francis chan | More Than Dodgeball

Josh GriffinMore Posts GUEST POST: Being a Barnabas

Who or what inspired you to enter youth ministry?

For me I was inspired by a great pastor who invested time in me. I became quick friends with his son, but in addition to being my friends father, he took plenty of time to teach me about life, ministry and integrity. He is one of the 3 men I most admire in the world.

When we look to Barnabas in the Bible we see a great encourager who brings Saul into the fellowship of Apostles. Think about the fact that without Barnabas we might have missed out on some of the impact of Paul on the world.

If you look at the survey results coming out right now, it is obvious less and less people are interested in working in ministry. Can you blame them? I know I don’t see a lot of pastors who live inspiring lives that make you strive to be like them. And that is where I come in. Just the other day I was talking to a missionary and my lead pastor and they asked me what I thought about this issue, and I began to ask if it was because Sr. leaders aren’t all that inspiring to be like. Sure there are some who are excellent, I think of someone like Francis Chan and go ‘Wow I wish I could live like that’.

So I began to ask myself if I am living in a way that would inspire my students and those around me to want to aspire to ministry. The sad fact is the answer to that question is probably no. I am a good role model, and I believe most of my students look up to me. But I don’t know if I am doing more than inspiring a Christian lifestyle.

While our primary role is to encourage people towards faith, we do have a role to bring up future church leaders. What ways are you leading others towards entering ministry?

Kyle Corbin has been serving youth as a volunteer or pastor for over 10 years. He is currently the youth pastor at the Bridge Church in North Vancouver B.C. You can follow his blog at: kylecorbin.blogspot.com or Twitter: @CorbinKyle

2 View Comments April 14, 2013

Josh GriffinMore Posts Get CD/DVD/MP3s of the Simply Youth Ministry Conference 2012

Just wanted to post a quick link to the Simply Youth Ministry Conference 2012 audio/video store – if you were at the event and want to bring it home or missed it and want to get in on some of the training, here’s the place!

JG

Add Comment March 13, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts Watch the Simply Youth Ministry Conference General Sessions LIVE!

It’s not the same as being there … but close! Starting at 4:30pm today, you can watch the Simply Youth Ministry Conference going on LIVE in Louisville, KY!

All 6 general sessions PLUS 1-6pm on Saturday and Sunday!

JG

Add Comment March 2, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts Winner! Free Registration to SYMC 2012

Congratulations to Jeremy on winning the contest to score a free registration to the Simply Youth Ministry Conference 2012. Join us – it is going to be great – details here on the official conference website. Can’t wait!

JG

Add Comment January 6, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts SYMC Early Bird Deadline is This Week!

I’m beyond excited to hang out with youth workers at the Simply Youth MInistry Conference this year in Louisville – I’m actually taking our high school team along with on the trip and think it is going to be game-changing for our ministry.

Want to join us? Killer lineup, including Francis Chan, Derwin Gray, Jon Acuff, Shane & Shane, Jeremy Camp and 77 more speakers, musicians and mentors. Couldn’t be more excited! The Early Bird rate expires on October 31 so get in now!

JG

1 View Comments October 28, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts SYMC 2012 Digital Conference Brochure

Open publication – Free publishing

Super excited to play a part in the Simply Youth Ministry Conference 2012. Hope you’ll join us – here’s a digital version of the new SYMC2012 brochure that just was mailed out. So excited – see you in March!

JG

1 View Comments September 12, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts Speaking at a Few Youth Worker Events in 2011/2012

A few times a year I get a chance to meet/hang/speak at youth worker conferences or leadership events – thought I would post them here in case you were planning on attending too and maybe we could arrange a meet up. I’m a sucker for late-night Steak and Shake. Here’s what’s on tap this next season:

The D6 Conference - I’ve never been to this event and it has been one I’ve wanted to get to check out the last couple of years. Check out their fantastic official trailer here, if you’re in/around Dallas or in town for it this September- I’ll see you there! I’m speaking on a panel about youth ministry and leading a commissioning prayer during the last session of the event. Pumped.

YS National Youth Ministry Convention: San Diego - honored to be invited to speak at YS-San Diego! I’ll be doing a few workshops there in September focusing on teaching calendars, sermon preparation and training small group leaders. I enjoyed this little promo video of their event from Tic Long, too. I’m also on a panel with some legit dudes on the future of youth ministry. Excited and intimidated.

