doug fields | More Than Dodgeball

Josh GriffinMore Posts Simply Youth Ministry Podcast: Episode 144

Here’s the latest episode of the Simply Youth Ministry Podcast. Enjoy it – just recorded another one today, too!

JG

2 View Comments November 3, 2010

Josh GriffinMore Posts Student Leadership Conferences That Might Be Good for Your Core Students

We’ve held a Purpose Driven Youth Ministry (PDYM) Student Leadership Conference here at Saddleback Church the past several years, and right now we’re taking a little break from it in the current season. I imagine it’ll come back again soon, details of it’s return will be here first, but what are other great options for your core students to get some training. Google is sending a lot of searchers to my site looking for the answer – so here are some thoughts on great student leadership events coming soon:

Student Leadership University (official website) – I’ve been to a couple of Jay Strack’s Student Leadership events with students and had a total blast. He has a unique and memorable teaching style and each event is set in a unique location. Lots of tracks available, including some advanced international stuff. Not something for a ton of students, if you’ve got some hungry kids looking for workshops, community and challenge, this might be some good stuff.
Converge 2011 (official website) – I’ve never been before, but love the lineup for this event in Indiana. I was privileged to record a “digital presentation” for the event. Sounds like a really great program they’ve got planned with some serious names teaching.
Dare 2 Share (official website) – I really like Greg Stier – he’s a one message kinda guy, but he’ll challenge your core students to reach out to their non-believing friends with the Gospel. High energy, conference-like event, with a ton of locations all over the US. Not something I would necessarily go to every year, but could be a solid challenge for your students.

What other great student-leadership/core-kid event, training or conference isn’t on my radar? Post it, promo it, plug it in the comments!

JG

5 View Comments November 2, 2010

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Weekend in Review: Volume 118

Weekend Teaching Series: 2020: The Future is Now (week 3 of 6)
Sermon in a Sentence: What are you chasing? The pursuit of money isn’t a worthy goal for your life and your future.
Service Length: 78 minutes

Understandable Message: HSM was pumped to have Doug Fields teach this weekend as part of the future series. He’ll be back the next 2 weeks, too! His message focused on what we are chasing after with our life, and how we are a product of our culture – which means that without thinking we could assume the pursuit of money and wealth is worthwile for our lives. He challenged students to reconsider their attitude about money, and to be giving, give out of abundance and give out of sacrifice.

Element of Fun/Positive Environment: This weekend was a super clean program, just a couple of video elements, music and teaching. We also introduced the eBay offering campaign that will run for the next 2 weekends – more details on that here if you missed it.

Music Playlist: Golddigger [Kanye West cover], No One Higher, The Stand, Sing Sing Sing, May the Words of My Mouth

Favorite Moment: Having Doug back teaching in HSM for the first time this fall was awesome. So excited for the next couple of weeks!

Up Next: 2020 – The Future is Now: week 4

Add Comment October 31, 2010

Josh GriffinMore Posts Fall in Love with Youth Ministry Again – SYMC 2011

Tell me you’re going to the Simply Youth Ministry Conference in March 2011! Just had a conference call today about some of the creative elements – I’m counting on God using it to shape and inspire me – I hope you’ll join us. Last chance for the early bird rate this week, it jumps $40 Halloween night. Be there!

JG

1 View Comments October 27, 2010

Josh GriffinMore Posts 20% Off Resources Today and Tomorrow at Simply Youth Ministry

Quick heads up on an opportunity to pick up some great youth ministry resources for a discount: Simply Youth Ministry is giving you 20% off of just about everything in their store. The only catch is that you have to do it quick – the promo code scareandy is only good for today and tomorrow. What would I pick up? Easy:

Emergency Response Handbook for Youth Ministry ($14.99, now $3.99)
iLife Super Series by Doug Fields ($50.00, now $12.79)
Thriving Youth Groups by Jeanne Mayo ($13.99, now about $7.00)
Through the Bible in 12 Weeks ($14.99, now $7.99)
The Landing: Celebrate Recovery for Students ($199.99, now $159)
Case of 1-Minute Bibles by Doug Fields ($449, now $239)

JG

Add Comment October 26, 2010

Josh GriffinMore Posts Simply Youth Ministry Podcast: Episode 143

Doug is super excited this week, and Josh, Matt and Katie are trying to figure out why. Turns out its all about the 00 hall of fame taking shape on the wall. After reviewing all the members of the new wall, Doug has a short discussion with special guest Nadim about Joshs new book. Then its time for your questions on: finding mentors, parent meet and greet ideas, how to help a student whose cutting (with a special video from Marv Penner), getting a job with only volunteer experience, and how to deal with volunteers drinking beer while out with students

JG

Add Comment October 25, 2010

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Weekend in Review: Volume 117

Weekend Teaching Series: 2020: The Future is Now (week 2 of 6)
Sermon in a Sentence: Each day matters in creating your future. Take time to get spiritually ready in the morning, respond at noon, and reflect at night.
Service Length: 70 minutes

Understandable Message: This weekend we zoomed in from the big picture life goals from last week and talked about how each minute eventually becomes a day, that days become weeks, years and eventually your future. We talked through 3 sections of each day and how to give it all over to God. The point of the talk was to not increase the amount of time we give God, but give God everything. It was a fun challenge to give students, seemed like students totally got it. We had a countdown timer on the stage the entire service, started at 70 minutes, the idea was the end my talk right at zero to emphasize the importance of making each minute o our life count.

