens to be an opening for a role doesn’t mean it’s the right one for everyone. If you have an older gentleman who thrives on thought-provoking discussions, you might regret it if you ask him to lead a rowdy group of kindergartners. On the flip side, that woman who teaches preschool full-time may feel tossed to the wolves if you sign her up with high schoolers. Based on what you know about the person, look for a role that feels most fitting for who they are. Try your best to set them up for success, even if that means patiently waiting for the right role to become available.

Tell them what they bring to the table.

When you’ve discovered a match that makes sense, be sure to let your potential volunteer in on why you asked them, and not someone else. Point out specific qualities they possess that you believe will equip them for the role you’re recruiting them for. Telling them why they’re awesome will empower them to want to keep being awesome.

Connect them to their community.

Onboarding a new person on a team of volunteers is vital. As best as you can, immediately connect them to the other people who they will be serving alongside. The more they feel like they’re part of a team and the deeper connection they develop with the people they see week after week, the more likely it is that they’ll keep wanting to come back. They may be doing you a huge favor by volunteering. But the community they receive in return will feel like an even greater payoff.

Now, it would be silly of me to send you off on your recruitment journey without letting you in on the last chapter of the Quillins’ story. So check this out…

That fall following the VBS experience, Mr. and Mrs. Quillin began leading my son’s 5th grade group. It was a perfect match. But little did they know, 6 months later, the world would shut down. This happened to be the infamous year of the pandemic. So when it would have been perfectly justified for these new leaders to see their way out, instead, they chose to dig in even deeper. 

Remember those toes barely dipped into the water? At this point, they were shoulder-deep. But they were sailing better than I ever dreamed they would.

During those long months of shelter-in-place restrictions, the Quillins met weekly over Zoom with their group of kids. My son would look forward to signing on each Sunday evening where he connected with his friends and felt seen by adults who cared about him. They’d play virtual games with each other. They would read the Bible together. They’d laugh and ask questions and talk about hard things. And most importantly, they created a safe, predictable place during a time when kids needed it more than ever before. 

Their investment in the lives of those kids that year was life-changing. My son–now 14 years old–has a solid foundation as he’s about to enter high school this fall. Much of that has to do with Mr. and Mrs. Quillin.

Our family has since moved away from that church, due to a relocation with my husband’s job. Just the other day, I received a graduation announcement in the mail for Preston Quillin. I sent his mom a text to check in. She and Mr. Quillin are still serving on Sundays, leading a group of 5th graders. Mr. Quillin also helps on Wednesday nights. Preston is leading 2nd graders. And I don’t see this changing any time soon. They are all in, and I suspect they always will be.

Trust me. Playing the long game is so worth it.

The post Summer Strategy: How Investing in the Long Game Transforms Volunteer Recruitment appeared first on Think Orange.

What if you had a roadmap for the next year of ministry? You could . . .

• • Plan further in advance

• • Plan what you teach with a strategy in mind

• • Stop wondering what you’ll teach next week

With XP3 curriculum, you get a plan for the next three years of ministry, and detailed insight on each coming year of ministry. We help you plan ahead through our 3-Year Plan called a Scope & Cycle (released every three years) and a 1-Year Plan called a One-Year Scope (released every year).

What’s a Scope & Cycle?

We use the words Scope & Cycle to describe the roadmap we have for our curriculum.

Our scope is the comprehensive plan that prioritizes what you teach and when. It basically tells you what we’re teaching now with our curriculum and what we’re planning to teach in the future. It’s the big-picture curriculum plan for XP3.

Our cycle is the plan to recycle or revisit what you teach. It’s how we circle back to reinforce the topics we’ve covered to make sure what we’re teaching sticks effectively. It’s the way we think about what’s ahead for XP3.

The cycle is really important because you can’t make kids show up more consistently. You can’t guarantee that they’ll be with you each and every week. And you also can’t make more hours in the week for yourself. You can’t build in more time to reinforce what you’re teaching to each and every student who may or may not be with you. But you can make the time you have matter more by recycling and reinforcing the things that matter most during the middle and high school phase. That’s exactly what your Cycle does!

So if your scope prioritizes what you will teach and your cycle strategically reinforces those principles again and again in new ways, then developing a Scope & Cycle is a balancing act of both strategy and structure and flexibility and freedom.  And because we believe that both are so vital to the content in your student ministry, we want to give you a little glimpse into exactly how we came up with our Scope & Cycle, why we do it the way we do it, and what we’re planning to cover in our curriculum Scope & Cycle. 

A strategic plan for the entire year.

Explore the 2024 – 2025 Orange Curriculum Scope & Cycle for a comprehensive teaching roadmap designed for the year ahead with students and families in mind.

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