Recently, I was driving from the Sacramento airport to a camp in the mountains of northern California to facilitate a Prayer Summit for some pastors and spiritual leaders of Modesto.
Because chains would likely be required before I reached my destination and rental cars don’t supply those
Editor's note: Mark Orr, the New England Regional Coordinator for NNYM, lives only a few miles from Newtown, Connecticut, the site of the horrific shooting that took place on December 14. Here is his update and appeal from a visit to Newtown on Tuesday, Dec. 18. Please consider how you can pray and get involved in YOUR own community to make a difference as we reach out to this generation!
I sent this report from Newtown yesterday via an email to our New England youth workers. The Lord really stirred in my heart to write...it's a bit long, but I needed to share my heart with our region (and NNYM youth workers nationwide)...I know that it applies to all of us no matter where we serve.
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.
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.
This month's edition of YouthWorker Journal is our "Isms" issue, in which you'll find articles such as:
as well as content from our regular columnists and more! Check it out here.
This month, YouthWorker Journal includes:
There is a lot of buzz regarding the upcoming release of Blue Like Jazz and we have a couple great resources for you.
The producers of the film created a High School and a College/Young Adult discussion guides and we wanted to share them with you.
We've gone and done it again, given you access to the Digital YouthWorker Journal.
We are multidimensional beings. Now I am not going to launch into a Star Trek episode to boldly go where no one has gone before. What I mean is we are created with different facets of our being. Even Jesus refers to this when He says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." In leadership literature the same concept is shared by Stephen Covey in his "7 Habits for Highly Effective People." He speaks of the "4 Dimensions of Renewal" being Physical, Spiritual, Mental and Social.
Where does the time go? 2011 is almost gone! We’re bringing you the final 2011 digital edition of YouthWorker Journal.
This issue includes:
As a Pastor of Student Ministries I firmly believe that we must stop making youth ministry about us and come to a place where we are brave enough to hand this vital ministry back to its rightful owners: the students. We must empower them to become the kingdom warriors Christ has called them to be. We need to realize that this ministry is not about us in any way. Nor should it be a ministry where we hand feed those we minister to; because quite simply it isn't working and it is wrong thinking.
Adolescence cannot last from 11 years old to 29 years old. Our society will crumble economically & socially under the pressure.
I think most people understand that intuitively. They reflect on their teenage years and their early twenties as a time of coming of age.
But times have changed. Most sociologists believe adolescence stretches from the onset of puberty (11-12 years old) until the late 20s. In other words, the adolescence you and I knew is now 8-10 years LONGER than when we went through it just 20 years ago.
In my opinion it is clear that until we cultivate an atmosphere of high expectations in our ministries we will continue to wallow in a ministry of mediocrity. We will continue to hold our students back from being the tremendous champions for the kingdom our Lord intends them to be and instead produce a generation of underachieving cultural Christians who wander through much of life with a weak or non-existent faith.
I don’t know how students got the message, but they all know it.
“Your mission in life is to get the biggest home, nicest car and stay as comfortable as possible.”
There must have been a message because they all know it. Someone, somewhere must have sat them all down and told them the meaning of life because most of them are pursuing it.
Are young people really leaving the church in droves as some studies say? If so, what can we do to develop deeper ties between youth and communities of faith?
In this months digital issue of YouthWorker Journal we sought answers and articles from: Kenda Creasy Dean, Mike King, Heidi Hagstrom, Dick Hardel, Dave Rahn, Kara Powell, Brad Griffin, Drew Dyck, Lars Rood and more!
We pray you and your students find this material helpful!
Are your high school students prepared for college?
Leading atheist Richard Dawkins warns his daughter, Juliet, to be skeptical of anything that lacks evidence. He writes to her,
Belief that there is a god or gods, belief in Heaven, . . . belief that Jesus never had a human father, belief that prayers are answered . . . not one of these beliefs is backed up by any good evidence.
And, next time somebody tells you that something is true, why not say to them: “What kind of evidence is there for that?” And if they can’t give you a good answer, I hope you’ll think very carefully before you believe a word they say. Your loving Daddy
If Juliet asked any of your high school students one of the following questions, would he or she be able to provide her with evidence?
Do you have any “broken” kids in your ministry? They’re the focus of articles in the August digital issue ofYouthWorker Journal, which we’re passing on to you thanks to our partnership with YWJ.
We start with “Kids At the Margins” by Chap Clark. This is a new chapter in Chap’s latest book Hurt 2.0.
