Youth Ministry Links

I've recently found some great links for youth ministry.  Maybe you've used them for years - or maybe you've just found them like I have!  Anyway - here they are!

www.youthministry.com - this site has LOTS of great information.  Two free, downloadable game books, and a weekly e-mail article you can sign up for.  The weekly article is full of tips and tricks for youth ministry.   This is my newest and most 'favoritist' find!

Grapple: Sunday School curriculum.  (Check out the free sample through Group's free sample website. )  Grapple takes issues that middle schoolers face - and has the youth wrestle/grapple with the issues.  It comes with website access for you, your teachers, and your youth.  The curriculum that is provided is well written!

Geico Ringtones: Ok - so not directly related to youth ministry.  But I got some AWESOME ring tones that make me laugh when people call.  I needed to share this with everyone. 

DevoZine:  Website and magazine published for youth.  Awesome and concrete devotionals. 

What are your favorite links to use in ministry?

This week I learned

This week I learned

* leader or control freak?

* how important the art of conversation is

* how fun friends can be

* that I still really want to learn how to ride horses

* fall is a great time of year

* slow down

* manual labor is good for the soul

* "I love people's souls, not necessarily what they do." -Finez

This Week I Learned

• my pride has the potential to hinder my work
• I am a general "specialist" - meaning I generally know about all specialties- but I'm not a specialist in anything.
• ministry is a lifestyle not a job
• times are tough
• god is with us
• exercise always helps me focus (if only I could remember this!!)
• friends are valuable

Realistic Self Talk

I've realized over the past few weeks - in talking to friends who need motivation - that what I do to motivate myself and keep myself sane is "realistic self talk"  I talk to myself - A LOT. But not in a bad way.

See I'm the type of person who needs motivation. I don't get a pep talk every morning - so I have to give one to myself.

Now - it's nothing like Jessica's Daily Affirmations. (Although I might try this one morning)
It's something simple - to keep my mind on the right track.

One Step at a Time
I cannot control the behaviors of others, I can only control my own behaviors. 
What I believe is far more than I know.
I choose to be a happy person.
Be honest and true to myself. 
God guides me.

And this poster hangs on my wall:

It's amazing what a little self talk can do, and how it helps you with perspective.  One step at a time is something I constantly repeat to myself - lest I try to do too many things and get overwhelmed.

What self-talk do you use as a pep talk for the day?

This Week I Learned

This week I learned

• you have to laugh at yourself!
•  homemade strawberry preserves have an awesome appeal to them! (thanks midway umc)
•  I am shaped by a variety of influences
•  I'm more comfortable with silence than I think I am
•  I'm also a bit of an introvert.
• we are all broken somehow
•  we're all a little different
•  but our differences are what makes us a masterpiece

I hope and pray that my church and I inspire teens to be PASSIONATE about their faith! Read this Article

Testing the mobile posting feature

Zumba

So some of you might know - I have recently become very excited about Zumba. Zumba is a dance, exercise class. You move and dance and sweat! I absolutely love it!

In the class that I attend regularly - I am one of the youngest participants - but continually go. I joined the class hoping that it would help me meet people my age around the area. This has been unsuccessful. What has happened is I have met some wonderful ladies - who love dancing and "Zumbaing." We all get excited about working-out. Yes excited and work-out can be used in the same sentence!

When we're in class together we're all working toward the same goal. We want to be healthy - and we want to have fun. Is it weird that when I look around while we're stepping - I see smiles?!

When I am surrounded by people who are working toward the same goal - I always feel connected somehow. It truly is a Heaven Moment for me. We enjoy each others company, we have a goal, and while exercising we commune together.

Who would have thought that exercising could be a heaven moment?!

Me, Myself, and Time

So I have run across a new FAVORITE song.

I think it expresses exactly where I am in my life now.

