Josh GriffinMore PostsTop 10 Reasons I’m Pumped About SYMC

Pretty excited about the Simply Youth Ministry Conference coming up the first weekend of March – there’s an important deadline/discount available through January 16th – if you’re going to join us you can save right now and sign up. Here’s 10 reasons why I’m pumped!

  • I laugh and learn more in 1 weekend than I do in a month
  • Free MoreThanD0dogeball.com T-shirts – I’ll Tweet about them and leave them all over the place.
  • I get to show off my YouthPastorDiet.com hot bod
  • I’m pumped to hear Jon Acuff and Lecrae
  • A new music video from Jake! Going to be SO fun
  • Meeting new friends and talking youth ministry
  • Hanging with old friends and SYMC alumni
  • Sharing lots of program ideas you can steal right away for your youth group
  • Slowing down (well kinda) and being filled up (for sure)
  • New resources, new ideas, new excitement for my calling – leaving STRONGER!

JG

Josh GriffinMore PostsGet 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

Josh GriffinMore PostsWatch 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

Josh GriffinMore PostsWinner! 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

Josh GriffinMore PostsMoreThanDodgeball’s Year in Review: Best Book of 2011

This year I read quite a few books – you can see most of the book reviews here on the blog by using the book review tag right here. Which book was the best? Before we get there, here are a couple of runner-ups:

Pray for Kaia – Youth worker Ryan Donovan tells the most touching story about his daughter’s painfully short life. I literally cried my way through the end of this books. An absolute testimony to faitfulfulness in the middle of unspeakable pain.

Onward – Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz writes a way-too-long but great history of his little coffee company and a vision of the values they are taking to the future. Really interesting story of the Starbucks journey.

Stuff Christians Like - Jon Acuff takes his best stuff from his blog and drops it into a fun book making fun of but loving Christians. Excited Jon is a speaker at SYMC this year, excited to hear him speak in person about youth workers. Ha!

Lord, Save Us From Your Followers – Dan Merchant brilliantly shows us the clearest picture of what Jesus intended His followers to live by contrasting it with how we (himself included) have managed to mess it all up. Innovative stuff, even if I’m late to the party since the book was published 4 years ago.

My favorite book from 2011:

Steve Jobs – I realize it was trendy to read this book this year and kinda lame to make it my favorite – but it has to be conceded that 2011 will forever be marked by the loss of Steve Jobs. I think I’ve learned as much what TO do as what NOT to do by reading about Steve’s life and management style. Incredible success, incredible failure.

What was your favorite read this past year?

JG

Josh GriffinMore PostsSYMC Early Bird Deadline is This Week!

SYMC

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

Josh GriffinMore PostsSYMC 2012 Digital Conference Brochure

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

Josh GriffinMore PostsSpeaking 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