It was September 19th last fall when my friend and illusionist, AJ and I headed to the high school in Negaunee, Michigan in the upper peninsula of Michigan for two assembly programs and a rally presented to 730 students. AJ brought down the house with his gravity-defying performance. Hearts were softened and defenses came down.
Last night was an amazing time for students in our area.
Several churches moved away from issues that divide to focus on what it means to be ONE and have unity in Jesus. There were Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Bible Church and others who participated in a time of worship, giving attention to the Word and prayer.
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On October 1, Dan Maltby, one of the Network founders, went to be with the Lord at age 65.
Dan battled early onset Alzheimer's and is survived by his wife Dee, daughters Lauren Maltby and Jessica Goulet and their son and Dan's grandson, Chasdan Goulet. The service was held October 5, 2012 in Fullerton, California.
Dan was the organizer of the first Network Forum in 1979, helped found the Network in 1981, and served for many years on the Network's Board of Directors.
This article, Ministering With Open Hands, written by Dan gives an interesting story about the vision and spirit that inspired the birth of the Network.
Youthworkers are always asking the same question.
How can I get more help?!
It doesn’t take you long as a youth worker before you figure out this is the whole youth ministry game: recruiting, training, and deploying leaders. You are only as good as your team. You can only reach as many students as you ha
You’ve probably heard the question: Why can’t today’s kids just grow up?
In this digital issue of YouthWorker Journal, we get answers from Chap Clark, Robert Epstein, Amy Jacober, Jeffrey Arnett, Lauren Winner, Kelly Lashly, Jeff Baxter, Rick Dunn and Jana Sundene.
Some people call the new reality “emerging adulthood.” Others say, “21 is the new 16.” However you describe it, these authors and experts can help you figure out the best ways to help your students grow up.
Two weeks ago this message appeared on our Facebook page.
“Great to see you both on Facebook. It has been a long time. Thank you for ministering to me as a not all together teenager. You made a big impact on me whether you knew it or not. God has blessed me with a godly wife of 22 years and four God-loving children. Wow, where has time gone! Thanks again for being faithful.”–Todd
A few years back I had a conversation that really impacted me, and caused me to ask some tough questions about how I viewed my role as a youth minister from a kingdom perspective. One of our shepherds asked if I knew why one of our senior girls had not been around in a while. I explained that she had become involved with the youth ministry at her boyfriend’s church. I then went into further detail explaining that she was still regularly attending church services, there was no bad blood between us, and judging from our last conversation, she was doing really well from a spiritual standpoint. I was very clear that she was not a ‘senior dropout’, she was simply at another church.
Ever feel alone in ministry? Boy, I sure have. I remember one time being so depressed that I could not even get off the floor to go to speak at my youth group. Isolation, abandonment and desperation can all combine to push us away from those who can help us most. Thankfully, I had friends in ministry who took the initiative and helped me work through my issues. But
Garden friends...even Jesus had 'em.
Who are your garden friends?
The term garden friends comes from Jesus. Of the 12 disciples, Jesus invited Peter, James, and John into the Garden of Gethsamane as he sweat great drops of blood.
I want to care about more than putting “butts in seats.”
As a 20-year local church youth ministry veteran, I have seen, more times than I can count, traveling ministries that care more about filling venues for their events than truly partnering with the local church. Many show complete disregard for how their ministry impacts the people who are the gatekeepers in the community.
You may be starting out in ministry or have been there for decades. Either way you may have realized that no one should do youth ministry alone. However, it can be a real struggle building partnerships to reach and equip teenagers in your community.
This weekend, my wonderful wife Donna and I leave for Russia to lead our seventeenth mission trip there. Those who know me understand that these two weeks in Russia are a part of my “second life.” I love the opportunity to get back to Russia and focus on reaching out to non-believing youth in a foreign culture as well as ministering to a great group of youth from the USA. We will be joined by another group from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida who will help us host a five day English camp for selected students from Moscow.
Networks that flourish and thrive will typically need to overcome a couple of simple yet significant issues that go beyond geographical or denominational differences. Without fail, youth leaders are are busy people. They have duties to perform, people to see, and tasks to add to their calendar. When they show up for a network meeting, their focus and reasons for being there can vary. Every youth leader can benefit from building stronger relationships with other area youth leaders. However it is not going to be the result of Facebook interactions or sitting in the same room talking about the weather. It takes intentionally moving towards deeper discussions.
