Feb
21

becoming poor: a practice for Lent

What would you willing to give up for Lent?

Understand this from the beginning: I don’t mean to equate what I’m about to do for Lent with real poorness, nor do I think that being poor is something touristy to do. At a recent youth event I sat in a workshop on ministry with the poor as the youth were engaged in a discussion…
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Feb
21

Calling On Missional Methodism

Missional Methodist Manifesto

A few months back I had an opportunity to sneak into a Wesleyan Leadership Conference put together by some friends at the GBOD. While there I heard some really neat ways that the Methodist faith was being lived out. Highlighted by the illustration of a monastic methodism being created and lived out in “People of…
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Feb
21

Promise 4: One Day Off Every Week

Take A Day Off Every Week

Want to know something crazy?  Normal people get two days off of work every week.  Youthworkers usually get none.  Don’t think I’m right?  Check your calendar. You might be saying, “I get Mondays off” (except for those two hours of staff meeting…) Or you get Fridays off (except any weekends with a retreat or a…
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Feb
21

Seeing Poverty First Hand Changed My Life

abby in burundi

If you are one of the hundreds of youth workers leading a 30 Hour Famine event this weekend, you might want to know how to encourage your youth to take their fundraising and experience to the Study Tour level.  Abby Lewis, a high school junior and member of the youth group at St. Barnabas United…
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Feb
21

Soul Fire: Light Your World- Session 7: Get Your Light- Worship

fire6

                Supplies: Camper Book, Bible, Pens, Instructions for low-elements on the Bridgeport ropes course, a United Methodist Hymnal   Key Scripture: “Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting….Sing to the Lord…
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Feb
21

Pray God’s Blessings

Why We Pray

Sometimes life seems so vast, big and powerful that you wonder whether you can really make any discernable difference. You can. Every day. One person at a time. When someone cuts you off while you’re driving to work, pray God’s blessing upon him. When you see an obviously poor person asking for money, pray God’s…
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Feb
21

Wesley-Rankin Community Center Offers a New Mission Experience!

B3X Logo

In West Dallas (Texas) less than half of high school students graduate and less than 51% of 5th graders are ready for middle school level work.  Wesley-Rankin Community Center is striving to defeat these odds. This summer, join the lead team for B3X (Beakers, Base Ten, and the Beat) Summer Camp!  Individuals and groups are…
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Feb
14

Launching Speakers Connexion

looking for a speaker

The Bishop was calling me in the middle of the Conference Sr. High Youth Event and I was shocked.  She said, “Amy, I received a phone call from a pastor attending the event and he was concerned about the message the young people were hearing.”  WHAT!??!!  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, especially since…
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Feb
14

Promise 3: A Promise for Ongoing Training & Learning

i love my job

This is part 3 of 7 exploring the We Love Our Youth Worker national covenant between churches and youth workers.  We Love Our Youth Worker (WLOYW), one of our partner organizations, and YouthWorker Movement both agree that healthier youth workers mean healthier youth ministries.  Healthier youth ministries mean more youth can know Christ.  The proposed WLOYW covenant…
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Feb
14

It Takes a Lifetime to Learn

Stack of Books small

  “So, it seems like you read a lot of books?!”  Yeah, I get that often.  My college-aged son says he was raised at “the library” and he means our home not a publicly funded book depository.  And this photo below shows you what is on my reading pile for today.  What is wrong with…
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Feb
14

Confirmation: your youth ministry’s malformed, misunderstood poke at faith formation

Portrait of a Boy Making Confirmation

Ask in the right circles away from the hubbub of the youth room and you’ll quickly learn a simple truth about the confirmation process in Methodist youth ministry: no single effort carries more weight in the spiritual life of a UM youth. It’s where they’re outfitted for life, carefully and painstakingly trained for the journey…
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Feb
14

Humiliation and Exultation

st_joseph_oratory_evelyn_reid

Sr. High Bible Study:  1 Samuel 5:1-6:12 Illustration Use an illustration from your own experience that captures this sentiment. “In the summer of 2006, I had the privilege to travel to Montreal, Quebec in Canada. I was there for two weeks with a group of college students. One of my favorite days, we rode the…
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Feb
14

Soul Fire: Light Your World- Session 6: Get Your Light- Church > Being a Light to the Nations

fire6

                This is one of several sessions in the Soul Fire curriculum that has been posted for YouthWorker Movement use.   Supplies: Camper Book, Bible, Pens, a recent newspaper & a recent magazine, poster board, (1) glue stick, scissors   Key Scripture: “I am the Lord, I have…
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Feb
14

Start

Gary Mueller 1

It’s important to be responsible, do whatever it takes to get the job done right and strive for excellence. But it’s even more important to remember that it’s not all up to you. Other capable and competent people are involved, things will get done if you’re not there and God is still going to be…
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Feb
14

$199 Summer Mission Trip in Dallas @ C2K

logo

Looking for a GREAT summer Mission trip in the Dallas, Texas area?  Check out www.c2kDallas.org Register before April 1, 2012 and enjoy an all-inclusive mission trip for just $199 per person (if paid in full and on-time) and spend more time with your Youth and less having to plan and run the daily grind of mission…
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