How to Resign with Grace & Dignity

May 4, 2012 — Leave a comment

Below is an informational letter that youth pastor Mark Strickland sent to his congregation. His letter is filled with a clear sense of grace and dignity. His honest letter is an excellent way to inform your congregation that you will be leaving.

What are some points you can take from Mark’s letter? What would you have done differently?

Monday April 23rd, 2012

To the Elders, Deacons, Members, Families, and Teens of Milton Bible Church:

This letter is difficult to compose as I write today to inform you that Wendy and I plan to resign from our positions at Milton Bible Church as of Saturday June 30th, 2012.

I (Mark) have been offered acceptance into Teacher’s College at Tyndale University, starting in July and have accepted that offer.  Going to Teacher’s College will be a career change for me as I plan to pursue teaching over the next season of my life.

Our journey to this decision point has been a long one.  We have enjoyed our years of ministry at MBC and love the people in this church.  Over the past eight years we have experienced highs and lows in ministry, but about a year ago both Wendy and I began to feel a strong stirring that persisted in our hearts.  As we talked and prayed about it, it became clear to us last December that God was pushing us towards a new chapter in our life.  Although I have enjoyed serving as a pastor, I did not feel a strong calling to continue in vocational ministry.  A desire of my heart had always been to teach and as Wendy and I prayed about our future I decided to try applying to Teacher’s College atTyndale University.  In late February of 2012 I was invited for an interview at the school.  I had that interview in March 2012 and I was offered acceptance into the Bachelor of Education program in mid-April.  Wendy, who is already a teacher by profession, has been applying to public school boards and Christian Schools over the past month.  We are hopeful that she will find work, and we believe that God will provide the right opportunity at the right time.  We plan to sell our home in Milton and move closer to Tyndale University by late August.

I cannot emphasize how much we have enjoyed being a part of Milton Bible Church.  MBC goes way beyond being a workplace for us and we consider all of you a part of our family.  You have loved our family and have treated us with exceptional kindness.  We can only hope that we served you well over the years.

God has done incredible things in our time here and I know he will continue to move in amazing ways in the future of MBC.  Jim and Mary have been fantastic mentors for Wendy and I, and I know that we would not be the leaders we are today without their example, mentoring, and leadership in our lives.

In youth ministry, there is never a good time for a youth pastor to leave.  When I started eight years ago, I vowed to not be a 1 or 2 year youth pastor, here today, gone tomorrow.  I’m happy I’ve been able to spend so many years ministering to youth in this community.  But the hardest part of God’s leading in all of this will be leaving the amazing students we work with.  We love all of you and pray you will understand that God has a plan in all of this for you, too!  In this upcoming season I challenge you to be strong, trust the Lord, trust the church, and trust those who come after Wendy and I!

I am confident that the Lord has a bright future for MBC, particularly in the areas of children and youth.  Those who come after us will take these areas to another level.  I am confident that God has a plan for some of you in this, too!

A scripture that strikes me as summing things up is this one:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, whohave been called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

I pray all of us will strive to live in His calling and purpose!

In Christ,

Mark and Wendy Strickland

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The Millennial Teenager – Infographic

May 2, 2012 — Leave a comment

For those who grew up in a world of rotary phones and dial-up Internet, it is hard to imagine that most teenagers today have no recollection of life before cell phones. In fact, these Millennials have had so much exposure to technology, cell phones and laptops and iPods have become common aspects of everyday life. Which might explain why 94 percent of Millennials have cell phones, and 70 percent have laptops.

Are you confused by how this generation interacts with one another? Wondering what life is like for these technology-obsessed teens? The OnlineSchools.com infographic offers a detailed look at the tech-savvy world of todays teens and shows the old fogies what they are missing.

The Millennial Teenager
Courtesy of: Online Schools

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Ministry Tragedy

May 1, 2012 — Leave a comment

Pastor Shannon Wheaton, his wife Trena and their youngest son, Benjamin, were among seven people who died Friday in a head-on collision on Highway 63 in Alberta.

The couple’s oldest son, three-year-old Timothy, survived only minor injuries.