"Build it, and they will come."
That may be a great movie tagline, but it doesn't necessarily work for building a healthy ministry network in your community. It’s not enough to just open your doors once a month, invite a bunch of youth workers, set up chairs around a table, and expect that will result in more ministry to youth. We have got to give youth workers a good reason to leave their offices to share their lives and ministries, and to be part of a community-wide vision.
Think of each rail as Relationship and Strategy.
The tracks are laid on the ties/foundation of Prayer. It is hard work to lay the ties and tracks; but once in place, we can really move to where God wants us to go. Prayer is the work! Prayer is the foundation. Prayer is what ties it all together and keeps it level and balanced. Relationship and strategy must flow from prayer. If you try to lay the tracks of relationship and strategy without the foundation of prayer or run your train into town with out tracks, you will have a train wreck.
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According to a recent USA Today/Gallup poll, Vermont is ranked as the 50th least religious state, or stated another way, we are the least churched state in the entire country. This is likely because Vermonters see themselves as ruggedly independent, capable of making it on their own, and skeptical of any need for salvation other than one of their own making.
My three year old son is consistently drawing and coloring pictures for us to display on the fridge. Couple that with his growing ability to count and I believe he is about ready to take on the “connect the dot” exercises. C'mon, you remember those gems, don't you?
This summer while visiting my favorite online devotional spot, www.pray-as-you-go.org, I heard a meditation that continues to stir my thinking.
The St. Thomas Music Group was singing a text by John Lane. The words are, “The meaning of life is the mystery of love. Just as the roots of trees hold firm in the soil, so it is the roots of love that hold the ground of our being together.”
I love encouraging students in rock climbing. There are many spiritual breakthroughs that people accomplish on the side of the rock. They are stretching their mind and bodies beyond their perceived limitations. I have been privileged to be a teacher's assistant for climbing classes through Biola University for the last five years.
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Have you ever felt spritually thirsty, where your soul feels dried like a sun-baked desert? You are not alone. I am a great fan of Henri Nouwen. His depth and simplicity brings me back to what is truly important. I just reordered his book "Out of Solitude" that I loaned to a friend. In this book Nouwen shares the story of Mark 1 where Jesus spends a busy day of ministering, healing and preaching. Then He goes into the wilderness for time with His Father. Even Jesus needed time to reconnect and take care of His Soul.
Where does the time go? 2011 is almost gone! We’re bringing you the final 2011 digital edition of YouthWorker Journal.
This issue includes:
Top 10 Networking Benefits part 1 can be found here
Do you have your elevator speech ready? You know, the speech you give when someone asks what you do? Take 30 seconds to describe yourself are and what you do (the approximate length of time you have with another person in the elevator). This past weekend I gave that speech a number of times at the National Youth Workers Convention (NYWC). Don’t get me wrong, I love sharing the story of Youthmark, but, I long for the deeper conversations with trusted friends.
Student Ministry Leadership in many ways is a culture in and of itself. I love being a part of this unique and diverse tribe! I am a firm believer that we (Youth Leaders) are better together. In nearly 20 years of being “in charge” of a variety of ministries (church and parachurch) I have found great value and blessing in being connected to other youth leaders through gatherings of all sorts-- local, national and virtual.
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I had an interesting day today.... not really that different than others, but a day that brought to mind the reality of the work I have given my life to. A day that reminded me of the frailty of human life. A day that reminded me of my need for total dependence on my Savior, Jesus Christ! While working out at the gym this morning, I had no idea that this reminder would come. And, while not expecting it, I certainly wasn't thinking that I would be given such a vivid picture of the truths of God's Word.
If you are at National Youth Workers Convention hosted by Youth Specialties look for us in the exhibit hall. Come by and get connected! We would love to meet you and see how you are working together to reach teenagers.
In San Diego you can connect with some our staff members like Len Evans, Mike De Vito, and Aaron Babyar.