What I believe about youth ministry:
1. Youth ministry is the ministry of students to their world
Church paradigms must change; churches with ministries to students must transform and become student led ministries to their world.
2. Youth workers are leaders
You know, it's one thing to ask your students to dream big for God. It's another thing when they actually start doing it. Read one youth pastor's story of what God did when he challenged his youth to dream big...and they did.
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.
Is the Bible historically accurate?
The Scriptures claim to be an inspired message from God — but can students (or their parents) confidently and reasonably defend biblical beliefs—and the Bible itself - when peers or university professors challenge their worldview?
From the creators of The Truth Project comes TrueU, an engaging DVD series that presents undeniable facts supporting a Christian worldview to equip youth to defend their faith, especially in public university.
As spring turns into summer, here are some great resources to help you plan your programs with kids.
Walt Mueller and Dan Kimball share insights about how our worship services and other gatherings can be more Christ-like and less showbizzy.
Missions expert Paul Filidis describes the shift toward “Business as Mission,” an approach that mixes work with the great commission.
During last week's Youth Ministry Execuitve Council (YMEC), God showed up during our discussion on the priority and urgency of evangelism. Read more details in Greg Stier's blog at http://www.gregstier.org/rants/more-altar-calls-or-more-personal-evangelism/.
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?
Soul Surfer is holding strong in 2000 theaters (even a few drive-in theaters). Already 3.5 million have seen it in theaters. The spiritual impact is dramatic – already well over 100,000 have visited the evangelistic site soulsurfer.com and more than 11,000 have indicated decisions to receive Christ. Continue...
Understanding Cutting and Other Self Injury Behavior
In March, the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Youth Network hosted a new event with youth leaders focused on the issues related to "self injury behavior" (SIB). The leaders live in a community where several suicides had recently taken place. Our hope when we present on topics like these is that we would be helping youth leaders, parents, teachers and students to “Notice and Navigate the Evidence to Teens in Crisis.”
The first weekend of Soul Surfer in the theaters was strong. It was #4 in Box Offices receipts, and drew a rare A+ CinemaScore - the measurement used to rate impact on the viewers. Reports are coming in of great follow-up with spiritual conversations with kids on campus. Also, as of this morning, soulsurfer.com has had 39,000 visitors and 4000 who have indicated decisions to trust Christ.
Students are buzzing about the movie...
Have you ever considered starting a coffee house? Before you do, read Jacob Peterson's article, "Coffee House Ministry: The Ups and Downs of Jesus-based Java Joints." The article follows his quest to start a coffee house.
Meanwhile, if you have ever felt burnt out by youth work, you need to read David Olshine's Soul Care column: "Is American-Style Youth Ministry Killing Your Soul?"
All this and more is in the latest digital edition of YouthWorker Journal, which we are pleased to provide for you absolutely free!
Biblical Truth, Brotherly Accountability, and Godly Love.
3 Day Respawn is a ministry which aims to provide Godly fellowship, companionship, and Biblical direction by offering a method of connecting with others through the video games based website, community events, and resources for anyone who plays games or knows someone who does. The ministry is based on a social media (Facebook) style community website which helps christian video game players connect with one another. The result is an experience of fellowship and mutual christian edification which is in stark contrast to the average video game playing experience. Our goal is to make disciples of all nations.
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.
We want you to know about The Real Winning Edge television series, which is now airing in syndication nationwide through September 2011. The Real Winning Edge is a program that encourages young people to see beyond their own circumstances and realize they are not alone in their struggles. It is a program that instills confidence in teenagers who are reaching for their own dreams, and delivers a strong message of hope and optimism for the future.
The series features real-life high school and college students who face challenges such as substance abuse or being abandoned by their parents. Each of the young people selected represents a sport or a field in the arts. The series documents how these youth have conquered the odds to achieve success in their field of talent, and also how they battle difficult circumstances and overcome them in their personal lives. This is the first series of its kind - directed to youth, with a faith message - to air on the FOX-owned stations and in national syndication on other network affiliate stations.
Have you ever wondered why young people are so confused about what worship means? Dan Kimball addresses this question in the February digital issue of YouthWorker Journal.
Have you ever asked why some Christians seem so unChristian? Check out the latest from Gabe Lyons’ new book: The Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America.
Have you ever wondered about social networking and your kids? Read why Mark Oestreicher says: Social networking and middle schoolers are not necessarily a good fit.
Also, Syler Thomas helps you manage your ministry by being more direct in your communication.
