Josh GriffinMore PostsLinks and Videos from SYMC General Sessions

If you’re looking for the links and videos related to the Simply Youth Ministry Conference – look no further. Here are links to most of the content and program elements from SYMC 2011:

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Josh GriffinMore PostsHSM Weekend in Review: Volume 130

Weekend Teaching Series: You Own the Weekend: Trabuco Hills HS (series premiere, week 1 of 5)
Sermon in a Sentence: Jesus brings peace to the stress of life.
Service Length: 68 minutes

Understandable Message: You Own the Weekend is all about students doing everything – and this week several students crafted a 3-part message on the event in the Bible where the wind and the waves were calmed by Jesus. The 3 parts of the talk each focused on a different part of the story, with a testimony (the first live and the second on video) breaking up the segments. The students had so much Scripture to use this weekend they even filled the back of the bulletin with lists of verses on worry and stress. Good stuff.

Element of Fun/Positive Environment: Students shot and edited several videos for the weekend – including a tremendously off-tune version of We Are the World called We are Trabuco. Painful to watch, hilarious in the a crowd. They also had the school mascots on stage, as well as a fun video shot all over their campus helping set up the big idea on stress.

Music Playlist: Salvation is Here, God is Love, Love Came Down, Salvation is Here (reprise)

Favorite Moment: You Own the Weekend’s big idea is that every student from every school gets an invitation to church. So many non-church students show up and participate in the service, it is incredible to see the turnout and get a chance to meet them. What an incredible weekend!

Up Next: You Own the Weekend: Mission Viejo HS [series premiere, week 2 of 5]

Josh GriffinMore PostsHSM Weekend in Review: Volume 129

Weekend Teaching Series: Taffy Owns the Weekend (1-off featuring Gungor)
Sermon in a Sentence: God desires a heart that is hot or cold – not lukewarm.
Service Length: 61 minutes

Understandable Message: For the first time in a very long time not all of our 4 youth services were identical. This weekend the band Gungor did their Beautiful Things Experience (basically a stirring 90-minute concert) at the 4:30 service on Saturday night, and then we and 3 identical services the rest of the weekend. At those services, Gungor played a few songs and Taffy spoke from the book of Revelation on the church of Laodicea that was lukewarm. A very good challenge on the weekend before our completely student-led series coming up next: You Own the Weekend.

Element of Fun/Positive Environment: The atmosphere was definitely more concert-like than a normal weekend. Taffy was super warm and did a great job including all of the local high schools, and we had a fun music video stirring up excitement for the next 5 weeks, too.

Music Playlist: Dry Bones, Ancient Skies, How He Loves, Beautiful Things, The Earth is Yours

Favorite Moment: Loved sitting in the crowd and watching and listening to our students worship through song. We sing several of Gungor’s songs on a regular basis, so having them there to lead us was a great experience. Our student culture largely listens to secular music, so I’m hoping they’ll also pick up some solid Christian music as a result of this weekend, too.

Up Next: You Own the Weekend: Trabuco Hills HS [series premiere, week 1 of 5]

Josh GriffinMore PostsSimply Youth Ministry Conference Advance Registration Deadline Tomorrow

It won’t be long before the Simply Youth Ministry Conference sells out … in fact, tomorrow’s advance registration deadline discount may push it over the edge. Either way, I hope you’ll consider attending what I consider my favorite youth ministry training event of the year. Jake and I will be doing another music video, hosting all of the general sessions, hanging out in the geek/technology room and chilling with youth workers like yourself. You in?

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Josh GriffinMore PostsStudent Worship Conference With Gungor

Didn’t sign up for Saddleback’s Student Worship Conference yet? If you’re local, we’d love to have you join us next month. Taffy has just posted more details including the schedule – gonna be great, so excited to have them with us!

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Josh GriffinMore Posts1-Day Student Worship Conference at Saddleback

This February 2011 we’re hosting a 1-day Worship Conference for students here at Saddleback. Taffy, the Student Ministries Worship dude, is pulling it off with Gungor and it is going to be awesome. If you’re somewhat local, we would love to have you join us! Details are on the handout above!

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Josh GriffinMore PostsSimply Youth Ministry Conference Twibbon

Are you coming to the Simply Youth Ministry Conference this March? It is going to be so much fun – come join us. If you are and want to help spread the word, consider adding a Twibbon to your Twitter profile pic. On Facebook, too!

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Josh GriffinMore PostsTop 10 Worship Songs in Our Student Ministry Right Now

I got a chance to speak at Fantastical this weekend with our student ministry worship pastor Taffy and in our notes we shared the songs we’re singing the most often this fall. Thought it might interest you – what are you playing in your student ministry? Got an undiscovered gem you want to get out there? Share in the comments!

Top 10 songs right now for our student ministry
1. “The Earth is Yours” Gungor
2. “Savior of the World” Ben Cantelon
3. “Burning Ones” Jesus Culture
4. “How He loves”Jesus Culture or David Crowder
5. “With Everything” Hillsong United
6. “Rise and Sing” Steve Fee
7. “Love Came Down” Ben Cantelon
8. “Beautiful Things” Gungor
9. “Our God” Chris Tomlin
10. “The Stand” Hillsong United
11. “Tear down the walls” Hillsong United

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