Refining Environments: Students Seminar Notes

At the Orange Washington, DC Tour Stop last week, I went to the Refining Environments: Students seminar led by Jeff Brodie.  These are my notes:

The key question in creating an environment is to ask the question, “What do I want them to know and to do when they leave?”

The Prelude (setting the tone for the experience):

• This communicates that we thought about students before they go there
• Every student comes to group with some sort of wall/barriers up
• It is our job to remove those walls…that is why the prelude is huge
• Is your social media presence current?  Moms check Facebook, Students check Instagram
• When students arrive, do they know where they are going, what to do?
• Every leader should be connecting with students making them feel accepted
• Music should be playing in the background when students arrive…not too loud, but not too softly either
• Get outside opinion…this ties in to a post I did a few weeks ago
• Do volunteers know what they are doing and what the goal for the night is?  Do they know their roles?
• Keep reminding leaders why they do what they do.

Social (providing time for fun and interaction):

• Shared moments and common memories create connection
• Question: how do you create these moments?
• Have fun where there is an element of connection with others

Transitions (moving smoothly from one thing to another):

• Think through how you will transition from 1 thing to another
• Videos can help with transitions
• Well done ones give momentum to the night, bad ones kill momentum

Worship (inviting people to respond to God):

• Its more about understanding your students than understanding God
• Look at who they are and where they are at with Christ when deciding what songs to play
• Help worship leaders know what they are going to say/sing
• Are the songs you are singing easy to engage?
• What are other types of worship you can do?
• Only do worship when you can do it well

Story (communicate God’s Truth in engaging ways):

• the Communicator’s primary goal is to invite the students int a discussion, not a into a decision
• Communicators need to warm up the group for a discussion
• You don’t have to resolve anything, send them off to small groups
• 80% of a good talk is preparation
• 3 reasons to tell the story…1. so they can see something, 2. so they can care for something ,3. so they can hope for something
• Its not a goal to have the students like you, the Communicator
• Mix it up a little…video communication is ok

Group (create a safe place to connect):

• Where the message takes root or grow wings (inspires students to do something)
• Plan ahead
• Small Group leaders are pastors and processors
• Refine your small group questions

Home (prompting action int he home and community):

• What you do once a week will have more impact if it is repeated during the week
• Leverage influence at the home

By not refining your environment, you are missing an opportunity to make an influence