What is the role of Student Ministry?

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W E L C O M E

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STUDENT MINISTRY! We are so excited that you’ve chosen to join us as we help students become passionate disciples of Jesus Christ. The adventure that you have begun is going to be fun, challenging, at times confusing, sometimes frustrating, inspiring, rewarding and demanding… but worth it. And every step along the way you’ll have the student ministry staff and pastors by your side to encourage you, equip you and empower you to do great ministry. So let us begin by saying “Thank you” for giving us your time and joining us in this adventure called Student Ministry.

The purpose of this Blue Book Manual is to help orient you as you begin this adventure. First, we want to orient you to the student ministry of Christ Community Church. Second, we want to orient you to your role within a particular student ministry environment.

TABLE OF CONTENTS What is the role of the Disciple? What is the role of Student Ministry? What is the role of the Pastor? What is the role of a Volunteer? What are the ground rules in student ministry? What does it take to join the team? A word of Encouragement

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE DISCIPLE? If you’ve made the decision to follow Jesus as your savior and king, you are a disciple. The word disciple means more than just “student” or “apprentice.” Although these concepts are included in the definition, a disciple is more than that. In the ancient world a disciple was one who followed the way of his or her master completely. The purpose statement of Christ Community Church is “To make passionate disciples of Jesus Christ who are belonging, growing, serving, and reaching.” Those four “ing” words help us identify the four marks of a disciple who is passionately following Jesus.

BELONGING Belonging is a matter of commitment. We commit our lives to Jesus by surrendering to him as our Savior and King (Conversion experience). We commit to Him through baptism as an outward display of our desire to follow Him alone (Baptism). We commit to the Church; to meeting together weekly for worship, prayer, Biblical teaching and fellowship (Weekend Services). We commit to one-another for care, accountability and sharing (Community Group). We commit to following the leadership God has entrusted with the task of shepherding this local body of believers (Christ Community membership).

GROWING We grow spiritually as God’s Spirit works in our lives to conform us to the Image of Christ through a variety of Christian disciplines. Corporate Worship, personal Bible Study, Praise, Prayer, Fasting, Tithing & Giving, Serving, and other disciplines help us to say no to self and yes to God’s Spirit. The result is an intimate connection with Jesus and a fruitful life that blesses God and others.

SERVING We find great joy in serving others. Some disciples will dedicate their time, energy, skills and resources to help others in our community (Serving the Broken). Others will commit to equipping and caring for those inside the church by deploying their spiritual gifts in various ministries within Christ Community (Serve the Body).

REACHING Jesus clearly calls us to reach people with God’s Good News of salvation. We do this by investing in relationships with family, friends, neighbors and acquaintances that God has placed in our lives, informing them of the Gospel, and inviting them to experience God’s blessing through a relationship with Him and an experience with our church (Personal Evangelism). We also have the awesome privilege to reach the world through praying, giving, and going on Go Teams with our International Impact ministry (Reaching the World). By joining the student ministry team, you are declaring three things. FIRST, you are declaring that you desire to make these four “ings” a priority in your life. SECOND, you are declaring that you desire to help middle school, high school and college students become passionate disciples of Jesus Christ wherever you find them; at weekend service, serving at 2nd Saturday or even in your neighborhood. THIRD, you are declaring your commitment to help Christ Community Church develop environments where students can experience belonging, growing, serving and reaching. Are you ready to declare these three things?

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF STUDENT MINISTRY?

Vision: In light of our CCC purpose, the student ministry department will affirm and foster full participation in the life of Christ Community Church by helping students engage in meaningful, intergenerational relationships within a variety of environments within and beyond student ministry.

