Lesson Two: SAY HI and BYE, Before They Fly By.

I work with a head coach of the football team that has been coaching almost thirty years. I noticed that he would position himself by the door as players left after practice so that he could say bye to each one as they passed. It’s simple I know, but it is powerful. I followed suit.  Now I’m the one that doesn’t miss a chance to hail and farewell the guys.

The youth minister I interned with during my college years was gifted at greeting students, too. He would rattle off a list of “Hi Jeff, Hi Lisa, Hi Zach, Hi Todd,” as a mob entered the doors of the room.

I rarely miss an opportunity to give a high-five or a pound and say hi and bye. As students leave the classroom, I try to get as many as I can. Call students out by name (“Hi, Henry!” or “Bye, Caroline!”) as they leave the classroom or church building. It demonstrates how much you treasure them being there.

Zach Skipper has spent over 12 years working with students. He has served as a youth minister, speaker, and bible study teacher. He is currently leading Bigtime Ministries while part-time coaching at one of the country’s leading Junior Highs in Birmingham, AL. To find out more about Zach’s ministry, contact him at www.bigtimeministries.com.