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 | Jonathan’s Resource Ezine |
Weekly Resources, Ideas and Articles from The Source for Youth Ministry
Tuesday, August 6, 2008
| In This Issue |
- Featured Article: The 2008 Teen Choice Awards- A Porthole into Their World
- The Source Podcast: The highly anticipated PART II of the two part outreach series: High Impact Outreach Ministry
- Win an iPhone: The Source iPhone Contest- Where your “two cents” could be worth a new iPhone
| If you aren’t a subscriber of this EZINE and would like to subscribe – it’s free – just pop on www.TheSource4YM.com and sign up in the upper right hand corner. |
| Featured Article: |
A Porthole into Their World
by Jonathan R. McKee
The annual Teen Choice Awards (TCAs) always provides an eye-opening glimpse into the world of youth culture. And the 2008 show was the cleanest we’ve seen in years!
Don’t get me wrong, this year’s show still awarded racy TV shows that kids shouldn’t be watching in the first place, movies they can’t get into, and celebs who shouldn’t be role models… that’s a given. But the show itself was a breath of fresh air compared to past years.
This year the TCAs were hosted by Miley Cyrus, making the two hour television experience a huge draw for not only teens, but tweens and young kids as well. So I was extremely pleased (and surprised) when the show that has, in past years, twice topped the Parents Television Council’s “Worst Family TV Show of the Week” went over 60 minutes without any racy performances or adult humor.
Yes… 60 minutes is only halfway through the show. That’s when they introduced Mariah Carey. (Need I say more?) Mariah was present in her archetypal streetwalker apparel and singing her typical risqu? lyrics. She performed her song “Love You Long Time” (with small excerpts of her hit song “Touch My Body” in the mix). Here’s a tidbit of the lyrics she sang to the… dare I say… “children” in the audience:
Touch my body…. Touch my body….
…Addictive just can’t get enough
And every time I’m with you I want some more
Just close the door
And let’s explore each other
And a little later in the song…
Scoop me up and we can go
To that little spot where no one knows
Spend a little time just us alone
You can caress my body and never let go
Not exactly the kind of thing I would want an adult saying to my kids. But that’s Mariah.
Mariah aside, the show itself kept a pretty clean slate for 2008 (hey… that’s kind of catchy).
But there’s a bigger issue at hand here: the content behind all these names. In other words, what is all this stuff that kids voted for that they are watching and listening to?
The Content Behind the Names
This year the TCAs provided keen insight as to what kids are watching and listening to. The show always is a great pop culture barometer, allowing teens (or anybody who logs onto their website) to vote as many times as they want on a huge collection of entertainment-based favorites including movies, TV shows, music, fashion, and more. Just as the show boasts, the TCAs lets teens share “their choice and their voice.”
Every year this two hour show reveals volumes to parents and youth workers about the content being thrown at our kids- we should pay attention. But understand, a glimpse of the list of winners doesn’t reveal a thing if you don’t know the content behind the names. That’s why I am filling this article with links so you can click to read more or even peek at videos and lyrics from some of these “role models.”
What’s Hot… or a Little Too Hot
This year the toughest pill to swallow was the ubiquitous presence of TV’s “Gossip Girl.” This sexually charged show won more awards and graced the stage more than any other show, song or artist the entire evening. This is just sad. The audience was filled with kids, and secular critics are admitting that this show is way over the top for even teenagers.
But the TCAs have never been shy about plugging shows, songs and celebs that are a tad racy… okay, very racy. In addition to “Gossip Girl,” shows like “Greys Anatomy,” “Desperate Housewives,” “The Hills,” “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and “Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious” were in the running. Movies like “Sex in the City,” “Superbad” and “Prom Night” were also in the hopper. (Hello! Many of these films are R-rated. Kids can’t even see these films without a parent!)
The show maintained its momentum propagating the popularity of celebs that most parents would not choose for their kids as role models. Musical artists like Usher were nominated, with quick clips of his “Love in the Club” (aka: “Let’s Make Love in the Club”) video provided. Musical newbie Katy Perry (“I Kissed a Girl and I Liked It“) was nominated for Choice MySpacer. Thankfully, someone in the Miley Cyrus camp had good enough sense to decline an opportunity for Miley to kiss Katy on stage at the TCAs, reliving the Brittany/Madonna moment at the MTV VMAs years ago.