Me, Myself, and Time: Demi Lovato

*don't judge I know it's a pop princess

Hear it on YouTube

I can make the rain stop if I wanna,
Just by my attitude
I can take my laptop record a snapshot
And change your point of view

I just entered this brand new world
And I'm so openhearted
I know I've got a long way to go but I
I'm just getting started

I'm over my head, and I know it, I know it
I'm doing my best not to show it, to show it
Whatever it takes to be what I was meant to be, I'm going to try
Cause I'm living the dream and I know it, I know it
I'm trying my best not to blow it, to blow it
And I know everything will be fine
With me, myself and time.

I go where life takes me, but some days it makes me want to change my direction
Sometimes it gets lonely, but I know that it's only a matter of my perception
I just entered this brand new world
And I'm so openhearted
I know I've got a long way to go but I'm
I'm just getting started

I'm over my head, and I know it, I know it
I'm doing my best not to show it, to show it
Whatever it takes to be what I was meant to be, I'm going to try
Cause I'm living the dream and I know it, I know it
I'm trying my best not to blow it, to blow it
And I know everything will be fine
With me, myself and time.

And baby there is nothing like this moment
To just be real and let the truth be spoken
Whatevers broke I can make it unbroken
Turn the lead in my hand into something golden
Just try more love, if I just try more love then I'll find
Myself and time.

I'm over my head, and I know it, I know it
I'm doing my best not to show it, to show it
Whatever it takes to be what I was meant to be, I'm going to try

I'm over my head, and I know it, I know it
I'm doing my best not to show it, to show it
Whatever it takes to be what I was meant to be, I'm going to try
Cause I'm living the dream and I know it, I know it
I'm trying my best not to blow it, to blow it
And I know everything will be fine
With me, myself and time.

I'll find myself in time,
I know I'll find myself in time

Music makes the mood

So on Sunday's I have a very specific playlist that gets me ready and prepared for worship.

This list is full of songs I sing as a prayer for the morning - and other songs that just get me pumped and going. Here's the list:

Lifesong: Casting Crowns

Get Up: Mary Mary

You are Good: Nichole Nordeman

Sing, Sing, Sing: Chris Tomlin

Here is our King: David Crowder

Run to You: Third Day

Catchafire (White Rabbit Mix): TobyMac

Come Right Out and Say It: Reliant K

The Best Thing: Reliant K

Yesterday, Today, and Forever: Vicky Beeching

Great is Your Glory: Vicky Beeching

Trust in You: Jeremy Camp

So what songs do you listen to...

Salem

What an honor it is to serve at Salem Camp Meeting.

I go to sleep and wake up exhausted every day.

I spend so much time in the sun- sweating that I require two showers a day.

I eat so much chicken and fried food that I have to detox for two weeks by eating salads and light meals.

Yet I go back every year!
Why?

It's heaven.

Each year around 250+ people come together as the Church for a week. How can you be the church if you only meet once a year? Somehow the Spirit gathers us all together- a village is formed where everyone watches out for everyone. There is an outpouring of love for those in need. Youth are taken in and revered for their wisdom. Children are a blessing and celebrated and honored. Adults are sought out for their wisdom and faith.

A community of faith- not without its flaws - but continually moving onto perfection as a community. Loving and building each other up.

A glimpse of heaven, here on earth

this week i learned

This week I learned...

* the power of prayer
* zumba is an addiction!
* focus is important
* friends is a funny show to watch as you're waking up
* kids are sweet
* someone to share with is important
* you gotta take the good and the bad
* god will guide you

Recommended Books

I know it's been awhile since I've posted so I'm going to give you a quick post.

I want to suggest a few books that I've been reading recently. I highly recommend these books to pastors.

Turbulent Twenties: Survival Guide - Marcos Salazar

Great for young adults transitioning from academia to professional identity

This Odd and Wondrous Calling - Lillian Daniel and Martin B. Copenhaver

Stories and wisdom about beginning full time ministry

The Unofficial United Methodist Handbook for Pastors - F. Belton Joyner

Besides the Discipline - this is a great book to guide pastors as they serve God in the church.

Heaven Moments

So more heaven moments:

*The love of others
*when a group "gets it" - what it means to live in community together
*The "aha" moment of a youth.
*peace


What are your heaven moments?