All this and more, including our reviewers’ product RAVES from 2010 can be found in the new digital YWJ.
Here’s to doing a better job of the important work of youth ministry.
A small groups leader’s greatest tool is a partnership with a parent.
Parents are the primary faith influencers in the student’s life, so if you want to make a spiritual impact, you better have a partnership with Mom and Dad. Many of you may think the parents don’t care, but that doesn’t change anything in my mind.
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).
“Each article is meant to help youth workers in whatever context they might find themselves working to help guide students into spiritual formation for the mission of God. Immerse is about providing youth workers with theologically robust, soul-caring and genuinely practiced tools for contextualizing the mission of
We are facing a great spiritual crisis. Eighteen years ago (1992), 85% of 18-25 year olds claimed Protestantism or Catholicism as their faith. Today, only 66% identify with organized religion. If this trend continues, within 10 years less than half of this age group will call themselves Christian, and by 2039 less than 30%. We now face the possibility of a post-Christian United States (research by EthnoGraphic Media).
Imagine Communities of Hope engaging and mobilizing like-minded people to build collaborative teams who implement action plans which reach and empower youth to live out the teachings of Jesus by sharing the gospel while serving the needs of their community…and ultimately their world. We must enlarge the table beyond just youth workers and include: parents, business leaders, social workers, teachers, students, senior pastors, media and others. The task demands that we Convene, Communicate, Collaborate and Consolidate our efforts to turn the tide in our communities.
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Over 4,000 leaders from 198 countries attended the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town, South Africa, October 16-25. The heart behind it was to develop a deeper level of unity and effectiveness in the task of reaching the world for Jesus.
Suppose you could assemble a dream team of youth ministry experts and ask them anything on your mind. Chances are your group might include Jim Burns, Terry Carty, Les Christie, Chap Clark, Pamela Erwin, Doug Fields, Mike King, Nick Palermo, Wayne Rice and Duffy Robbins.
Whether you're a youth ministry veteran or a newbie, there's plenty to gain from these leaders, who are offering insights in the latest digital issue of YouthWorker Journal, which we are offering to you thanks to our partnership with YWJ.
NNYM's sister network in Europe is coordinated by the European Evangelical Alliance and is called EEA21. (www.eea21.eu). It is probably the most comprehensive overview of European youth ministry on the net, and includes literally hundreds of videos of European youth workers giving insights into the needs, challenges and opportunities in their countries and beyond.
Earlier this month I had the pleasure of meeting Phil Cunningham and hear more about his dream of Steps of Justice and their October Justice Awareness Month.
NNYM: “Phil, how did this project get started?”
Phil: “In 2004 I was asked to write a prayer focus on areas of injustice. I researched and wrote on things like human trafficking, poverty, the sex industry, hunger, gender injustice, etc. The more I looked around the more I saw just how screwed up the world was and how far off from completing the work of Jesus I was.”
NNYM: “How did that perspective change you?”
Phil: “My next step after the prayer focus was to tell as many people as I could about how messed up the world is. I started talking about it to my friends, in church, at Bible studies and prayer meetings. Everywhere I went and everyone I met knew that I cared about these issues. After a while this step wasn’t enough, it was time to take another step.”
NNYM: “What was the next step you took?”
Phil: “How could I just go around talking about this stuff if I was not doing anything about it personally outside of making awareness of the issues? My thought, make a calendar/prayer action guide that will help connect people to other ministries and ways of fighting injustice. So, a year ago I started thinking of creative ways and ideas to present these issues to people over a period of 30 days in ways that brought awareness coupled with prayer and action. So we created the Steps of Justice 30 day action guide and web site.”
NNYM: “Now that you have this created what is next for you?”
Phil: “Starting on October 4 and going through the end of the month we will be walking through what it looks like to take up the call as the Church of Jesus to “do Justice.” Through stories of people who have bravely answered Gods call, the October Justice Month points to practical and biblical ways that you can be involved in bringing God’s justice into an unjust world.”
NNYM: “How can people get involved with October Justice Awareness Month?”
Phil: “Challenge yourself to walk out the action days we post on our blog, engage with the media and pray for the hurting, the broken, the poor and the oppressed. Don’t feel overwhelmed, you can’t engage with everything. Pray and ask God what things he is most burdening your heart for throughout the month and dive into that. Finally, please take time to respond on our Facebook group. Post your comments, your thoughts, your actions and any stories that have happened as a result of “doing justice.” Your stories will inspire others to engage and create their own cool stories.”
