Wowzee! (Is that even a word?)

Wowzee….there is a lot of cool new stuff in the Simply Youth Ministry world! Here are a few of my favorite:

- Group/SYM’s annual “ReGroup” is small (limited to 100) gathering of youth workers at Group’s headquarters in Loveland, CO. This year promises to be one of the best EVER due to the fact that my good friend, Mark Oestreicher is joining us to lead the majority of the conversation. For details, and to smile at bit at Marko’s perspective on this year’s event, jump over to his blog.

- LIVE Curriculum goes to College!That’s right, the best stinkin’ small group curriculum on the planet is now available for College-age ministries.Good stuff….really good stuff. Check it out!

- SYM has put together a new app called THE YOUTH MINISTRY WIRE where you can access a bunch of blogs from folks in the SYM community.An easy place to access them all at once.

SYM Show: Pig Problems

This week's topic: relational ministry. Highlights include: Problems with the pig timer, a window word-picture, and a nonsensical debate. Where's Jake to keep things on track?!

SYM Show: Pig Problems

This week's topic: relational ministry. Highlights include: Problems with the pig timer, a window word-picture, and a nonsensical debate. Where's Jake to keep things on track?!

SYM Show: Summer Chaos - A Method to the Madness

Join Kurt and Jason as they discuss the pros and cons of a busy summer schedule, talk about their favorite comedy and drama television shows, read a letter from the the Youth Worker Nation, and reveal a few new show sponsors. NOTE: By “show sponsors" we mean anybody who sends them something in the mail!

SYM Show: Summer Chaos - A Method to the Madness

Join Kurt and Jason as they discuss the pros and cons of a busy summer schedule, talk about their favorite comedy and drama television shows, read a letter from the the Youth Worker Nation, and reveal a few new show sponsors. NOTE: By “show sponsors" we mean anybody who sends them something in the mail!

Some Keys To Creativity

Creativity….the thorn in the flesh of almost every youth worker; especially those who work with young teens. So much has been written on the subject, and I’m certainly no expert, but I thought I’d share a few thoughts:

1) All of us are creative. I know this because you used to be 5 and all 5 year olds are creative. Over time, we have been taught how NOT to be creative by the constructs of our society.
2) Creativity in youth ministry is over-rated…we put WAY too much pressure on ourselves to do stuff we (but mostly others) will view as creative, exciting, cutting edge, cool, new, unique, etc.
3) My working definition of creativity: “The willingness to try something different”. If it’s sort of new or different in your setting, then it’s creative!

Here are several ways to practice the art of creativity; or simply to become a bit more comfortable trying something sort of new or different:

- Hang Around Creative People!One of the best ways to be creative, is to let others be creative for you! There are people in your ministry with TONS of new ideas, new perspectives and new ways to do the same old stuff.Surround yourself with a few of these folks.

- Be a “Looker”. We live in a world steeped in creativity. Open your eyes, and look for inspiration. Too often when we need a creative idea or solution to a problem we hole up in an office or coffee shop hoping something magical will pop into our heads.

- Use T.V., Don’t Let It Use You.Watch television….but watch it with a purpose. Some of our most creative minds work in the entertainment business and there is a lot to learn from them.

- Go Surfing.Or do whatever it is that refreshes you and clears your mind. Sometimes “walking away” from the pressure to solve a problem, write a bible study or design a youth group website is the best way to spark the creative juices you are desperate for.

- Find Your Creative Time. For most folks, creativity is tough work….so do it when you’re at your mental peak. For most, trying to thin creatively an hour after eating a massive bowl of Thai food for lunch is bad timing.

- Clean The Slate. Instead of reaching for last year’s summer camp file, start with a blank white board. Teaching another lesson on friendship? Avoid the temptation to make your first move grabbing last year’s lesson on friendship. Use your old stuff as reference points, but try not to automatically depend on them this time around.

- Steal. Seriously. Surf the internet and look at stuff other JH ministries are doing, and steal those ideas. Get to know the youth workers at the other churches in town, and steal from them. If you are using something of theirs outright, ethics would dictate you ask permission, but there’s no crime in seeing or hearing about something another ministry is doing and adapting it for your your own setting.

Question: What are some other ways you have sparked your creative juices?

Photo Finish? Photo Beginning!

These past 2 weekends, we’ve been welcoming “Brand New 6th Graders” into our ministry… maybe you’ve been doing the same. We move our students up from childrens’ ministry into Jr. High Ministry in June, because it helps them get acclimated to this new rhythm before the stress of school starts in the Fall. A big bonus is that they also get to come to summer camp with us!

A couple years ago, we started snapping individual photos of each new 6th grader on their first day into our ministry… complete with them holding a 8/5 x 11 handwritten “sign” with their name on it. Truth be told they look a little more like mugshots than yearbook photos — but we’re cool with that!

There have been several big payoffs from doing this:

Name Recall! – I’m sure I’m not the only youth pastor who’s been guilty of calling a kid “dude” because I couldn’t remember their name. We print out these photos & use them like flash cards… and I shocked Tomi & Harrison & Noah by remembering their names when they came back for their 2nd weekend last week! (Of course, several other students couldn’t believe I forgot their name too… but hey, I’m disappointing sometimes!)

