i spent the last 30 some hours with some fellow youth ministers that have been on a journey as a group this academic year. this was our youth ministry institute 2 for the tennessee conference umc.
a number of years ago i was part of the pilot youth ministry institute, since then they have popped up around the country. our conference has had a group participate just about every year since the first one. this was our first year for up-ing the commitment level in a second year. i totally loved the group experience, these folks span lay volunteer in small church rural areas of tennessee to middle sized sub-urban and me who is probably at the largest church of the bunch. these folks have become my best friends in ministry.
if you get a chance to participate in an intensive such as this i would totally suggest you go for it.
this years tasks were collaborative youth culture readings and research. i’ll probably expand more on what i have processed, but this is a little list we created of some trends & ideas.
- single gender opportunities
- drivers license worships
- parent support group
- decision making lessons
- sexual-relationship talk
- self-image issues
- help parents understand their importance as parent
- "replacement" activities for harmful behavior
- root of the solution is God
- listen to God
- think for themselves
- build in times to listen
- be present with kids
- help them be ready for the world
- see them as individuals
I’d love to see an outline of your “course material.” We’ve been building a good social network of youth ministry people in our synod over the past two years and are trying to develop some training opportunities now. We’ll take all the ideas we can get.
I’d love to see an outline of your “course material.” We’ve been building a good social network of youth ministry people in our synod over the past two years and are trying to develop some training opportunities now. We’ll take all the ideas we can get.
hey matt, i’ll see what i can get to you. it’s one of the few things that i am not in charge of (which i like), so i only know what i’m asked to do this year, and i know the ymi curriculum has reshaped over the years.
hey matt, i’ll see what i can get to you. it’s one of the few things that i am not in charge of (which i like), so i only know what i’m asked to do this year, and i know the ymi curriculum has reshaped over the years.