eZine 09.01.2009

Weekly Resources, Ideas and Articles from The Source for Youth Ministry
Tuesday, September 1, 2009

School is back in session and for most of us… time is short!

Right now Jonathan is offering 25% off his newest book 10-Minute Talks, a book of story-driven talks that includes a CD with transcripts of all the talks and a corresponding small group curriculum.

And while we’re at it… how about free shipping for any of his books anywhere in the U.S.?

…enjoy free shipping on ANY of Jonathan’s books on ALL U.S. orders!

Purpose? Mission? Objectives? Do these words mean anything to you? How about “desired outcomes” … do your leader strive for any of these? Join Jonathan as he sits in the great outdoors of Timber-lee with camp guru Chris Radloff. In this episode, Chris outlines the four major “desired outcomes” his staff strives to accomplish in the hearts and minds of young people involved in their ministry. Don’t miss this one; it may cause you to re-think your own ministry purposes.

Episode Highlights:

• Learn what a desired outcome is and how it can transform your ministry.
• Guess what kind of birds are chirping in the background.
• Find out how to prioritize goals within the ministry’s vision
• Hear which animal literally lands on the microphone

On a current Billboard Top 10 song, the lead singer boasts, “I make them good girls go bad.” For three and a half minutes, he brags about his ability to woo ladies into a one night stand. Given how successful the song has been, he could be right.

OK, most of us are back in school by now. Here’s a great way to make a HUGE impact on your local school(s) right from the start. It’s called a Teacher Appreciation Worship Service.

This worship service is not intended to “worship” teachers by any means; it’s only meant to celebrate them and their call by God to teach others. Plus, if you want it to, it can also provide a great means for helping furnish teachers’ classrooms with much-needed school supplies. Here’s how you do it.

Begin by sending out a letter to each school in the area inviting the teachers and administration to a special worship service at your church that will center on celebrating their call to teaching. Tell them that they are welcome to bring their whole family, and also invite any peer of theirs who’s in education. (Make sure to tell them that all denominations are welcome, regardless of your affiliation or theirs.)

It’s best to….

This one is golden! Not only is it simple, but it’s powerful, too. Coming at you from our OPENERS page, this resource will help your students visualize forgiveness of sin, but more importantly, actually experience it.

When you are ready to start your lesson, or small group discussion time, make sure every student has a latex balloon that’s PRE-FILLED with helium, and a marker of some sort. (A Sharpie works great.)

Turn on some quiet worship music and tell them to spread out around the room, and get away from everybody else, and any distraction that may prevent them from hearing from God. Instruct them to spend some time in prayer, listening to what God has to say to them about….