Youth Ministry Institute of Pacific Life Bible College

Outreach Idea - Ping Pong Club?

GrownUpThinking.com (a blog of Mr. Youth [youth culture marketing firm]) is picking up on a growing trend:

"With marketers continuing not to see the returns on high priced athlete endorsements and even more athletes caught amongst the scandals (Manny), marketers are asking what’s next. About a decade ago, Texas Hold-Em Poker emerged as the new hot sport (if a finger gesture and flick of the wrist can constitute a sport). ESPN and other networks jumped in on the action and marketers ante’d up.

So the new Poker? It might very well be Ping Pong, or some might say Table Tennis. Already the second largest participation sport in the world to only soccer, Ping Pong is gaining in popularity in the US and like Poker is spreading quickly on college campuses.

Now marketers are thinking it might be time to jump in. InBev’s Anheuser-Busch has..." [READ THE ENTIRE BLOG ENTRY]

Quick Book Review of Sustainable Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries

Just read this book last night.  It's a quick read and basically instructs the local church to place youth ministry as high priority and to fund/staff it properly.  It also emphasizes that the local church needs to be patient as long lasting fruit takes time to develop.  This book is a good book for a Sr. Pastor or Search Committee to read as well as a rookie youth pastor (hopefully avoid some common pitfalls).  Another thrust of the book emphasizes proper structure and prioritization.  It's worth a read, but isn't life changing.  3 out of 5 stars.

Fundraising Ideas

Here's a site with some fundraising ideas:
http://www.fundraiserinsight.org/ideas/

Are Adolescents Really Just Young Adults?

http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=4711

Marko (Youth Specialties) posted a neat entry in response to a discussion group:

"professor darwin glassford posted a provocative question on the youth ministry 3.0 facebook group:

'I just finished reading YM 3.0, overall I found it a delightful experience. After reflecting on it, I am left with nagging sense that no matter how well we understand the life issues and culture we will still be frustrated. In education speak one of the primary questions is, “What is your understanding of the learner?” I wonder what would happen if we abandoned the social construct of adolescence in our churches and ministries and saw young people as young adults who are to be mentored into adult roles and responsibilities? I believe that...[MORE]'"

Journal of Psychology & Theology - A Good Resource

The folks over the Rosemead School of Psychology (Biola University) publish a great journal that often includes very relevant articles for youth ministry.  Their most recent Journal, Winter 2008, has two good resource articles on Masturbation and another one on Religious Doubt and Identity Formation: Salient Predictors of Adolsecent Religious Doubt.

Check them out at www.biola.edu/jpt

Apply Lessons from Million Dollar Research

Mr. Youth is an ad agency in New York that specializes in engaging the next generation with  the purpose of selling a product or service.  Their research and observation of the next generation can carry some application to ministry.  Download their most recent article called Consumer 2.0 .

Youth & Parent Retreats - YFC/Youth Unlimited

Youth For Christ / Youth Unlimited in Mission, BC has developed adventure retreats designed to help a mom or dad talk with their youth about important subjects (like self-esteem, puberty, communication, etc.).  Youth & Parent get to getaway for a night and through activities and guided discussions, relationships are strengthened and youth are built up.  Anytime youth workers can resource and support parent-youth relationships good things happen!

Go to http://www.adventureretreats.ca/ and watch the video.

AmazingMoms.com

We just heard about a site that helps mom's plan parties and it has lots of great activities that could be used in a youth ministry setting for mixers, ice-breakers, and team building.  Check it out... www.amazingmoms.com.

every youth pastor needs to be on facebook

If you're a youth pastor or youth leader, you need to be on facebook.  Why?  Because that's where your youth and their friends (most of whom you've never met).  If you don't have facebook our guess is that you resisted getting internet access, an email account, and cell phones.  The fact is that youth communicate and relate on facebook.  They don't email each other, they facebook each other.  There's a reason 80 million people use it!  Here are some convenient things facebook offers you and your ministry:

• 2.0 website (i.e. your youth can become members of your site/page and leave comments, upload photos, communicate with everyone or just an individual, upload videos, post announcements, and the list goes on...)
• See a different side of your youth (i.e. their family, friends, what they did, and what they are doing... gotta love status updates).
• Communicate with you youth outside of traditional meeting times.  Never before has sending some an encouraging note been easier.

Of course technology can never replace real face-to-face communication, but facebook will enhance it.

M&M gets it!

Companies that are able to customize their product/service to their customer's personal specifications and deliver it promptly for a fair price will make mucho dollars (I think there is a homiletic principle in there too!).  Check out M&M's latest endeavour... you can now get your company logo printed, any photo printed, and packaged differently... all online!

Go to http://www.mymms.com/ to check it out.  You could use these for event promotion, thank you's, fundraisers, or just for fun!