simplyinsider.com

The Husband & Wife YM Life

Before we ever even started dating we were both in youth ministry. John was a teacher and volunteer. Leneita was considered the ?full time, paid? youth pastor. We will never forget the day that the Lord ?knit? our visions together and walked us into ministry with ?unchurched? kids. From that day forward we never did ministry ?separately.?That journey ?together?began about 15 years ago.

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These years have brought a variety of challenges in ministry, life and marriage. Along the way we have added children to the mix. Yet,with each passing moment we have both been “in the trenches? youth workers, who happen to be joined at the soul and the hip. Hurdles have included everything from planning programming for youth to personal financial burdens. Expectations of how a Christian couple in ministry should ?look?were thrust upon us by many others. And each expectation looked slightly different. At first, it was exhausting to try and be who everyone else thought we should be. Somewhere along the way we realized the only way we could find peace as a couple was to be who God wanted us to be as a couple. That has made all the difference.

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It has been said often that the best way to learn and grow in our Christian walk is to mentor and teach. There are two sides to this, what we ?do? and who we ?are? as a [...]

juniorhighministry.com

Exactly Dodgeball

Posted by Scott Rubin

I love reading Josh Griffin?s blog, called ?More than Dodgeball?. And I understand the title ? that youth ministry is more than activities-without-purpose. But last weekend, our middle school ministry paused our regular rhythm during the weekend service, and we put on The SuperBowl of Dodgeball. Which was a smashing success!

In fact, we thought it might be our last chance for doing this, because the space we meet in is about to undergo a significant change, which could make this hard to repeat. But now we?re saying, ?HOW can we make sure this happens again someday?!?? because it was that good.

A few factors that made it work::: 1- It interrupted the regular flow of our weekends ? and provided something completely different. Do your students pretty much know what to expect when they walk in the doors? I?d claim that sometimes that?s a good thing; providing some stability can be helpful. But at other times, it?s great for middle schoolers to look around & say ?This is CRAZY? I can?t believe we?re doing this!?

2- It was a fabulous chance to invite a friend? especially a friend who?d probably decline an invite to ?church?. We told our regular students that we weren?t putting on a dodgeball tourney for ?us?? but we were ?hosting? a dodgeball tournament for all their friends! And close to half of our students were able to bring someone along with them. I realize that there?s no guarantee how many of them will return? but [...]

youthmissionsinsider.com

What to do when parents aren?t supportive

Last week I posted about reasons youth workers are struggling to get kids to commit. One of the most frequent “complaints” was that parents weren’t supportive of the mission trip. Or said another way – Going on a mission trip isn’t as important to parents as band camp, sports camp, summer job, family vacation, etc.

What can you do when you face this? Here’s a couple helpful hints and action steps you can take.

- Make sure a mission trip isn’t just “something the youth group does.” If your group’s mission trip isn’t integral to your overall ministry, parents will sense that. Going on a mission trip shouldn’t receive the same attention and energy as every other retreat, amusement park trip, summer camp, lock-in. You need to make the mission important – integral to your ministry – if you want parents to even begin to see it as important to their child. A mission trip is a big deal. Make sure yours is!

- Help parents understand how a mission trip develops their child. Parents want to know that going on a mission trip, instead of summer camp or a summer job, will help develop their kid into the adult they hope they will be. That’s why parents feel soccer camp, dance camp, band camp, or a summer job are so important. Those things teach their child life lessons. Lessons like – working hard, responsibility, getting along with others, learning new skills. Well… So [...]

marriedtoayouthpastor.com

In regards to a comment?

You are right, there are far more dangerous jobs than youth ministry. I am extremely thankful that my husband does not stare down the barrel of a gun. I cannot imagine the kind of strength a wife would need for that. No matter what the job each one of us, including myself, has and will face great tragedies. Just in each day there are so many ups and downs. Our lives are sprinkled with many different feelings and emotions from happiness to thankfulness, to frustration to sorrow. My hope is that not one of us would deny ourselves the right to feel validated in each and every feeling that we have that gets mixed up inside of us. I hope that in some small way this blog may be a place for someone in ministry to feel heard, connected, and uplifted through a comment, a funny story, or a serious post. And what I love so much about this community of women is the honesty shared about their lives, and the tone that we all take loving God and our husbands seriously but don’t take ourselves too seriously.

I write this in no way with a defensive voice, but with so much concern that many pastor’s wives are told that their feelings are silly or not important. Whether from someone at church or their own inner dialogue. Our “perspective” should be to accept and embrace our feelings whatever they may be and then with God [...]

morethangossip.com

Girls that don?t give up!

I love this video!! The story behind it is that the New York Giants coach watched it and later showed it to his team to teach them determination and commitment!

That spirit of commitment is in every girl…our job is to help them discover what in life is worth fighting for and to never give up!!

smallchurchyouthministry.com

#4 Top Twelve Ideas for a GREAT YM Year

#4 – Let Ephesians 4:29 be the measuring stick for our posts, tweets, emails, etc.

I’m up early. The reason? I was really disturbed by the number of negative comments made by people in ministry about yesterday’s half-time show. I am hurt and discouraged.

Don’t get me wrong; I’ve never been a purchaser of Madonna’s CDs. But the comments about her age, relevancy, past-her-prime…were hurtful. To whom, you may wonder?

To the Youth Watching With Us: If the same negative comments on Facebook and Twitter were made out loud to the students gathered around us watching the half-time show, then our students will think its OK to be mean because “well, she’s not one of us.”

To Madonna: She and so many others are watching us for the love we show. They know our motto is “Love Jesus – Love each other.” I don’t think yesterday was collectively our best example of that.

To Me: I am the same age as Madonna. The many comments about her age from ministry people made me wonder: Are you also saying I’m too old, too? Am I irrelevant? Have I crossed an unseen finished youth ministry line where my gifts are no longer valid, needed, necessary? Let me know because I’ll learn to knit or start playing Bingo if that’s the case.

Don’t worry; I know I’m among the chief of sinners in having a quick tongue. I’m examining myself, too. One thing I do know: no one is built up when we criticize and post with negativity.

Is this [...]

holysoup.com

Selling the Church to a Skeptical Public

simplyurbanministry.com

You need VISION

q Jeremiah 1:4 ?The Word of God came to me saying, before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.?

q God had a vision a plan for you. Do you have one for the assignment He has given you?

q Vision: The picture of God?s potential, purpose, and possibilities for your life.

q Show me a person without vision, and I will show you a person who is at a standstill in life.

q Proverbs 29:18 ?Where there is no vision the people perish.?

q Life Point: The key element to getting out of my present state is the vision that I have for myself.

q Jeremiah 29:11 ?For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope,

q True vision goes beyond what I can accomplish on my own.

q True vision adds value to others.

q True vision attracts vision.

q True vision must have God in it.

q Acts 2:17 ?And it shall come to pass in the last days says God, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams.?

1. Not knowing who you are. If you don?t know who you [...]