Numbers In Student-Led Ministry

I've noticed a very simple principle related to numbers in high school campus ministry. For the most part, the schools with large numbers at their gatherings have a much more difficult time motivating their members to seek the Lord. In large groups, unless the leader is particularly gifted, the culture of the group is set by the overwhelming majority, and when that majority is filled with peer pressure and uncertainty and plain dullness, so the culture goes. 


Small groups, however, have a much better chance of taking action and seeking the Lord because there is less peer pressure to squelch the fire. Teens feel more comfortable and open in smaller groups and are much more likely to participate actively, and are much more easily motivated to do radical things. 


Large groups have an increased difficulty maintaining their focus, as the voices of so many opinions dilute their clarity of vision. Large groups also require much more pastoral leadership to maintain unity and community. In many cases of student-led gatherings, the pastoral burden alone causes the group to disintegrate.


However, when the majority of a large group is passionate and already motivated to seek the Lord, then the culture follows that majority. The difficulty is fostering that culture into existence when it does not exist. It is much easier to start small with an established vision and passion and grow at a rate where the majority remains motivated. 


If a student leader has a large group of high school students where the majority is largely unmotivated, then I would pray hard for the group and actually consider downsizing...


Case Study: Olathe South High School students once held weekly gatherings in the high school gym for Christian students. They had a full worship team, portable sound system, hot breakfast, and over 100 students attending every week. Sounds amazing, right? Over time, the fruit of the group was not what you would expect. Leaders became offended at each other, students attended and socialized but the offense among the leaders began to cause nonbelievers to criticize Christianity. As hard and sincerely as the leaders tried, the group began to fall apart. 


That winter the Lord spoke to several of the leaders calling them to try high school ministry His way, through prayer for breakthrough (out of Acts 1-2). At the start of the spring semester the leaders announced that the group was going to focus primarily on prayer on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and they were no longer going to use the gym or the sound system or the full worship team or the hot meals. Guess how many members they had after that announcement? Ten. This shift revealed how many students (and leaders) were attending out of genuine desire for God and how many attended as a social club.


But in the end, the group began to see breakthrough! The social club ended and students began to focus on God, which was supposed to be the focus of the group, and now (5 years later) students at Olathe South pray EVERY DAY before school as a group and they are seeing their prayers answered in miraculous ways! Now Jesus is actually being exalted!


Why? God uses the weak things to confound the wisdom of this world.

Consecrated Musicianship

Music is such a huge part of all of our lives. Have you ever met a person that doesn't like music? We can debate certain types of music, but everyone loves at least some kind of music. The real glory of music is found in its Creator.

Music was invented by the Lord for His worship. Angels participated in music long before humanity ever existed (Job 38:7). Before Satan fell, he was the highest musician and worship leader in heaven. Studying Satan before his fall reveals how he was created to lead creation in worship through music. Satan is a musician (parts of his body were designed as beautiful instruments), and scripture actually references the Lord being Lucifer's source of inspiration and music (pre-fall). But Satan fell, launching his own worship movement for his own glory, as the chief musician, to deceive humanity. 

Side note: Part of Satan's war against humanity is that we have replaced him as the chief worshipers of heaven. Satan was created to lead us in worship of Yahweh, but he fell, and God granted that humanity would take his place as the chief worshipers of heaven. There are lots of references and studies behind these statements, but I don't want to unpack the entire background right here.

Not only did God invent music and create Lucifer as a chief musician, He also designed our spirit and emotions to respond to music. All music is rooted in spiritual inspiration, whether good or bad, based on who (or what) we worship. Our spirits are directly effected by what we listen to. Our emotions are knit to the music that we submit ourselves to. Many have found freedom from deep depression after changing the music that they listen to. Many who have struggled with the spirit of fear have found deliverance after removing certain music from their library. And not only that, but many have found freedom from demonic oppression related to what they listen to.

The call to be a musician is indeed a crucial calling in the kingdom of heaven. There is real power in music, rooted in who (or what) we worship. There is real power that the Lord wants to give to the church in the area of music that we can only receive if we ask him for it. Music isn't just about sounding good, music can release the power of God to all who hear. Music can deliver or enslave. And musicians will be judged based on what they worshiped with their talents.

I've heard many fantastic musicians, real geniuses with God-given creativity who use their talents to openly worship demons, and their albums are iTunes bestsellers, hardening the hearts of those who hear their music.

I think a lot of Christian musicians need to wake up. Music isn't just sound, there is real power in music. We need to get over our sound and start pressing into the power of Jesus and what He says about our music. We need to stop drinking from the cup of demons (1 Cor 10:21) and actually dedicate our music and inspiration to the Lord. How can we lead anyone in the worship of Yahweh if we're listening to demon worship? And we worship the one who invented music! How is it that secular music dominates the industry when all of their music is based on a counterfeit without revelation or divine inspiration?

I believe that no music can compare to the music of anointed worship. There comes a point where the sound falls away and the power and presence of God overtakes the music and suddenly your song becomes an encounter with the living God. Where is that music? Where is the music that breaks the chains of bondage that the secular music industry enslaves us with? Where is the music that causes our faces to shine and the glory to manifest as in 2 Chronicles 5:11-14? There is more to be had for those who are hungry.

I encourage you, if you are a musician or a singer, to consecrate your music to the Lord and set aside secular music from your life. You are called to distinguish between what is holy and what is common, especially as a musician or singer. Whether or not you feel called to lead worship, or write music, play shows and tour, or just rock out, as a believer, your music has a higher calling to release the power of God on the earth. Seek the Lord about how He would use your music, and seek His inspiration.

Onething 2011

The 2011 onething conference is just around the corner! Last year we had well over 20,000 students and young adults attend in downtown KC for 4 days of amazing worship and teaching! This year's theme is transforming hearts and cities with God's justice through encountering Jesus, our magnificent obsession! Check it out online at www.ihop.org!

Watch the promo video!

Mark your calendars! This is going to be good! Join us in person or online at www.ihop.org for live streaming!