Where Youth Ministry Must Go… Reflecting on the Day
March 12th, 2007 by Steve
Around 300 people, mostly those connected with youth ministry gathered at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary today for our Spring Talking Points to explore “Where Youth Ministry Must Go…“.
Presentations from Kara Powell, Mark Oestreicher, and me are now available for mp3 download.
I would like to publicly thank Kara and Mark for making their thoughtful and inspiring contributions to the day. I believe we all think this conversation is a very important one that certainly seems to be resonating with many youthworkers.
It’s not that this is a new conversation. I think it’s been a topic of interest that has echoed in the coffee shops and conversations of many of us for quite some time. I think we had a chance today to verbalize together what many of us have been whispering.
I’d love to hear from those of you who attended. What were some of your takeaways, or what might be some additional questions you might add to the conversation? Those of you who couldn’t make it, feel free to listen to the mp3′s and join in!
March 13th, 2007 at 10:00 am
Steve,
Again, I really enjoyed what you (and Kara and MarkO) had to say. The questions you led us through really helped me Johnny and I talk through our program. I love how you’re teaching and where you’re taking youth ministry!
March 13th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Loved Kara’s comments on being much more intentional with the college transition (4 + 2).
Your talk Steve was astounding. I would recommend it to every youth pastor period. I have to listen to it over and over again just to dig out more stuff. You talked so fast I think you spoke a novel in about an hour! It was good stuff bro.
Marko’s stuff were things I have already been coming to terms with personally and had the same reaction. I think I remember him posting on his blog awhile back on the very same topic, although I don’t know if the intention of the broader direction was about relationships with your lead/senior pastor and board.
A great day in all and thanks for hosting. I’m glad I lived in Grand Rapids to be a part of this.
March 16th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
steve,
i want to thank all of you guys for putting together a quality day of training.
over the last couple of years, i have been developing a team of key adult leaders in our ministry to come along side of me and help me process student ministry needs, direction and strategy. i was able to bring 4 of the 5 members from my team…and i couldn’t have asked for better material.
this was the exact direction/depth of material i wanted this team to be wrestling with, and by bringing my team, we had a shared experience that really gave us a lot to think through.
there just isn’t a lot of good stuff that is close to us in saginaw, michigan…thanks grts, and team, for putting on a quality training event that was accessible and relevant to our ministry needs.
March 22nd, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Great stuff thanks for putting up the mp3′s for those who couldn’t make it. This is the dialogue that needs to be nurtured and appreciated among those called to youth work. Thanks for your hard work and making this possible – may the dialogue grow among our tribes.
March 23rd, 2007 at 9:56 am
As a youth worker who has yet to find his own ministry (have only been out of school for a year) it was refreshing to hear some of what I would encounter ‘out there.’ What I appreciated the most, not that it all wasn’t appreciated
were the words of MarkO. Just being a volunteer where I am, I have run up against the hardship of not dealing with unspoken expectations. What an encouragement to someone just starting out to realize that some of the biggest hurdles to doing ministry come from inside the church itself, but can be avoided by simply laying aside some time to bring issues out in the open and actually dealing with them.