simplyinsider.com

How We Wrote A Book

Hi my name is Matt Murphy and along with Brad Widstrom, wrote 99 Thoughts for Caring for Your Youth Group. Below are insights into our book writing process and how everything came about. Our hope in this is that you would be able to see our hearts behind our NEW Book 99 Thoughts on Caring for Your Youth Group. If you have questions my contact info is at the bottom. I will also be at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference in Louisville, KY this year, probably around the books, so if you see me stop by and say hi!

click the above image for a FREE Sample Chapter

Why 99 Thoughts for Caring?

- I chose to write a book about helping youth workers care about their youth group from A to Z because it is a huge part of my passion and calling. Coming from the Social Work field, my perspectives on caring, not only in the technical aspects of caring, but how to do certain types of caring, such as hospital visits, jail visits or coffee shop counseling helped me choose to put together this book. My suggestion to anyone wanting to write anything is to do it from a place where they are both passionate about and have some form of experience of doing it, that way you can talk about both angles? as in Head and Heart knowledge (or wisdom).

How did this become a collaborative project?

- When [...]

juniorhighministry.com

?Thanks for Talking to Me?

Posted by Scott Rubin

I wasn’t intending to write a blog post right now. But just had an interaction that made me want to jot some things down? (If you can see a parallel between middle schoolers and senior citizens, this post might make sense.)

I got in early this morning, needing to crank through some things before anyone else gets to the office. I flipped on my computer, and went to empty my overflowing trash can before attacking my day. Walking back to my office, I ran into a 70-year-old volunteer from our church who helps do cleaning stuff around here, early in the mornings. (In my opinion, jr. highers and senior citizens can both be a bit ?invisible? to people if they?re not careful!)

When I said ?how are you doing? to this guy (not realizing he was really going to tell me!), he proceeded to fill me in about the stroke he had last year, and how he?s recovering from it. I was aware that I really wanted to get to my office & dig into the stuff I need to get done today? but I tried to dial in with him? it only took 5 minutes. Honestly though, I was probably half-listening, and half thinking of my ?to-do? list for the day. He told me about how his left side was paralyzed last May, but now he?s doing better.

As I wished him a good day & started to leave, he said 5 words that made me pause:

youthmissionsinsider.com

Planning a Mission Trip is way more than details!

Mission trips can be very heavy on logistics. Where you go. Where you stay. Who you serve. How you serve them. What you eat. How you get there. And many more details? Ugh. In the mountain of all that info, it?s easy to miss planning and preparing for what may be the most important thing that will happen on your mission trip.

Let?s quickly make sure we agree on a few things (I?m sure we do, just double-checking):

• The goal of youth ministry overall is to help young people grow closer to Jesus.
• As youth leaders we?re always looking for the best method to ?transport? our students closer to Jesus.
• Missions are one form of ?transportation? that are remarkably effective.

OK, do we agree? If so, then?

• In order to make a mission trip most effective you need a clear idea of where you want your young people to go? and how to help create that environment on the trip for Jesus to work.
• Having a well-developed plan for a deep spiritual experience is key to reaching your ultimate goal. This is true whether you build the experience or you select an experience built by others.

To get started here?s several questions to ask to help shape the spiritual growthgoals you have in mind as part of your mission experience.

Where are my students and adults at spiritually?

- individually

- the group as a whole

How do the following issues impact your times of worship or spiritual [...]

morethangossip.com

Days Away

It’s just days away! I spent a good amount of time today working on my upcoming workshop!

We’ll be examining the outside voices coming at young girls and how the church can counter those voices.

What are some messages that you think girls are hearing today? And what can the church do to help them?

Also- will you be at Simply Youth Ministry Conference? If so, let’s have coffee!!!

smallchurchyouthministry.com

Need some new small #?s youth group game ideas ? Please!

Help a girl out! I’m working on my third session of my Small Church Youth Ministry track at the upcoming Simply Youth Ministry Conference in Louisville the first weekend of March. Post your ideas in the comments here. My brain is fried and so its time for me to pick yours!

holysoup.com

5 Keys to Share Faith?Without Being a Jerk

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 [...]