It Builds Character

–by Reid Olson

Some of the hardest ways to grow is through conflict. In youth ministry we encounter multiple opportunities for growth and maturity of our faith and ministry throughout the year, but they are often not welcomed pathways. I recall my dad saying to me after a difficult loss in our state-championship high school football season, “Son, you win some and you lose some. It’s easy to develop character when you’re winning because you’re on top, but when you can develop character in loss, you’ve truly begun to grow into the humble person God is shaping you to be.” I’ve taken that little Read more

2010
08/20
CATEGORY
Reid Olson
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We Can Handle It Side By Side

Community

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–by Alicia Vela

Finding community in a new city can be hard, it seems like all around you people have community and you are trying to jump in and join theirs.  It takes energy that sometimes you just don’t have.  It’s easier to simply maintain the community you have had for years with people that live far away, for me at least.

Even though they are scattered around Read more

2010
08/18
CATEGORY
Alicia Vela
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Unplug….

AT&T Death Star | iPhone 4 Wallpaper

–by Dave Diller

“Looking to unplug from ministry?  Well, It may be time to turn off your phone.

I know what you are thinking, “My phone is how I stay connected to people.”  This is true, and because this is true, it is exactly why you need to turn your phone off.  Every time you “quickly” check email, status updates, or twitter feeds at the dinner table, the backyard, or where ever else you may be, you are failing to disengage from ministry and failing to engage the life that is happening around you.

Further when you are home for the evening and you check your phone to “see what’s going on” with students or others in your church, you are not Read more

2010
08/16
CATEGORY
Dave Diller
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Well I Survived Freshman Year

by- Ralph Sweatte

Well I survived freshman year. And that sums up how I am preparing myself to be in transit in my latest ministry opportunity. For the past 4 years, I have been volunteering to co-lead a group of high school young men.  Steve, my co-leader and I, have followed these guys from freshman year up to their senior year.  Our focus has been on building strong relationships amongst them, as they have found that friend who is closer than a brother. And we also did our part to help in their emotional and social maturity.  I’ve watched them (well most of them) move toward adulthood. Steve and I helped them to understand why you leave a gratuity for your server (and fellas, more than 0.50 cents). How there are some conversations that are better suited for just us guys.  And, that they really are an important part of the church body, both the big “C” and HCC. Which requires compliance with those “church rules” that they feel are totally absurd.

And now they are going to head out and Read more

2010
08/11
CATEGORY
Ralph Sweatte
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Straddling the Fence: My Call As a Sen-Youth-ior Pastor

- by Mark Carlson

I find myself in a unique position. Though I believe I am in the exact place God wants me to be, I would not necessarily promote this position to just anybody. I’m currently serving as co-senior pastor, with youth ministry as one of my primary areas of responsibility. A year ago the Senior Pastor, at the church I serve, resigned. The board invited myself and the other associate pastor to consider stepping into the senior leadership role in a shared capacity. It was to be on a trial/temporary/interim basis, though we never really had a name for it. Having both served the congregation for several years as the youth and worship pastors, and having served together in an interim capacity once before, we were open to the invitation. The difference would be that previously there was an active search committee working on calling a senior pastor. This time, we were the possible next candidates for the role.

We took time to evaluate all the responsibilities we would need to share and divide between us. We prayerfully considered our gifts and passions and discerned with our leadership the best way to create our new roles. Read more

2010
08/09
CATEGORY
Mark Carlson
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How to Refresh Your Soul

- by Amanda Kingry

I left 11 years of youth ministry tired. Yes I was exhausted from the years of Junior High lock-ins, sleeping on cement floors in South America, and the late night phone calls. Looking back,  I wouldn’t trade a minute of those moments, but the result was exhaustion. I knew my body was tired, I knew my family was tired, I knew my head was tired, but I wouldn’t admit my spiritual heart was tired. In fact my heart was more than tired, it had shut down 6 months before my last official ministry moment and  it was running on auto pilot.

A major reason why I found myself in this place was Read more

2010
08/03
CATEGORY
Amanda Kingry
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Starting New Things

- by Beth Seversen

I love starting something from nothing. It must be that part of God’s image I bear that I “get.” Conceptualizing something strategic for the Kingdom of God, researching who’s done it and how, gathering a team around an idea, dreaming about it together and then seeing it come into being, I love it all. From beginning to completion—it energizes me— especially if I’m doing it with someone.

That’s the part I didn’t “get” for awhile. That doing it alone depletes me. Worse, it’s boring! But if I can share an idea with friends and find collaborators who will get on board, then I’m all over it.

Starting something new requires lots of creativity and energy. It’s much easier to be creative and to find energy when working in community. When we’re all doing our different parts yet Read more

2010
07/31
CATEGORY
Beth Seversen
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Who Is Apollos?

- by Ben Kerns

A call into student ministry is a special thing. We have been called by God to participate in the spiritual development of students. For a very specific and often chaotic season, we get the privilege and honor of being adults who coach, mentor, disciple, and journey with adolescents who are exploring their faith and making it their own. What could be greater? But as we attempt to live this out, in the real world with real students in a real context, this simple and yet profound calling gets blurry.

It is not a difficult leap to inflate the role we have in the lives of students. We give so much of our selves to them, and in return we are part of such intimate and transforming events and conversations. We get to be a part of Read more

2010
07/31
CATEGORY
Ben Kerns
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The Big Transition: Bat Men to X-Men

- by Jim Eaton

Batman is my favorite super-hero. He’’s my favorite super hero because he didn’t actually have any ‘super powers’. He is just a regular guy with a score to settle. All of his ‘super powers’ come from his inventions or martial arts training (or Alfred of course). He always finds a way to get the job done – himself.

My first years in ministry were lived much like Batman. I was doing everything, I was at everything, and I was involved in Read more

2010
07/31
CATEGORY
Jim Eaton
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