Youth Leaders

[Labby]

A thread for the youth leaders to get together and share the joys and trials of our ministries. This can be lots of fun, and can generate ideas for our groups.

We've had some events lately that have been designed to bring our students closer together. We had a lock-in a few weeks ago, and a massive outreach night a few weeks before that. And we have another event planned for the end of August, not to mention a community youth missions trip the first week of August.

With all this going on, some of us youth leaders were getting a tad burned out, and we decided we needed something just for us. So we thought about something that's fun to do, but we haven't done in a while. And then it hit us: rafting.

We used to go rafting every year (a comm. youth event), but a couple years ago our senior pastor said no; he had a bad feeling about it. That year there were several drownings involving people on church trips. So our youth group can't go rafting.

However, the youth leaders can. And we did; we were able to go with our old youth pastor's group (he's a SP now), because he had an extra (empty) raft. Not all of us could go, but those of us who did had a blast.

I'm still recovering, and have a number of bruises and scratches to show for the trip. Not to mention a sunburn on my face (surprisingly, the only part of me that's burned).

Fun times.

[LauraA]

Dan and I are not Youth Leaders, but we enjoy doing things with the youth. Next Friday night Dan is having a campout in our back yard for the guys and their sons/dads/friends. I've taken several of our youth to Jeremy concerts 3 different times. That's always a blast.

Dan and I are both kind of quiet and "behind the scenes" kind of people, so I don't see the Lord calling us to be youth leaders. But we both like to do what we can to help out. For those of you who are youth leaders, what kind of things would you appreciate help with? This will give us ideas on how to lend a hand.

[fireproof]

well i head up north to camp on thursday with the campers arriving late friday, im so excited.

Its gonna be different this year as its new event leaders and a lot of new folks to the team, but Gods got some great work in store for the kids and us this year. Iv got younger guys than im used to so that'l be a challenge aswell, but theres only 4 il be directly responsible for as opposed to six or so that normally happens!

Prayer appreciated!

[LauraA]

I'll be praying for you. I'm sure you will be a blessing to those kids. We need more people willing to do things like this.

[Amanda]

After the experiences I've had with my youth group this summer - Alive and then the Nor'easter (UM youth conference for the Northeast) I am so excited for this school year. I have gotten so many good ideas and I've been busy researching curriculum, generating ideas and dreaming of the future.

Coincidently, my youth group went rafting this past Wednesday. I did not go. I'm too chicken. :( However, all but one had a blast. That one got caught under the raft for a few minutes and it scared her.

They say they are taking me next year. We'll see.

[Labby]

I was talking with a couple fellow youth leaders this weekend, and all of a sudden, a number of ideas came out, based on some of the needs of our group.

A lot of students don't like to read the Bible. Often, it has nothing to do with the version they have, but the act of reading. If some of our students can't read very well, how about getting an audio Bible?

But audio Bibles are expensive! And trying to find a good version in understandable language can be difficult. So I had the thought of recording an audio Bible. It would take forever, but the payoff? I'd have to read this Bible multiple times (Mark chapter 15, take 20), and our students would have an understandable Bible that they can listen to.

But after some searching, I found this:
http://christiansupply.com/D40AE0A40B444B8CB38CC6C2626AA75B.asp?p_key=8FE22E8 2C01F4986A36DC5982B6163C2

I looked it up on biblegateway.com to see how it reads, as well as to put it through my litmus test (I look up Job 40 and 41, and Acts 8:36-38). Job 40 calls Behemoth Behemoth, and 41 calls Leviathan Leviathan (not an elephant and crocodile, respectively), and includes Acts 8:37 (look it up in an NIV Bible).

So I'll have my youth pastor take a look and see what he thinks, and maybe we can get some printed Bibles for the youth group.

[LauraA]

I was talking with a couple fellow youth leaders this weekend, and all of a sudden, a number of ideas came out, based on some of the needs of our group.

A lot of students don't like to read the Bible. Often, it has nothing to do with the version they have, but the act of reading. If some of our students can't read very well, how about getting an audio Bible?

But audio Bibles are expensive! And trying to find a good version in understandable language can be difficult. So I had the thought of recording an audio Bible. It would take forever, but the payoff? I'd have to read this Bible multiple times (Mark chapter 15, take 20), and our students would have an understandable Bible that they can listen to.

But after some searching, I found this:
http://christiansupply.com/D40AE0A40B444B8CB38CC6C2626AA75B.asp?p_key=8FE22E8 2C01F4986A36DC5982B6163C2

I looked it up on biblegateway.com to see how it reads, as well as to put it through my litmus test (I look up Job 40 and 41, and Acts 8:36-38). Job 40 calls Behemoth Behemoth, and 41 calls Leviathan Leviathan (not an elephant and crocodile, respectively), and includes Acts 8:37 (look it up in an NIV Bible).So I'll have my youth pastor take a look and see what he thinks, and maybe we can get some printed Bibles for the youth group.

Amen! Also quite interesting... check out :

Matthew 17:21 Matthew 18:11 Matthew 23:14 Mark 7:16

Mark 9:44, 46 Mark 11:26 Mark 15:28 Luke 17:36

Luke 23:17 John 5:4 Acts 15:34

Acts 24:7 Acts 28:29 Romans 16:24

[fireproof]

so camp was awesome (check out the prayer and praise for more details) and it turned out i had 6 guys in my group instead of the initial 4 i was expecting, but they were all great. so its all good!

[LauraA]

On Jeremy's home page, you can sign up to get Jeremy's newletter and info on resources for youth leaders/workers.

[Labby]

Um, bumpage.

I actually got to go to youth convention this year (first time since '02), and my YP's comment was it was fun to watch me: I didn't really know what to do with myself. I didn't have to do set-up, clean-up, run sound, hit the lights, do the powerpoint, etc. I was free to completely enter in and worship Him (which was awesome -- I'd forgotten what that's like).

Next weekend we head to Wildhorse Canyon for Winter Camp, which is going to be exciting. I've never been (even though I know so much about the history of it -- if you want to know, google or wiki "Rajneesh", "Big Muddy Ranch," etc). Everything I've heard about it is amazing.

[Amanda]

^That's awesome. I've been reading in The Journal of Student Ministries about how important it is for youth pastors/leaders to create balance in their lives and remember you need time for your relationship with God too.

Next up for us, the youth and about 20 others from our church are going to see the Casting Crowns Christmas Celebration concert down in Charleston. I'm really looking forward to it and I'm so excited it's turned into a church event and not just a youth event. :)

[ktyme06]

So I am a "sometimes youth leader", that is mainly because I am helping with the AWANA program this year and that goes on at the same time as youth group. I miss helping out a lot though. I am helping when AWANA isn't going on though and during the summer.
We put on a concert in April and like no one came...maybe 15 people that weren't working it. But it was fun.

[Labby]

Camp was absolutely amazing (I know it's been a week, but still).

15 students gave their hearts to Christ for the first time.

20-something recommitted their lives.

And 89 received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues for the first time.

[PrayerPower]

Camp was absolutely amazing (I know it's been a week, but still).

15 students gave their hearts to Christ for the first time.

20-something recommitted their lives.

And 89 received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues for the first time.

That sounds awesome. God is really moving through youth groups. I see Him moving through our youth group right now. I am so blessed to be a youth leader and get to see how the youth are changing.

Right now one of our young guy youth leaders has taken on the task of having something called Pray and Play time. Once a month he gets the guys together and they pray for about an hour or so and then they hang out and play basketball. He just started it and he says it is going good. He is hoping it will expand over time.

[drake71449]

will be praying for your play and pray time and that God continues to bless it

:p