Jeff ThompsonMore Posts2013 Simply Youth Ministry Conference

Starting this Friday you’ll be able to see pretty much every member of the Group Mission Trips team at SYMC in Indy.  We’re helping in tons of different ways at the conference.  There will be members of the GMT team checking you in when you arrive, helping with getting the general sessions ready, working in the resource area, and well… I can’t remember everywhere else.

Toby Rowe and I will be leading several workshops as well.  If these topics interest you, we’d love to have to participate in one of these.

Saturday afternoon – “Using Service to Create a Servant’s Heart”

Sunday afternoon – “Making the Most of Your Mission Trip”

Monday morning – “Fundraising for the Big Event”

In addition to all this, you will not want to miss Toby (and a bunch of us) on Sunday Late Night after the general session!  He’ll be leading “Games We Never Should’ve Done”.  It’s going to be a fun crazy time of reliving some of our best “mistakes” from all our years of Mission Trips and giving other youth ministry vets a chance to share theirs.  It will be a night you won’t soon forget.

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If you’re not registered yet for SYMC, it’s not too late.  We are nearly Sold Out but we are not there yet.  There is room for you.  Go here to register.

Jeff ThompsonMore PostsSYMC Early Bird Registrations Ends Oct 31!

Simply Youth Ministry Conference is  a great event for relaxing, recharging, reconnecting with your passion for ministry.  It’s one of my favorite youth ministry events of the year.

  • There are over 190 hours of brand new training this year.  Check it out!
  • Lecrae, All Sons & Daughters, Shane & Shane, and Jordan Howerton Band will all be performing.

To take advantage of the early bird pricing please Register Here.  See you there!

Jeff ThompsonMore PostsSimply the best resources for youth ministry

Our friends and partners at Simply Youth Ministry have launched a new website!  It’s simply packed with great stuff for you to use in your youth ministry.  Be sure to check out the new site.

simplyyouthministry.com

As thanks for touring the new website and giving them any feedback you have.  They are offering FREE shipping on any order or $99.  Just enter the promo code: BOOM

Jeff ThompsonMore Posts$5 Deal of the Day!

Our friends at Simply Youth Ministry have a great deal going today.

TWO SIDES: Finding what fits your youth ministry – by Darren Sutton

Here’s the reality of youth ministry: Gray often is the dominant color, differing opinions abound, and the way forward isn’t always clear or certain. But just like a wise sage, Two Sides: Finding What Fits Your Ministry will help you through the journey of discovering the right, best answers for your ministry.

Darren is a friend of our ministry and serves in youth ministry in Texas.  This is a book written by a person in youth ministry for other people in youth ministry.

Jeff ThompsonMore Posts2013 Simply Youth Ministry Conference

The 2013 SYMC website is live!  Check it out and consider registering early for this amazing conference that’s planned for youth workers by youth workers.

Jeff ThompsonMore PostsSaying Goodbye is Hard

Andy Brazelton has been the leader of youth ministry at Group and Simply Youth Ministry for the last several years (Group, SYM and Group Mission Trips are part of a family of ministries that help youth workers with what matters most).  I have had a great time working with Andy figuring out the best way to serve youth leaders.  It’s been one the best times of ministry in my entire life.  Today is Andy’s last day on the job.

I’m going to miss sitting and dreaming with him about the future of youth ministry and how to best serve youth workers.

I’m going to miss coffee on Monday mornings (I’m not going to miss him telling everyone I never buy him coffee, not true btw).

I’m going to miss coming up with crazy, stupid promo ideas to get more stuff and events in youth workers hands.

I’m going to miss struggling together to build great organizations that do real ministry, pay their employees, and have enough money left over to keep creating awesome new stuff youth workers use to help students encounter Jesus.

I’m going to miss praying with him for you folks (youth leaders) – the reason we do all this.

I’m going to miss my friend.

God bless you ab.

Jeff ThompsonMore PostsGreat Deal! Today Only

Our friends at Simply Youth Ministry have a great deal today.  If you’re looking for a great new curriculum option, please check it out.

Jeff ThompsonMore PostsThe Future of The Church and Youth Ministry

This week Simply Youth Ministry Today had a couple great articles from Kurt and Josh about the Future of Youth Ministry.

The Future of Youth Ministry

The Future of The Church

Two things jumped out from these acticles:

1)  Kurt gets it right when he says that youth ministry will move to being less “professional.”  We talk to a youth leader, virtually every day, who were full-time and are now part-time or were part-time and are now volunteer leaders.  It’s just a fact of life youth ministry is facing…

2)  I really appreciated Josh’s acknowledgement of missions as an integral part of preparing students to be the future of the Church.  We believe that whole-heartedly and love when others preach that message as well.

If you like what you read in those articles, please subscribe here.  It’s a great great read!

Jeff ThompsonMore PostsWe’re at SYMC!

We’re hangin’ with our friends and partners Simply Youth Ministry and Group Magazine at Simply Youth Ministry Conference.  Last night everything started off really fun.  Tornado warnings.  Francis Chan.  Shane and Shane.  and 3,000 youth leaders doing the robot…

If you’re here in Louisville this weekend.  Please stop by and say “hi”!

 

Jeff ThompsonMore PostsGrowing up too fast and staying young too long

Kurt Johnston, over at juniorhighministry.com, had a really interesting post earlier this week about youth ministry and students and societal pressures.

Too Old, Too Soon; Too Young, Too Long

As Kurt admitted, this is an issue that we all know about but we aren’t sure what to do about. It’s becoming a personal issue for me. My oldest son turned 13 a couple weeks ago. Something about that age has made me take notice of things. What he watches. What he listens to. What he and his best friend talk about as I drive them to school each morning. What words does he use? How does he dress? It’s evident to me that he’s feeling some kids of “pressure” to be too old, too soon.

But… how do I prepare him for adulthood without stretching him beyond just being a kid? How do any of us in our ministries safely do that? That’s a great topic to discuss with your ministry team. How do you keep kids form growing up too fast and prepare them to be adult followers of Jesus?

Kurt mentioned these ideas are going to be part of his Junior High Ministry workshop at Simply Youth Ministry Conference. If you’re going to be at SYMC take advantage of this opportunity to dig deeper.