simplyinsider.com

Episode 129: He?s a lot Nicer in Person

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Doug, Matt, and Jake tackle some of the best questions we’ve ever had. But before that there’s a discussion of road trips and things guys do on them. Don’t worry it’s not that long. Matt also re-thinking rudeness. Once they get to the questions they discuss keeping pride in check, being under staffed, and pastors mentoring other pastors.

simplykurt.com

Why Having Quality Volunteers Makes Your Ministry So Much Stronger:

Below is email one of our small group leaders recently sent to a parent who was upset about her son getting injured while playing a game during small group.She had sent a scathing email accusing him of negligence, etc. He had tried to call her several times but wasunable to get ahold of her. I’m not sure there is a “professional” youth worker on the planet who could have written a better email to a concerned parent.

Dear Mrs. XXXX, Thanks for letting me know about what’s going on with XXXXX. I’m so sorry to have left you feeling like there wasn’t adequate supervision at last night’s C Group. I’ve been leading small groups with students for about 10 years now, and I always try hard to provide a safe, healthy environment. That being said, I can never completely remove the possibility of an accident happening, and I think this is what happened last night. The game we were playing was not dangerous, butXXXX had an accident and got injured. Had I known more clearly the extent of his injury, I CERTAINLY would have contacted you immediately. When I asked him if he was OK, he assured me more than once that he was fine and never mentioned feeling dizzy or not being able to see. Please letXXXX know that in the future he can always tell me if he is not feeling well or is injured, and I will do everything [...]

youthministrygeek.com

NBC?s Minute to Win It

We are always trying to think up new games to use in our ministry. NBC has done a great thing for youth pastors! The new game show Minute to Win It (premiering this Sunday March 14, 2010) has between 60 and 70 doable games that can be used as youth ministry crowd breakers.

Check out the site Minute to Win It and look at the ?Game Vault.? There are videos to show you how to play each game and written directions that you can copy and paste in a document, and a list of items required. This is a gold mine of game ideas! Here’s an example of one of their videos:

youthmissionsinsider.com

I hated short-term missions?

Please check out this great article from my friend Eric Iverson. Good thoughts to consider whenever you’re taking your group on a mission trip.

Fuller Youth Institute – Youth Missions Article

What do you think? Is Eric right?

collegeministrythoughts.com

Mission Statements Causing Confusion

Every church and organization has a mission statement. And, for the most part, every ministry leader has a mission statement for their specific ministry – especially in the church. Mission statements are important because they articulate (hopefully) what we’re about, what we stand for and what we’re seeking to accomplish. These are good.

But there is something I want to point out that causes confusion. Or, at least, can. And that is church-based ministries that have a different mission statement than the church they are a part of. I see this all the time. The junior high ministry has a mission. The high school ministry will have a different one. And the church yet another one. Now, the truth is when you boil mission statements down, most churches are basically saying the same thing…just worded differently. But different mission statements in the same church?

Really?

Are we really seeking an entirely different mission? Or, are we simply seeking to move people in an age-stage toward embracing the same mission? If we’re a part of a church, I hope it’s the latter. Sure, the vision of implementing and applying that mission should be unique for age stage ministries, but it’s not a different mission! Well, at least it shouldn’t be.

Here are 3 encouragements:

1. Make sure you agree with the mission statement of the organization you serve under. If you feel like you need to change the mission statement, you probably shouldn’t be there anyway.
2. Understand that college age people long to belong in the church as a whole, not just a ministry. Having the same mission statement as the church (and helping the students we work with embrace that mission)is a very simply way we can help them feel a part of the bigger picture.
3. College ministry is an assimilation ministry where we bridge people from relational connection in the student life of our churches into relational connections in the adult life of our churches. We need all the continuity we can get in order to be effective in this. And this continuity begins with the mission statement.

marriedtoayouthpastor.com

My new addiction..

simplyurbanministry.com

Soul Food! If you love yourself, feed yourself!!!