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Newworldson

We're so excited to have Newworldson back at NYWC this Fall. Here's a little sample of what we love about them. 

March 18 2010 - Posted By: Adam McLane | 0 Comments

Young Adults and the church, post 2

In this Andrew Root liveBlog youth worker and thinker Jake Bouma and I discuss a theology of the cross for the church, what it means to be living in a screen-based world, and how my new book The Promise of Despair both affirms and challenges the emergent church movement.  Check out Jake's blog at www.jakebouma.com. Listen to our conversation below or subscribe on iTunes.

March 17 2010 - Posted By: Andy Root | 0 Comments

Football Analyst Rich Eisens Runs the 40 Yard Dash

I think Rich has a future in youth ministry. What do you think?

March 16 2010 - Posted By: Adam McLane | 3 Comments

Got college students looking for a summer job? We got that.

As you've heard, YS is now a ministry of YouthWorks. For the first time in our history we are now a non-profit— which is way cool. One fun thing about being part of YouthWorks is that I get the inside scoop on stuff that is actually quite useful for fellow youth workers.

This is one of those cool things I get to tell you about.

YouthWorks in in the process of http://bit.ly/SSW_6”>hiring hundreds of ministry-minded college students. And by "hired" I don't mean the way that you or I hire summer interns where we work them like dogs and they don't get paid. Nope. Summer staff at YouthWorks work like dogs, get hard core leadership development training, experience leading mission trips, AND they get paid. 

If you have college-age students in your life looking for a summer gig, here's the link.

March 16 2010 - Posted By: Adam McLane | 0 Comments

Becoming a Visitor Again

My wife, Deanna, and I will be transitioning to another part of the country this summer.  Duluth, MN, is where we're headed.  Deanna was accepted into medical school and we have started the planning process to get things rolling on that end for our family: looking at houses, schools, and trying to find a church for us to plug into.  This past weekend we had the opportunity to visit two churches.  It's been a LONG time since we've been in the "church visitor" role.  It was weird after being in a full time church staff position for over ten years now.  I had almost forgotten what it was like. 

I want to share with you some of our feelings from the weekend.  Now, I also want to say upfront, that neither of us went in to these buildings looking to be critical.  What follows is simply an honest interpretation of what we feel we experienced. 

We didn't go to judge… we went to these places hoping to find a new church home for our families. 

We didn't walk in expecting people to cater to our every whim… we're not that self-centered, I don't think. 

We didn't walk in expecting to be entertianed… we went in with the intention of worshipping Jesus.

March 14 2010 - Posted By: Shawn Michael Shoup | 14 Comments

Mark Yaconelli interviewed at Patheos

YS author and NYWC speaker Mark Yaconelli was recently interviewed at Patheos, a site designed to serve as a resource for those looking to learn more about different belief systems, as well as participate in productive, moderated discussions on some of today's most talked about and debated topics.

Here are a couple of my favorite questions/responses:

 

Your latest book concerns the life of prayer.  Tell me about your own experience of prayer — how has it developed and what is your prayer life like today?

I wish I could tell you my prayer life has followed some beautiful evolution — from simple biblical prayers, to beautiful contemplations on the mystery of love.  As a child most of my prayers were basic bargaining — sort of like the story in my book where my son Joseph, when he was four years old, prayed for healing for my wife when she was ill.  Later, when I asked him to pray for me as I prepared to go on a trip, his prayer was, "Please God, let him bring me a toy." 

I'm forty-three years old and my prayers are still basically like those of four-year-old Joseph; I'm drawn to prayer by my immediate fears and anxieties and desires.  Even when I engage in contemplative forms of prayer, it's often because I'm aware of some background anxiety that needs God's silent love.  I've read many books, written with great sophistication, about how prayer grows and evolves within us.  Maybe that's true.  I guess prayer has taught me to be more accepting of who I am, what I'm feeling, what's broken in me, what's beautiful in me.  My prayer life goes through different seasons, and I try to be accepting of that.  Sometimes I need words, sometimes I need silence, sometimes I just need to sit with others who are praying and pray the prayer that lives between us.  To be truthful I still find great comfort in very simple prayers like, "Help!"

 

What do you believe happens in prayer? 

Prayer is when we enter into our relationship with God.  Prayer is always an invitation to become aware of our real selves, held, connected, empowered — lovedby the real God.  When we become aware of our connection to this "Source" of compassion, we become more able to accept who we are, better able to accept others as they are, and more empowered to resist and transform the principalities and powers that destroy and denigrate life.

Check out the rest of the interview here.

