The teen lessons are more fully developed. The elementary outlines will need to be developed more by the teacher. All three age groups follow the same daily sequence of study, which challenge students to spend time with God to have His power in their lives. Seek the Lord and His Strength (Psalm 105:4).

[Seeing Christians demonstrating the love of Christ] . . . gasping at the beauty of the bride of Christ.
–Darren Whitehead

Before thinking outside the box, make sure you know what’s inside the box.
–Jay Strack

Where is the unstoppable force of the church?
–Francis Chan

I’ll follow Jesus if… is not the message of the Bible. It’s I’ll follow Jesus even if!
–Francis Chan

I’m so sick of comfortable. I have to have a shot at dying.
–Francis Chan

The power of the gospel is even great enough to heal the wounds of the sins inflicted upon us.
–David Nassar.

Some responsibilities just can’t be delegated. We may call others along side to help us get the work done, but we can’t just give the job to someone else. Such is the case with teaching children about God. God gave that duty to parents. Parents should not think they can bring their children to the church and let the “professionals” do it. It has to be lived before them at home.

As youth workers, we must avoid the temptation to take over the parental responsibility. Our job is to help equip parents to accomplish their God-given duty to teach their children. It is fine to help fill the gaps, but don’t try to take their place.

This is a philosophical shift from youth ministry of the past. Rather than focus on ministry with and for students, we need to take a whole-family approach. The greatest impact a youth worker can have in a young person’s life would be bringing the parents to a right relationship with God, doing things His way.

That’s the idea behind the D6 Conference–equipping leaders to equip parents to accomplish God’s plan. Check it out at D6conference.com. For significant savings, don’t miss the very early registration, which ends Februry 2.

The SCM Youth Ministry Kit is a tool to help make preparation time more efficient and effective. It includes an Annual Calendar with dates, reminders, and links to a wide variety of events and projects of interest to youth and youth workers:
o Christian college campus visiting events
o Registration deadline notices for NYC, E-TEAM, Truth & Peace, etc.
o SYATP, SOHLS, National Day of Prayer
o Scheduling & Planning reminders
o Add your own events
Contains over a year’s supply of Bible Studies
o Destination Reality & other resources
o Online Bible study options
Additional Resources
o Camp Lessons
o SYC Procedures Manual

It also contains 15 Categories of resources & web links:
o Outreach & Service Projects
o Ministry Development
o Forms & Templates
o Fundraising
o Missions
o Worship
o Scheduling
o Discipleship
o Recommended Reading
o How Do I . . .
o Blogs & Podcasts
o Addictions
o Skits & Puppets
o Apologetics
o Miscellaneous

The SCM YM Kit is expected to be available by the end of August.

Without frequent reminders of who we are and why we are here, our methods become our identity and our purpose becomes maintaining our methods. — Dr. David Ferguson

Dr. Alvin Reid lists four points for impacting the culture for Christ

– Less Dualistic more Incarnational (in other words, avoid the tendency to have separate “Christian” versions of everything)

– Less Recreational more Biblical

–Less emphasis on the Behavioral more on the focus of the great idea of the Gospel.

–Less institutional more missional (Be a missionary in this culture.)

Kevin White shared results of research to produce a Simplified Approach to Ministry

– Curriculum: use a curriculum that is Centered on the Gospel; Scripture Focused; Flexible; Integrated with an intentional plan to teach students at every step of the way.

– Connections: How are you keeping students intentionally connected across age gaps?

– Dimension Ministries: focus on multiple dimensions and interests of students (sports, music, missions,  student leadership, etc.)

– Training: Train and equip leaders to be the best they can be.

Jason Illian, VP of GodTube, shared exciting information about GodTube becoming a social networking portal. It will be the only major networking portal with fully moderated content. This has the potential to be a great resource for youth minister networking.

• Volunteers are vital

• Investment in student leaders is essential

• It is not about us

• Relationships are vital (w/ students, parents, staff, church, family, God)

• We will fail at times

• We have to care

• We work as a team

• Youth group must be integrated into the church body

• Youth ministry is cyclical (no, not cynical)

• Youth ministry is family ministry

• Spiritual growth is the goal–not protecting turf

• youthtransitionnetwork.org: Official site for Youth Transition Network.

• liveabove.com offers resources for youth leaders to help their students make the transition and offers help for students in locating a campus ministry and even a Christian roommate.

• college101seminars.com offers informational programs for churches and secular institutions on helping their students make a profitable transition.

• boundless.org/college contains links for articles designed to help Christians survive and thrive in college (and beyond). Ask Theophilus is particularly helpful.

• TrueU.org is a general site for students of faith.