Tag Archives: simply youth ministry

Youth Worker Social Networking During NYWC

Posted on by

We did a guest post over at Churchm.ag you should check out. Here is a link to the full post and below is a snippet:

For those that are not youth workers, there are several huge youth worker conventions that are attended by thousands of youth workers from across the nation. This month, Youth Specialties is hosting the National Youth Worker’s Conference (NYWC) in Atlanta, Georgia with amazing speakers, musicians, and break out training sessions. Unfortunately, because of the number of other conferences I will be attending with Youth for Christ, I was not able to attend. But just because I cannot be in Atlanta didn’t mean that I couldn’t utilize NYWC.

Perfect Time To Network

NYWC is the perfect time for people to come together once a year and see fellow friends and youth workers that they may not see at all the rest of the year. To orchestrate meetups as well share their experiences with others visiting, the conference is utilizing the Twitter hashtag #nywc and #nywc2011. Because of this great opportunity, I have found that I can easily find thousands of youth workers via Tweetdeck search lists with these hashtags. In fact, the last 24 hours, I have been able to increase the number of followers by about 15%. Unlike many other Twitter mass followings that unfortunately include spam bots and marketers, this event is the perfect time for ministry bloggers to game numerous active and potentially engaging followers to their social media as well as blogs.

New SYM LIVE Holiday Curriculum

Posted on by

Today, Simply Youth Ministry has expanded their LIVE Curriculum to include a section on Holiday lessons. This is by far the best online resource at the best cost for youth ministry curriculum.

The cost of the curriculum is $59 and includes 15 weeks of lessons for the holiday seasons. You average that out and you have less than $4 per lesson. Assuming you make $10/hour for your job, that means you would have to get your lesson done in about 24 minutes to save money. Remember, we were called to be youth workers, not curriculum writers.

For the past two years, I have been using the high school and middle school LIVE curriculum which has been a lifesaver for my sanity and ministry. Many curriculums only cover surface level content with students and do not work well with our ministry with many students who know the Bible answers well. LIVE Curriculum hits deep into Scripture and engages students in their lives.

The holiday curriculum is one step deeper into the year’s schedule and makes preparing for youth ministry so much better. In the busyness that comes in ministry during the holiday times, these lessons bring a great sermon or small group lesson for you to hit a homerun this Christmas. I have looked every one of the lessons in this section, they are homeruns!

What do you think about the SYM LIVE curriclum?

Online Youth Ministry Organization Tools

Posted on by

We did a guest post over at Churchm.ag you should check out. Here is a link to the full post and below is a snippet:

Youth ministry has received the bad rap for being all fun and no work. For those who hang out with teens creating memories, getting too much pizza with middle schoolers, have milkshake chugging contests with high schoolers, and sharing Jesus with teens who need to know the glory and peace that He provides, our focus is not always on organization.

Simply Youth Ministry has created a set of online tools specifically for youth ministry organization and administrative work.

Here are the highlights:

  • Contact – Store, organize, and tag contact information for students, volunteers, and parents. Imagine a sweet, flexible, online Rolodex designed with youth workers in mind. Access it anywhere, anytime for free.
  • Communication – Talk with your students, volunteers, and parents quickly and easily. No matter if you’re talking to an individual or to 100s of people at the same time, your message will find them right where they are.
  • Team – Raise the bar on who you allow to work with students. The Team tool provides a process for collecting a ministry application, background check, and training for anyone working with teenagers.
  • Jobs – If you need to find the best youth ministry professional to fit into your church you need to go where they are. Thousands of youth workers visit our sites every day looking for help and inspiration. What better place to find your next youth pastor.

4 Youth Ministry Podcasts You Can’t Miss

Posted on by

We did a guest post over at Churchm.ag you should check out. Here is a link to the full post and below is a snippet:

The youth ministry world is embracing the world of podcasting. For some, these podcasts have become their own source of community as they try to do youth ministry in a Church that does not value them. For others, this is there primary source of education and learning about the latest and greatest technology and ideas for self. Here are four great podcasts to listen to during the week, for whatever you are looking for.

Youth Ministry Garage

Doug, Josh, Katie, & Matt offer their perception of youth ministry from many different perspectives, including being new or seasoned, junior or senior high, or paid or volunteer. Their tagline is “Just enough youth ministry that you don’t feel guilty listening to it” but they offer more than just enough. After just two episodes, you will be hooked.

Visit The Youth Ministry Garage website.

Simply Youth Ministry Show

Jake and Kurt are the host of Simply Youth Ministry’s podcast that features big names in the youth ministry world and explore all different topics. A wealth of information has already been covered and they are not even fifteen episodes in. This is the perfect podcast for new and veteran youth workers as they always have something relevant for everyone.