NNYM: "What do you hope comes from this month?"
Phil: "I hope that justice issues can be brought to light and that youth groups can find ways to enagge their kids to be part of the solutions in real pratical ways."
I encourage you to explore Steps of Justice and see how your group could put this resource into action and be on the lookout for them at the NYWC this year.
You can follow @stepsofjustice or @PhilCunningham on twitter
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...
In my nine years of youth ministry, I have read and heard over and over again about the limitations of students, specifically Middle Schoolers, when it comes to issues of attention spans and what they can understand. It's been explained to me how Middle Schoolers can only handle a maximum of 10-15 minute talks or else we will lose them and bore them. I've been told by a parent that their 8th grade daughter wasn't intellectually capable to handle a talk in the 30-minute range. Yes...her own parent said that.
To back that view up, I have witnessed many times a speaker or leader wrestle through a 15-minute talk because kids kept talking and giggling and being disruptive. I have seen an attempted small group discussion fail miserably because all the kids wanted to do was go back to their game of Call of Duty.
Everybody wants to change the world. The new September digital edition of YouthWorker Journal is designed to help you and your kids convert passion into action. That’s why we asked Dave Rahn, Kara Powell, Mike Yankoski, Austin Gutwein, Andy Crouch and Kelly Soifer for their advice.
The articles cover everything from around-the-world trips to tips on ways to impact your next-door neighbor to ideas for getting kids to practice financial stewardship.
In addition, Walt Mueller discusses his problem with alcohol in “Drink, Drank, Drunk: God's Guidance on Alcohol”; and Mark Jackson is "Stirring It Up” with his article “From Action to Reflection: The Missing Element in Student Service Experiences.”
You can help an alcoholic by getting them to enter an alcohol abuse treatment program. Reading more about alcoholism can also help you understand their situation better.
"Professionalism" may not be an exciting word, but we all want to be better at what we do, especially when it comes to leading and serving young people.
Articles in the new August digital issue of YouthWorker Journal are designed to help you be a better and more effective youth worker. And we're pleased to provide this issue to you FREE, thanks to our partnership with YouthWorker Journal.
Open it up to find these nuggets:
Plus reviews of 50+ new resources, books and movies and for youth ministry.
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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…
Every youth worker wants to help kids develop deeper faith, but what are we doing about it? Furthermore, how can we tell if we're succeeding? That's the focus of the current digital issue of YouthWorker Journal.
The issue features an interview with Kenda Creasy Dean about her powerful new book, Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers Is Telling the American Church.
There are also articles on spiritual growth from these veterans and experts:
Plus: Walt Mueller, Margot Starbuck, Barry Shafer and Lilly Lewin.
We hope these articles and insights can help you help your kids deepen their faith.
Are we losing teens while they are still right in front of us?
According to a study by Ken Ham, founder and president of Answers in Genesis, we’re losing the next generation of believers before...
Social media in missions? That's what a group of leading youth workers explored when they went to Haiti. You can read about that (and more) in the latest issue of YouthWorker Journal, you can access it free thanks to your partnership with us.
This issue also contains practical articles on worship, a Soul Care column on "Surviving the Dark, Lonely Times in Ministry" and reviews of more than 60 new resources, books, CDs, movies and other stuff.
Here's the link to the latest digital YWJ.
May it help you in your valuable, urgent, powerful work with kids!
“I’ve gone to church my whole life, and my spirituality has always been an influence in my life. As I went away to college, I didn’t consider my faith in Christ an important part of who I was, and consequently, I didn’t care that I was continuing to turn my back on God. I turned to my friends in my dorm to find my identity, and got into drinking, drugs, and sexual immorality.”
You hear stories like this every year. And every time you hear about one of your students not walking with Christ in college, you feel sad and disappointed. You entrust yourself to the Lord— knowing you did what you could—but it still bugs you. You went into youth ministry not just to see kids come to Christ, but to continue walking with Him well past their high school years. You wonder how it happens that someone who was doing so well in your ministry could make such a big flop in college. You even wonder if you could have done something more to help them make the transition.
The question came from one of the leaders gathered for the annual Youth Ministry Executive Committee (YMEC) meeting in May.
For the past 21 years the National Network of Youth Ministries has hosted presidents and executives of national youth ministries for an annual meeting to interact, sharpen and build relationships.
One of those leaders called to the attention of the group: “Where would youth ministry be without the Network to bring us together?”
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.