Millennials

I was directed to this news article online.

I think the article is well written - although it only touches the surface of what it means to be a member of the Millennial generation.

If you are interested in finding out more information - check the back of the March 5th North Georgia Advocate (available for purchase through www.ngumc.

From the Advocate:

"'People in that age group have not rejected spirituality. What they've rejected is the tradition and what they perceive to be the hypocrisy of the church', says Jamie Dunham..."

I also suggest a book I read in college:

Millennials Rising by Neil Howe and William Strauss

(available on Amazon or you can borrow mine!)

Check out other information on Millennials by clicking here

Invisible Children Info

Tonight I am sharing with my youth information about Invisible Children.

We're watching several short videos to explain what is happening in Northern Uganda.

(I have the Rough Cut somewhere and the Legacy Journal on the way for those who wish to borrow it)

You can read about it on the United Nations website here.

Just to give you a little background on what is called "one of the the worst tragedies of human history", watch this video:

With the help of the organization Invisible Children - light has been shed on the issue.

Night commuting has stopped - but the war still wages on.

Here is an update on what IC is doing to rescue the child soldiers and help Northern Uganda:

Over 80,000 people gathered in various cities on April 25, 2009 to raise awareness about rescuing child soldiers - here is some information

An update on The Rescue - and how you can help.

Get involved with The Legacy Scholarship Program

We advocate for these children because for 23 years their voices have virtually been unheard. It's time to encourage our politicians to stand up to Joseph Kony. We hope and pray that one day families will be reunited, that peace will come to the region, that the people of Northern Uganda will live without fear.

You can help make this a reality - write your elected officials. Go to this site: and sign a petition

Micah 6:8 says: "What does the Lord require of you? To seek justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God."

The youth of my church will be looking into this further this summer. We want to put our faith into actions. These people need our help.

Check back for more updates.

this week i learned

it's been awhile....

*i require a certain amount of self-care

*i love, love, love getting my nails done

*i am inspired by Jessica Schroeder's sense of fashion

*LIGHTS is one of my favorite artist's to see in concert

* rest is essential

*a good lesson doesn't magically appear - it develops

*exercise energizes me, makes me happy, and gives me a generally good outlook on life

*i should exercise more often

*ways of doing ministry vary

*these guys are awesome

Youth Minister Tidbits

Youth Minister Tidbits

In this year and a half (almost 2 years) that I have been the Youth Minister and in the past 6 years as a "youth person" in general I have learned some things about youth ministry.

Hopefully these little tidbits will encourage and inspire you.

For those of you who have been/are in youth ministry - heck in ministry I'd love to hear some of the things you've learned!

*Most importantly: students need to know you love them - it may be out of your comfort zone (as it is mine) to hug or to say "I love you" but they need to know this. Ministry in general is about relationships

*Retreats are a great time for students to grow together as a group - and to learn more about you!

*Creativity can't be stressed enough. In our world today we compete with other organizations that are creative. If what we do doesn't grab their attention - something else will.

*A well rounded youth ministry (fellowship, faith, service, fun) is important. If one aspect is off - the whole ministry seems a bit wobbly.

* Don't be reactionary! I learned this the hard way. It is important in any situation to take time to breathe and think through the situation. It often serves to teach a better lesson when one thinks through it

*Don't let the one student who needs to be "fixed" take away from the whole group. If one student out of 20 is misbehaving/disrupting constantly - there are 19 others who are eager and ready to learn.

* Take time to rest! We all need to stop and take time to rejuvenate.

*Take time to grow spiritually. Just because you're teaching lessons about Jesus all the time doesn't mean you're learning and growing from those lessons.

*Did I mention that relationship is key?

This week I learned

*how difficult it is to drop my dog off for training.

*that i was blessed as a teen

*some people just need to talk

*I just need to talk

*know your context

*always have a sermon in your pocket

*Holy Week is great for intentional spiritual growth

* communication is important

*some people don't possess necessary communication skills

Good Friday

I have been following several friends as they "blog their way through Lent"

What an awesome (and modern day) practice.

