We like safety.  We do things to make our life easy. We like easy. Church looks nice when it is easy. Smiling faces. Shallow conversation. Sports. Weather. News. Kids. Everyone is great. We work hard not to go too far. We don’t want to give up too much, other people might think we’re strange. People we feel safe around.
I have [...]

There are some great guest posts on Morethandodgeball.com while Josh Griffin is out of the country. I am scheduled for my turn on March 9th. Watch for it. I asked some very challenging questions that need answered in today’s church.

@joshuagriffin (from morethandodgeball.com) posted the slides from the “Top 10″ on Sunday night’s general session featuring the Skit Guys.
I can relate to the #1 reason….Bad memories from High School Youth Group…
Link – Top 10 Bad Student Ministry Ideas

When you need encouragement to keep doing the calling God has asked you to do, ask Him. Don’t look for it other places. You’ll cone up empty.
I received an awesome story of encouragement today from my wife. She was visiting one of the churches in which we used to serve. Several years ago, I had a girl in my youth [...]

SYMC 2010 General Session 2
Derwin Gray
Some of us tonight are about the width of dental floss away from quitting. Some of us desperately need to hear from God.
We will reproduce who we are. That should fill us with a Holy Fear
Will we let our hearts be broken so much that more of Jesus pours out?
Upward. Inward. Outward.
Matthew 22:37-39
What we do [...]

There’s a time for laughter…
This is a topic that has been simmering since a January discussion with one of my dear friends who is a former youth pastor (now senior pastor). We discussed where youth ministry is going and where it has been. We can laugh at videos like the Ignatius YouTube clip or The “5 Rules” video from Jake [...]

Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture: Walt Mueller
Culture is…

The soup they swim in every day

to them it’s a map
to us its a mirror

Introducing them to God’s story

know God’s changing world

A Marketers goal is to stir the soup!
Marketers are reaching out to kids using feeling instead of ration
If a marketer can get brand loyalty from a teen, it is worth $100,000 [...]

I teased this post earlier today, here it is:
I have truly been blessed so far at SYMC. I have been through a lot in the last 12 months that could have broken my spirit, discouraged me, and almost caused me to walk away from Youth Ministry (not an easy choice, because at 30, I’ve spent almost 1/3 of my life serving in youth ministy). I have been encouraged by the fellowship and teaching I have experienced this weekend….

Derwin Gray
2/27/10 10:30AM

Before we can ignite the fire for evangelism, we must go to the source of the fire

Embrace the story of God

Life within God (YHWH): a Trinity-shaped perspective of the Good News

Love demands relationships

John 1:1, 18

Intimacy = into me you see… (dancing, love, intimacy…)

If you start the story of God’s love at John 3:16, you miss so much [...]


SYMC Session 2:
Bo Boshers
Lead222.com
2 Timothy 2:1-2
So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.
There is smooth water directly behind a large boat, before the rough waves of [...]

* Paul had persecutions and pain in ministry – it was an appeal to the legacy of memories.
* The odyssey of faith is marked by milestones of memories
Philippians 2:5-11
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 1 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to [...]

Here are some collected thoughts from The Deep and Wide Q&A Session at SYMC 2010

We should be doing evangelism and discipleship – its not either/or, but both/and…
Deep and Wide Ministry is not a new idea or program, but a refocusing of a very old ones found in Matthew 28:19, Matthew 22:37-39, and Col. 1:28-29
The big question is: ” Are you [...]