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Youth Specialties Blog

Introducing Real Resources

By Mark Matlock on January 26 2012 | 0 Comments

We have big news today—no, we haven’t been sold again.

The Big News
As of January 9, 2012, Youth Specialties is its own 501©(3) organization that is part of a family of ministries called Real Resources. Real Resources was created to provide support to a family of ministries allowing us to take advantage of shared resources and services. Other organizations in our family include YouthWorks and Table Project. This change allows us the freedom to continue pursuing the culture and values that reflect the youth ministry community and better steward our resources through shared services.

The Backstory
When YouthWorks took over the stewardship of Youth Specialties at the end of 2009, they started the process of creating a new organization called Real Resources that would provide support services to Youth Specialties, YouthWorks, and Table Project.

That means Real Resources is now our parent organization and YouthWorks is now our sister organization. The people haven’t changed just the names of the organizations they serve. Visit Real Resources for additional information.

What does this mean for you?
Though we may look a little different here and there, how you interact with us will change very little, which is great news! We are the same people, just in a different organizational structure. You can continue to use the email addresses, phone numbers and website you’ve always used to connect with us.

If you have any questions, email Louise Ward.

To read the updated Privacy Policy click here.

Thanks for being a part of the YS family and helping students follow in the way of Jesus!

Mark Matlock
Executive Director, Youth Specialties

By Mark Matlock on January 26 2012 | 0 Comments

You’re Invited to YSpalooza!

By Chris Davis on January 25 2012 | 3 Comments

You're invited to YSpalooza this spring. Watch Mark Matlock and Kara Powell let you know what it's all about.

YSpalooza will be in:
Chicago Jan 27 – 28
Philadelphia March 2-3
Dallas/Ft. Worth March 30-31
Kansas City April 13-14
Orlando April 20-21

Visit YSpalooza.com for more information.

By Chris Davis on January 25 2012 | 3 Comments

Be Like Flatulence

By Youth Specialties on January 25 2012 | 1 Comments

I trained my junior- high staff how to avoid the “horseshoe” by telling them, “Be like flatulence.”

I beg your pardon?

Let me explain. Remember in elementary school when everyone sat at their desks quietly working on their math, and the student in the corner of the classroom let out one of those silent-but-deadly ones? One by one, the stench reached each student in the classroom, starting in the corner, working its way to the uttermost parts of the room. If you could watch students respond from above, you would notice students react one by one, the closest first, then finally the farthest away.

This process is called dynamic equilibrium. I can still remember my science teacher Mr. Jenson explaining it to us. He opened a jar of some stinky chemical in one corner of the room and told us to raise our hands when we smelled it. One by one I saw dynamic equilibrium taking place. The molecules spread throughout the entire room until they could spread no more.

Hmmmm. Wouldn’t that be nice? Wouldn’t we all love to see our volunteers spread evenly throughout the room and mixed in with the crowd of students?

At the beginning of each school year I always take the time to train my volunteers. At this training, I let them know clearly that I don’t need uninvolved chaperones; I need relational adult leaders! I always explain dynamic equilibrium and instruct them to be like molecules seeking dynamic equilibrium. In other words, I should look across the room at any time and see a sea of students with adult leaders spread throughout—not in bunches, -but mixed throughout the students.

My leaders never forgot the flatulence analogy—crude but effective. Simply dissipate through the room evenly. Whenever I saw leaders bunched up in clumps, I’d simply tell them, “Break wind,” and they knew exactly what I was talking about.

I have used that analogy for years now in articles and various training seminars. At a recent National Youth Workers Conference, a group saw me and pulled me aside. With a smirk on his face, the leader pulled out a small card they gave to all volunteers which simply read F.A.R.T. —the acronym was even surrounded by artwork of a stench cloud: Float Around the Room and Talk. My friend Danette has adopted this acronym and actually puts the word F.A.R.T. on her youth group schedule each night at 6:30 p.m. as a reminder of what her volunteers should be doing.

Are you devoting time to F.A.R.T. with teenagers in your ministry?

