They have changed the date for the Thank A Youth Worker Day to a spring date, May 3. You can read about why they are doing the change here: www.thankayouthworkerday.com. But, why don’t you think about ways your congregation can honor all the volunteer youth workers in your church. (Youth Worker being defined as someone who works with & sacrifices of themselves for people under the age of 18.)
Honor them in church
Have a luncheon
Pass out ribbons
Give them a gift
Visit www.thankayouthworkerday.com for ideas or to register your participation.
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WHOLEHEARTED – YDR 2012
I am horrible at putting deadlines, but we need to know who is coming to our Youth Discipleship Retreats? Plans are made, t-shirts are ordered and we have some signed up for each of the three weekends… register and get info at www.kyumc.org/ydr or www.theflame.info
Kavanaugh – April 13-15
Loucon – April 20-22
Aldersgate – April 27-29
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We had a great time with the Bishop’s Morning with Confirmation Students and intend to build off of our time and make it even better next year. Check it out at http://www.kyumc.org/news/detail/972
While talking confirmation, check out this video question asking: “What are we doing to help young people have maturing Christian faith?” http://is.gd/PjwYuj
Or this blog post ask, “What are the basics that make us United Methodist?” The author ask for your opinions and feedback at www.revitupmethodist.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/living-like-united-methodists
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44 Funny Church Bulletin Bloopers To Make You Smile: http://is.gd/MQClIN
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The Ichthus Festival June 20-23 (www.ichthusfestival.org), is one of our conference events for 2012. We’ll be gathering as a group several times during the larger event, and offering a special Ichthus Festival package for Kentucky Conference UM churches & those that attend Winter Blitz. It will include some opportunities for you to more fully and uniquely experience the festival... and save money.
Our package includes:
- Discounted ticket prices
- Several free youth leader/sponsor tickets (with the purchase of group tickets)
- Special gathering times with other KYUMC churches at Ichthus Festival
- Prime camping space in the Ichthus premium camping area with other KYUMC churches
- Exclusive artist/speaker meet & greets
- Youth leader access to the Ministry Partner Tent and backstage tours
- Youth leader training
- Discounts on Ichthus merch... and more.
To learn more about ICHTHUS or to inquire about the Kentucky Conference Discount Code available to all Conference Churches or those attending Winter Blitz, contact our offices at 800-530-7236 or youth@kyumc.org
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Youth Ministry Essentials, The Importance Of Structure In Youth Ministry: http://is.gd/W9VWxK
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The next YouthWorker Sabbath is May 14-15 at Camp Loucon… register today at www.kyumc.org/youthworker_sabbath or www.theflame.info
Excited that Brad Fiscus from Tennessee Conference will be with us to lead our discussion times.
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Have your students registered for summer camp yet? Send them over to www.kycamps.org to get registration info for either Aldersgate or Loucon.
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Evangelism… a Tool for Spiritual Growth? http://is.gd/wv0gZF
And while you ponder that question over at Jonathan’s Blog. Help us identify persons (especially a young person) for this year’s Denman Evangelism Award.
Harry Denman Evangelism Award
Begun in 1981 to honor United Methodist clergy and lay persons in each annual conference who exhibit unusual and outstanding efforts for the work on Christian Evangelism, the Harry Denman Evangelism Award helps draw attention to evangelism in the conference by honoring one clergy person, one lay person, and one youth who are reaching others effectively for Christ.
Those eligible for the awards are effective in helping persons to experience the transforming love of God through Jesus Christ. The Denman Award is sponsored by the Foundation for Evangelism, an affiliate of the General Board of Discipleship of the UMC.
Send completed nomination forms to David Sparks at 7400 Floydsburg Rd., Crestwood, KY 40014. Forms must be received by April 15.
Download clergy nomination form.
Download laity nomination form.
Download youth nomination form.
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I love what they are doing over at www.slant33.com
. Every week it is a youth ministry question that has “three voices, three views.” This week’s question, “How do you navigate on-on-one relationship contexts (in order to protect yourself and others)?”
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Don’t use twitter but want to send texts to those who want to subscribe to your texts? Heard of a new start-up called SendHub: www.sendhub.com or another one is TextMarks www.textmarks.com. Both allow students or parents to send a code to receive text messages to your group.
I started to use this feature at one time, but elected instead to encourage people to like us on Facebook and follow us on twitter, where you can have updates or tweets sent as text messages. Keep most up to date with KYUMC Ministry with Young People at:
www.facebook.com/kyumc.myp
www.twitter.com/kyumcyouth
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Rachel Held Evans is getting a lot of attention this week speaking for many young adults in her post of 15 Reasons I Left Church and 15 Reasons I Returned to The Church
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I love the Sticky Faith Initiative (www.stickyfaith.org) and what they want to accomplish, but I’ve always had a problem of bringing together multi-generational without intentionality… www.youthmin.org recently had a post that sums some of this up in The Skinny on Students in Adult Worship
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World Water Day is Thursday, 3/22. Consider fasting water from noon to 6:00 pm, and when you thirst, say a prayer for those without... video: http://fb.me/1tlEjwlQF