Go here to learn more or purchase Wonder, Fear, and Longing.

Watch a clip from Mark Yaconelli's NYWC 2008 talk.

March 12 2010 - Posted By: Adam McLane | 0 Comments

Teaching the Bible is Dangerous

In 2002, I heard International Justice Mission president Gary Haugen speak at the National Youth Workers Convention in Sacramento. I remember how I felt when Gary spoke about using his skills to speak for and protect the voiceless and powerless. That was literally a foreign concept to me. I was perplexed by Gary's challenge. I was even a little angry about it— so I went home and committed to searching and studying what Scripture really said about standing up for others. 

About a year later I bought The Justice Mission curriculum and taught it to my youth group in the Fall of 2003. I will never forget their stunned silence as the first video played. It was awesome! As the first couple of weeks got rolling, my students were engaged as they watched the videos and read the words of Jesus. Speak up for the poor. Join in God's mission. Advocate for those of low social status. This was epic Sunday School.

In the third week of the curriculum I got pulled aside by a parent. "Pastor Adam, I don't think we should be teaching these kids this curriculum. It's dangerous. I am afraid that if you teach my kid this kind of stuff she may actually believe God is calling her to do that." 

1. You need to teach the whole of Scripture. It might be more entertaining and certainly easier to teach the Bible topically, but often times when you do that you miss the depth of what Scripture is really telling us to do.
2. You need to remind parents often that God is the potter and their children are the clay. They are not the potter. Adolescence is a high stress time for a parent and sometimes they need to remember that God's got a plan way better than theirs.

March 10 2010 - Posted By: Adam McLane | 4 Comments

Young Adults and the church

In this Andrew Root liveBlog we take the turn and start discussing my new book The Promise of Despair.   Tim Snyder and I talk about what shape the church might need to take to embrace the lives of young adults, particularly exploring how many of the conversations about the need for the church to change have not yet dealt with a theology that claims that God meets us in our despair.

Take a listen below or subscribe on iTunes.  

March 10 2010 - Posted By: Andy Root | 0 Comments

The Illusion of Peace

While a peace symbol may not fit every youth group… this is totally a sweet idea to try!

March 09 2010 - Posted By: Adam McLane | 1 Comments

(Not) planning for summer

Last summer I tried something totally different than what I’ve done in the past. I planned very few events. I think we did a total of 3 planned events all summer. Instead of big events with sign ups, deposits, transportation, etc. I just hung out with students. Their schedules become so random in the summer. No school, sports, homework. Several of them had jobs but their schedules were nothing like they are during the school year. I made it clear to them that I was always up for hanging out. If there was a movie they wanted to see, I’d go. If there was a day that they were all bored and wanted to come play ping-pong at the church, that was fine with me. I think my favorite was when the high school girls called to tell me there was a flip-flop sale at Old Navy … could we go? 

Looking back on the summer, I spent more time with students than ever before. We did spontaneous bible studies, we talked about how our walk with the Lord was going, we talked about life and we built stronger relationships. It was a bummer when they returned to school and I had to go back to only seeing them once or twice a week.

I realize that this type of ministry isn't for everyone. For me and my group, it worked really well. If it sounds like something that might work in your ministry, there are a couple of different ways to get it rolling.

The first step is explaining it to the church leadership. If people don’t understand what you’re doing it can end up looking like you’re slacking.  Be prepared to explain the purpose of what you're doing.  Your summer focus is building relationships. That sounds much better than what it might look like to people if you aren't proactive about filling them in.  

Talk to your pastor about cutting back your office hours or find opportunities for students to hang out at the church with you. Start a breakfast club where students can come to the church for bagels and coffee once a week or pick a day to be at a local fast food restaurant and let students know. I did Mondays last summer for the simple reason that I could call it McMonday. Anyone who wanted to come was welcome. They knew I was there every Monday at 11:00. 

If it doesn't work for you to be away from your office that much, publicize your office hours and let students know they’re always welcome to stop in for a visit. Have a stock of soda/junk food so that it doesn't seem like they’re making an appointment and coming in for an official discussion.  Always remind students that they're welcome to bring friends!  You may get the chance to connect with students who wouldn't come to a regular program.

Last week was February break and I was able to spend some quality ‘hang out’ time with students. We were standing at Panera getting bagels when one of the girls said “I love this! It’s like summer!” A discussion started among the group and it was decided that this summer we will institute ‘pancake day’ where we will meet at one of the girls houses once a week for pancakes.  

I’m counting down the weeks until summer vacation!!

March 08 2010 - Posted By: Sara Eden Williams | 11 Comments

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