Posts Tagged ‘Rubber Meets the Road’

A Reflection on CHIC 2K “The Bridge”

1 Comment » Written on July 6th, 2011     
Filed under: CHIC, Events, Reflection
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CHIC 2K was a transformational experience in my life.  When I look back now, I know that God was orchestrating something great, and planting seeds in me that would bear fruit in the future.

Here’s my story:

I went to CHIC in Knoxville, TN with my youth group from Winnetka Covenant Church.  I looked forward to CHIC just like all of my friends – we had heard so much about it, I couldn’t wait to be there!  I had a feeling it would be a fun week, but I didn’t know then that it would change the trajectory of my life.

Two major things happened in my life that week: Continue Reading »



Groundwire.net

Post a Comment » Written on May 23rd, 2011     
Filed under: Resources, Web Resource
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Have you heard about Groundwire.net?

Marti Burger was attending a meeting last week where she was introduced to the President of Groundwire, Sean Dunn. Sean is a gifted communicator who partners with religious organizations to assist them with camps, conferences, retreats, youth weekends, spiritual emphasis weeks, chapel services, missions training, outreaches, youth ministry, training and consulting, radio programs, television ministry, outreaches and crusades. His passion to reach out is obvious. Read on to learn more about the work Groundwire is committed to on the WWW and TV.

To put it simply, we leverage mainstream media to communicate the message of Christ.  By buying time on TV outlets (MTV, Vh1, Comedy Central, Adult Swim) and top radio stations (hip-hop, country, rock, and alternative, we can keep positive, Christ-focused messages in the heart of the media.  To watch a couple of the 30-second commercials currently airing, you can click on the link below.

www.groundwire.net/tvcommercials

Continue Reading »



EverySchool.com

Post a Comment » Written on May 16th, 2011     
Filed under: Announcements
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Everyschool.com is dedicated to the millions of students, youth leaders and concerned adults who’s heart desire is to reach out to the high school and middle school students in their communities. We want to help you get started in praying for your school and reaching out to students. Whether you are a teen or an adult, everyschool.com has something for you. Continue Reading »



Where the Rubber Meets the Road, part 3

Post a Comment » Written on December 6th, 2010     
Filed under: Reflection
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Does My Youth Ministry Have the Shape, the Story, and the Staff that Will Anchor Student’s Faith?

Lastly in our dialogue about helping students anchor their faith are questions about how we lead and how we let others lead.

STAFF

Do my students experience impromptu faith and life conversations with adult leaders/peers that aren’t scripted, planned, or guided by a curriculum outline? Real life means real conversations and it’s crucial that we allow time and space for adults and students to have low-key, no pressure conversations.  Those conversations become the building blocks for important dialogue in the future and build trust that allows for more authentic sharing.
Continue Reading »



Where the Rubber Meets the Road, part 2

Post a Comment » Written on November 29th, 2010     
Filed under: Print Resource
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Does My Youth Ministry Have the Shape, the Story, and the Staff that Will Anchor Student’s Faith?

Next up in our Where the Rubber Meets the Road series are questions on how we help students understand and interact with the creative, redemptive story of God in their lives.

STORY

When students leave my ministry, do they know better how to think critically about faith and life issues? Have adult leaders encouraged them to wrestle with tough topics?  Do they know that there are things in scripture that don’t line up or even contradict other parts—and have they had the chance to dialogue about that?  Do they know anything about other faiths, or how others see our faith?  Have I given them the chance to critique worldviews in news and media?  If they have felt no friction with big life topics, we may see their faith erode later on. Continue Reading »



Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Post a Comment » Written on November 22nd, 2010     
Filed under: Print Resource, Reflection
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Denise McKinney – Ministry Coach, Writer and Communicator, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Does My Youth Ministry Have the Shape, the Story and the Staff that Will Anchor Students’ Faith?

Recently, my husband reminded me that before any inclement winter weather hits this year, I need to have my two back tires replaced.  We live in Tulsa, which is not much of a winter wonderland during the cold season. But if the kids who yearn to build a snowman are lucky, we will typically get at least one good snowfall between December and March and quite possibly a few ice storms.

Because we don’t frequently have a ton of winter weather issues, neither does our city have a lot of resources to deal with inclement weather when it does arrive.   So, when the rubber meets the road, I want to be able to steer through whatever storm is dumping snowflakes or frozen water particles from the heavens.

That is a lot like what I hope for in building, organizing and dreaming about how to minister to teens. Our students are going to encounter elements of real life that will test their faith when the rubber meets the road and those kids of circumstances will reflect on whether we helped anchor their faith or whether they’ve been set adrift in rough waters. The following set of questions is the first set of three you will see in coming weeks that have helped me examine what it means to shape, story, and staff a ministry that is enduring and effective in the lives of teens, when the rubber meets the road. Continue Reading »