Clarifying the vision: AFFIRM The whole church is about making passionate disciples of Jesus Christ. We want to affirm the many ways this happens for students outside of student ministry by cooperating with and encouraging adults in every department to welcome students. FOSTER The student ministry team is uniquely responsible to develop space for students to become passionate disciples of Jesus Christ who are belonging, growing, serving and reaching. This can be both within and beyond our student environments. FULL PARTICIPATION A successful student ministry is one which inspires and empowers students to experience the fullness of God’s blessings in and through the church for a lifetime. This means helping students receive the blessing of God through things like baptism, communion, corporate prayer (week of prayer) and Night of Worship. This means we strive to see students growing through things like weekend worship, Go Teams and 2nd Saturday. We strive to see students serving in places like Kidsworld, the Welcome Center and the weekend worship team. We empower students to reach their friends through things like Wow Weekend, Fuel and other campus specific outreach events. By doing these things, we help students develop habits and values that go beyond their time in student ministry. INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS Faith is passed down generation to generation through both teaching and modeling. Students will become passionate disciples of Jesus Christ if godly adults will choose to engage in their lives both within and beyond student ministry. The student ministry team is tasked with the responsibility to equip adults to best engage with students as they help them become passionate disciples of Jesus Christ. ENVIRONMENTS Our primary environments are Genesis for middle school, Mosaic Housegroup for high school and CRAVE for college students. These however are not the only environments where students and adults come together to experience God’s blessings through the church. Therefore, the student ministry team strives to prepare each environment within and beyond these for student participation and intergenerational interaction.

So what does this mean for you? It means that our job is to encourage and equip you to invite students into your life as you walk with Jesus and participate fully in the life of the church; belonging, growing, serving and reaching!

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE PASTOR?

The Role of the Pastor “Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13).

All followers of Jesus are Spirit-filled ministers (1 Peter 2:9-10) whom God has uniquely created and blessed with talents and gifts to serve him. These various gifts – utilized together – allow us to accomplish our mission of glorifying God and making disciples. This means that we’re better together and that we need the differences that each one of us brings to the table to effectively serve God.

All of this is very important when we consider the team-nature of our Student Ministry. We have a tendency to think that the paid staff is responsible for the “real work” of ministry - all the hard and significant work – while the volunteers just kind of help out here and there. That’s simply not true.

According to the passage cited above, one of the main roles of a pastor is “to equip his [Christ’s] people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” It’s best to think of the Student Ministry pastors and paid staff like assistant coaches. They are responsible – under the ultimate Coaching of Jesus – to train, inspire, equip, correct, encourage, and organize God’s people for ministry so that the church as a whole can grow into maturity. In other words, the role of the pastor is to prepare you to fully engage in ministry.

An important implication follows from this: there is no such thing as a small role on the Student Ministry team. Everyone is responsible to do his or her part by the Spirit’s power so that God will bring students into conformity to Christ. So, why do we have a team? We have a team because precisely as a team – together employing the gifts we’ve been given – we have the delightful task of partnering with God in helping students receive “the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

So what ca n you expect from yo ur pastor? 1. PASTORAL CARE: The student ministry pastors are not here to simply pastor students; we are your pastors too. We’re here to care for you, pray for you, encourage you, disciple you and guide you in your walk with Jesus. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if we can care for you and your family in any way.

2. SKILL SETS: The pastors and paid staff in the Student Ministry Department will do our very best to train and equip you to succeed at whatever role you choose to take on the team. We want you to be effective and excited about what you do with students. That will require training and learning. Student Ministry is not easy. It is, however, like anything else in one respect. The longer you stick with it the better you get at it. Your first year will really be a matter of “getting your feet wet.”

3. HONORING YOUR TIME: We know that your time is valuable and we’re grateful that you’ve chosen to share some of your time with us and the students of Christ Community Church. For this reason, the pastors and paid staff Student Ministry staff will: •

do our best to be well prepared and to prepare you with clear responsibilities each time you’re with us.

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avoid unnecessary meetings. We want to maximize your time with students.

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avoid burying you with tasks, trips, and other things that you had no idea were a part of the deal. When you pick a role, we want you to focus in on that role and get really good at it. If you pick up some other responsibilities along the way, it will be at your choosing.

A Note About Team Training: Every Student Ministry Team Member goes through core training upon joining the team. This manual is part of that core training. After the core training, your skill set training and discipleship is turned over to the pastor who will be your team leader. That pastor will make sure to fill you in on how training for specific ministries works depending on the role you choose and what CCC campus you serve.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE VOLUNTEER? Regardless of the ministry you serve in or the specific job you choose to do, there are three core attributes that every student ministry volunteer should demonstrate: Character, Community and Commitment.

