samwise the brave

its just that simple. it will be the best time you can invest. watch this video…check out the web…have a question about it? leave a comment.

Mentoring is a huge tool to impact the life of student. The folks at NNYM (National Network of Youth Ministries) are huge proponents of empowering the idea of local mentoring.

In 2003, the Department of Justice established a cooperative arrangement with NNYM to lead a nationwide effort to recruit adult mentors. Through this partnership, they launched MentorYouth.com, which was/is very successful. Now, federal funds have expired. Their resources are excellent…and they could use our help click this link and give them your support as part of the Pepsi Refresh Project.

last week i spent a couple of great days in lexington, ky with some kid’s ministry folks at the first ever children’s ministry expo. the expo was the brain-child of ken dovey and roger fields at kidz blitz .   i went partly because i wanted to see what things are coming up the ladder towards student ministry.  while there i had a chance to spend some time with alan root. i’ve known alan for about 10 years…and think he’s one smart guy when it comes to understanding where today’s “tweeners” are.  take some time and check out this breakout he did the first day…tween ministry with 10 Heads & 20 Feet.  those of us in student ministry need to understand more clearly where the hearts of our incoming middle schoolers are in the life of the church and what we need to be inviting them into.  after you’ve watched it, please leave a comment would love to start a conversation…and mark your calendar for next year’s cmx, july 7&8, 2011 in lexington, ky.

First Story: about 5 years ago i met an interesting young man named Xan Hood. we became friends.  Xan and his partner Cory Smith have been doing some great Kingdom stuff.  Training Ground has impacted the lives of literally dozens of young men who are finding their place in the larger story.  Now they’ve stepped off with an another impacting ministry called buffalo and company.

Second story…I have an amazing job.  part of the job is walking with students to encourage them.  two of these students Ian and Cotie and I spent part of our afternoon doing some volunteer work at Pleasant Hill Outdoor Center…just a way to wrap up the school year.

After a good time of working, for the sake of working…doing good, we all got a chance to try out the new 500 ft zip line that PHOC just installed.  Thought it was a perfect way to begin what will be a few ways that i get to help students find their place in the Story.  So enjoy the video.

For both Ian and Cotie it was their first expereince (and mine too) on the zip line.

i didn’t see the zip line on Xan’s list of their new challenge called Honor Your Wild…but the three of us stepped off in a whole new way…literally…i think its exactly four steps off the launch platform…fun stuff.  so check out Honor Your Wild and see what adventure you can step off on.

ethan johnson - visual storyteller

in the last year i’ve developed some friendships with some amazing students at our ashland campus. one in particular ~ ethan johnson has a keen gift for the visual. he just completed the reel dreams fim festival at regents and walked away with the 2010 Audience Favorite Award for his entry entitled “dying to live“. the top 7 competitors received an all expense trip to Regent’s campus and then the final award selection. Its impressive to see Ethan’s talents against others. Its also impressive to see the next generation of dreamers who, with new technology are leveraging the art of story telling.

here’s the wrap-up video from the competition last weekend at Regent.  Its worth the watch just to hear the passion in the voices of 7 incredible young people and the motivation behind their craft with film-making.  so cool!