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Chuck on October 12th, 2009
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morethandodgeball.com
Free Worship Backgrounds for Student Ministry
Josh at 11:38am, February 8, 2012Mallory from Worship-Backgrounds has given MoreThanDodgeball.com readers an exclusive worship background download from their site. They’ve got TONS of free ones (most are solid for youth ministry) and make them available for free simply in exchange for you giving them your information by signing up. You in?
Go check it out and be sure to download the MTDB exclusive background and many more here!
JG
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juniorhighministry.com
I missed ?The Most Watched TV Show? in US History
Scott at 12:45pm, February 7, 2012I’m writing this late on Sunday night… or maybe it’s early Sunday morning. The Super Bowl is over now, and I have no idea who won. I wasn’t at a party, and didn’t see any of the new commercials that everyone will be talking about. Nope, I wasn’t on a spiritual fast-from-media … I was on an airplane crossing the ocean.
I actually love Super Bowl Parties. Not only for the party itself – but also because I can be “in the know” about what got served up on TV. It’s a good conversation starter with students, too.
But here’s another advantage of workong with middle schoolers! They won’t care that I missed the game – even the ones who were glued to the screen the whole time. In fact, some of them may be glad I didn’t see it! Because it gives THEM an opportunity to “fill me in” on what I missed.
I find that junior highers love to give me their perspective on anything I don’t know about. Especially since I’m always teaching them things – they love the chance to “teach me back”. So don’t worry if you haven’t read the Hunger Games, or heard Selena’s most recent song…Or seen the funniest Super Bowl commercials. Just ask a student to give you their expert opinion. It’ll make them feel valued, it’ll remind them that you care — and it’ll save you time by knowing which commercials to look up on YouTube and which ones to skip.
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youthministrygeek.com
The Secret Structure of Great Talks ? TED Video
Chris at 12:16am, February 7, 2012I saw this come across my Flipboard TED talk feed and thought it was worth sharing: From the “I have a dream” speech to Steve Jobs? iPhone launch, all great presentations have a common architecture. At TEDxEast, Nancy Duarte draws lessons on how to make a powerful call-to-action. What do you think? Are you ready [...]
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marriedtoayouthpastor.com
In regards to a comment?
Amanda at 3:45pm, April 1, 2011You 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 [...]
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youthmissionsinsider.com
Short-Term Missions A Waste?
Jeff at 2:36pm, October 25, 2011Our good friend (and founder) Thom Schultz has an interesting take on one of the ongoing debates in youth missions – Are they really worth it?
Short-Term Missions A Waste?
What do you think? Did Thom get it right?
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simplyinsider.com
Grammy?s & Tourette?s!
Justin at 4:30pm, February 7, 2012Jamie Grace earns Grammy nod, battles Tourette’sJONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. Published: Yesterday
In this Jan. 17, 2012 photo, contemporary Christian recording artist Jamie Grace poses for a portrait in East Point, Ga. Grace’s song “Hold Me,” featuring TobyMac, is nominated for a Grammy Award for best contemporary Christian music song. (AP Photo/Greg Foster)
ATLANTA (AP) – When Jamie Grace performs music, all of the uncontrollable facial twitches and involuntary body movements called tics become an afterthought.
Meet Jamie Grace at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference
Tourette’s syndrome has plagued the 20-year-old singer for nearly half of her life. But she hasn’t allowed the incurable neurological condition to completely weaken her faith. Grace says she wants to use her first trip to the Grammys as another platform to share her inspirational story of resolve to motivate others.
“I’m not the only person who has something in their life they can’t control,” said Grace, sitting inside her dorm room where the walls are lined with Johnny Cash posters while the record player plays the country legend’s song “I Walk the Line.”
“It’s all about taking control over what I can control and that’s saying, ‘Hey, I’ve got Tourette’s, but I can also play guitar, I can also sing and write songs about it,’” she said. “Hopefully I can encourage other kids who are going through crazy stuff too.”
Grace’s song “Hold Me,” featuring TobyMac, is nominated for best contemporary Christian music [...]
at 11:28am November 3
Chuck-
I’ve heard that there are churches now that are even beginning to “phase out” their youth ministries and make Jr High-Sr. High- 20 somethings all one big group ministry (or a small church). Is this a shift you have seen anywhere?
You had some rich comments on the ideas about fewer people pursuing youth ministry. I think we are seeing fewer people step up to leadership in ministry for a few reasons. I think people aren’t too fueled to try and minister in the “traditional context” that is why we are seeing so much excitement with new church plants.
I also agree on the whole cost/effort of education. I am still pursuing my masters in ministry and wonder if I will ever be supported with enough money to pay off school loans.
God bless- and would love to hear what you think!
I am coming from an insiders view as a youth ministry major at a Bible college. There are a few different things I have noticed the last couple years as I have been working on my education.
First, enrollment in our Bible college/Christian universities are down, at least in the midwest. In working with our admissions and outreach department, I have seen how we are just not getting as many people coming to study for ministry. And, in many cases, our colleges offer enough other degrees that people may come for a Christian education but not to pursue ministry. This has become more apparent as I have learned that over half of the student body where I attend is going for degrees besides a ministry.
(2) I think that a lot of people are becoming more scared of ministry. Too often, people have seen their own youth minister last a short time at their church or have a bad ministry experience and have decided they don’t want that for themselves. I had three friends in high school that talked seriously about going into youth ministry, but decided to go other routes because of the problems they had seen. Unfortunately, I understand that since I grew up in a minister home and most people are surprised that I am going into ministry because of some of my family’s church experiences. Also, in many ways it is looked down upon to be a minister. In today’s culture, it is a big deal to have a prominent job and to make a lot of money–and that just doesn’t happen in ministry.
(3) I do think it is also important to think about people who decide to go into different ministry. So often, once we are in Bible college, we are pushed to look at all different kinds of ministries. And then we go those directions. I have learned that my passion is for college ministry. Another one of my friends has realized that she wants to spend her life doing overseas youth ministry. But then again, I do have friends that want to go into youth ministry. However, often times things such as church planting can be appealing because in planting a church you are starting new. You do not go into a church with a history and it can be a lot easier to not have to deal with the history and politics that are already established in a church.
I am interested in seeing what other people think on this issue.