“Heroes'” cheerleader Hayden Panettiere also received an award. Last week America saw a little more of Hayden in her new music video, “Wake Up Call.” In my recent blog about this video, I mentioned my interview with Hayden years ago when she told me that she’d like to stay away from being known as a “sex vixon,” instead, being known as “classy.” Well… I don’t think the director of her music video received that message. I know none of the viewers did! That’s why it was rather ironic when Hayden received her TCA award and said, “This means so much to me. Not only because it’s from all of you, but because it stands for something I’m very passionate about, and that’s female empowerment. That’s one of the reasons I was drawn to the character of Claire (“Heroes”). She allows me to be a role model for young people and to prove just how powerful each and every one of you are.”
Role model? Modeling what?
Jonathan McKee is president of The Source for Youth Ministry and author of numerous youth ministry books like the brand new “10-Minute Talks“ and “Getting Students to Show Up.“ Jonathan studies youth culture and trends, speaking and training across the country and providing free online resources, training, & ideas for youth workers at www.TheSource4YM.com
| The Source Podcast: The highly anticipated PART II of the two part outreach series: High Impact Outreach Ministry |
THE SOURCE PODCAST: SPECIAL EPISODE: “HIGH IMPACT OUTREACH MINISTRY” PART II (7/24/2008)
This is one of our favorite podcast series yet! In this much-anticipated second part of the two-part outreach podcast, Jonathan and David are joined once again by Rob Maxey of Youth for Christ, where he shares his Seven Sins of Visiting Kids On Campus. Get ready to take notes as the “Outreach Guru” shares his strategies.
ABOUT HIGH IMPACT OUTREACH MINISTRY
Jonathan and David sit down with Rob Maxey to pick his brain about doing effective outreach ministry to unchurched teens in the Sacramento area. In the last podcast (Part 1) we heard a lot about Rob’s ministry and his methodology. Now Rob is sharing with us the SEVEN SINS of visiting kids on campus.
Jonathan: Hey, share with us Sin #3.
Rob: I think Sin #3 is to not be aware of your school culture. Or to not be aware of the dance that just took place, to not be aware that you have a winning football team, to not be aware that your school has a great band.
Every school has its own culture, and so as I’m beginning new conversations with students, I want them to 
be aware that I know ?Hey, were you at the game on Friday night? Man, I can’t believe our undefeated season continues. We’re 11-0.’ Or ?Can you believe the dance show? Wasn’t that a great thing?’ Or even ?What did you think about 21 suspensions at the dance?’ And so immediately, they know that you’re engaged with their culture, you know what’s going on, you’re not perhaps, the typical parent, because ?How do you know that? My parents don’t know that stuff!’
So, I think that you’re meeting them at their level, and it gives you an area of commonality that you can talk about right away. So, the affirmative is to BE AWARE of the school culture and be prepared. Check the football score; see how the water polo team is doing.
Jonathan: How do you do that? How do you stay aware of that stuff? Obviously, you probably attend the football games. But is that just checking in with the office or what?
Rob: Well, I’ll check in at the office. Locally, our newspapers will have great prep sports write-ups, and so I look for specific kids and say, ?Man that was great. I can’t believe you won the high jump championship for the state.’ Those types of things where it’s common knowledge. And then also just through the kids that you work with. You know? ?What was the dance like? Give me the skinny. What was the fire alarm all about?’ Those types of things.
Jonathan: Good. Good.
David: Yeah, cause it’s not always just, like sports, or good stuff. I mean, maintaining the culture of the high school, like Rob’s saying, sometimes unfortunately, and very sadly, it also means being aware of the fact that there was that car crash that killed a kid. Or whatever it was. In the couple of high schools that we are ministering at in Tampa, in the school year from 2006-2007, six kids lost their lives at area high schools. That’s a big number, even for our metropolitan area.
Jonathan: Sure.
David: And so, just be aware of that. And this podcast is all about being on campus, but let me just say another tag in, if I may. That even would impact the ministry that you might offer at your church.
