the intersection of life and grace

Youth ministry conventions are an incredible experience, as most people who have attended one will share with you. In some senses, they are like summer camp for youth workers – a place to get out of the normal routines of life and ministry, meet with God, be ministered to, be challenged a bit by voices we may not have heard before (or from whom think we can’t learn anything), and even have some fun as we gather with our peers.

A concern I’ve repeatedly heard from youth workers is “It’s expensive, and I need to convince my [SP/Elders/Leadership] that it’s worth the time and money.” Here are a few points to consider when compiling your case:

We need to know we’re not alone. Youth workers do a lot of what we do in small groups or on our own. There may or may not be many youth workers in our community. We may be the only youth worker on staff, or a volunteer giving sacrificially of our time beyond the work week. There are very few places for us to connect both vocationally and socially. Yes, there are local youth worker networks and, occasionally, local, regional or national denominational support networks; these are important, but they aren’t the same. When a youth worker, volunteer or paid, attends a national youth ministry convention he or she gets to see the vast number of dedicated folks keyed into the same goal. It’s a great energy and momentum boost.

There is no place else to get the same kind of customizable training designed specifically for youth workers. Nowhere else can you choose seminars that fit where your specific needs lie. Need a personal retreat? There’s space for that. Need help with methods and ideas for reaching this generation of young people? There are choices for that. Want to explore or wrestle through issues and topics? There are always opportunities for that. Need to connect with someone with whom you can confidentially talk through your own situation, get some coaching or spiritual direction? There are people dedicated to you. Need to just r-e-s-t? You can do that, too. A youth ministry convention is there for you to make it exactly what you need it to be – it’s up to you to choose what that need is for you and choose among the myriad offerings to make your perfect meal. Yes, you can overdo it. Choose not to exhaust yourself, major in the major need, grab notes or recordings for one or two others.

When a ministry makes space in a youth worker’s schedule for a youth ministry convention they are giving tangible, practical recognition of the value of ministry to students in their community. Yes, it is a financial investment and financial times at churches are often challenging. However, it is one way to give a youth worker some encouraging and equipping in an environment designed expressly for that purpose. While a youth ministry convention is absolutely entertaining and fun, it is also practical, challenging and encouraging.

Attending a youth ministry convention may actually increase your effectiveness and longevity in ministry. I sorely wish I had research to back up this assertion! In my vocational life, connecting with other youth workers at convention events has been a literal God-send. It’s given many youth workers I know a forum to speak their heart, their concerns, their questions about pressing on through the stuff that drains us with people who have been there, and get it in a way most other pastors don’t. I’ve seen it be a burn out preventer, a call clarifier, a ministry life saver. I do know that, in my own personal experience, I went to my first convention after a number of years as a volunteer youth worker because the church at which I served gave me the opportunity. Before that convention I felt isolated and discouraged; I came away from it energized, encouraged and feeling as though I could continue. That was more than 15 years ago.

I haven’t always attended a youth workers convention annually. There have been times where that decision was determined by reasons like finances, family needs, or ministry requirements. Realistically, you may not be able to go every year either, but planning one of these conventions into your budget, making the case to your leadership, and planning it into your ministry time (no it’s NOT a vacation), is an investment guaranteed to bring a positive return.

*disclosure: I have done contract and volunteer work for both companies that present major youth ministry conventions annually. Neither Youth Specialties nor Simply Youth Ministry/Group have contributed to, nor have they remunerated me for, this post.

Shhh… this is a sneak peak of one of the videos from Youth Specialties upcoming National Youth Workers Conventions. I’ve watched it a few times already because, well, it managed to collect the range of feelings and even hit some common issues a great many youth workers face all year long… in under 2.5 minutes.

Take a look:

I look forward to youth ministry conventions all year long. I’ve had the privilege to attend both the YS and SYM/Group gatherings, which are both great quality, distinct events that I hope all youth workers have the opportunity to experience. In the coming days, I’ll share some of the reasons why I think conventions are important to a youth workers’ annual schedule.