You can see Mal's here. And Michael's here

I have been inspired today to reflect on Good Friday by my friends:

As a person deeply moved by music I have found a several songs that remind me of this day - Good Friday.

Recently Mallory shared a new music group with me: Needtobreathe

I have loved their music. Especially this song The Garden. (it starts at about 1 minute) I encourage you to to reflect on it this Good Friday.

Andrew Peterson was introduced to me in college.

Silence of God - Another good song to reflect on.

Both of these songs speak about what Jesus must have felt on this day

As we "celebrate" this Good Friday, (I quote my mom - "I know Good Friday is Good, but I don't like it.) let's remember what happened.

I imagine Jesus experienced abandonment that we all experience at times.

He experienced betrayal

Loneliness

Hopelessness

He executed because of sinful people.

He suffered

He died

He was placed in a tomb - buried.

Dead

That is Good Friday. A leader brutally executed and buried.

The End

Except for those who follow Jesus - those who believe that Jesus was in fact more than a man, we have hope that this is in-fact not the end. Now I'm not going to jump into Easter quite yet. Because we are not there. Save that for Sunday and for Easter.

We need to stop and reflect on what happened on that Good Friday.

Good Friday is the death of a leader, it is the realization that sin is still ever present. And that a man who was perfect - was placed on a cross - and died.

All because: We. Are. Imperfect. People.

I leave you now with that feeling... incomplete, uncomfortable, awkward, feeling.

The Perfect Day

The perfect day:

*not having to do church errands all day.

*cleaning my house

*doing laundry

*getting the laundry ALL done

*hanging out with my dog :)

*spring weather

*finding what I need at Dollar General instead of Wal*mart

*Only getting slightly red because I sat in the sun

*laying on my living room floor finishing a sermon while the dog sleeps

This is the perfect day

this week i learned

So this weekend I went to SLR (Spiritual Life Retreat) with my youth group - I learned a lot.

* how wonderful my youth group is

* how many of my youth will step up and lead if given a chance

* that I need to "breathe"

* youth counselors keep me sane and are wonderful

* often times things don't go the way you expect them to - but you have to go with the flow

* taxes are not fun

* I am blessed to work with my youth!

* my dog sings bass - not soprano!

OK-GO

An amazing phsyics feat.

Enjoy

This Week I Learned

It's been a while since I've updated... and I'm sorry for that.
So here we go...for the past couple of weeks


this week i learned...

* there is nothing more wonderful than the love and loyalty of a dog.
* dogs are a lot like children when you have to train them
* people can do great things when they are passionate about something
* talking things out is great therapy
* shopping can also be great therapy ;o)
* warm weather excites me - and a lot of other people
* seeing my youth begin to be leaders warms my heart
* creativity may be met with resistance... just step back, regroup, and try again
* you've got to give people the opportunity to prove you wrong before you make assumptions
* perfection is how you perceive it

This Week I Learned

• Sometimes you just need someone to talk to
• Puppies are the best playmates
• Excitement is contagious
  
• You need friends to vent to
  
• Spring is just around the corner. Thank you General Beauregard Lee, Ph.D - the Groundhog
• A good walk is important
• "Jesus already died for this, so I don't have to" Gigi
• Letting something slip up isn't bad - but it does have consequences.
• Colleague's lift my spirit - and do wonders for my heart!
  

Black Magic

Black Magic is a little game I like to play with my youth when we have a few minutes to pass.

The goal is for IT to correctly guess the object that the group chooses.

One person is IT and leaves the room.

The leader (usually me) chooses one person to select an object that IT must successfully guess.

Once we you choose the object - you then call IT back in.

The leader then begins pointing to objects asking IT if that object is the item.

The round ends when IT correctly guesses the item or doesn't guess the correct item.

There is a TRICK to this game!

Whoever is IT has to know that trick.

The leader cues in IT as to what the object is by using a pattern.