CHARACTER In 1 Corinthians 11:1 the Apostle Paul writes, “Follow my example, just as I follow the example of Christ.” That’s a bold statement that many people wouldn’t be willing to make, but keep these three things in mind. 1. Christian Character is not about perfection but faithfulness. It’s about keeping your eyes on Jesus and pursuing him even though we may stumble or fall. 2. Christian Character is not about us but about Jesus. Our life and conduct should never testify to our own goodness but should point others to Jesus as we follow him. 3. Following Jesus is about obedience but it begins with the humble recognition of our desperate need for a Savior. Keeping an authentic posture of humility and practicing personal spiritual disciplines of prayer, confession, Scripture reading and worship are essential for developing Christian character.

One last thought about Christian Character: “you can’t share what you don’t have.”

COMMUNITY There are about 40 “one another” statements in the New Testament calling us to community. Among the 40 are calls to “accept one another,” “love one another,” “pray for one another,” “serve one another,” “encourage one another,” and “be devoted to one another.” At Christ Community Church there are two specific environments where these “one anothers” are practiced and where community is built. FIRST, we expect each Christ-follower to make the weekend worship service a priority. SECOND, we expect each Christ follower to participate in a Community Group.

COMMITMENT

Once again’ “you can’t share what you don’t have.”

While there are a variety of roles in each of our student ministry environments requiring varying degrees of commitment, we ask that every volunteer commit to the following expectations: 1. Commit to serve through the end of the school year. 2. Commit to read and respond appropriately to team emails. 3. Commit to praying for our staff, ministries, students and families regularly. Once again, if we endeavor to minister to students and help them follow Jesus, we must lead the way in character, community and commitment; “you can’t share what you don’t have.”

Breaking the Stereotype – the perfect youth ministry volunteer There’s a stereotype of the perfect youth ministry volunteer. He or she is young, cool, in touch with all that’s trending now, musical, athletic, tech-savvy, funny and a Bible scholar all rolled into one outgoing, attractive and godly person that students want to follow and be like. In one word, the perfect youth ministry volunteer is a unicorn… they don’t exist.

Furthermore, there is no such thing as the right personality, age or background for student ministry. We have outgoing and wild team members and those that are more laid back and introverted. We have students, professionals, parents and grandparents. We have volunteers from a variety of social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The reality is, effective Student Ministry has a lot more to do with your heart than your demographic or personality. At the heart, there are six qualities that effective student ministry volunteers possess and develop. 1. HELPLESSNESS – Integral to the call of student ministry is the recognition of the impossibility of the task, our own inadequacy to do the task, and (most importantly) the adequacy of the One who has called you. People who feel totally adequate for student ministry do not belong there. Conversely, those who feel helpless are prone to turn to Jesus in prayer, teammates for wisdom and encouragement, and leadership for direction and support. In other words, helplessness is the thing that keeps us dependent upon Jesus and connected to one another as a team to do what is only possible together with God. 2. AUTHENTICITY – There’s a pressure in ministry to appear capable, knowledgeable and unshakeable; as if mature Christians don’t struggle, question or doubt. This isn’t the example we want to provide for students. Rather, Christians are those who know Jesus and turn to him always, and especially when these seasons arise. Inviting a student to pray for you, to join you in finding the answer to a tough question and to worship with you in weakness are powerful ways to teach younger brothers and sisters to walk with Jesus – the ultimate source of strength and truth. Additionally, authenticity breeds authenticity. You’ll reap what you sow. 3. PRESENCE – Every moment you spend with a student is significant. You never know when a student will be ready to talk, encouraged by something you said, or deeply impressed by something you’ve done. If we are busy preparing, distracted by our phones or more interested in the other adults in the room, we’ll never be fully present to recognize these moments or the movement of the Holy Spirit. Being fully present means being intentional about every moment we have with students. 4. LISTENING – There are students everywhere who would give anything if somebody cared enough to listen. You may not be able to speak very well in front of students. You may not be able to give great advice. Anyone can listen. 5. AFFIRMING – Adolescence is a stage of life when self-esteem is fragile, performance is scrutinized and fitting in is paramount. Furthermore, adolescents don’t hear much praise. Affirming students is all about seeing the best in a student and speaking it out loud. It’s saying “I love your creativity” even when their answer is a bit squirrely. It’s saying “I admire your effort” even when they don’t succeed. It’s saying “you’re so original” even though they stand out a bit. 6. NURTURING – Caring for people is hard work and can be messy. Think plants. Plants need rich soil, watering, fertilizing, weeding and at times pruning. It’s the same with students. They need to be planted in community, watered by God’s Word, strengthened in trials and challenged by courageous conversations. And, just like plants, God makes them grow. Our part is to trust God fully as we prayerfully and obediently commit ourselves to the ministry of nurture.