This article from Jonathan McKee is an excerpt from his creative book on relational ministry, Connect: Real Relationships in a World of Isolation.

Jonathan McKee, president of The Source for Youth Ministry, is the author of numerous books including Ministry By Teenagers, Connect: Real Relationships in a World of Isolation, and the award winning book Do They Run When They See You Coming? He speaks and trains at camps, conferences, and events across North America, and provides free resources for youth workers internationally on his website, TheSource4YM.com.

By Youth Specialties on January 25 2012 | 1 Comments

Video of the Week: John 3:16

By Chris Davis on January 18 2012 | 2 Comments

This weekend during the January 14, 2012 Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots NFL Playoff game this ad was run right before halftime.

I was a little surprised by it and didn't expect it, I posted it to Facebook to see what some of you thought. Wow, there was quite a response.

Here are a few of them:

“I loved it! There are so many people rooting against Tebow and have tuned in to see him “fail”… that was a perfect time for the commercial. They are really reaching people… I love it!” - Trevis C. Bailey

“Cool commercial, but why play it only when Tebow is playing and every Christian is watching? Christian Market……..>:/” - Josh Tex Cardwell

“I thought it was fantastic until the last few seconds. I'm concerned that FoF 's logo on the end really reads as an ad for right-wing politics. Unfortunately, the nationwide perception of the organization is much more about pro-life, anti-gay marriage politics than it is about the message of Jesus. I think the non-Christian response to the ad would have been stronger if a less politically connected organization had run it.” - Paul Reams

“I think it was overly simplistic. If Focus on the Family's goal was to reach non-believers and non-church-goers, they ought to have gone with something less “cutesy” and more provocative (ie, thought provoking). In my experience of having worked with teens for 10+ years and now serving as a senior pastor for the last three, my attempts to reach out to the unchurched have taught me that they don't want “spoon-fed Christianity.” Instead, they (particularly the 18-35 y/o demographic) want something that challenges them and their understanding of the world around them, something that they can wrestle with, something that will offer them a sense of having encountered God in deep, meaningful, life-altering ways. As unfortunate as it is, John 3:16 is has become the cliche trademark of what is perceived to be an old and stale religion. Can't we show them the respect and value they deserve as people created in God's image by coming up with a new and fresh method of sharing the Good News?” - Matt MacDougall

What did you think?

By Chris Davis on January 18 2012 | 2 Comments

An International Youth Ministry book to check out

By Andy Root on January 12 2012 | 0 Comments

I’ve just read a book that I think those youth workers that love reading and thinking about the theory and conceptions of youth ministry should know about. It is called Youth Ministry: A Multi-Faceted Approach and comes out of the UK. The very sharp-minded Sally Nash is the editor, and most of the authors either work for, or are connected to, the Center for Youth Ministry (centreforyouthministry.ac.uk).

In twelve short chapters the book explores multiple needed metaphors of a youth worker. It argues for visions of the youth worker as “politician of integrity,” “flawed hero,” “community builder,” “boundary marker,” and many more. Each chapter seeks to be formative to youth workers, explaining how this metaphor can shape the identity and practice of one's ministry. Each chapter richly weaves together theology, bible, and a number of social scientific perspectives. This is not a fluffy youth ministry book (not that those are bad), nor is it a heavy monograph. It is a book that will help you think deeply about yourself and your ministry. Or better, it will help you think about how your very self, your very person is the gift of ministry and is pulled into ministry.

Most American readers will need to do a little jostling as they read, applying perspectives to our own context, parsing a few words, and recognizing the difference in the state of the church in the UK, and the reality that the youth worker is also known in the UK as a non-religious affiliated professional, something more like our YMCA director or city parks summer program leader. But this should be seen as an asset. So often in American youth ministry we read only stuff from our large youth ministry infrastructure (complex really)—it may help us all to stretch our minds as we read and think with others doing youth ministry in differing contexts. This would be a great place to start!

