Change can be hard. Some people thrive on it. Others are paralyzed by it. As they say, change is inevitable. How we prepare for it is vital. Hemorrhaging Faith demonstrated that transitions are key opportunities for churches to support children and youth. So what are key steps in ensuring an effective transition? Here are some suggestions from a youth worker's perspective. FROM CHILDREN'S MINISTRY TO YOUTH MINISTRY With your children's
I once heard someone remark, "If you really want to get a lot of students to come to your youth group, just bring in a keg of beer." While his comments may be satirical about how some churches overvalue numbers as a marker for success, it does ask a vital question: What is it that separates a youth group from any other youth gathering? All around us, there are seemingly
“Practice is the hardest part of learning, and training is the essence of transformation.” ― Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are The fact is, if you don't train, you don't transform. If you're not continuing to learn and stretch, then don't expect positive change. Ensuring that you and your team have on-going learning opportunities is key to sharpening their ministry skills and moving the
Evaluation and feedback are key in helping to see if a ministry is continuing the direction God has given. Regular feedback (whether informal or in a more structured approach) helps to give a "pulse" of where things are at. Every couple of years, it's worthwhile doing an audit of your ministry. The purpose of an audit is to give an accurate snapshot of where things are at. It takes your
Internships. There are many connotations of what an internship is. Lately, the discussion includes the use (or abuse) of unpaid internships (see the Toronto Star article from March 2, 2014). Some people see internships as cheap (or free) labour. Others see internships no different than another paid position. What exactly makes an effective internship? Internships in a ministry context (like youth ministry) are meant to provide a space for the
After March break, the final stretch to this ministry year is just on the horizon. It is crucial to finish well. If you haven't already, here are some areas to ensure you're covering in this final stretch: Plan a celebration when the ministry year concludes with students and the church (this could include a special Sunday service in June) Help your graduating high school students transition into their new life
Last Friday, over 760 students and leaders from 26 churches came to witness the Toronto Raptors beat the Sacramento Kings. The bigger highlight came after the game where everyone came to courtside for some giveaways (who doesn't like free stuff), some on-court contests, and testimonies by John Salmons (shooting guard for the Raptors) and two students from First Baptist Church in Toronto, all hosted by Herbie Kuhn, voice of the
March break next week marks the unofficial last quarter of the ministry year. For many ministries, this is an opportunity to build momentum in a youth ministry towards the last stretch as they find ways to grow deeper as a community, and many times also find ways to better serve their community. Some possibilities include: short-term mission trip (whether it's overseas or right next door) a day camp for kids
At Camp Hermosa, our goal is to provide a memorable summer experience for kids and families, while inspiring campers to make faith in Christ a part of their everyday lives. With programs for kids of all ages, a comprehensive leadership training program, and camps for families as well, we are sure you will find the right camp for you at Camp Hermosa. Visit www.camphermosa.org to learn more about what we
January 1st, I (Rod Vis) started a new position at Camp Kwasind. Over these past two months, I have been reading everything “camp” related I could find. I cannot count the number of times, while reading, I have said “Wow!” Time and time again, I am amazed at the wealth of knowledge and concrete evidence that points to the life-long benefits summer camps give our children. Summer camps have the
