#Interlude Dance at @SCUMCREVOLUTION 2012

March 20, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

 

 

Two weekends ago at Simply Youth Ministry Conference, I learned a new group dance called the Interlude.  Last Sunday I tried it out at our youth group and my students loved it!  So this past weekend we used it with 2,500 students at the South Carolina United Methodist Youth event Revolution.  Here is the video for it.

Here is the link if you would like to use it for you group from the gameshowblog.com:

http://gameshowblog.com/the-interlude/
MAIN GIST

The ‘Interlude’ is a simple and really fun dance sweeping the nation. It was originated from the University of Northern Iowa. You can read all about the interlude dance hereand there is an instructional video here. It’s a great way to get students out of their seats and have some fun.

MATERIALS NEEDED
Filed Under: church, God, misc, UMC, Volunteers, You Tube, Youth Ministry, Youth Ministry Ideas · Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Monday Ministry Tip: You First

March 12, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

So many youth workers…really ministry workers in general do not take care of themselves first.  We are more concerned about feeding our flock instead of taking care of ourselves first.  Last week at Simply Youth one of the speakers made the analogy of being on an airplane.  They discussed how when we are ride on a plane, a flight attendant instructs us that if there is a loss of cabin pressure and the oxygen masks drop, to put yours on first before trying to help someone else.  But we never do that.  We are more concerned with making the best small group lesson, the amazing illustration, or getting our five points in our message down.   We fail to get into the Word like we need to.  We consider picking out and reviewing what scriptures we use for the upcoming week’s lessons our feeding.  Most of us in ministry take care of our ministry’s spiritual needs but fail to work on our own.  We talk the talk, but too often do not walk the walk.

During these past few weeks I have finally gotten back in the habit of reading my Bible again…and not just for lesson preparation.  I’ve also been reading several books on the side as well dealing with soul care.  And let me tell you that I have not felt this way for almost ten years.  Yes!  I said ten years!  It was before I let life get a hold of me and before I let ministry become more work than anything else.  Last weekend I learned one really important thing at Simply Youth…. God called me first to be His before God called me to be in ministry.  And thats my new look at life and ministry.

Filed Under: church, God, Monday Ministry Tip, Personal Care, Soul Care, Youth Ministry, Youth Ministry Ideas · Tagged: , , ,

#SYMC 2012 Final thoughts

March 8, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Yesterday I shared some of my thoughts on SYMC mostly talking about the labs and seminars.  Today I want to continue with my final thoughts, even though I do not think I can ever put them down in words.

One of the main things that blew me away this past weekend was the main sessions.  The music of Shane & Shane and Tim Timmons was just truly pure worship.  There were no guitar solos or any comments by either group saying that a song was from their latest album.  They were there to worship with us and not put on a worship concert.  Too often at conferences, it has become more about the artists, their solos, them trying to dress and act to impress the audience.  But this past weekend I experienced the first authentic worship in a long long time at an event.  It was so refreshing for my soul and for my time away from the noise.  It allowed me to breathe in God.

I also really enjoyed the Skit Guys.  I have seen these two for years and own every DVD and almost every download video the have out.  But how they were this weekend, was just what I needed.  I have seen and watched several of the skits they performed over the weekend, but after being in authentic worship and transitioning to them I got more out of their skits than I ever have before.

The speakers this weekend were just amazing.  They covered every area that most of us youth workers are dealing with in our lives and ministries.  Talking with many fellow youth workers over the weekend they felt they same thing.  I just really loved watching them from a distance as outside of them on stage I saw them engage with youth workers, be in full worship, praying to the side, and not trying to be an “All-Star” “Super Star” main stage speaker.

Overall it was great to see the leadership of SYMC caring for youth workers. Kurt Johnston, Josh Griffin, Kami Gilmour, Matty McCage, Jake Rutenbar, Andy Brazleton, Rick Lawrence, Len Evans, and everyone else that is a part of leadership I want to thank you for being amazing and loving God and loving Youth workers.  You guys were real and it wasn’t about selling us anything or having vendors who were down our throat trying to sell us things.  It was all about taking care, encouraging, empowering, and getting to know us.  It was a fresh take on Conferences.  And almost think you should rename it the Simply Youth Workers Retreat.  Because that is what it really was.  It was a time for us to have our time being the campers more than it was being conference attendees!

Here is part of the email that I sent Matty McCage thanking him for inviting me to SYMC 2012.

It is so great to be part of something so authentic.  Between the amazing worship, talks that were perfect for anyone in their journey in ministry to seminars from youth workers in the trenches who were not about self promoting themselves or their products to being a part of soul care and mentoring younger youth workers.  It was truly the best conference/training/soulcare/time with God that I have experienced in 14 1/2 years of ministry. 