Also, take a look at the "We Love our Youth Worker" booth in the hall. At this booth you can find out the 7 promises churches need to encourage healthy youth workers.
Here is a video from Kevin Alexander from the Irvine Network who came by our booth Friday. He shares why collaborating with other youth leaders is important to him. If you have networking stories to share come by and we woud love to hear them!
The Elephant Graveyard
I recently watched a documentary about the Elephant Graveyard. Fact or fancy, the tale goes something like this (oversimplified is an understatement). Older Elephants get the sense of their impending demise and travel sometimes thousands of miles to die in the "Elephant Graveyard". The EG is rumored to be littered with thousands of tusks and elephant bones.
WOMEN OF FAITH has a fantastic new program, called WOMEN OF FAITH GIVES BACK, they’ve implemented in efforts to bless their cities.
With 21,634 first time decisions for Christ just last year, they know that to maximize what God is doing they need to partner with others in their city with the “Same Heart”, in bringing more of Christ to our cities! SO they are joining forces with NNYM in efforts for their ticket sales to be able to bless us financially.
Our first opportunity is for the event in Anaheim, CA, but we must act FAST as our deadline for this offer is Monday, August 16th!
Would you consider sharing this with the ladies to join us at WOMEN OF FAITH which will in turn bless NNYM financially in some pretty significant ways.
HERE ARE TWO WAYS YOU CAN HELP US REACH OUR GOAL!
No, I don't have gas. I wish it were that simple.
I recently had to let a volunteer youth leader go. It sucked. Within our youth ministry community, leaders are not just church members – we are like family! And letting a family member know that it's time to step down from youth ministry is hard. Especially when it is not a cut and dried issue such as moral failure. Some poor choices were made that called for a period of time away from youth ministry leadership.
Before the dreaded conversation, much prayer took place. But I also spent some time looking around the internet for some guidance. To no avail. The only information I could find was on “when it's time to let go of a volunteer ministry leader,” but nothing on HOW to let them go. So I found myself in some conversations with God and with other ministry leaders I trust. And before I turned the key in the ignition to meet with the volunteer I was about to have a hard conversation with, I penned a plan.
Ever come to the point where you don’t know how to do anymore than you’re already doing? The frustration of ministry gets the best of you. So you stop. Sit down. Pray. Even plead with God.
Help. Please!
In over 20 years of working with students, I must confess more of those moments than I care to admit. We all find ourselves in those situations because we care. Deeply. Passionately. For youth. For more. We want more for young people than they want for themselves. Or so we like to think.
If you are going to the Creation Festival Northeast, please stop by the Youth Leaders Only area, hosted by Interlinc, and say hi!
We'll have an NNYM information table there as well as a map to help youth leaders discover others who are near them.
People hurt each other. We know that. We even know that “Hurt People Hurt People“. That’s a great book that shares the majority of people who habitually strike out at others, are deeply wounded themselves. Duh! But it’s by a Ph. D and it goes way more in depth, so if you have a chance, read it.
Being hurt by someone is never easy or fun but when we are hurt by people who are so hurt they need bellhops for their emotional baggage, it’s easier.The hardest hurts are by those that we are closest to. The ones that we have shared dreams with, created positive futures and gone to battle with or for. They can be family or people who we consider family from work, church, school, small groups, or anyone we are close to.
Hurting Youth Workers
A couple of years ago, I co-lead a “Help and Hope for Hurting Youth Workers” workshop at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference. Aaron Giesler was the other co-leader and he said something simple yet profound that I have remembered it and used it with others ever since then. He said, “Good people do bad things for good reasons.”
I’m sure he didn’t originate that idea but it has stuck with me, ever since. Think about your own life and experiences, probably it was rare that someone sought to destroy you, crush your heart or betray you.
One of the banner passages of scripture we cling to at the Chattanooga Youth Network is John 17 where Jesus is recorded praying a dynamic prayer for believers and unbelievers. Our heart is to help the Church experience a dynamic oneness that will announce the reality of the Gospel.
In the 17th chapter in the Gospel of John we get to be a fly on the wall of Jesus’ prayer life. The Gospels record Jesus pulling away to be alone with the Father. This prayer flows powerfully from the well of Jesus’ deep heart for those who believe and those who will one day finally rest in the cosmic reality of God’s great invitation into holy brotherhood and sonship.