Visit the Simply Youth Ministry Show website.

Communicating Best With Your Volunteers

Posted on by

Last week on the Simply Youth Ministry Podcast, Doug Field shared a discussion between himself and Josh Griffin on his new perspective of communication in youth ministry from the volunteer viewpoint. Near the end, the team discussed ways of communicating to volunteers and someone suggested that they poll their volunteers to find out what communications are needed.

So last night I made up my volunteer survey that will be given to my volunteers to better communicate to them. Linked below is the form we will be using. Use it, rework it, just do not resell it.

Volunteer Communication Handout (WORD file, 188KB)

SYMC Update : Day 3

Posted on by

So I took Doug Fields advice yesterday and spent my morning resting. I have a 15 hour drive tomorrow and Tuesday (actually, I guess today and tomorrow now) and I had only gotten 10 hours of sleep in two nights. Not a good combination. So, I have not update for the morning session but heard the talk was good.

Tonight’s session was opened by Shane & Shane with an extended worship time that was wonderful. Next, Glenn Packiam, Executive Pastor from New Life Church (across I-25 from the Air Force Academy), spoke on the idea that we need to stop staring at other ministries and being envious of them and instead look at how God is using us and our ministries.

Afterwards, Tommy did a solo Skit Guys performance (Eddie’s wife was sick) and he did my favorite skit, so I bawled. Next, the Supertones kicked off their comeback tour. Finally, I hit the SYM LIVE Podcast before I called it a night.

Some of my favorite pictures of the week will be posted tomorrow.

SYMC Update : Day 2

Posted on by

Morning of Day 2
Tim Timmons led us in worship for the morning session. Rick Lawrence then gave a quick illustration about making a “bee-line” to Jesus in our messages because He is the central thread to the whole Bible.

Louie Giglio gave the morning message focusing on the fact that youth ministry should be all about Jesus using Revelation 1:9-11, with a culture of teens who want to be valued, and we need to get to a sense of humility and honor with the King of kings and Lord of lords in our ministry, if not for our sake, then for our students. What an amazing communicator, I was on the edge of his words and found no fault with his message.

Evening of Day 2
Shane & Shane seriously impacted our hearts with some great classics during the evening session’s worship. Ruth Haley Barton then spoke on the youth worker’s soul, how we sometimes do ministry but forget Jesus, either for ourselves or for our students. I related with her message on so many leaves, having done a lot of research and introspective reflection with my own counseling degree.

We had the privilege to hear Gundor, a unique style and refreshing change to what I am use to. The Skit Guys wrapped things off with several of their skits and hilarity.

I am starting to get tired, but enjoying the renewed spirit.

SYMC Update : Night of Day 1

Posted on by

It’s only 3 hours into the Simply Youth Ministry Conference and as Doug has said, “I [already] feel like I am home.” Sitting with 3,000 other youth pastors, volunteers, and their spouses, there was instant community, stories were being shared, and God was present.

I was lucky enough to be right up front, center stage, and sitting right behind Tic Long (President of Youth Specialties), Doug Fields (President of Simply Youth Ministry), and Matt McGill listening to them chit-chat. The theme of the conference is “threaded,” threading together youth worker relationships with students and God.

Shane & Shane, our worship leaders for the weekend, was awesome. Doug then gave the evening’s message, speaking on the noises that speak into our lives (sometimes needlessly and uncompassionately), the point of youth ministry is to share the voice of Jesus, and our teens need Him and they know it. To describe the message in a few words, it was refreshing, honest, relate-able, and hit the mark for what I needed to hear.

We were then treated to a concert by Matt Maher and a private screening of the new movie, Soul Surfer featuring Carrie Underwood, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, and AnnaSophia Robb. (Review to come)

God is here, He is moving the place, and hearts are being filled and healed. I ask for continued prayers for this conference.

SYMC Update : Morning of Day 1

Posted on by

So after 900 miles, 15 hours of listening to the same CD, and months of waiting, I am currently in Chicago, Illinios at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference. This weekend is going to be filled with fun, relaxation, simple learning, and will try to post some updates about events, pictures, and any deep insight into deep revelations while I am hear. I would love for your prayers for my relaxation, an open mind and heart, and safe journey home.

Here is a snippet about the conference:

The Simply Youth Ministry Conference is a 4-day face-to-face experience that equips, encourages and connects people committed to serving pre-teens through young adults in the church. SYMC is organized by the youth ministry team at Group Publishing & Doug Fields’ Simply Youth Ministry, and operates in kingdom-focused collaboration with other ministry partners.