Sunday’s service was anything but ordinary at Wheaton’s church, the Family Christian Centre in Fort McMurray.

Some members of the congregation were in tears as they left the church. One member told reporters that they were trying their best to explain the tragedy to the children, but that it was difficult for the youngest ones to comprehend the tragedy.

Services were also held Sunday at church in Newfoundland, where Wheaton was originally from.

Church website – www.familychristiancentre.org

 

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Posted on April 25, 2012 In Blogroll, Culture , , , , , , ,
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REMIX

April 23, 2012 — Leave a comment

I’ve never really been good at math and I know that I’ll have to probably get a math tutor for my son at some point, but when I look at the math associated with REMIX it is hard to deny that it makes sense and it’s clear that this is not your typical trip to Toronto.

5000 students + 300 youth groups = 15 years

Local Focus = Global Impact

REMIX is an inner-city mission trip and this should be your mission trip.

Churches are using REMIX as the beginning training ground for their students to get the basics before they go out on an overseas mission trip. This is an excellent way for you and your students do life together before you take that them overseas. Chris Folmsbee loves REMIX and what they have going on in Toronto each year.

This is one mission trip that should be on your youth ministry radar for training your students to know how to…

live out the mission and message of Jesus.

By figuring it out locally so they can have a global impact in the future.

This is one mission trip I highly recommend and that’s why I have been personally involved with it for the past four years.

 

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Day of Silence 2012 in Youth Ministry

April 17, 2012 — 4 Comments

The Day of Silence is something that is misunderstood in youth ministries today. There are many questions that surround it and with

each question more are brought up by others trying to understand what it is.

Here are two posts I would recommend you read to gain a better understanding of what your students will experience during the Day of Silence at their school.

Day of Silence by Think Youth Ministry

What’s a Christian to do on the Day of Silence by Dare2Share

 

 

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One.Day Underestimated [LIVE Blogging]

April 14, 2012 — Leave a comment

12.24

Facilitation Groups: Messy Spirituality and Effective Programming #ODU

12.22

Wrestle with Implications: Make a difference in the world. #ODU

12.21

Wrestle with Implications: I don’t know…my #youthpastor told me #ODU

12.19

Issues for Youth Workers

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism by Smith also mentioned in Almost Christian Great read!

12.14

IMPACT of SPIRITUALITY

HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDIVIDUAL’S sense of identity .

12.12

Stages of Faith: adolescents are looking for authority in their lives.

12.11

Fowler – Stage 3: Synthetic-Conventional Faith

Life has grown to many social circles and they need to start to make sense of everything.

12.10

Moral Development by Kohlberg: Conventional Level of Moral Development

12.09

SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

How many of your youth will walk away from their faith in the next 10 years?

12.06

Key Issues for Youth Workers

Divorce, Depression (Toronto Star Article calle – Suicide on the rise for adolescent girls), Power of Friends

11.58

IMPACT on GIRLS

1) Time of extreme emotions.

2) conflict and ongoing negotiations.

3) yet, often times wanting to stay close to parents.

4) great social pressure to be accepted by peer culture and to become autonomous individuals.

11.56

BOYS CODE

1) sensitive to warning signs

2) Learning ways to talk to boys allowing them to share their feelings without being ashamed.

3) Learn how to accept a boys emotional schedule

4) Connecting through actions

5) Telling the, our own stories

11.39

Young people do not decide who they are, it’s the labels (good/bad) that you receive from this group of kids. Making you feel like…

11.35

Groups of Adolescents:

Jocks, burnouts, skaters, skinny jean crowd, gamers, etc…

11.34

Talking SOCIAL now:

Cliques – 6-12 kids based on common interest or activity. Learning social skills.

Crowds – large group based on reputation or stereotypes. Shapes identity.

11.32

Watching a Wonder Years Clip. Such a brilliant clip explaining the social world of adolescents.

11.25

Technology Licence was suggested from one group. Kids needs to earn their licence to use technology in youth  group before they can use it.

Thoughts?