When my sons were four and six, I was at church on a Sunday morning. (I was at work, I was the youth pastor.) The head usher came up to me after the service and said, “Did you see what your kids were doing during the service?”
I responded that “I had no idea what my kids were doing, they were in their class.” He said, “Your kids--the high school kids.” I said, “They are not my kids, you should talk to them or talk to their parents.”
Have you ever felt that part of job description was to control students? Or do you think that controlling students is part of the job of youth ministry?
I will confess that there was day when I would get a little nuts when students acted inappropriately or behaved badly.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States. I was thinking about this last night as I was giving my three year old a bath. Ok, I should probably disclose right up front that I have ADHD and am usually thinking of multiple things at any given time. I was also thinking about the four teen suicides that have taken place in my community since September. The youth pastor in me aches for the families and friends dealing with these losses. The daddy in me weeps at the thought of one of my three boys ever feeling that suicide is the only answer to their problems. I was further saddened by the statistics I had read that according to the Center for Disease Control, suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15-24 year olds, and fourth leading in 10-14 year olds.
What is your favorite “secret sauce” from a special restaurant you enjoy?
You know what I mean: You are eating with friends at PF Chang’s. Your waiter appears and offers their special blend of a spicy/hot/zesty sauce for your meal. Or, you are sitting in the drive-through line at your local Chik-Fil-A ordering the #1 chicken sandwich meal with an extra large sweet tea. We are all very aware that it’s the secret sauce that keeps us coming back for more.
There is even a web site dedicated to helping us to replicate the secret sauce from our favorite dives. [Click Here for Secret Sauces]
But what is the secret sauce in your student ministry?
The more I speak with youth workers the greater the need I see for them to connect with others like themselves. Frankly, I'm surprised at how unconnected many of them are. Youth ministry is done in the context of relationships. Youth workers need one another -- Networks work! (Connect to excerpt from Doug's talk at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference, 2009)
Here are nine reasons I believe youth workers should regularly connect with other youth workers:
When you're connected with others you can share resources. Practically, this saves you valuable time and money and makes you a relational steward.
One of the reason I love meeting with other youth workers is because I feel safe. I feel understood. I feel known. This is a result from meeting with those who know what I do and what I’m usually feeling or going through.
Every time I gather with youth workers I’m amazed at how much I learn by simply listening to their stories about church, parents, teenagers, volunteers, etc. Other people’s life experiences are a classroom for those willing to learn.
I love hearing what other youth workers are doing. When we share ideas, it’s so much easier to “steal” with permission! My favorite network gatherings were when we would show up every month and share copies of all we had done during the month.
This one is HUGE! So many of the questions that I receive to answer on our Simply Youth Ministry podcast could be better answered if they were asked within the community of other youth workers. Veteran youth workers are really sharp people and can aid with personal and strategic questions.
One of the many elements that I enjoy about meeting with other youth workers is the theological melting pot that shows up. If you choose to meet with people in your own denomination, great! But when you gather with people who are theologically diverse (though unified on the essentials important to you), I find we have much to offer each other.
I love it when networks pull off events for either the local community or the faith community. It’s so great to see youth groups doing things they probably couldn’t do on their own, yet find the ability to do because of the connections within their network.
Teenagers need to see that youth groups and youth leaders are willing to work together to accomplish things for the bigger picture. The youth group down the street isn’t the enemy—the Enemy is the enemy—we need to model that reality.
Networks that meet consistently and for long periods of time become the foundation for great long-term relationships. I’ve experienced this personally and I’ve seen a depth of friendships forming across the country from those who said “yes” to a network gathering.
Bottom line: As youth workers we are “better together”! If you’re not currently connected with a group of youth workers, PLEASE click here and begin searching for one near you.
Editor's Note: This article is a reprint from Doug Fields' blog at www.dougfields.com. Used by permission.
If church youth workers still see para-church ministry as competition, you might be a yellow network.
If the para-church still think there are students who would never darken the door of a church, you might be a yellow network.
Last week I had the chance to chat with Jeff Goins from Adventures in Missions about a new project he is working on. The project is called Kingdom Dreams, which is a new approach to helping people find their ministry calling.