I’m completely thrilled to be able to share this news with you. Like 99.99999% of the youth working world, I’ve watched changes happen at Youth Specialties over the past year with interest in where it would all settle. The video below is an instant addition to the YS classic list, and the details are in the text below. Though change can be difficult, I’m grateful this pillar of youth ministry training and resourcing is changing to serve us more effectively. Check it out:

From Youth Specialties:

The past 12 months at Youth Specialties have been crazy, filled with way too many changes. The good news is that—whew—things are finally settling down and exciting developments are on the horizon!

Now—appropriately—you are asking, “What’s next?” We’ve heard you and we’re excited to share the latest news.

Youth Specialties is now a part of YouthWorks! On December 16, YouthWorks finalized the acquisition of Youth Specialties from Zondervan. What does this mean? YouthWorks purchased the Youth Specialties brand—all the events, the websites, the stationery and even the truck that is used to pick up the mail. Zondervan will continue to operate the publishing division of Youth Specialties. In one form or another, Zondervan has been publishing Youth Specialties’ stuff for more than 30 years, so we’re excited to see that relationship continue.

On the same day YouthWorks purchased Youth Specialties, some staffing changes were made. This was by far the most difficult aspect of the transition, but you can be confident that it was managed with great compassion, care and dignity.

Over the holiday period, a lot of the transition work began. After 40 years of operating as a for-profit business, Youth Specialties is now part of a non-profit ministry. This will certainly shape how we operate and how we serve you, but we’re convinced that this will allow us to be even more effective in providing training, resources and encouragement.

Also during this time, we’ve come to know the YouthWorks team and we’ve seen that God’s hand has been shaping this relationship for a long time. YouthWorks’ purpose is “to help the Church be the Church” by providing life-changing, Christ-centered resources for ministry—it’s the Youth Specialties purpose as well.  God has found a great home for our ministry!

What will Youth Specialties do now? The short and simple answer is that Youth Specialties will do what it’s done since it was founded. With our full focus on serving youth workers and the church, we will continue to provide world-class events, training opportunities and resources.

He’s back—Tic Long has returned to Youth Specialties! In the early years of the Youth Specialties ministry, Wayne Rice and Mike Yaconelli hired Tic Long. For more than 30 years Tic helped lead Youth Specialties and helped pioneer much of who and what the ministry is today. Tic’s return as Executive Director of Youth Specialties is effective immediately. Most importantly, Tic has been tasked with leading Youth Specialties forward. His wealth of knowledge and expertise in the arena of youth ministry and his personal passion and love for youth workers will serve as a solid foundation in the growth and success of Youth Specialties.

Finally, thank you for standing beside us during these past months. Your prayers and words of encouragement have been a blessing to both the Youth Specialties and the YouthWorks teams. We look forward to the next 40 years of ministry and the opportunity to grow the Kingdom by serving the world’s youth workers who are impacting the next generation of Christians.

If I had to describe the main stage speakers (so far) with just two words, I would use these: Interesting intersections.

I could leave it right there, and I’m tempted to do just that. But, that wouldn’t make for very good reading for anyone else, would it? What follows is some preliminary processing around those words, interesting intersections.

Tony Campolo spoke to us about the theology of time, reminding me that we serve a God who is omnipresent, who was and is in our past, present and future simultaneously, eternally.  In every moment that ever has or will be, we intersect with God.

Donald Miller spoke to us about the process of story, and touched on the idea that we are in the middle of the narrative about conflict and God’s redemption of the world. Our stories intersect with others’ stories. Tell a hopeful story.

Three teenagers – Zach Hunter, Jordan Foxworthy, and Jaime Coleman – talked about what happened to them when their lives met other, very different, lives and their response to that encounter. When our stories intersect there is an opportunity to make a difference. Create intersections to allow responses.

Liz Murray appeared on the stage and shared what happened when her tumultuous life met another and was altered incalculably.  Intersections can be course altering. Be there for them.

This blog has always had the subtitle At the Intersection of Life and Grace because I want to observe, and participate in, what happens at these places of interesting intersection between lives and stories.  I’m fascinated by them, I am who I am because of intersections just like them.

This weekend I’m at the Youth Specialties National Youth Workers Convention in Cincinnati. I’m serving on the event team doing social media work, which is a fancy way of saying that my volunteer job is to update twitter and facebook and take notes in the Big Room sessions and post them on the YS blog.