[Specific Volunteer roles provided by each ministry & campus as an insert)

WHAT ARE THE GUARDRAILS IN STUDENT MINISTRY? Specific guardrails are in place to protect leaders and students and to promote healthy ministry. These guardrails are firmly in place and are never to be crossed at any time.

1. SAME GENDER “MINISTRY” – It is the church’s policy that male leaders should seek to minister to male students and female leaders should seek to minister to female students. Any exceptions to this must be conducted in a public setting with prior approval from the Director of Student Ministries. 2. APPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIPS – There is a big difference between being a “friend” and being a “leader.” It is expected that adult youth leaders will cultivate healthy adult relationships in addition to the relationships they have with students. It is not healthy for Student Ministry events to be the primary outlet for the social needs of an adult team member. All leader-student appointments should have a specific purpose and plan. 3. TWO OR MORE ADULTS AT ALL TIMES – Two or more screened youth ministry paid staff or volunteers should be present at all times when student ministry activities are conducted. All paid staff and volunteers are strictly prohibited from having sole custody of a student. Classroom doors should remain unlocked at all times. Offsite meetings should be conducted in public places with parent approval. All offsite gatherings should be preapproved by student ministry staff and also require two or more screened adults present. 4. DATING/ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS – Guy/girl relationships (i.e. dating or going out together on a social level) between adult youth leaders and students is forbidden. There are no exceptions to this rule. 5. ABUSE & SUSPECTED ABUSE – The physical and emotional health and well-being of students is one of our greatest concerns. In the course of ministry, you may become aware or suspect that a student has been or is currently being abused or neglected. Such suspicions or information must be reported to a student ministry pastor immediately. Regardless of one’s status as a mandatory reporter, the pastoral staff should always be informed of such suspicions. Any and all allegations of sexual or physical abuse directed toward a youth leader will result in immediate action and be thoroughly investigated by the proper authorities. Youth leaders must use discretion in terms of physical contact of any kind. Avoid full body hugs with students and volunteers of the opposite sex. Remain in public spaces to avoid suspicion.

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DEFINITION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: Child sexual abuse includes any form of sexual contact, activity, or exploitation in which a minor is being used for the sexual stimulation of the perpetrator. Sexual abuse involves children in sexual behaviors for which they are not personally, socially, and developmentally ready. All abuse is an exploitation of a child’s vulnerability and powerlessness. Child sexual abuse can involve touching and non-touching aspects. Touching may include: fondling; oral, genital, and anal penetration; and intercourse either forced or consensual. Non-touching sexual abuse may include: verbal comments, pornographic pictures or videos, obscene phone calls exhibitionism, and allowing a child to witness sexual activity.