By Andy Root on January 12 2012 | 0 Comments

Video of the Week: Youth Ministry BootCamp

By Chris Davis on January 11 2012 | 0 Comments

This is a great example of how NOT to do youth ministry training.

Where do you go for youth ministry training?

By Chris Davis on January 11 2012 | 0 Comments

the theological turn in youth ministry, post 14

By Andy Root on January 11 2012 | 0 Comments

In this liveBlog Jon Wasson and I discuss chapter 9 of The Theological Turn In Youth Ministry. It's all about sin: we explore how to talk about it with young people and some of the traps that youth ministry too easily falls into when discussing it.

Listen below. Subscribe on iTunes.

Listen to internet radio with Andrew Root LiveBlog on Blog Talk Radio

By Andy Root on January 11 2012 | 0 Comments

Recruited to Connect

By Youth Specialties on January 10 2012 | 2 Comments

Have you ever noticed the various titles that youth workers give to their adult leaders? Youth Leaders, Chaperones, Counselors, Youth Sponsors, Youth Staff…

What do these titles actually mean?

More importantly, do our adult leaders—whatever they’re called—know what they’re supposed to be doing? Laugh if you will, but I’ve asked plenty of volunteer youth workers that question, and many don’t have an answer.

Last month I was visiting a youth ministry on the East Coast and I saw a “chaperone” standing on the edge of the room. That’s what he was called—a chaperone. Think about this for a second. Do you want mere “chaperones”? A chaperone stands around the edge of the room with their arms crossed, waiting for a student to step out of line so they can holler, “Hey, none of that tom foolery in here! This is church!”

That’s basically what this guy was doing. Too bad, because these teenagers didn’t need another disciplinarian, but they sure could have used a caring adult who was willing to take notice of them, hang out, and actually listen to them.

Guess what? It’s not this “chaperone’s” fault. That’s what he was recruited to do.

Who are you recruiting? Chaperones? Staff? (Should we really use a word that is also a type of infection?)

Don’t get me wrong… I really don’t care what you call your adult leaders. But you might want to think about the expectations you are communicating to them from the moment you recruit them.

Personally, I kinda like it when adult leaders are recruited to connect.

In The New Breed, my book about recruiting, training and managing volunteers, I gave my readers a glimpse of a form that I used when recruiting volunteers to work in our youth ministry. This sheet of paper simply said, “Volunteer Expectations” at the top of the page. Can you guess what I listed as my number one expectation?

One-on-one time with teenagers.

Sure, I also let my potential adult leaders know that I would love to have them at youth group on Wednesday nights, at church on Sunday, at occasional special events…. but before any of that, I wanted them to know that I was looking for adults that cared enough for teenagers that they were willing to connect with them one-on-one, both in and out of youth group. I made it crystal clear from day one that I didn’t want someone to just show up and lead games or work in the snack bar. I wanted adults that were willing to build relationships with teenagers and be available to have conversations with them throughout the week.

Yes, today’s volunteers are very busy, so I had volunteers with all sorts of various time commitments, but my main team of volunteers was a group of adults that were there to connect with teenagers. That’s why we huddled up after youth group each Wednesday night and debriefed about our connections that week. We didn’t waste time talking about how the games went or what flavor ice cream to get for root-beer-float night. We went around the circle and quickly reported in about our “connection-time.”

“This week I took Tim out to Dairy Queen. It was awesome. He really is starting to open up.”

“Brianna and I were texting a lot this week. She’s been really seeking out answers since Jake broke up with her. We’re gonna try to hang out this weekend.”

“Taylor and I are also getting together this weekend to go through chapter 6 in that Lee Strobel book. Then we’re going to the mall.”

No chaperones in that circle.

What are your adult leaders recruited for?

If you enjoyed this article from Jonathan McKee, you’ll love his book on relational ministry, Connect: Real Relationships in a World of Isolation. This book includes more on how youth entire leadership team can be more about “connecting.” The book also includes a chapter on “boundaries,” answering many of the questions that youth workers have about the safety precautions and boundaries churches should adhere to when connecting adults with teenagers.