I’ve posted at youthspecialties.com/blog twice today, one for Reggie Joiner’s talk on change and systems (which was far more fascinating than it sounds by that description!), and again for Tony Campolo’s talk on the omnipresence of God and abundant life. You can read those by clicking on the links.

I’ll post some photos at the end of the event, internet connection is scarce, which makes this social media gig a challenge.

A personal highlight of the day was meeting up, or rather tweeting up, with about 20 youth workers I’ve been connected with via twitter, plus a few new friends and connections. We enjoyed dinner together, and some non-cyber conversation.

From Crazy Love:

When I am consumed by my problems – stressed out by my life, my family, my job – I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God’s command to always rejoice.  In other words, that I have a “right” to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities.

Worry implies that we don’t quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what is happening in our lives.

Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.

Basically, these two behaviors communicate that it’s ok to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional.  Both worry and stress reek of arrogance.  They declare our tendency to forget that we’ve been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won’t be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God’s strength, our problems are small, indeed.

Why are we so quick to forget God? Who do we think we are?

[Crazy Love, chapter 2, pp 41-42]

This is my second time through Crazy Love, reading it the first time after hearing him speak at the NYWC in Pittsburgh last fall.  It is because of spiritual sledge hammers like the above that I took it up again.  This time around, I’m going through it more slowly, journaling my reactions and revelations, and using the DVD resource – which is a lot like sitting with Francis Chan and having a conversation about the chapters.  The DVD video segments are engaging, beautifully produced, and it should be noted that they are not identical to those which have been available on the website as they bring some different points of discussion to the table.

Yes, it was fun to watch live.

As I mentioned earlier, the live blogging gig was intense.  It was a lot of fun, but I paid attention to the session speakers in a different way that I would otherwise have.  One thing I did notice, however, was something God was doing through the people who independently listened for what the Spirit was saying to the Church, more specifically to her youth workers, and brought what I believe to be a prophetic message of gospel authenticity as one might display the facets of a jewel.  Or, maybe, a 15-foot disco ball sending The Light into every corner, every relationship, every conversation.

None of the general session speakers brought “fluff” – each came with a passion for Jesus and for sharing insight into a more authentic relationship with Him.  However, several brought messages that ought to be game-changing for the Church.

Soong-Chan Rah rocked the room’s perception of cultural and institutional racism and what the church might “do” with that.  I know this was a challenge for many to hear, especially on the verge of an historic election wherein race and gender were part.  In fact, an Asian-Irish-American comedian who appeared on that stage the following morning was dumbfounded by the lack of laughter at his poking fun at his own heritage and family.  Clearly, people heard Dr. Rah’s message.

Andrew Marin stood before a room full of mainly white evangelicals and spoke heroically of elevating the conversation between the Church and the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered community.  He repeated again and again his firm belief that the Bible is “the inerrant Word of God” while articulating in language largely unknown how all have sinned, how judgment is God’s and loving our neighbor is ours, and how those who have been cast out need Jesus too.  I also attended Andrew’s seminar about answering the most common questions same-sex attracted people, who are justifiably jaded by their community’s treatment at the hands of Christians, will ask of a believer willing to have the conversation.  Keeping those out of the realm of yes/no answers is the absolute key to changing the tide, and Andrew ably demonstrated how to do so without a single bit of compromise.  He wants to turn the ship away from certain disaster to a life-giving conversation.  Truly inspiring.  I had some time to sit with Andrew, and am in process of putting together an article for YMX to appear before the end of the year.  So, more on that in the future.

Francis Chan tackled us with a big pile of saltless salt, challenging the perception that more is better or more effective.  A new, and more authentic, message that “numbers aren’t everything” – but one that could be heard and applied right now.  One quote that hit me, “If you can’t make disciples, go make a big pile of Christians.” Ouch.  His scriptural point blew me away, using the account of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, and concluding, “I want people to walk away saying the Lord is God” (like the prophets of Baal did) “not that was a great message.” Total gut (or heart) motivation check.