6. DIVERSITY & SENSITIVITY – Every person regardless of age, ethnicity, culture, gender orientation or socio-political perspective has been created in God’s image and is worthy of the ministry of Jesus Christ. Additionally, diversity is part of God’s grand plan of redemption; calling people from every tongue, tribe and nation. We expect that every student ministry staff and volunteer speak and act with the utmost respect regarding people of diverse backgrounds. Exclusion and offensive labels regarding ethnicity, culture, gender orientation or social status will not be tolerated and may be grounds for dismissal from serving in student ministries. 7. DISCIPLINE GUIDELINES – Never touch any student in a disrespectful manner or make derogatory remarks. Corporeal (physical) punishment is never allowed at any time. The only acceptable time to physically restrain a student is when you believe a student is attempting to do bodily harm to self or another student. Never hit, kick, or push a student. Roughhousing with students is prohibited. 8. TRANSPORTATION – Only screened and approved adult student ministry leaders may drive during a student ministry event. Students may drive if they are the only person in the vehicle. However, this will be allowed only under extreme circumstances. Prior permission must be requested by the student and approved by the student’s parent/legal guardian and the Director of Student Ministries. 9. MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT – While movies, music, games and online media can be effective ways to connect with young people, we prefer more social interactions. When choosing to use various media we must be cautious about both the content and the messages within each choice. Regarding content, we choose to honor the entertainment industry standards for movies, music, online content and video games. Regarding messages, we ask that leaders use discretion and consult a student ministry pastor before inviting students to engage with a particular piece of entertainment. 10. SOCIAL MEDIA – Staff and leaders who choose to maintain an online presence via any social media sites are expected to maintain a witness consistent with the doctrines and beliefs of Christ Community Church and worthy for students to follow. Staff and leaders are also expected to be aware of what others post and comment concerning them. While nobody is monitoring staff and leader accounts, all who choose to serve in student ministry also choose to be accountable to the student ministry directors for online content and communication and may be asked to remove or edit inappropriate content.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO JOIN THE TEAM? Christ Community Church is committed to provide appropriate, safe and secure student ministry environments for youth, volunteers and staff. The expectations and processes below are firmly established and will be rigidly followed on all campuses, by all ministries to ensure that goal.

Every Student Ministry volunteer must meet the following screening qualifications: •

Be registered with the church for a minimum of 6 months

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Complete the provided volunteer application.

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Pass a standard background check for working with minors.

We ask that you consider your involvement by taking the following four steps: •

Pray.

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Continue to observe the ministry you are interested in.

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Consider your schedule and calendar commitments for this year.

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Discuss your commitment with your family.

NOTE: CHILD ABUSE OFFENDERS Anyone who has been convicted of or plead guilty to either child sexual abuse or physical abuse should not volunteer in any CCC church sponsored activity or program for children or youth.

NOTE: VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE Adult survivors of childhood sexual or physical abuse need the love and acceptance of this church family. Individuals who have such a history should discuss their desire to work with children or youth with one of the pastoral staff before engaging in any volunteer service.

Following these onboarding steps will help us ensure that you’re getting started well. STEP #1 – Personal Invitation: We’re not filling holes but identifying godly people called to work with students. We prefer that volunteers join through a personal invitation from a friend. STEP #2 – Observation: Check out one or more of our environments and pick up a “Blue Book.” STEP #3 – Blue Book review: Once you have read the Blue Book, as staff member meets with you to review the Blue Book. If you desire to join the team, complete and turn in your application. STEP #4 – Application Review & Skill Set Training: This is our opportunity to help you process your calling, discover the right place to serve and equip you with the proper skill sets to do what God has called you to. This step includes Green Book training as ministry specific instruction. STEP #5 – Participation: You will either apprentice with an experienced leader or start right away.

A FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT We count it a great privilege to be in ministry with you and the whole church as we minister to young people. What we’ve been called to do is significant and will require a significant investment. Yet, because this is God’s church and God’s mission, we can be confident that God will honor our investment and use us to help young people meet and walk with Jesus. Thank you for answering the call and courageously joining our team as we join the God in his mission here at Christ Community Church. We’re so excited to see all that God will do in you and through you as you follow him into this ministry. The pastors and staff are here for you as you serve. Please reach out to us if there’s anything we can do to serve you, equip you, encourage you or pray for you.

Our prayer for you is this: We pray that God would reveal himself to you as you make yourself available to him. We pray that God would strengthen your faith and faithfulness as you use your gifts to serve him. We pray that God would fill you with joy as the Holy Spirit moves in your life and ministry. We pray that God would make you more and more like Jesus as you follow him each day. We pray that God would use you to produce much fruit in the lives of young people.

THE STUDENT MINISTRY TEAM click a name to email a team member Pete Sutton

Director of Student Ministry & Middle School Pastor, St. Charles Campus

Eric Hays

High School Pastor, St. Charles Campus

Bex Rowlands

College Pastor

Bobby Jackson

Hub Director & Student Outreach Pastor

Elias Zavala

Creative Arts Director, St. Charles Campus

Josh Haight

Student Ministry Pastor, Dekalb Campus

Erik Eclov

Student Ministry Pastor, Blackberry Campus

Bob Timm

Student Ministry Pastor, Bartlett Campus

Angela Davis

Student Ministry Executive Administrator