I did an informal little training session for the PDYM State Mentors at the Gathering here at Saddleback, listing a whole pile of websites that youth workers should check out. Most are free, a few have pretty minimal costs associated with them. Either way, blast through this list and dream of ways that these tools could help you minister to students better. Add your own favorites in the comments!
COMMUNICATION
http://www.simplyyouthministry.com/txt.html
http://www.constantcontact.com
MEDIA/RESOURCES
http://www.morethandodgeball.com
http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/index.cfm?hndl=details&id=10698&tab=MO
http://www.studentlife.com/resources/freevideo.php
http://www.bluefishtv.com/Store/Browse/Downloadable_Video_Illustrations/Free
http://www.simplyyouthministry.com
http://www.thecountdowncreator.com/
SOCIAL NETWORKS
METRICS
INTERACTION
TEAM
http://www.project2manage.com/
http://secure.box.net/landing1/
http://www.planningcenteronline.com/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/
BIBLE/RESEARCH
JG
18
Josh Griffin has been in youth ministry for 16+ years in a small church and a big church. He currently serves as the High School Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. [
Latest Tweet
Geoff Stewart serves the Jr / Sr High School Pastor at Peace Portal Alliance Church in Surrey B.C.
Chris Wesley serves as the Director of Student Ministry at Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland.
Colton Harker serves with Josh at Saddleback Church. He is currently in his second year in youth ministry.
So I checked out some of your links. The coolest though for me was http://www.polleverywhere.com. What a great tool to where you can have students use their phones during a message in a postive way.
Good list! Just FYI, it’s http://www.THEparentlink.com The way you have it now doesn’t link to anything.
didn’t know about CallingPost – thanx!
just one question… I understand what Google Reader is, but what’s BlogLines do for you?
Great list!
@Shawn MS – Bloglines is the equiv to Google Reader, just from a different company and with a different interface (some like one over the other).
I’d like to add two more links:
Church Director (http://www.churchdirector.com). It provides a simple volunteer scheduling and management tool.
The Agile Ministry blog (http://www.agileministry.com) is focused on volunteer management and leadership topics, and offers ebooks for leadership training and volunteer recruiting.
Dude I love this!!! Thanks man
Wow! Really great list. SImply TXT looks amazing. And Poll Everywhere too–was just thinking it would be amazing to be able to do polls like that. I saw it done at a BattleCry/Teen Mania event with thousands of kids and it was real powerful.
Josh…thanks for going through this with us, it is a big help!
Even a bigger help by posting them here
Thanks for all this! Another great Bible research website is http://www.bible.org. It’s a goldmine of theological stuff….
This is a great list!
ouch — 52 links for youth workers, and ys isn’t on the list once!
@Marko I created the list based on the 52 I use most. Oh, and I tried to concentrate on mainstream tools, not too many typical sites. I’ll get you next time, I’m working on another 52!
JG
Hi,
As a Salesian Sister (who by profession is a professional with youth) I am amazed at the wonderfully useful information you have provided… Thanks for that! I’m grateful, and will try to repay you in prayer…
God bless you,
sr. c
I have written a resource that I think will help youth workers of all experience levels. “The Whole Youth Worker; Advice on Professional, Personal, and Physical Wellness from the Trenches,” is my personal experiences in youth ministry. The book talks about the importance of wellness and wholeness in the office, with your group, and in your personal life.
You’ll find tips and advice on the normal youth ministry stuff like lock-ins, handling criticism, involving parents, etc. But the book goes beyond all of that and gets into the idea of viewing our physical health as an act of worship.
Check another awesome scheduling software called elvanto… http://elvanto.com It’s been of real value to our ministry.