Kingdom Dreams desires to inspire, equip and resource people to pursue one's God-given dreams and passions. It's the catalyst for the next generation of Christians focused on changing the world. It offers people the space, freedom, guidance, and confidence to dream and experiment, through the channel of meaningful personal connections.
Recently I had the pleasure of meeting up with a few guys from the Marshfield, Wisconsin youth ministry network. The candor and honesty in the group was refreshing! I could tell after a few minutes into the network meeting that these guys have a healthy network because of the jovial nature, honest sharing and humble leadership that I observed.
It's camp for junior high youth workers!
Let's be honest about this: it's not every adult who wakes up thinking, "How can I spend some time with 13 year-olds today, and influence them for Jesus?"
That calling, that wiring, is extremely unique and wonderful. And our wise and wonderful God, who cares so passionately about the young teens in your church, chose YOU! You are truly one of the few, one of the unique; and you are God’s plan for showing love to middle schoolers.
Ministry to families is a task that should almost be indistinguishable from youth ministry. While a youth pastor or Sunday school teacher can have a pivotal relationship with a teen, the parent/child relationship is by far the most influential relationship in most kids' lives. If things aren't right at home, you'll have a hard time trying to disciple a kid in your youth group.
The following started as a letter to NNYM Dallas and Collin County network leaders but quickly became a diatribe on the state of YW networking as we know it, why it sucks and how we MUST work to make things better. This is a letter to ALL youth workers.
I used to think network groups were solid; set 'em up and let 'em go. After 18 months of formally working with the National Network of Youth Ministries as the Metro Dallas Coordinator, overseeing Dallas and Collin Counties, I can truly say: I couldn’t have been more wrong. Youth worker networking groups are liquid, and I’m trying to find ways to embrace that and find traction for our groups, both for today and tomorrow.
I just returned from a special screening for the April movie release of Soul Surfer. I have to write about it because it is a powerful, useful and entertaining media experience. This is not a movie review. But I do want to offer some insight on my movie experience and some (hopefully) useful application.
This screening was hosted by the PR and screen team that worked for the movie. During a post-movie Q & A, she touted this movie as a Hollywood faith-based movie effort. Interesting. Since Sony owns TriStar and has some type of partnership with Integrity music, I guess there is some synergy or relationship that makes sense. Anyway, the movie was done via Hollywood and not via a local church (as with Fireproof, etc).
Ron Vining is not your ordinary youth pastor. And Powell, Wyoming is not your ordinary community where hunting is a way of life. Ron saw the need in his community for teenagers in single mom families to be able to connect with mentors through hunting. Listen to his story of how his ministry connects teenagers through taking the shot together.
Often times as youth workers, we rarely see the long-term fruit of the work we do with young people. But sometimes that one student will return and encourage you with one phrase or story and it is enough to keep you going for another phase of ministry.
I have just finished another youth ministry conference and again, a new thought has dawned on me. I think a lot about building the people on my team, but do I have a strategy to build others in the Kingdom who are not my team?
A few weekends ago, I drove to Pennsylvania farm country with my wife to celebrate her college homecoming and reunion.
We had a great time and it was thrilling for me to meet so many of her friends that I had heard stories about. I was amazed watching my wife relive her time at college. We all sat around for hours swapping stories. There was a wonderful familiarity, fondness, and closeness that permeated the conversations.
These memories were exhilarating for me to hear, and even more so, for this group of friends to share. There was laughter, reflection, and tears; but all of it brought these friends closer. The re-telling of these shared stories brought these friends back to the beginning after being geographically spread apart. Back in time to a place and space they all shared and loved.
Editors note: Diane Brask is not your ordinary youth worker. Growing up on a Wisconsin farm she knows how to handle a tractor and a gun. She has also experienced the loneliness a rural youth worker can feel. But her heart for youth ministry spans the globe. She works as the NNYM National Rural Coordinator and has a heart for international missions. Her motto is “From the Back 40 to the 10-40," and she has ministered in rural Sudan, Kenya and various parts of Asia.
"If it wasn't for partnering with youth workers in Brown County there is no way we would have been able to pull of an event that reached over 600 people."