Rob: Absolutely.
David: Say, ?Hey, we were going to talk about the third installment on prayer. But tonight, we’re gonna pause and come back next Wednesday night and pick up that, because tonight we want to talk about that car crash or the suicide…‘ or whatever it may be. It’s not always just the good stuff. Unfortunately, it’s also sometimes the bad.
Rob: And David… being a presence on campus, we had a suicide last year, as an example. And for the faculty to come to you and say, ?You’re a consistent source. We know that you’re faith-based. We respect the fact that you come regularly. We’re bringing in trained counselors to deal with the suicide for grief counseling. Would you consider being one of those grief counselors?’
David: Yeah, wow.
Rob: And so, to make yourself a resource to the school, and being aware of what’s going on, whether it’s a car crash, a suicide, or a drug incident, whatever it may be.
David: Good or bad.
Rob: Yes, good or bad. Absolutely.
Jonathan: Good… Absolutely. What’s the next… (pause) you just said ?absolutely’ and I said it. David, will you say it?
David: Absolutely.
Jonathan: Good. Thank you. I just wanted to make sure we all three of us did. Uh, what’s the next sin Rob?
Episode Highlights:
- Hear the inside scoop about high school dances in the Youth Culture Window section.
- Rob tells about the time he met the female version of Satan!
- David and Rob give practical ways for youth workers to prepare themselves for on-campus ministry.
- Rob offers great tips for monitoring the culture of our schools.
- All three guys take a turn saying the same word, for no reason at all.
- Rob gives youth workers advice on how to talk with kids while on the school campus.
- Hear why Rob doesn’t think David is a “football stud” and why Jonathan’s kids think he’s a “fat wannabe.”
| Win an iPhone: The Source iPhone Contest- Where your “two cents” could be worth a new iPhone |
It’s been fun letting you, our THE SOURCE EZINE subscribers, already get early “dibbs” on Jonathan’s new book, 10-Minute Talks. We’ve had the book available on our web site for several weeks now even though you can’t even get it in stores yet. Now we want your feedback! This contest is a little way to reward all of you for your comments!
What others are already saying about this incredible new book:
“Jonathan truly understands youth and how to minister to them. He also knows how to communicate Scripture to youth in high-impact ways. 10-Minute Talks is filled with messages that do exactly that.”
-Dan Kimball, author, They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations
“Working with junior highers, I’ve learned the importance of short, high-impact lessons. Thanks, Jonathan, for providing us with an easy-to-use resource that makes the tough job of writing talks a whole lot easier!”
-Kurt Johnston, Saddleback Church; author, My Faith, My Family, My Friends, and My School (from the Youth Specialties Middle School Survival Series)
“Few things have greater power than a story. Jonathan McKee has gathered some unforgettable stories that can provide a foundation for presenting life-changing truth. If you only have 10 minutes, this may be what you need to make every one of them count.”
-Ken Davis, author, How to Speak to Youth…and Keep Them Awake at the Same Time
“Spurgeon said that the first golden rule in holding an audience’s attention is to say something worth hearing. Relevance. That’s what keeps people riveted on the Word of God. Jonathan McKee shows us how to demonstrate the Bible’s relevance for youth. These talks grew in the soil of Jonathan’s experience (young people have real needs) and were forged in the fire of his convictions (the Bible has real answers).”
-Jeffrey Arthurs, professor of preaching and communication, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
“Good, tight talks to teenagers are a challenge, if not an art form. Jonathan’s book not only supplies practical outlines and stories that make this task much easier, it teaches a way of thinking about talks that you’ll carry with you into a fruitful ministry anywhere. While there’s no such thing as a ?just add water’ resource, if you learn to ?just add context,’ this book will jump on and off your shelf like your favorite cereal!”
-Dr. Dave Rahn, vice president and chief ministry officer, Youth for Christ/USA
“If you can talk to kids, you can talk to anybody! I’ve always believed that youth pastors make the best preachers, and Jonathan’s book proves the point. His method and messages will help every communicator connect quickly, communicate clearly, and close effectively.”
-F. Bryan Wilkerson, senior pastor, Grace Chapel, Lexington, Massachusetts
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Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.