What are the best youth ministry practices?
That's what YouthWorker Journal editors and writers asked ministry leaders such as Dan Kimball, Duffy Robbins, Ginny Olson, Mark DeVries, Chris Folmsbee, Mark Oestreicher and Jonathan McKee.
Their answers provide more than a hundred valuable suggestions for methods, resources and practices you can put into action today with your kids.
Here's the link to the latest digital YouthWorker Journal.
We hope you find these suggestions helpful and follow the call of giving youth ministry your best efforts.
If you want to get the job done right, use the right tools.
The tools in the newest digital YouthWorker Journal will help you work smarter and more effectively.
We're pleased to offer this digital issue to you because of our partnership with YouthWorker Journal.
Here is what you will find inside:
We hope these tools help you do a better job of serving and leading your youth.
Do you really know how the youth in your community or ministry feel about God, church, ethics and sexuality? 
How would it affect your strategies for ministry if you had a “snapshot” of their REAL beliefs, values, and behaviors? What would you do differently if you knew exactly how the felt about your church?
These areas are explored in a new national survey, and NNYM members and their friends have been invited to participate.
Lots, actually. The most current research paints a picture of the risks that teenagers deal with, including family issues, physical and mental health concerns, and developmental factors that underscore how important mature, steady adults like youth workers are to help provide direction, encouragement and stability in their lives. Here are some of the issues:
Young people are experiencing family breakdown. According to contemporary statistics, 51% of first marriages in 2006 ended in divorce, and 50% of all divorces involve children under 18. In 2007, 22% of all families with children under 15 years old were one-parent families.
Does it ever seem that when God created youth ministry, He separated youth workers from parents like He separated the sky from the oceans in Genesis 1?
Mark DeVries, Diana Garland, Marv Penner, Jim Burns, Brian Haynes, Brenda Seefeldt, David Veerman, Jim Candy and other youth ministry veterans attack that assumption in the latest issue of YouthWorker Journal.
Thanks to our partnership with YouthWorker Journal, we are pleased to provide you the link to the digital March issue on "Building Bridges to Families."
We hope you find it helpful.
Over the years I've met some pretty amazing young people. I want to share with you a little about those who have tattooed my soul over they years. (Their names have been changed for confidentiality.) You know the kind of people I'm talking about: those that leave a permanent mark on you. There are too many to write about in just one sitting, but they are the reasons we do what we do...
A friend and supporter of the National Network of Youth Ministries, high school teacher Brad Johnson has won his court case regarding Christian heritage and patriotic banners in his classroom.
In his federal court ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Roger T. Benitez offered,
"May a school district censor a high school teacher's expression because it refers to Judeo-Christian views, while allowing other teachers to express views on a number of controversial subjects, including religion and anti-religion? On undisputed evidence, this court holds that it may not."
Smart, beautiful, and the life of the party, Abbey was only 20 years old. She had a permanent smile and whenever she was near; you could not help, but be drawn to her. As it turns out, Abbey was an opiate addict. In March of 2009, six of her friends carried her casket to her grave site, a life cut short by a prescription drug overdose. Abbey was my cousin.
The good news is that pot, alcohol, cigarettes, meth, ecstasy and LSD are being abused less nowadays by American teenagers compared to the 1990s.
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?
How do we help teenagers have "sticky faith" after they graduate from high school?
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Kara Powell from Fuller Seminary to discuss their research to help graduates make that all-important transition from high school.
For more resources, you can also check out the Youth Transition Network at www.youthtransitionnetwork.org/.
Isn't everything going "digital" now, maybe even "Hi-Def". But I promise this digital product is gonna be worth it.
We have worked with YouthWorker Journal to deliver you the digital version of the magazine each and every month, for free. Yes, free.
Some people felt they were being overwhelmed with 60+ pages of digital content six times a year, so instead of sending six Digital YouthWorker Journal's every year, there will now be 12, starting with this January issue. Each bimonthly print issue will be divided into two separate digital issues.
We hope you enjoy the content that YouthWorker Journal delivers.
The high school basketball star is at the top of his game. His former friend shoots himself on campus right in front of his eyes. His world collapses from guilt and helplessness. What happens now?
That is the theme for the new movie, "To Save a Life. " It was filmed by Jim Britts, a youth pastor and network coordinator in Oceanside, California. His passion for seeing teenagers reached on campus led him to write and produce this movie coming to theaters in January. Many of the stories in the movie were modeled after issues the network experienced together.
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.
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