It doesn't matter how many objects the leader points to. When the leader is about to point to the selected object they first point to something black. By pointing to something black - this tells IT that the next item you point to is the object that the group selected.

My youth get so frustrated with this game! I've only let a few in on the secret. They try to figure out patters, watch my body language, etc. I usually remind them that the title of the game is Black Magic.

Help for Haiti

If you are wondering how you can help the crisis in Haiti here are some sites that I've found or been directed to:

UMCOR - Haiti

Shaun in the City

American Red Cross

CNN: has been reporting non-stop

World Vision

Yele.org

If you have other sites you'd like to see here - leave a comment and I'll add it.

Pray for Haiti.

Ireland

I recently had the privilege to travel to the beautiful Northern Ireland (with a short stop in Dublin, Ireland) in November with the wonderful Elizabeth Lobello. Here are just a few pictures of my travels.

(left to right) St. Patrick's Cathedral, The Wheel at the festival, a mural on a house in Belfast.

(left to right) On our way to London Derry, stairs from the Bogside to the wall

(left to right) my traveling mates, a castle off the north coast

Elizabeth - a fantastic traveling partner!

this week i learned

* how much i love my "kids" (what I call my youth)

* when explaining a game youth will ask EVERY SINGLE "what if" question... if you let them.

* a support system through e-mail is still an important support system

* i am slowly - but surely trying to develop my sense of style

* the scent "Fresh Balsam" from Bath and Body Works is my favorite!

* sometimes you need to take a personal day

* working out is hard to get back into - but makes me feel a lot better

* i have developed a bad habit of not wanting to get out of bed in the morning

* laundry is quickly becoming the enemy

* i am a Florida Gator fan - by all means - but will occasionally cheer for another SEC team aka... Crimson Tide.

Underground Church

This past Sunday I played Underground Church with my youth...

They loved it. I loved it because it required little set-up for me.

Here's how you play:

(for a group of about 30 youth - depending on your size you may need to add more policemen)

Before you start: choose a place to be the jail. (We used the sanctuary and turned on only a few lights to illuminate the jail area.) Let the student know where the jail is.

Choose 3 people to be police. Everyone else are Christians

The goal of the police is to get all the Christians into the Jail

The Christians are trying to get to the "safe house" or church.

One of the police will be an Underground Christian though. His or her goal is to secretly lead the Christians to the church.

The easiest way to determine who will be the Underground Christian is to have three slips of paper. On two slips of paper write "police" on the third slip of paper write "Underground Christian."

Let the police choose these slips at random. Make sure to tell them not to show their paper to any of the other police. If they do the Underground Christian runs the chance of being found out - meaning they can be arrested and put in jail by the regular police.

Give all the Christians about 5 minutes to hide before allowing the police to start finding them.

If a police finds a Christian they must escort them to jail. *note that I had to make a rule that Christians cannot run away from the police - they had to go without fighting.

As soon as all three police are allowed to search for the Christians - the Underground Christian must choose a location that will be considered the Church. They do this at this point in the game so that 1)the police won't know where the Church is - and 2) so the Christians don't all run to the safe-house to hide. (making the game extremely short!)

The police arrest people and take them to jail while the Underground Christian tries to get all the Christians to the Church.

Christians can "escape" from jail by being tagged by a fellow Christian. But note - if either Christian is caught by a police while trying to escape they both must go to jail.

The game is won by the police if they successfully capture all the Christians and put them in jail (or capture a percentage of them)

The game is won by the Christians if they all successfully arrive at the Church (or a certain percentage of them)

few things to note

* so that youth were not just sitting around once they found the Church and were safe - I encouraged them to free people from jail -without getting caught. (if they got caught - they had to go to jail)

* police cannot "raid" the Church. Christians are safe - as long as they are in the Church.

* the Underground Christian can be captured by the police if the police find out who it is.

*make sure you have adequate adult supervision in all areas of the church

* I locked any doors that I did not want my youth to go into.

*this game is 100% more fun if played in the dark!

have fun playing and give me your version of Underground Church