May
01

Change The World on May 19-20

2012_CTW_date

On May 19–20, United Methodists will unite community-by community around the world in a grassroots movement to encourage all people to perform simpla projects in their community to improve lives and change the world. This event teams Rethink Church with the Imagine No Malaria project to make a huge impact in th world. This takes…
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May
01

Fruit Ninja Live at Your Next Youth Event

fruit_ninja

Ever since the days of Gallagher, people can’t get enough of torturing innocent fruit whenever they get a chance. The iPhone is not immune to this fad, why should your youth group miss out? Let’s cut to the chase: Supplies * Water balloons * Food coloring or fruit juice (see below) * Twine * Broomstick…
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Apr
25

General Conference 2012: iOS app review

general conference app

In my quest to be a good United Methodist, I have been spending time here and there over the last several weeks getting up to date on all of what is up for vote and debate, but it wasn’t until this afternoon that I realized there was a great iOS app that would take care…
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Apr
24

Are Vital Congregations Metrics DOA with One Word?

Businessman stressed in his office

I was reading through the Call to Action, or maybe some other code word for a report that was on the vitalcongregations website a few months back, and something struck me as I read about the drivers and metrics and so on. The Bureaucracy Virus First, I think it is great that the UMC is…
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Apr
24

Light Speed, God and non-relativity

galaxy small

I believe that God created the universe (and maybe many universes). I also believe that the Bible makes it clear that as we discover the intricacies of that creation, we are discovering the underlying reality of who God is and what he is doing in the world. That is why I LOVE science. Science is…
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Apr
24

Cut the Rope Live at Your Next Youth Event

cut-the-rope-clip

We’ve all grown to love the cute little hungry green monster from cut the rope (of course by all, I mean all the cool kids with an iPhone, android, iPad, etc). Now it’s time to ramp up your next youth event with a live version.       First, the supplies list: Supplies 1 Broomstick…
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Apr
24

Join the Conversation: GC2012 and Youth Ministry

what-is-united-methodist-youth-ministry-500x250

The United Methodist Youth Ministry website was created for youth workers to have conversation.  As General Conference 2012 runs its course, we would love to hear what you are thinking. What have you heard that you think will affect your local youth ministry? What concerns you? What are you excited about? We really would love…
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Apr
17

General Conference Cheat Sheet {UPDATED}

General Conference Cheat Sheet via Youthworker Circuit

For those of my United Methodist tribe, we have in one week this monster of gathering we call General Conference. It comes around every four years and becomes the vocal & legislative body for the United Methodist Church. General Conference may not have a direct impact on you and your youth ministry at the local…
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Apr
17

Equipping Parents to Pass Faith on to Their Children

family praying hands

Spiritual formation begins in the home.  Well, that’s at least according to the way Susannah Wesley raised her children.  I believe that many of our U.M. Churches have relinquished this responsibility in equipping, encouraging and preparing parents to intentionally pass on spirituality and the language of the Christian faith to their children.  That’s not to…
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Apr
17

hit the showers

What were you willing to give up for Lent?

As I made my way through Lent this year I was increasingly reluctant to post even on my own blog (even more so over here where there’s actually an audience). It was a deeply moving experience for me and difficult to wrap words around–you’d really have to do it to understand. To sum up, if…
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Apr
17

Moving from “Program-First” to “Vision-Driven”

Vision the way forward sign

There have been some great pieces on the Youth Worker Movement lately about discipleship in youth ministry, and how we can be better about that work.  Our focus of discipleship, or “disciple making” in youth ministry is rooted in the United Methodist Church’s mission statement of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of…
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Apr
17

I want more texting during my lesson!

Cuba Religion

Students are going to text while you speak no matter what you say or how many texting spies you place in the audience. Why not use this evil distraction for good? That’s where Poll Everywhere comes in. It’s a really simple process. You don’t even have to sign up to try it out. You put…
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Apr
10

Change the World by ONLY Throwing Off Your Shoes?

Youthworker Circuit Barefeet

Today is apparently TOMS Shoes “one day without shoes” which someone had to tell me about. The idea being that we not wear shoes through the day to bring awareness & some empathy to the plight of those around the world who go without adequate or any footwear. This article is not because of my…
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Apr
10

an open letter to “current youth worker”

Magazines

Dear Current Youth Worker: We mean no insult by generalizing your name in this fashion. You are an individual of the highest order. But if you’re new to youth ministry, you might be curious to know why we address your incoming mail in this fashion. So here are a few reasons: 1. There was somebody…
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Apr
10

Why General Conference Matters (or should) to UMC Youthworkers

umc0638gc

When I was in the local church, I didn’t pay much attention to General Conference – the every-four-year-mostly-legislative-meeting of United Methodist delegates to decide what would be in the next Book of Discipline. I taught about General Conference in confirmation, I read the headlines that would invariably show up in the press about the more…
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