Motivational Monday- The Weight of Perfection

Often times, especially working in a field where you are the role model, we find ourselves struggling with the pressure of being perfect and complete. After all, doesn’t Matt. 5:48 we must be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect? And, doesn’t James 1:4 say we should be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing? HUGE…

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Money, Love, Money

Chip, stash, bank roll, Benjamins, C-Notes. Whatever you call it, teenagers love to get & spend money— on concerts, clothes, shoes, food, and of course, music. But when it comes to giving money, the love affair dwindles. Teenage giving should be a priority, not to have money in your budget, rather to teach young people to…

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Motivational Monday- Young and Bold

Found this verse and thought it would be useful as we encourage our youth: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 No matter how young, how inexperienced, how large the task, let’s empower our youth…

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Dunk Tanks and Digital Downloads

By Chris Lassiter After pelting me with a barrage of whip cream pies, the group of teenagers I took to summer camp knew exactly how to clean me up….The dunk tank. I trudged back to our dorm room, soggy but happy. I hopped in the shower and got ready for bed. And that’s when it…

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Youth Look up to YOU… Lecrae’s “Just Like You”

Lyrics: “I grew up empty cause my daddy wasn’t with shoot. I wasn’t picky I’ll take any male figure… you.”   Believe it or not, your youth are watching! The rarity of positive role models increasingly infects our urban communities. Let’s make sure we, as ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5), bare witness to the…

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The Help: Part Two

This is Part 2 of a series by Lee Wilson on recruiting a great ministry leadership team.   You can read Part 1  here. In the movie, The Help, one of the main characters, Skeeter decides to write a book from the perspective of the African-American maids in her community.  In order to do this,…

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The Help: Part One

Recently, I went to minister in Kenya, Africa. While taking the longest, most grueling flight from Syracuse, NY to Bungoma, Kenya, I decided to do something I rarely get to do – watch a movie.  And I am so glad that I did.  I ended up watching the award winning film, “The Help.” This movie…

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Natalie Warne: Being Young and Making a Difference

Veteran UYWI speakers like Harvey Carey challenge urban youth workers that, “youth ministry is not about ministering to youth but about empowering youth to minister.” (Download, for example, Harvey’s “Legacy People” general session talk at UYWI 2008). UYWI has attempted to model this idea by integrating “Plus-1” proteges at various Reload events (watch “Homegrown: The…

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Hope Help Heaven

Every youth leader knows that the summer is one of the busiest times of the year. Your students are out of school, free for activities and expecting you to provide some amazing programming for them to take part in. How you share the vision for your summer events will determine how involved your students become,…

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