Phyllis Tickle simply blew me away with a tsunami of information.  Her noteless presentation of 2000 years of church history, documenting the significant events in cultures that brought shifts in the life of the Church… astounding.  I’m going to have to read her book to do the talk justice!  It was precise, concise, relevant, and an important reminder of two things: 1. history repeats, 2. we need to look at the big picture.  And, the lady is just really funny, totally unpretentious, and really, really smart.  Her book, The Great Emergence, is waiting for me.

And, chronologically last, an amazing confession from Marko (Mark Oestreicher) that the Lord so disturbed him that he scrapped the talk he had planned, reworked from the earlier venue of the NYWC, and addressed this thread of authenticity in life and ministry that had been drawn throughout the weekend.  It was an amazing and raw talk that articulated a new intersection for ministry, that isn’t really new at all.  Ministry happens at the intersection of communion and mission.  He went on to give the characteristics of that intersection, that the intersection of communion and mission is small, slow, simple, present, fluid and Jesusy.  The quote that stuck with me? “You absolutely have everything you need to be wildly successful in youth ministry and the stuff you though you needed is an absolute deterrent to ministry.”  There was lots in this reletively short talk, including the world premiere of the text of an as-yet unpublished children’s story that Marko and his 10-year-old son, Max, wrote together… like it was tailor made for this very talk.  I hope someday to possess a copy of that beautiful parable of relationship, a story about learning, about learning together, and learning to live into our given abilities to be our whole selves.

If you’re interested, any of the general session talks, and a huge number of seminars, are available for download, and can be purchased at http://www.ysmp3andcddvd.com/store.

I love the YS Conventions.  The first time I attended was in Philadelphia in 1997.  The theme, Only a Fool, hit me right in the heart as I was in full-on ache to be in youth ministry full time, and attempting some discernment about how, when, where that could even happen, or even if it was supposed to.

I was already a “seasoned” volunteer (who really knew nothing!) of close to 10 years, had never once had a ministry budget.  I spent hours wandering around in the store carefully choosing what I could afford to buy with my own money to stretch the most Kingdom impact out of for the kids at the church I was serving.  I don’t know if the person who noticed my painstaking browsing was a YS staffer or a volunteer, but after a while that person started talking to me and (because it’s so difficult to do this) pulled my story out of me.  She was very encouraging, helped me make some choices and check out my purchases, which came in just a few cents less than what I had to spend.

I went on with my conference day, full of speakers and music and places where God spoke and I listened, places where I spoke and God listened.  None of those places was clearer than the sight I beheld upon returning to my hotel room to find the door decorated with handmade signs and streamers thanking me, by name, for loving kids sacrificially.  I stood in that hallway and cried.  I sat in that hallway and cried some more.  Once I could see again, I noticed the bulging white plastic bag of goodies.  Much of the resource material I’d considered but left behind in my deliberations was in that bag, along with a signed copy of Following Christ by Joseph Stowell.  His talk that weekend was a marker for me, and I’ve re-read or referenced that book a dozen times over the years. An incredible, supernatural bit of affirmation and encouragement, made possible because someone was paying attention.

No surprise, then, that each of the YS Conventions I’ve attended since – I’ve lost count, maybe 5 or 6 – have been with the firm intention of connecting and listening for the purpose of encouraging.  While that has looked a little different every time, that’s my heart when I go.  That moment of encouragement was pivotal for me in continuing the journey, and I’m willing to bet that YS staffer/volunteer had no idea it would lead to a 20+ year commitment to sharing the Seriously Ridiculous love of Christ with kids and youth workers.

PS – Oh, and thanks, God via YS, for that nice full-circle thing you did on the themes for me, I love it when you do things like that!

There have been so many wonderful speakers in the general sessions thus far.  Because I’m live blogging, I’m so focused on the word the speakers are saying to share with the blog audience that I lag a little behind on the personal processing experience.  Sessions that I’m definitely going to listen to again (of the ones that have taken place so far):

• Andrew Marin, author of the forthcoming book Love is an Orientation, founder of The Marin Foundation.  He speaks powerfully to the church about the inconsistent treatment we give to homosexuals, calling us to build bridges and love authentically.
• Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love, whose message was so powerful and authentic in challenging us to be more and more like Jesus.

You can see the stream of posts we made during the general sessions here: nywc.com/live