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Instagram Will Kill Your Youth Ministry

Daniel Beckworth Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Social media has swept across this great nation like wildfire. Facebook is on its way out. If you still use Myspace you’re most likely a stalker—or very lonely. Twitter is still rocking along quite steadily and has yet to be completely infiltrated by preteens...
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Families, Leadership

Interview With Craig Gross

Kurt and Josh Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Our longtime friend, Craig Gross, founder of XXXchurch.com has a passion for helping men and women break free from the grip of pornography. XXXchurch.com has helped thousands of people develop a deeper level of personal accountability as well as providing some safeguards for the ever-increasing... read more
Families, Culture

Discussion Starter: Teen Actor Mulls Emancipation

Steph Martin Friday, May 17, 2013
Hollywood—Celebrity gossip sites buzzed with news that Jaden Smith, son of A-listers Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, wanted legal emancipation for his 15th birthday. “He really wants to have his own place,” Will Smith said. Jaden later dispelled the idea, joking that he’d be staying at his... read more
Families, Culture

Discussion Starter: Long Ordeal Ends for Kidnap Victims

Steph Martin Friday, May 10, 2013
Cleveland—The miraculous rescue of three women missing for about a decade dominated headlines last week. Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight are now reunited with their families after surviving a nightmare ordeal. Berry, 27, staged a daring escape Monday from the home of Ariel Castro... read more
Leadership

Youth Ministry Handoff: A Response

Scott Cohoon Thursday, May 9, 2013
Kurt & Josh continue to offer great topics and content with SYM Today. I was both challenged by the thought-provoking journal questions and encouraged by the practical transition suggestions. This week they have out done themselves by including a Football analogy. So, in keeping with the “... read more
Leadership

Youth Ministry Transitions

Kurt and Josh Wednesday, May 8, 2013
This is a season of transitions in our ministry. In just a couple of weeks the 6th-graders will be moving into our junior high ministry, our new freshman will be entering high school, and our just-graduated seniors will be moving up into the college-level program. It’s a bittersweet time of... read more
Leadership

The Youth Ministry Handoff

Kurt and Josh Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The quarterback takes the ball, and hands it to the running back. The running back forgot the play for a second, maybe the quarterback goofed and was a split-second late—either way there’s a problem with the exchange and before you know it the ball squirts from his hands on to the AstroTurf™.... read more
Leadership, Discipleship, Programming

What I Learned On The Road...

Jordan Davis Monday, May 6, 2013
Have you ever had a great idea you thought would rock, and it just didn’t go as well as it could have? I live in northeast Wyoming. Recently I took a group of 10 kids on a surprise destination road trip. I gave them a cost and a packing list and they got in the van. A few hours in they found out... read more
Culture

Discussion Starter: News of Gay Athlete Leads to Controversy

Steph Martin Friday, May 3, 2013
Washington, D.C.—In a first for American professional team sports, an active athlete has come out as homosexual. NBA free agent Jason Collins announced this week that he’s gay, leading to overwhelming support from fellow players, media, and even President Obama. Collins, a 34-year-old center,... read more
Leadership

Youth Ministry Apps: A Response

Bill Nance Thursday, May 2, 2013
Josh and Kurt shared some great apps for us to check out in the previous two days. I am a big technophile and am always on the lookout for new apps to download. I’ve owned an iPhone for nearly five years and just got myself an iPad mini. I’ve downloaded hundreds of apps over the years. I’ve even... read more
Leadership

The 3: Best Youth Ministry Apps (Kurt)

Kurt and Josh Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Got a smartphone? Chances are you’re working at integrating some great apps into your youth ministry world. We do the same thing—and while Angry Birds Star Wars and Temple Run 2 take up a little too much of our time if we’re honest, there are some incredible apps for youth ministry. Josh gave... read more