Adventures – Page 3 – youthworkers

Mission Trip Contract

October 5, 2010
Adventures
Preparation

Within the next couple weeks, we’ll mail in a deposit to book a small group mission trip with AIM to Haiti. It’s something that the pastoral staff, other youth leaders, and I have been praying and planning for over the last few months. Two of us even went in May to scope things out (although at the time taking a group of teens was far from our minds). We’re going because God is doing amazing things in Haiti. As the world comes to their aid, the Haitian people are reaching the nations with a faith that is vibrant, hope that is inspiring, and the message that the Gospel is...

My Decision to Become a Youth Leader

September 22, 2010
Adventures
Discipleship

I made a choice. Or at least, I thought I did. I checked “college ministry”� off the list. Sonja (my wife) and I had just joined our church, taken the membership class, and were filling out a questionnaire about our ministry interests. Somehow, my offer of working with college kids — our church occasionally hosts international students from UNH — meant I was a top target for the youth pastor. He called me the next week. None of the leaders from my “preferred” or “adult-related”� ministries did, so Sonja and I reluctantly agreed to meet with...

Why We Do It

September 16, 2010
Adventures
Discipleship

Last week was our group’s Fall-Kickoff-Palooza-Extravaganza-Par-tay… WE didn’t actually call it that, but I’m sure your group held a similar event. It’s the week at the beginning of the year where we officially launch the fall season, invite new people to come, and help everyone get to know each other. We did the usual — BBQ, volleyball, tons of games/prizes, and a bonfire. It was fun. And exhausting. I worry about every detail when planning the event, scramble to get things ready (thankfully, we have a TERRIFIC team of adult leaders in place who...

Faking It

September 8, 2010
Adventures
Discipleship

You’ve probably seen the story in the past week. It’s been all over the youth blogosphere: More Teens Becoming “Fake” Christians. In her new book, Almost Christian, author Kenda Creasy Dean reports on the findings from a recent study of 3,300 teens. She discovered that “most American teens who called themselves Christian were indifferent and inarticulate about their faith… Many teenagers thought that God simply wanted them to feel good and do good – what the study’s researchers called ‘moralistic therapeutic deism.'” According to...

Leaving Jesus Out of Missions

September 1, 2010
Adventures
Discipleship

“Social justice is a good place to start, but a poor place to finish. People need to eat. They need to be healthy. We need to show that we care. But a concern for justice is not enough – the poor and the oppressed need the whole gospel. What a privilege to discover Jesus’ gospel of grace! My life would be bankrupt without it. Only that gospel has the power to bring not only justice, but healing.” – Seth Barnes, Social Justice Is Not Enough The first day in the field in Haiti, we left behind our boxes of tarps, piles of clothing, and bins...

Feeling a Little Insecure

August 25, 2010
Adventures
Leadership

Hi, my name is Mike and I have E.D. (That’s “educator’s doubts.” Not that other thing…) I don’t know if I’m alone here, but nothing challenges me more as a youth worker than preparing a message. It’s not because I hate public speaking. In fact, I enjoy being the center of attention. I always have-it’s a firstborn thing. What bothers me isn’t the studying required to break down text, or the object lessons to drive a point home, or the fact that I have to stop a dozen times while speaking to keep the group on track. Nope,...

Author: Adventures