I have been thinking about youth ministry and parents a lot lately. I am not sure why...probably for a few reasons. One of which has to do with the fact that our youth ministry here in Destin, FL has a regular showing of students whose families are not exactly encouraging or modeling good lifestyles (let alone Christian ones).

We get these students for a few hours a week but their family gets them for somewhere in 60-70 hour range (if you minus sleeping and school). Their influence is so huge. I feel like our only real hope is to reach their parents. Yeah, yeah, I know...God is bigger than their parents. I agree. He can save and change them. But take into account a few things:

1) Parents are still the number one influence on teens
2) There is a big jump in students accepting and living under the Lordship of Jesus into adulthood who have 4-5 adult Christian influences in their lives who pour into them a bit
3) Students with self destructive families and self destructive personal habits tend to have friends who accept them and likely have similar habits. Which....means you are asking them to break from their circle of friends which is extremely difficult for them, or any teen, to do. This is not impossible though and we need to think deeply about how to resource these students in this way through our ministries...to help them live into a new transformed community.

With all of this said, I have begun serious discussions with our children's minister and with some other ministry professionals and veterans. I am trying to figure out how to do family ministry. I do NOT want to get rid of or downplay youth or children's ministry but I do want to see a vital DNA change. Which is this:

To have the church (children's and youth ministries) be a resource TO parents as opposed to

Having the parents being a resource to us.

Do you know what I mean? Does this make sense?

I think that Biblically the parents have a mandate to raise their children in the faith. However, I think there is a subtle opinion (not pointing blame at anyone) that the church is mainly responsible for the formation of our youth and children. So...to that end...I hope to figure out a way in the Lord to make some DNA changes here in Destin.

Labels: Family, Parenting, Programs

Hey gang!

We will have most of our yamia team present at the youth specialties conference in Nashville (Nov 21-24th...check out www.youthspecialties.com for more info) this November. We will also have a special room and meeting time to connect. We would absolutely LOVE to meet you. Please stop by and say hey.

Our hope is that we can meet a few of our fellow youth workers in the Anglican World and hear what God is doing.

Postcards should be coming to you shortly if you are registered on our site:)

Labels: Training, Youth Specialties

From our vacation to Chateau Elan in the North Georgia Hills. Sara and I got away before ministry picked up and the new baby came (due in late October). It was a great time, but too short. Here are some of the pics:








This is a pub (one of 8 restaurants on the winery/chateau) that was styled after a traditional Irish pub and was put together in Ireland and shipped here.




















This is Sara next to some of the grapes in the winery that will soon become...you guessed it...wine.




















This is a picture of one of the common areas within the inn we stayed at on the property. This was taken from the 3rd floor walkway.

























This is me at the tail end of the winery tour where they teach you the process of how they make the various types of wines. All in all it was a great trip...even for a guy who rarely drinks wine.

Labels: Family, Miscellaneous

And it was great. Left Paul with some friends and Sara and I got away to a private Chateau & Winery (Chateau Elan) in the north hills of Georgia.

We also managed to see our beloved Cubs plays the Braves in Atl. That was fun too. Saw a Braves player hit for the cycle and saw a bench clearing altercation. And...the Cubs won!

Hope to have pics from the vacation and some youth ministry thoughts etc... Be praying...Hopefully some BIG news coming:)

Labels: Miscellaneous

Great (and very short) article on opposition in the church and how we, as leaders, respond to it. This article is from the Leadership Journal and is written by John Ortberg who is the former teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago and now at Menlo Park Presbyterian in California.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/leaders/newsletter/2008/cln80714.html

Labels: Leadership

I am bloggerfied....blogdead...unbloggerific...

Translation: I have little to no blog inspiration lately. I think it is because I have been away two of the last three weeks at camp. I probably should do a post Soul In The City summary/highlight blog.

Ok, that is my only inspiration. Look for that in the next week or so.

Labels: Miscellaneous