Everyone Has a Voice: A Response

I love blogs! I’m pretty new to youth ministry (celebrating 28 months today in my first church), and a good blog is almost like having a mentor…key word being ALMOST. A good blog challenges while it inspires, and keeps the reader wanting more. Here are a few of my favorite blogs to read:

http://everyonescalledtoyouthministry.wordpress.com/

Everyone Is Called To Youth Ministry. As the title suggests, everyone is called to youth ministry—some just don’t know it yet. Darren is a veteran youth worker in transition. His blog encourages the reader to look into the grey areas, consider your situation, and take a stand. I like his blog because he writes from the heart. Thanks to his blog and experience, I’ve side-stepped a few difficult situations.

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Is Your Ministry Having a Christmas Party?
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http://www.christopherwesley.org/

Chris Wesley’s blogs are short but pack a punch. He posts almost every day with the goal of “equipping, encouraging, and educating youth ministers to serve the church for the long haul.” His blog is inspiring because I plan to be in youth ministry for the long haul, plus he understands and writes about the daily challenges of being in full time youth ministry.

http://www.dougfields.com/

I am young and single. I love my life! However, I know for a fact that I will not be young forever; and if it is in God’s plans for me, I won’t be single forever either. Doug Fields’ blog is about the combination of marriage, family, and ministry. I don’t know what it is like to be married, but I occasionally teach on the topic and it is helpful to have another honest perspective on marriage from the inside. I also like to tuck away his stories and ideas for when I am married and have a family. I want a healthy, happy marriage; this is one step toward being prepared for it.

http://yoacblog.com/

This is a blog that I just recently started following. While I honestly don’t know a lot about AC as a person, the blogs that I have read are full of wisdom and practical steps for solving various dilemmas. He has the ability to take a difficult situation and biblically lay out a path to pursue.

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Is Your Ministry Having a Christmas Party?
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Group also has several great bloggers within their network. I love Stephanie Caro’s blog (http://www.smallchurchyouthministry.com/); I read Josh Griffin’s blog everyday (http://www.morethandodgeball.com/); and enjoy Neely McQueen’s insights on teenage girls (http://www.morethangossip.com/) just to name a few.

Who are the voices speaking into your ministry?