Important Events coming up

There are three important events coming up in the next few months that I want you to know about. I'm listing these in reverse order.

February 1 2017 - Evening lecture

I know the word 'lecture' might conjure up images of boring people, but this event will be anything but boring. Andrew Root is a teacher and writer that I have learned a lot from. His book "Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry" had a huge impact on me when I read it, and his short series that begins with "Taking Theology to Youth Ministry" is a series well worth reading.

Andrew will be in Melbourne lecturing all week, and on Wednesday Feb 1, he will be giving a lecture on 'What is the Theological Turn in Youth Ministry? Lessons from Dietrich Bonhoeffer'. His book ""Bonhoeffer as Youth Worker" is an outstanding book that will be well worth your time to read. At this event, you will get the chance to meet the author and ask your questions.  I've attached a picture about this, or you can click here to see my blog http://ministryandyouth.blogspot.com.au/2016/11/ministry-youth-theology-and-bonhoeffer.html

January 26 - 29 2017 - Engage'17

For those who have been to Engage before, you know that this is a conference where you will learn to read the Bible better so you can teach the Bible better. This conference will have Rev Mike Raiter preaching from the book of Numbers, a variety of workshops, and most importantly, the strand groups that will help you to read and teach the New Testament, the Old Testament, Doctrine (worship) and a fourth strand on Ethics. 

Registrations for Engage'17 are open now. The website has also been upgraded, so please take a moment to check it out. http://www.engageleadersconference.com/

December 27 2016 - January 1 2017 - PYV Summer Camp

 
The Annual PYV Summer Camp is an event that people get excited about each year. Not only is the weather good, but there are plenty of good people to meet and the preaching is excellent. This year we have Rev Jared Keath from Frankston coming to preach from the book of Exodus. We had a training day last weekend and heard an outline of the six talks that Jared will be delivering. So when I say the preaching is excellent, I'm confident I'm using the correct word. 

Kirsten Bryant from Drouin is our convener for Summer Camp, and with her experience and leadership, and the team she has put together, I have no doubt it will be a camp worth being at. Please encourage the youth in your church community to come to this camp. 

Postcards have been sent to every church, but if you haven't seen any at your place, please let me know urgently and we will send you a bundle. For more information and registration, go to https://www.pyv.org.au/camps/summer

Finally

I conducted some training at Drouin in Mid November. I recorded this and there are now two extra recordings available to you all.

• Why youth ministry is essential - http://files.pyv.org.au/audio/Why_is_Youth_Ministry_Essential__compressed_version.mp3
  
• The practice of youth ministry - http://files.pyv.org.au/audio/The_Practice_of_Youth_Ministry_compressed_version.mp3

There are other recordings available at https://www.pyv.org.au/training/pyv-training-events-recordings


Thank you for all you have been doing through 2016. I know it's not over yet, so I hope it will finish well for you and your team.
God bless you all.

Ministry, youth, theology and Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a name well known to many Christians. His writings and his life example have confronted many of us as we wonder how to live as faithful Christians in a non-Christian world. But most of us have known very little about him as a minister amongst youth and children. There is much about this that we should know.
You could read Bonhoeffer's work, which is quite extensive. You could read biographies on him, but there seem to be as many of these as there are stars in the sky. You could read Andrew Root's book "Bonhoeffer as Youth Worker", which is outstanding. (I was going to put a link here to my own review of the book, but it looks like I didn't actually write one. I was sure I had. I will get to that soon).


Or, you can come and hear Andrew Root speak about Bonhoeffer as youth worker in Melbourne on Feb 1 2017. That's what I'll be doing.

Jason Goroncy's blog will give you more information.

Dancing with teenagers

Last weekend, Nov5-6 2016, Anne and I travelled to Benalla in Northern Victoria for an annual dinner dance. What interested me most about this is that it is a youth group event for the Benalla - Balmattum Presbyterian Churches and it is a formal event. People are expected to dress up for the night - and they did. It was also more than just a local event. There were youth from Broadford and Albury churches there as well.

I should confess that this photo is a different event to the one in the blog.

It was also used a fund-raiser for Barnabas Fund and their work to support people fleeing from war-torn countries. These young people are aware of what's happening in the world and want to do something to help.

But beyond this, it was a terrific night for youth and a much older generation to get together. There were only a few older ones who were taking part in the dancing, and Anne and I at least had a go at some of them. In the background though were a team of people who had been cooking, who were now serving and then washing up. And it was great to see.

So, when I read this blog post today on inter-generational ministry, my mind went back to last week.

I encourage you to follow the link and take it in yourself, but here are a couple of stand out comments:

As one senior adult woman put it, “The Snow Ball was a way to get to put names and faces together. We laughed and giggled lots during the line dances. I became acquainted with some I did not know.”

The author made this comment:

I would argue that the value of these connections is a two-way street—the adults benefit as much as the youth.

I agree.

Can you help to connect some of the youth in your church to some of those older saints?

Dancing with teenagers

I should confess that this photo is a different event to the one in the blog.

Last weekend, Nov5-6 2016, Anne and I travelled to Benalla in Northern Victoria for an annual dinner dance. What interested me most about this is that it is a youth group event for the Benalla - Balmattum Presbyterian Churches and it is a formal event. People are expected to dress up for the night - and they did. It was also more than just a local event. There were youth from Broadford and Albury churches there as well.

It was also used a fund-raiser for Barnabas Fund and their work to support people fleeing from war-torn countries. These young people are aware of what's happening in the world and want to do something to help.

But beyond this, it was a terrific night for youth and a much older generation to get together. There were only a few older ones who were taking part in the dancing, and Anne and I at least had a go at some of them. In the background though were a team of people who had been cooking, who were now serving and then washing up. And it was great to see.

So, when I read this blog post today on inter-generational ministry, my mind went back to last week.

I encourage you to follow the link and take it in yourself, but here are a couple of stand out comments:

As one senior adult woman put it, “The Snow Ball was a way to get to put names and faces together. We laughed and giggled lots during the line dances. I became acquainted with some I did not know.”

The author made this comment:

I would argue that the value of these connections is a two-way street—the adults benefit as much as the youth.

I agree.

Can you help to connect some of the youth in your church to some of those older saints?