The New Face Of Youth Ministry

People talk about how different youth ministry is now. How old, outdated ministries are no longer effective and how in order to be effective, youth ministry must look different. The problem is that everybody talks about it, but nobody is really doing it. The people who say they are doing something unique and different are just doing the same things, but using different words. Love this frustration post about how to change the face of student ministry. My favorite line:

Now what? It's time for change, but what? It isn't working. Let's deal with it. It isn't a fad or a season. It is reality. We are doing youth ministry just like the 1970's. Same old stuff in new shoes. It is time to be honest and embrace change. But where to start?

Houses

Did I tell you that I sold my house, and that we're buying one up here? We close 03.25 in Atlanta and 03.28 in St. Charles. I cannot wait. JM

Recruiting

So I've started the leader recruiting/retention process for this coming year. Our ministry year starts at the beginning of June, so we're getting close to the end. My ministry can't function without adult leaders, so recruiting is a huge part of what I do. At the same time, I don't just want a warm body in the room, I want somebody who cares about students. The tough part is that most people that care about students don't know it until they actually start working with students, but most people are too intimidated to try it. We'll see how it goes. It's going to take a lot of prayer to get the right people in there and also fill all of the holes. JM

Ludacris' Map

Love this map of area codes in which Ludacris claims to have hoes. My favorite line:

Ludacris has a disproportionate ho-zone in rural Nebraska. He might favor white women as much as he does black women, or perhaps, girls who farm.”

JM

Larry Norman

Larry Norman died. I don't know much about him. He's referred to as the father of Christian rock. I've heard some of his songs before, but am largely unfamiliar with his stuff. His funeral sounded incredible though. A party. A celebration of life rather than a culmination of regret. What was cool to read about was how he impacted people. Here's part of what happened at the funeral:

I think many of us expected a bunch of famous musicians giving testimony of the greatness of Larry. Instead, the family gathered a bunch of everyday people who’s lives were touched by Larry. After the musical collage, a man came on stage and said, “Hi, I’m Jerry, Larry’s mailman. For years I have delivered Larry’s mail” — he spoke of Norman’s kindness and love for him.

I wish I took the time to get to know the periphery people of my life. To show kindness and love for the people who I don't have to have a relationship with, but I choose to. JM

Tradition

Why do we hang on to traditional forms of ministry when they don't even work. It doesn't make any sense. Love this post at Church Relevance about "Scary Clown Ministry" citing research talking about how children don't like clowns. Here's a good quote:

Very few children like clowns. They are unfamiliar and come from a different era. They don’t look funny, they just look odd. Children are much more happy with things stuck on the wall that have some sort of personal relevance for them, not some images that are foisted upon them by adults.

But it's not just clowns in children's ministry. We hang onto all sorts of bad ministry ideas just because they are easy for us to do, or we're comfortable with them, or they worked for us in the past. It just doesn't make sense. JM

Conference

I don't think I'll be going to a conference this year, at least not until at least late fall. But if I could go to one I would go to the Whiteboard Sessions. Such an interesting concept and some amazing leaders. Sounds awesome. Maybe next year. JM

Art

I like art in almost all of its forms (I struggle getting into dance). So after watching the oscars the other night, my wife and I decided that we were going to watch every film that's ever won the academy award for best picture. Of the 80 listed, I've only seen 18. I wonder how many I'll like. JM

Celebrity

Is it any wonder that Britney Spears went crazy? Imagine that this was what it was like for you every time you wanted a frappuccino. JM

Tomorrow Never Comes

I keep thinking that I'll start posting regularly tomorrow, but it just hasn't happened. So hopefully tomorrow I will. If you were forced to watch that stupid quarterlife show the other day like I was, you'll be happy to know that it will never happen again because it got cancelled after just one airing. JM