If you've ever enjoyed being in community with other youth workers, you're going to love this video!
The major complaint received on the evaluation forms was that "the retreat wasn't long enough" --- this was music to our ears!
During our time together we asked them the question, "Why would I join a youth leader's network?"
Check out this video to get a feel for the "heart" of some
Why network with youth workers in your community?
Last weekend at the National Youth Workers Convention hosted by Youth Specialties, we heard from hundreds of youth workers. We asked them if they work together with other youth workers in their community. Many already do, but some are still trying to do it alone. Time and time again, we heard youth leaders share how important their local network was to them.
Here's Doug Franklin, a Network member for six years, who founded LeaderTreks to help equip and unite youth workers. In this video he shares why it is so important for us to network together to reach teenagers.
If you have not yet had the opportunity to connect to a local network, click here to find a network in your area.
My wife and I quite possible have the two brownest thumbs in California. Give us a drought-tolerant cactus and after a few months, we will show you a dead cactus. A few years back I was trying to do something about "The Great Campbell Desert", otherwise known as my front lawn.
I diligently went to Home Depot, bought some strong fertilizer and grass seed and even a hand cranking seed sprayer. With enthusiasm for a green lawn, I proceeded to seed and simultaneously fertilize the desert. I watered and waited for weeks - but nothing happened. My problem wasn't the wrong seed or fertilizer; it was forgetting to till the hard-packed soil.
The silly thing is that I never bothered to talk to my neighbor across the street - who is a landscape architect - or the neighbor to his right - who is a gardener. Thankfully, the gardener must have had some pity on me, because after a couple of months he walked over and gave me some basic tips on growing grass (the legal stuff). His advice worked; my grass is now about 80% in!
My failures in gardening taught me a good lesson on why unity matters and why leaders and churches often fail.
Unconditional worth means that each person has infinite, unchanging worth as a person. This worth comes with a person’s creation, and cannot be earned nor lost by poor behavior. This is not the same as market or social worth, which clearly is earned and lost.
This core worth is not comparable. So you might be a doctor and I might be a teacher, but worth as a person is equal. In theological terms, worth as a person is a given; each and every soul is precious, because it is created by our loving Father.
The core self is like a crystal of great worth. Each facet represents a beautiful potential or attribute in embryo. Each person is complete in the sense that he or she has every attribute needed...
At my local youth pastor meeting I asked two of the guys why it’s important for them to attend our group each week. Check out this video to hear what they said. I shared some of why it’s important for me to get together with other local youth pastors, too.
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I can fall in love with concepts; like, the idea of loving students. We know how much students need love, and the idea of showing them love is one that inspires me. But loving students (the actual act of caring for them when they don’t care about themselves, me, or their futures) is hard. I believe students know you love them when…
Youth ministry is a joyous, but at times, a very hard calling. Regular struggles can occur with parents, students, leadership, finances . . . and the list goes on.
Who pastors the youth leaders through these dangers, toils and snares?
I met some visitors in church a few weeks ago. I like meeting visitors and making them feel welcome at church.
This couple had been believers for many years and were looking for a new church home. We talked about what they thought about the service and where they lived.
Then I noticed something about the way I was talking. It wasn’t like I had become rude or mean, but something was different. Without realizing it, I got a little weird...
I made a good decision this weekend, but it took me a bit too long to make it. I decided to stop watching a show I used to love.
Several years ago, I went through a real intense growth period in my Christian life. I was learning a lot from the Lord and learning it fast. One of the decisions I made during that time was that I didn’t want to be entertained by things like sexual jokes, adultery, cursing, vulgarity and cruelty. I knew that God had called me to live with purpose and for Him, and I didn’t want anything coming in my way.
Then my friends started telling me how funny a certain television show was.
Do you ever feel in constant conflict with other Christians?
This weekend, conflict was the theme for me. First, I needed to confront a Christian couple about a disagreement that had been between us for years. Then, at church I felt really troubled over a general decision at my church with which I didn't agree. In ministry, conflict is pretty much guaranteed to come around sometimes. We're working with people, after all.
In my case, I knew God was trying to teach me something through the conflict.