Growth recognition – Do you know how much the average kid GROWS between the first day of 6th grade, and the last day of 8th grade? Looking back at old 6th grade photos reminds me that they’re not just growing physically…. But emotionally, relationally & spiritually, too.

Blackmail ammunition – When students get older, you can say “don’t do that, or else I’ll show everyone that picture of you from 6th grade!”

SYM Show: It's summertime!

Watch as the guys discuss everything from SNL to summer youth activities. All in (roughly) 12 minutes sharp!

SYM Show: It's summertime!

Watch as the guys discuss everything from SNL to summer youth activities. All in (roughly) 12 minutes sharp!

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Simply Youth Podcast is Back!

Simply Youth Ministry is back with a brand new podcast! Check out episode one where Kurt reveals his new co-host!

Simply Youth Podcast is Back!

Simply Youth Ministry is back with a brand new podcast! Check out episode one where Kurt reveals his new co-host!

SYM Post Game Show w/ Jon Acuff and The Skit Guys

Join Kurt Johnston and Jake Rutenbar as they chat life, ministry, comedy, etc with Jon Acuff and the Skit Guys. This was filmed LIVE onsite at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference 2012 in Louisville, KY!

SYM Post Game Show w/ Jon Acuff and The Skit Guys

Join Kurt Johnston and Jake Rutenbar as they chat life, ministry, comedy, etc with Jon Acuff and the Skit Guys. This was filmed LIVE onsite at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference 2012 in Louisville, KY!

SYM Post Game Show w/ Francis Chan, Craig Gross & Shane and Shane

Join Kurt Johnston and Jake Rutenbar as they chat life, youth ministry, head shaving techniques, and porn with Francis Chan, Craig Gross & Shane and Shane during the Simply Youth Ministry Conference in Louisville, KY.

SYM Post Game Show w/ Francis Chan, Craig Gross & Shane and Shane

Join Kurt Johnston and Jake Rutenbar as they chat life, youth ministry, head shaving techniques, and porn with Francis Chan, Craig Gross & Shane and Shane during the Simply Youth Ministry Conference in Louisville, KY.

Group Magazine Live #3: The Down-and-Dirty on Youth Ministry Salaries

Group Magazine Live is a topical, live podcast that will run every two months to coincide with the current issue of Group Magazine.

GML’s third episode will discuss “The Down-and-Dirty on Youth Ministry Salaries”. We will dive into everything from who decides, average salaries, large church vs small church, why, what, how to support a family, oh yeah and our GROUP Magazine’s biennial Youth Ministry Salary Survey!

Guests will include:
Rachel Cruze - Speaker, DaveRamsey.com representative, and daughter of Dave Ramsey
Tony Myles - Senior Pastor of Connection Church in Medina, OH
Brian Berry - Author, and Group Magazine's "Family Matters" columnist

Hosts:
Rick Lawrence - Editor of Group Magazine
Toby Rowe - Group Missions Trips

Group Magazine Live #3: The Down-and-Dirty on Youth Ministry Salaries

Group Magazine Live is a topical, live podcast that will run every two months to coincide with the current issue of Group Magazine.

GML’s third episode will discuss “The Down-and-Dirty on Youth Ministry Salaries”. We will dive into everything from who decides, average salaries, large church vs small church, why, what, how to support a family, oh yeah and our GROUP Magazine’s biennial Youth Ministry Salary Survey!

Guests will include:
Rachel Cruze - Speaker, DaveRamsey.com representative, and daughter of Dave Ramsey
Tony Myles - Senior Pastor of Connection Church in Medina, OH
Brian Berry - Author, and Group Magazine's "Family Matters" columnist

Hosts:
Rick Lawrence - Editor of Group Magazine
Toby Rowe - Group Missions Trips

Group Magazine Live #3: The Down-and-Dirty on Youth Ministry Salaries

Group Magazine Live is a topical, live podcast that will run every two months to coincide with the current issue of Group Magazine.

GML’s third episode will discuss “The Down-and-Dirty on Youth Ministry Salaries”. We will dive into everything from who decides, average salaries, large church vs small church, why, what, how to support a family, oh yeah and our GROUP Magazine’s biennial Youth Ministry Salary Survey!

Guests will include:
Rachel Cruze - Speaker, DaveRamsey.com representative, and daughter of Dave Ramsey
Tony Myles - Senior Pastor of Connection Church in Medina, OH
Brian Berry - Author, and Group Magazine's "Family Matters" columnist

Hosts:
Rick Lawrence - Editor of Group Magazine
Toby Rowe - Group Missions Trips

Group Magazine Live #3: The Down-and-Dirty on Youth Ministry Salaries

Group Magazine Live is a topical, live podcast that will run every two months to coincide with the current issue of Group Magazine.

GML’s third episode will discuss “The Down-and-Dirty on Youth Ministry Salaries”. We will dive into everything from who decides, average salaries, large church vs small church, why, what, how to support a family, oh yeah and our GROUP Magazine’s biennial Youth Ministry Salary Survey!

Guests will include:
Rachel Cruze - Speaker, DaveRamsey.com representative, and daughter of Dave Ramsey
Tony Myles - Senior Pastor of Connection Church in Medina, OH
Brian Berry - Author, and Group Magazine's "Family Matters" columnist

Hosts:
Rick Lawrence - Editor of Group Magazine
Toby Rowe - Group Missions Trips