11.22

Giveaways from BrettUllman.com

Furthest church: 115km

Longest in youth ministry: over 15yrs

Shortest in youth ministry: 2 months

10.25

Facilitation Groups:

Effective Programming for Jr. High and High School

Messy Spirituality for Jr. High and High School

10.24

Wrestle with Implications

What is the right length of teaching time?

How do we incorporate different learning styles?

What is the role of technology in our programs?

Listening and Learned Kung Fu by doing Kung Fu.

10.20

Watching a Kung Fu Panda Clip: “You Are Free to Eat!”

10.19

Issues for Youth Workers
ADHD
Technology
Learning styles – Kolb or Flemings VAK/VAKL

10.18

CHanges in thinking

3) Thinking about thinking
- monitor thinking
- imaginary audience
- personal fable
4) Think about thinking from multiple vantage points
- sarcasm
- double meanings, innuendo
Attention Span
Kendergarten 5-10
Children up to 20min
Adolescents 20-35min
Other studies say limit to 20min
Issues for Youth Workers
ADHD
Technology

10.05

Wrestle with implications

Prize goes to the winner. What is the role of competition in our program?

Boys on one side, girls on the other – the mennonite way! How much should we combine genders or keep them separate?

10.03

watching a video from childlike, childs help line in the UK. lots of laughter and and a dose of reality.

10.01

DISCUSSION

How do we tackle “body issues” like sexuality or self image in our teaching/relationship with our jr. high/high school students?

09.58

WE’RE BACK

Issues for Youth Workers

- bullying

- anorexia/belemia

- sexual exploration

DISCUSSION: what are the physical changes that happen during puberty?

Physical development is about one word: PUBERTY

Development is a biblical thing: Luke 2:25

Session One will focus on Cognitive and Physical Development.

Chris Tompkins from Muskoka Woods si getting things started.

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Bawdy Houses Bad Business

April 4, 2012 — Leave a comment

One of the darkest days in my home province of Ontario was Monday, March 26, 2012. That is the day when prostitution and owning a brothel house became legal. You can read the Globe and Mail article here. 

I was speechless (which doesn’t happen very often) at the ruling even though I knew that it was eventually a Fait De Complet after the weeks of media coverage leading up to the ruling.

I’m no longer a proud Ontarian.

I’ve made a personal decision today on this subject. I’m making an appointment to meet with my Member of Parliament. I’m also going to make an appointment to meet with my Member of Provincial Parliament.

Find your federal and provincial members here: Federal Member of Parliament List & Member of Provincial Parliament

I’ve looked to many people for the opinions and thoughts on this ruling and I especially paid close attention to my coworkers here in Toronto with Youth Unlimited (Toronto YFC). My colleagues work in a front line organization called Light Patrol and the director, Joh Cassells, was recently interviewed on Sun News Network. Watch and listen to what John says about this ruling.

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Day of Silence

April 2, 2012 — 1 Comment

Day of Silence 2012

By Brian Pengelly (edited for 2012)

If you are a student, or work with students and are wondering about practical things you can do on the Day of Silence here are a couple ideas:

1)    Listen! 
This might seem odd advice given that many people will be silent, but at many schools there will be presentations or assemblies. Many Christians feel they should avoid these activities, but I think that the presence of Christian groups and individuals is very important. It is possible that you will not agree with everything that is said. That is okay. But listen to the stories being told. Think about how we as Christians can be allies in the battle against bullying. If you are part of a Christian group you could perhaps consider having a member of the Gay-Straight Alliance (if there is one at your school) come and talk about their experiences in the school. The point of this is not to argue with them but to listen and understand their experiences.

2)    The Golden Rule Pledge: 
Warren Throckmorton and others have put together a project known as the Golden Rule Pledge.  In many schools on the Day of Silence students hand out cards when spoken to telling people why they are not speaking and asking them what they will do to help. The Golden Rule Pledge site contains cards that Christian students can download and use to reply by pledging to “treat others the way I want to be treated”. I think this is a good starting place. Christians participating in this should spend some time thinking about how “treating others the way they want to be treated” means actively helping protect others not just promising not to bully them.  It is not enough to not perpetrate injustice – one must actively seek to prevent injustice.