Element of Fun/Positive Environment: We had the return of Parker from the Future – this time Parker came back to warn us about some new changes to the political situation in the future. In order to stop this from happening, they needed a contestant from the audience to play a Minute to Win It Game called Elephant March. The game was fun, and the return of our guy from the future was great. We had lots of greeters and the choir doubled as cleanup/setup/greeters, too. Played some funny videos in the talk as well as the message.

Music Playlist: Clocks [Coldplay cover], Majesty, Savior of the World, Dancing Generation

Favorite Moment: Having a choir made up of students is always epic. We don’t do it too often, but when we do the energy is super high and the songs seem more powerful than ever. Lots of other great moments this weekend, but watching students worship passionately through song is something I’ll never get tired of.

Up Next: The Future is Now: week 3 (Doug Fields speaking)

1 View Comments October 24, 2010

Josh GriffinMore Posts Church Politics and Youth Ministry

Matt and Doug always deliver god youth ministry content – their Youth Ministry Daily (free) email is loaded with great insight and challenges. This week they’ve been tackling church politics, and it is not to be missed. Couple things: 1) read this sample of their stuff (full article here) and 2) go subscribe – it’ll take 3 simple clicks and worth it.

//FOCUS ON A NEW DEFINITION
Politics can be redefined as “one’s ability to gain support.” When you redefine politics in a positive light, it can become something that builds up the body rather than breaking it apart. The Church is a body, and each part needs one another. Work to gain the support of other people in your church for the ministry where God has called you.

//SPEAK UP
Let people know what’s going on in your ministry. Communicate vision, events, and milestones worthy of notice and celebration. You don’t need to hire a public relations firm and blitzkrieg your church with all that’s happening within your youth ministry. But, you can work to keep your ministry in the minds (and hearts) of your church without overwhelming them. You can’t gain the support from people if they’re in the dark about the happenings of your ministry.

//SPEAK OUT RARELY
A wise leader knows how to pick his/her battles. If you’re always fighting, your ability to gather support will diminish. You can’t win every battle. If you think you can, you act like a bull in a china shop, instead of a human in a china shop (where there’s a lot less breakage).

JG

Add Comment October 22, 2010

Josh GriffinMore Posts 2 Frequently Asked Questions – Small Groups and Youth Ministry Internships

There are a couple of questions I get quite often from youth workers thinking about making some shifts in their specific youth ministry context. I thought it might be good to share my typical answers to them in case you were wondering the same thing or looking for someone to dialogue about them right about now. Here you go!

I need help with small groups! Happy to help – start with a search on the blog for the term “life groups” or “small groups” and browse through a bunch of the stuff I’ve written about them for the past couple of years. Hopefully something in there is what you’re looking for. You can also contact Jessica Torres, the HSM small groups coordinator here at Saddleback. She’ll work to answer specific questions you may have and let you in on the trends we’re seeing and stuff that is and isn’t working that might be helpful. You might also want to consider picking up the great book Small Groups from Start to Finish, by Doug Fields and Matt McGill. It is a great tool that can help you navigate launching groups in your youth ministry, too!

I’m thinking about starting a youth ministry internship at my church! That’s awesome – we need more churches helping the next generation of youth workers to get their hands dirty and serve in the local church. Check out everything we do here at Saddleback for internships – you can get most all of the info on what we hope and plan for our interns to experience by clicking here. You could definitely send your best and brightest our way – we’ve been blessed to really help a bunch of youth workers get their start with 2-years of jam-packed experience. And you can also email Jamie McNeff who can walk you through other specific questions you may have, too.

JG

Add Comment October 22, 2010

Josh GriffinMore Posts Simply Youth Ministry Podcast: Episode 142

Back again. Doug, Josh, Matt, and Katie begin the show discussing Josh’s theatrical side and the dueling blogs (Morethandodgeball.com and LoveGodLoveStudents.com). Doug also introduces the first members of the 00 club and if someone can be a “recycled podcast virgin”, plus a brand new intro song. Don’t worry, they still get to your questions and talk about: calendars and scheduling, writing things down, starting with a clean program slate, why matt is cold, guidelines for meeting alone with students, having kids from juvenile hall in your ministry, and the Simply Youth Ministry Conference.

JG