CONVERGE—come together, unite, connect…

National Network of Youth Ministry

• Walking With Youth Through A Death February 22, 2012
  Death is never fun to experience but we have to prepare to walk with our students through it in order to serve them well and honor God through it, also. I don't enjoy it but I've become very good at dealing with death and helping people sort through the pain, anguish and emotional rollercoaster that it can have on a family. I deal with death almost […]
• Going Forward When Life Stops February 20, 2012
  I went to Rolly Richert's memorial services in Detroit on February 15th. He was only 63, was recovering from his cancers and showed up in Atlanta three months ago to help produce the Youth Specialties Convention. Last month he almost went with his grandkids to Disney World. As we stood at his graveside, several of us agreed that it seemed surreal -- too […]
• Eleven Good Meetings February 17, 2012
  "Build it, and they will come." That may be a great movie tagline, but it doesn't necessarily work for building a healthy ministry network in your community. If we want our networks to grow, it’s not enough to just open your doors once a month, invite a bunch of youth workers, set up chairs around a table, and expect that will result in […]
• Rolly Richert - A Hero February 14, 2012
  Rolly Richert was a hero to many of us in youth ministry -- an example of perseverance, creativity, commitment, humility and building others. He advanced the cause of youth ministries on hundreds of fronts and impacted millions of lives, most often from behind the scenes. Rolly received his reward in the presence of our Savior on February 10, 2012 -- much ea […]
• Adding Dimensions to Prayer in Your Network February 13, 2012
  In your networking with others does your prayer sometimes seem flat? it is easy to get into a rut in our prayer. Sometimes we think of prayer only as a to do list for God. However, there are ways bring new dimensions prayer in your network. Last year at the Simply Youth Ministry conference Mark Orr, our New England Regional Coordinator, shared how networks c […]
• 5 Expectations Our Students Deserve February 11, 2012
  In a world where students are rewarded for mediocrity I firmly believe that it is time for the church to set itself apart by expecting more from our students!  If Jesus could change the world using mostly teenagers (see Matthew 17 for a clue as to why I believe He did hint only Jesus and Peter owed taxes and to owe taxes you had to be over 20) than why […]
• The Newsboys Prove "Better Together" February 8, 2012
  According to a recent USA Today/Gallup poll, Vermont is ranked as the 50th least religious state, or stated another way, we are the least churched state in the entire country. This is likely because Vermonters see themselves as ruggedly independent, capable of making it on their own, and skeptical of any need for salvation other than one of their own making. […]
• Broken for Community Impact February 6, 2012
  I still remember my first day in youth ministry. I was a wide-eyed idealistic 17-year-old kid who was asked by his youth pastor to become a small group leader to a bunch of junior high boys. Wow! I had big plans. These plans included being used by God to revolutionize these kids thinking about Jesus and I was going to mobilize them to do ministry and reach a […]
• YouthWorker Journal February 2, 2012
  Welcome to February. It's time for the newest digital edition of the YouthWorker Journal. This month has articles from: Mark Oestreicher Marv Penner Syler Thomas John Huckins And the Winter 2012 College Spotlight. […]
• Take Time to Ponder January 30, 2012
  We are all familiar with the wonderful story of Jesus birth in Luke 2. We are gripped by the trip to Bethlehem and the fact that Jesus is born in a stable. We marvel at the announcement by angels to the lowly shepherds. We appreciate the initiative of the shepherds to come and see the baby and share his arrival with others. But, embedded in th […]