3)    Repent
I think it is important for Christians to own how we individually and as a group have often been part of the violence against gay students, or have been complicit in allowing it to happen. Many LGBT students have stories about how Christians were the ones who treated them the worst. The Day of Silence is a good time for Christians both collectively and individually to take time to repent of this. This might be publicly, like a statement made by a church or Christian club in a newspaper. It might be individually. I heard of one Christian who on the Day of Silence simply wore a black T-shirt with the words “I am sorry” on it.  This led to many wonderful conversations with other students. I believe there are many creative ways this could be done. But remember: repentance is more than words. Repentance is also a change in both attitude and action as well. If we repent and then continue in the same ways, our words mean nothing.

4)    Participate
I believe that the Day of Silence is a worthy cause, and that Christians should be seen as individuals who stand up against injustice wherever it occurs, and whoever it impacts. Many Christians fear that doing so will send a signal that they support homosexuality.  In my own experience, others were very able to understand where we disagreed, and thus were even more impressed when I stood up to protect and care for LGBT individuals. In fact, I found that my gay friends were much more willing to listen to my beliefs about sexuality when they saw my beliefs connected with a concern for justice and care for them.

Stopping bullying, violence, harassment and discrimination should be something that all of us can agree with, and all of us should work towards.

You can connect with Brian on Facebook

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Volunteers 2.0

March 26, 2012 — Leave a comment

The Art of the Volunteers Process

As a I mentioned in my blog about Developing Volunteers I have struggled in the past of being a lone ranger even when I have a

Volunteers

great volunteer team. I’ve come to figure that they probably tolerated me because they loved doing youth ministry so much.

The volunteer process is an art form and it is up to you to make this a beautiful piece of art or a an ugly one. Once your volunteers have committed to the youth ministry and you have done your do-diligence  with the paperwork, checking references, vulnerable sector police check has been collected and your interviews have been finalized. You volunteers are now placed in the right roles but then what do you do with them? How many times should you meet together during the year? What should you talk about when you get together. Should your volunteer gatherings be formal or informal?

Training is an important part of building a confident, competent, and committed team. But don’t make the mistake of assuming that a well trained team is automatically a good team. Our advice? Focus on building chemistry more than on training skills. The 9 Best Practices for Youth Ministry by Kurt Johnston & Tim Levert

A youth ministry cohort I’m leading, we have been going through the above book and the following points about volunteers really stuck out to our cohort from the chapter entitled Developing Volunteer Leaders.

Youth Ministry Overview: you need to clearly and regularly communicate with your volunteers the ministry programs, goals, vision, values and direction. This will keep your youth workers invested in the youth ministry by knowing these details. Your volunteers  have expectations for you and you must balance that when you are communicating an over view of the ministry you are also showing them your expectations for them.

Youth Culture Understanding: Regularly send out links to great websites to your volunteer team to some great sites. Some websites and speakers I would recommend are; Center for Parent/Youth Understanding by Walt Mueller, Digital Kids Initiative by cpyu.org, PluggedIn by Focus on the Family, (our cohort adapted this).

Counseling Students: Help your adults filter through what is and is not appropriate to counsel.

Putting Yourself in Their Shoes: Work your leaders through an exercise that takes them back in time to their own teenage years. As teenagers, what were their struggles, fears, hopes, parental issues, and other big issues?

Preparing a Bible study: Often the things we take for granted are the things most needed by our volunteer team. I (Jeff) have struggles with this for years. I would have conversations with volunteers and when they explained a struggle they were having I would think in my head, “REALLY!?! That is basic youth ministry knowledge and practice.” I found this thought occurring in my head many times before I started to help my volunteers. They were telling me some important things, I just wasn’t listening.

Social Networking with Students: The single most powerful thing an adult can give students is their presence – at sporting events, recitals, concerts, family gatherings, and so on – but social networking allows them unprecedented connection points with students that should be utilized. Jeff: But be careful is you are a jr, high volunteer because social networking could be uncomfortable for parents and organizations.

 

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