Anyone around to hang out around Boston?

on November 11th, 2010

Any youthworkers want to grab Friendly’s ice cream somewhere around Boston / burbs? I’ve got a free night. Call or text 9704925367. My treat…

Discuss

on September 24th, 2010

Well, we’re going to see who actually reads this blog in Columbus, OH. I’m here – like right now – in the sweltering heat, wondering if there’s a youth leader around who would like to grab a frozen coffee drink somewhere. Anyone? Send me a text or call… 970-492-5367.

See… Jeff posts a lot of stuff. I go out and buy you a beverage. Who’s more relevant now?

Discuss

Something from the fundraising seminar

on March 1st, 2010

SYMC is a wrap. A couple people asked about our sample timeline for big event fundraising stuff. Here it is. My usually witty commentary, and simultaneous harassing of Andy, will have to wait for tonight. I am beat.

Sample Schedule:

Fall Event – Yard Clean up for church and others

Sports stadium venue (running concessions)

2 Christmas events (Parents Night Out, and a vendor-based Christmas bazaar)

January missions appeal to the congregation, including direct support letters

Valentines night out

Sports stadium venue

Pre-selling bags of mulch, and/or installing it

Spring Auction

Discuss

My pants are cold

on March 1st, 2010

Andy Brazelton – nice guy with a violent streak. We’re yakking it up in the SYMC conference hotel, being all nicy nicy. Then he throws ice on my lap. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he did missions in a culture where that was considered a social greeting.

We launched 1byyouth at this conference, and the buzz is so unbelievable that we’re awestruck at the craving for this kind of thing in cities all across the country. And not just the huge cities. Everything from New York City to Lancaster, PA to Plymouth, WI and everywhere else.

So if you’re reading this (and I know that Andy is), then know that we’re working hard at coming to your town as soon as you’ll have us. Contact Tim ( tkurth@group.com) if you’d like to have one at your town.

And I ate my first vanilla tart today. It tasted like something I’d prefer not to eat again. Someone told me it’s made out of beans. Is that true? A dessert made from beans? Disgusting. Why not just serve a bowl full of lettuce flavored ice cream?

Discuss

Tim’s in his kerchief, and I in my cap

on February 28th, 2010

It’s after midnight, and I’m all tucked in at the Doubletree in Chicago at SYMC, along with Tim Kurth in the bed next to me. (As compared to ‘next to me in bed’ – which he is not. ) He has taken a break from wearing flannel for the night. You can all rest knowing that Tim “FlanMan” Kurth is off to a good night’s sleep.

Awesome day – tons of new and familiar faces. Great conversations, and lots of fun . Given away tons of shirts, foam planes, VW Workcamp minibuses, buttons, and other paraphernalia. I may have even spelled that word right.

My big takeaway from today, missions-wise is that mission trips are just tons of work. I mean – it’s good, valuable, life-changing work. But it’s work. Lots. And youth people aren’t the best at asking for help, so we internalize the stress and play the part of the hero – determined to succeed even if it nearly kills us.

So hey – just ask for help. From God, from people around you, friends, co-workers in ministry, organizations, experts, whatever…

It’s okay. It’s good. Good night.

Discuss

Off to SYMC

on February 23rd, 2010

Our building (the top-secret underground Group headquarters) is buzzing with people getting ready to take off for SYMC . We head out to Chicago in waves – the early contingent on Wednesday, then more on both Thursday and Friday. Maybe the bigger buzz is happening all around the country, as more than 2300 youth workers are getting ready to go to the Windy City. (OK – lots of youth workers haven’t even started packing yet – but we know they will – at least 30 minutes before they have to leave for the airport.

And if you’re in a hurry – don’t be like this guy.

Besides the fact that the conference is a blast, and that we’ll get to eat some great Chicago food, we are super-pumped in the Workcamps world. Three out of the four of on this blog, Jeff, Tim, and I are going. We’ll be doing a heart to heart discussion panel about the state of youth missions, two workshops on youth missions planning and fundraising, and having a lot of conversations with youth workers from all over the country and the world. That’s the kind of stuff that gets us excited.

One more thing we’re excited about is being launched at the conference. 1byYouth – a one-day service project that’s launching in Indianapolis, IN and Manassas, VA  in the spring, and then nationwide in the fall. Entire neighborhoods will be transformed through youth groups coming together to make a huge impact. Check it out.

OK – enough self-advertising. If you’re going, come say hi to us. And if you’re not… maybe next year?

Anyway

Discuss

Pickle Them

on December 3rd, 2009

Had a great conversation recently with a youth leader who describe his approach to events like mission trips and retreats as part of the “Pickling Process.” In short, a pickle used to be a cucumber, and now it’s not. And it never will be again.

And that’s the true goal of all that we do in youth ministry – to move kids along on that life-changing relationship relationship with Jesus. Not just filling their heads with stuff and Bible trivia knowledge, but literally creating opportunities to “pickle them” with Jesus, which allow Him to change them irreversibly into an image of Himself.

So how do missions and service opportunities intersect with the pickling process? Well, they provide the setting for a kid to literally be immersed in life-change without the distractions of their normal, well, distractions.

Cucumbers that sit around in salt water and spices would only eventually taste like a salty cucumber. (Not bad with ranch dip, but do we really want to be handing out dip packets to students to make them more spiritual? I don’t think so.) Instead, a cucumber needs a lot of spices, and to be immersed in vinegar, and then cooked under high pressure until it’s … BAM… a pickle.

If only our ministry efforts would be that simple.

In our research at Group, we’ve found that big events, like a short term mission trip and weekend retreat, really ARE life-changing events for students. There’s a tendency to poke fun at the “mountaintop” experiences. But they really do matter. Big time. Kids make decisions, change habits, reach out for help, and accept Jesus at these kind of events second only to time with their parents.

So mission trips matter. Not just to the people you’ll serve, but to your own kids who will be pickled for life as a result.

Discuss