I love my in-laws. In fact, we have a great relationship, and I’ve enjoyed not only
marrying their beautiful daughter, but becoming a part of their family.
But every family has its quirks, and one of the Jones quirks is their toaster. It always makes me smile.
Our young people are hungry for God but what are we filling them up with? For many of us, our motives are pure and we are considered a success based on our numerical attendance or the enjoyment that the kids get from our programs or events. But what if what we are actually doing is hindering kids from having a deep, personal and profound relationship with Jesus Christ? What are ways that we hinder our youth?
When my wife and I look at the journey of our dating years and marriage, we like to refer to the “holymess” of our relationship. Our marriage is a holy, great, awesome thing that has taught us a lot, but that is in part due to the messy times we have faced…and are still facing in some regards. The holy parts of a relationship go hand-in-hand with the messy parts. In fact, to have a truly deep and godly relationship, you can’t have one without the other.
The Simply Youth Ministry Conference (SYMC) is coming up in three weeks! This national conference will be in Chicago, February 25-March 1. Many of our networking staff will be there.
Our involvement includes hosting regional networking dinners and a networking workshop our field team is leading. If you are going to be in Chicago, please stop by our booth there as we partner with Group/SYM to help youth workers connect locally when they go home from the event.
For those attending SYMC, we will be offering Richard Foster’s modern classic Celebration of Discipline as a free download, as well as Andrew Farley’s The Naked Gospel to anyone who comes to our booth. Please contact us if you will be there.
At SYMC 2009, Doug Fields talked about the need for community in youth ministry. Check out his comments...
To learn more about SYMC, including the NNYM discount code, go here.
Noemi Cavalieri has a heart for Hispanic teenagers and working together to reach them. She is a missionary from Argentina to California where she works with a Hispanic youth ministry. She shares how the Hispanic churches need to reach out to other organizations that have the resources they need to reach teenagers.
I took a road trip to Kenosha, Wisconsin to find out what God is doing in their city to reach students with the gospel...together!
Why do big churches and small churches need to work together?
Sometimes it is hard to overcome the church size mentality. Whether bigger or better we all need to work together to reach teenagers. I caught up with Lars Rood who has had the privilege to work at larger churches as a youth worker. Here is what he has to say on the matter of networking with big churches.
Abby Fox shares how the support and encouragement of her local network has made such a difference for her.
Some experts have estimated that the average term a youth pastor stays at a church is 18 months. I'm not very good with math, but that appears to be more than one year and less than two.
Are you in youth ministry for a paycheck, for some good ministry experience, or as a "stepping stone" ministry? Are you trying to gain experience for another job as a "real pastor?"
I've had to ask myself these questions during my time as a youth pastor:
I'm a Network Coordinator in Sunland, California. Being a part-time youth pastor and going to seminary takes up most of my time. However, I also do a blog at Ministryallies.com that showcases great resources for youth ministry.
Here's my introduction to how to use Youthworkers.net. Having the proper set of tools is key to networking with other youth leaders. The new YouthWorkers.net website is one great tool for you to use. But… instead of typing a long, boring tutorial, I decided to make a video of me showing you around. Take a look.
Julie is a youth worker who sees the need for networking. She shared with me at Youth Specialties' National Youth Worker Convention how important it was for her to link with other youth workers in the Denver area. Listen to her story.
The following letter was in our local paper, written by 10 freshmen from the Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah School District in Wisconsin:
We wanted to share an experience we had recently while celebrating during our homecoming week. On the night of our dance, ten of us went to dinner at an area restaurant, The Lake Street Café. As the SCCA regional races were in our area, the restaurant was very full. We were sure some tables initially were not thrilled when ten teenagers walked in the room as they were planning to have a nice, quiet dinner ay a very nice restaurant.
Editor's Note: Doug Franklin is the president of LeaderTreks, a ministry dedicated to creating tools and resources to enable youth workers to develop students into leaders. Doug's blog, www.dougfranklinonline.com, has a wealth of insights.
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I find that youth workers go through three phases of development. These phases are described below. Try and determine which phase you’re in.
Self Focused
In the first phase of youth ministry many youth workers are concerned with being liked. We want the students to see us as cool and someone who can relate to them.
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