Some Thoughts

We have all heard about Starbucks changing back to what made them a Socially Cultured Landmark. Well in my local 'bucks' i saw this sign posted and it made me think about youth ministry in a new way.

Starbucks Mission Statement Reads:
- Provide a great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity.
- Embrace diversity as an essential component in the way we do business.
- Apply the highest standards of excellence to the purchasing, roasting and fresh delivery of our coffee.
- Develop enthusiastically satisfied customers all of the time.
- Contribute positively to our communities and our environment.Recognize that profitability is essential to our future success

As i have thought about them i see these implications if our/and other student ministry adopted the same mentality.

Provide a great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity. Who doesn't want their students showing up to a place where they will be treated with respect and dignity. We tend to fight cliques and groups a lot in our student ministries. But as we teach and help students develop a mindset and heart for welcoming others, regardless of their background we see a place where God is embraced as well as his Spirit moves through people.

Embrace diversity as an essential component in the way we do business.- I think student ministries need more diversity in what they do. From their large group gatherings to one on one with students i think creative and new ideas will spark continual fresh energy. Not that you try and create excitement but let us be honest when our ministries get stuck in a rut or routine students feel it and their attitudes can embrace, usually that leads to apathy.

Apply the highest standards of excellence to the purchasing, roasting and fresh delivery of our coffee.- OK we aren't delivering coffee but we are wanting standard and excellence in the product we give to students. We want our messages, skits, events to be done well so students look at this and say "wow, this was worth my time and me inviting that friend"

Develop enthusiastically satisfied customers all of the time.- Nothing says students are satisfied or enjoy what we are doing more than them returning each week. We want our students ministered to every time they are in our presence or another leaders presence. We want them to know we care about them unconditionally.

Contribute positively to our communities and our environment.- There are countless students around each of our churches and communities that don't know Christ. We need to continuously do our best to reach them, love them and share Christ with them. We should want our student ministries to have a great impact on our communities. We also need to help educate our students their responsibility for the world and environment, all of which we enjoy. We all need to care for it as well.

Recognize that profitability is essential to our future success. - i wrestled with this one but my thoughts landed here; if we want our student ministries to be successful for the long haul we need to leave a legacy with them. We need to equip other leaders to pour into their lives as well as help students see how they can pour into the lives of others as they grow.

Those are my thoughts, what are yours?