YSPalooza Orlando – This is the first time I’ll be teaching at YSPalooza, too! We’re still working out the details, but it is going to be fun in Orlando this January.

Simply Youth Ministry Conference 2012 - Without a doubt this is the event I’m most heavily involved in again this year. I’ll be doing the general session programming (with the infamous Jake Rutenbar) and there’s even talk of me maybe speaking a little chunk of a creative new general session idea. Who knows … I just know it is going to be awesome and you really, really need to be there, too – Louisville, KY in March. Be there with Francis Chan and Jon Acuff and more.

JG

Add Comment August 8, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts A Few Resources That Might Help If You’re Stuck

Was just randomly looking through books and tools that might help HSM in our next season and landed on a few that I’m interested in and/or look promising for some situations I’m facing that you may soon, too. Here’s a few items I’m excited about checking out:

If you’re stuck trying to figure out the work of youth ministry … maybe check out Duffy Robbin’s recently expanded and updated book Youth Ministry Nuts and Bolts.

Youth ministry veteran and bestselling author, Duffy Robbins, offers an updated and revised edition of his book about the important, behind-the-scenes mechaincs of youth ministry. The tasks of budgeting, decision-making, time management, team ministry, staff relationships, conflict resolution, working with parents, and a range of other issues, are the things that keep a ministry together and functioning well. Nobody gets into youth ministry because they want to think about these things; but a lot of people get out of youth ministry because they didn’t think about them. All youth workers– whether paid or volunteer, full-time or part-time– will find Youth Ministry Nuts and Bolts to be a thoughtful, fun, practical guide to youth ministry administration.

If you’re stuck on how to help parents get more engaged in raising their students … I love Walt Mueller’s stuff and 99 Thoughts for Parents of Teenagers looks like a cheap/simple resource to get into their hands quickly.

If you’re the parent of a teenager, you need all the help you can get. How do you help your children make wise choices? How do you give your teenagers freedom to make their own choices while still providing a guiding hand? How do you invest your time and energy in ways that make an eternal difference in your children’s lives? Walt Mueller delivers the goods in 99 Thoughts for Parents of Teenagers, a no-holds-barred look at the good, bad, and ugly aspects of parenting teenagers. Drawing on his experience as a parent of four children who have passed through their teenage years, Walt shares wisdom, thoughts, insights, and suggestions for making the teenage years count.

If you’re stuck trying to communicate to students the same way … maybe you need to think about using some video curriculum for a while. What if you could bring in Doug Fields, Francis Chan and Max Lucado? I think this video teaching series from BlueFish looks awesome.

If you’re stuck trying to figure out teaching teenagers at all … I can’t recommend Doug Fields’ and Duffy Robbins’ book Speaking to Teenagers. A gamer-changer in helping you learn to be a better communicator:

Get ready for a crash course in effective communication. More than just a book on how to “do talks,” Speaking to Teenagers combines the experience and wisdom of two veteran youth ministry speakers, along with insightful research and practical tools, to help you develop messages that engage students with the love of Christ and the power of his Word. Whether you’re crafting a five-minute devotional or a 30-minute sermon, Speaking to Teenagers is essential to understanding and preparing great messages. Together, Doug Fields and Duffy Robbins show you how they craft their own messages and give you the tools to do it yourself. They’ll guide you, step-by-step, through the process of preparing and delivering meaningful messages that effectively communicate to your students.

If you’re stuck in a creative rut … maybe Les Christie can help. The book Awaken Your Creativity shows a ton of promise for helping you get unstuck from doing the same old thing.

You know how tough it can be to come up with new and inventive student ministry ideas every school year. It can be infinitely more grueling to be that creative on a weekly basis! Whether you’re developing a new message, a unique way to get students talking and interacting, or something different for the weekend retreat, most of us find ourselves tapped for creative ideas after a little while. Take comfort: You’re not alone, and you’re not necessarily out of creative steam. Everyone hits a block at some point, but you can find a way to tap into the creativity God placed within you. Les Christie has been doing youth ministry for decades, and he’s not out of ideas yet! This practical book will help you explore the stumbling blocks, the tricks of the trade, and the catalysts to creativity.

JG