By Youth Specialties on January 10 2012 | 2 Comments

Let the Poor Kids Sleep!

By Shawn Michael Shoup on January 06 2012 | 6 Comments

This may come off as a bit RANT-ish. You've been forewarned.

True story: go back a few years to the days when I was a teenager at a Christian summer camp somewhere in Minnesota. I was tall, super skinny, and liked to sleep a lot – as most teens tend to. One problem: my adult chaperone – or whatever they called adult camp volunteers back in the day – didn't value sleep as much as I did. At least, that's what his actions communicated.

This is what happened pretty much every night… The lights would go out. Some kid would fart… sorry, I mean “pass gas”. Laughter would ensue. Some kid would start talking. Others would join in. Some kid would go to the bathroom. Every other kid in the room would go to the bathroom. The leader may have yelled “Go to sleep!” or “Be quiet!” a time or two but – other than that – no real action was taken. I pretended like I was enjoying being needlessly “entertained” and extremely exhausted in lieu of said company. The next day I would find myself nodding my head in small groups and service times.

Come back forward a few years with me. Another true story: As a youth pastor, student event coordinator, and camp director over the past ten years, I've placed a high value on that little thing on the schedule called “lights out”. I communicate with leaders the importance of really having kids “present” in the times where the opportunities for ministry and spiritual impact are at their highest. That doesn't belittle relational things like boys laughing at the passing of gas and other such oddities. That can happen at any time of the day – and hopefully, when they are well-rested enough to actually enjoy it!

Is anyone with me? It seems like this is important for more than a couple reasons…

1. RESPECT - Respect for the kid at camp that really wants to pursue a deeper relationship with God. A few jokers staying up late and keeping everyone up ISN'T funny. Also, respect for the volunteer leader who has given up a week of their time to love God and love kids. They deserve a good nights sleep!

2. HEALTH - “Imagine a cure-all that helps prevent cancer, weight gain and heart disease; one that can improve memory and athletic performance and even fend off colds. Now suppose that this panacea is pleasurable. It's not a daily pill, painful injection or bizarre-tasting tonic.” - Patti Wolter of SELF magazine. It's SLEEP!

3. ABSORPTION - Studies have shown that a lack of sleep severely affects memory and attention span. Aren't we trying to MAKE memories?

4. ATTITUDE – Want generally better attitudes at your event? Provide space for adequate rest.

5. SAFETY - Typical camp activities such as rock wall climbing, ropes courses, and other physical challenges become more dangerous than they should be when kids aren't fully there because of a lack of sleep. In addition, that drive home with sleepy adult leaders is NO GOOD on any count.

As a NextGen leader, lets value our students and leaders by making sleep a higher priority than students' perceived need to stay-up-late. A few points of action to consider…

If staying-up-late is that important to you, do the smart thing and schedule accordingly. Plan for it ahead of time. If something happens in your schedule to keep students and leaders up later than planned, fix that by being flexible with your schedule the next day. Meaning: a later wake-up time. Educate your leaders and inform students ahead of time. Let them know your expectations. Be loving but firm with action and consequences for those keeping others up past lights out. It's not only affecting them; it's affecting everyone who's in their room. Don't let that happen.

So, what's your take? Am I just a wounded camper-boy taking out sweet revenge on unsuspecting campers or is there some value in all of this?

By Shawn Michael Shoup on January 06 2012 | 6 Comments

The theological turn in youth ministry, post 13

By Andy Root on January 05 2012 | 0 Comments

In this Andrew Root liveBlog Kenda Creasy Dean talks some more eschatology, this time with Matt Ackerman. They explore how young people themselves are a blessing to the church by their tenacious attention to the future, able (or at least more willing) to imagine a world yet come. The conversation then focuses particularly on college students, wondering how to move past their jadedness to invite them to lean into God's coming future. They conclude with a very rich conversation on how our ministries can help train the imaginations of young people—add much to Kenda's chapter in The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry.

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