Over the past couple years I have lost my brother, my wife had a miscarriage, and at many times felt separated from the church.  During the past year at my new church I started to trust the church again.  And this past weekend put the icing in the cake with falling back in love with being in ministry.  I will never be able to repay you for your great friend or the invitation to SYMC but know I would if I could.  

And here is what I wrote to many of the leadership team of SYMC.

I want to thank all of you and your team for a great weekend at SYMC.  It was my first time ever going to SYMC. Matt McCage and I have known each other for over three years now and he has been trying to get me to come every since we met.  Last Fall, Matt talked me into going after talking up how great SYMC was.  I will let you know that going into the weekend I had very high expectations.  And you guys blew those expectations right out of the water!
I have been in ministry since I was a freshman in college.  I have been to many conferences from NYWC, Catalyst, YS One Day, Passion, and many one or two day trainings over these past 15 years.  I have been a seminar presenter and breakout group leader at many of them.  I have helped on design teams for UMC conference trainings.  I have been on both sides of all of this and I have never experienced what I did this past weekend.  

I talked with Matty on Sunday Night and Josh on Monday afternoon and the only word that summed up the weekend was Authentic!  
  • Authentic Worship
  • Authentic Speakers
  • Authentic Staff
  • Authentic Care
  • Authentic Leadership
  • Authentic Vision
I am very glad I finally listened to Matty and decided to come this past weekend.  I feel refreshed and have truly fallen in love with youth ministry…AGAIN!

I will  see you in Indy next March!!!

Filed Under: church, Friends, God, just sayin, Personal Care, Soul Care, UMC, Volunteers, Youth Ministry, Youth Ministry Ideas · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

#SYMC 2012 Thoughts No. 1

March 7, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

I really enjoyed my learning time through all the breakout groups, labs, seminars, and my pre-conference option.  The best part compared to “other” conferences I’ve been to in the past…it was about learning and growing together and not about trying to sell me a book.  In the past I have been to labs where they basically read the back of their book cover, teach the first chapter and tell you that they just released a book that you can purchase in the conference book store.  This wasn’t the case.  It was about group learning.  Almost every presenter that I attended was writing notes from other youth workers in the room when they shared ideas.  There was great feedback and discussion in our breakout groups during all my labs.

All of the presenters were “Authentic”.  They shared their struggles, they didn’t take the time to brag about their groups, and they expressed that they have real problems as well.  They took the time after to stand and answer and ask questions with participants.  They weren’t in hurry to get somewhere else.  They walked and talked with you on their way to session if you still had more questions.  They made themselves available into the late hours.

Over the past couple years I have heard from other friends in youth ministry about the “All-Star” youth pastors…the ones that write books, speak at events, and have large groups.   But let me tell you that this was the first conference that I’ve experienced that didn’t have “All-Stars”.  Everyone was equal here and were very approachable.  We are all in the trenches together.  We are all on the same team.  Everyone there were “Kingdom” minded.

 

Filed Under: church, Friends, God, Personal Care, Soul Care, UMC, Youth Ministry, Youth Ministry Ideas · Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Day Four of #SYMC…

March 6, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

The last session at any ministry conference is always the smallest crowd.  A lot of people leave early due to travel, so the last session is typically more intimate.  And I’ve always stayed to end the for the part of any conference for that very reason.  I woke up early, packed, ordered breakfast, and was ready for the last morning of Simply Youth.  I decided to go to the JR High discussion panel for my last breakout time.  It was awesome to hear so many great ideas on games, fundraisers, curriculum, and other things.  I defiantly got my moneys worth for the entire weekend out of just this 90 minute discussion.  I then made my way to the Soul Care booth to say some goodbyes before grabbing a few of the sessions on DVD to take back to my volunteers.

Tim Timmons once again led some incredible worship during the last session.  That guy has a really cool sound and a big heart for God.  Rick Lawrence blew us all away with his amazing creativity even though most of us in the room acted like middle schoolers before he even started with our trash bag like object lesson.  He taught one of the simplest but greatest scriptures I’ve ever heard at a conference.  Amos 5:4, “SEEK GOD AND LIVE!”  Then Kurt Johnston closed out with helping us to learn how to embrace the mess.  We too often try to fit all our lives into four equal boxes, but in reality we just need to embrace it and go with it.

The is so much from this past weekend I tried to digest on the way home and sitting in airports all day.  I’m just still at “WOW” from this weekend.  I have attend numerous conferences and seminars in ministry over the past 15 years, but nothing has been authentic as what I experienced during these past four days.  God really worked on me this weekend.  I got more out of it than I could ever fathom.  And thats why I’ve already placed my $50 deposit down for next year.  During the next three days I’m going to sit down and reflect and blog about how this weekend just changed me, grew me, and renewed me.

Filed Under: church, God, Personal Care, Soul Care, UMC, Youth Ministry, Youth Ministry Ideas · Tagged: , , , , ,
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