YM360 the Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Winter/Spring 2020

T H E M AGAZ INE

ISSUE WINTER/SPRING 14 - WINTER/SPRING 2018 ISSUE 2020 10

THE STRATEGY EDITION DO YOU HAVE A STRATEGY TO PREVENT BURNOUT? | HELP! I DON’T HAVE A STRATEGY FOR TEACHING THE BIBLE! A FOOL-PROOF STRATEGY FOR CRUSHING ADMIN TASKS | 10 ESSENTIALS FOR YOUTH MINISTRY STRATEGY

BIBLE STUDY CURRICULUM

YOUR BIBLE STUDY MATTERS.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP.

Digging into the Word is the most foundational way to learn about the concepts of our faith and be transformed, but finding the right Bible study can be a serious challenge.

Without the right study, your students may just be going through the motions and your teachers might be lost with what to teach and how to teach it. You want to put material and lessons in front of your students that will leave them wanting more and coming back to the Word daily.

YOUR BIBLE STUDY MATTERS. WE’RE HERE TO HELP. Select the 6-Year, 3-Year, or Single-Year plan based on your ministry’s needs and your overall strategy for your weekly Sunday School and Bible Study.

THE FOUNDATION SERIES

Do you want to help students grasp the essential truths of their faith? Then the Foundation Series is for you. Over the course of three years, your students will learn the big-picture story of the Bible as well as 25 core concepts of what it means to be a Christ-follower. The Foundation Series leads your students on a journey of faith-development based on the powerful truths of God’s Word.

THE FORMATION SERIES

Do you want to see your students impact the world around them for the sake of the Gospel? If so, you’ll want to check out YM360’s Formation Series. The Formation Series immerses your students in the Gospel, teaching them who Jesus was, what He taught, and how He changed the world through His life, death, and resurrection. Students will experience what it looks like to live boldly as a follower of Christ.

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“ T H E H E A RT O F M A N P LA N S H I S WAY, BU T T H E LO R D E STA B L I S H E S H I S ST E P S. ” P R OV E R B S 1 6 : 9

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 TRENDS & CULTURE 2 DO YOU HAVE A STRATEGY TO PREVENT BURNOUT? 4 HELP! I DON’T HAVE A STRATEGY FOR TEACHING THE BIBLE! 10 A FOOL-PROOF STRATEGY FOR CRUSHING ADMIN TASKS 12 1O ESSENTIALS FOR YOUTH MINISTRY STRATEGY 14 SUMMER STRATEGY: DON’T FORGET CAMP! 16 GENERATE CAMP BY YM360 - 2020 SPACE REMAINS! 2021 DATES RELEASE THIS SPRING.

I have a strategy for most everything I do. I know it’s a little weird. But it’s a good weird, right? I have four very active children and a wife who runs her own business. In addition to the work I get to do with YM360, my wife and I are volunteer leaders in our youth group, and most every weekend, I am preaching or teaching somewhere. If I didn’t have a strategy for how to manage even the simplest tasks, my life would spin out of control.

A NOTE FROM ANDY

Our youth ministries are the same way. If we don’t have a strategy, we can’t expect to be as effective as we want to be. We have to have an idea of how to get done what we need to get done. Winging it doesn’t work well (for long, anyway). And so we’ve collected some articles in this edition of the magazine to help challenge you in how you view strategy in your ministry.

Also in this edition, as always, are some exciting new resources and events from YM360. Don’t miss our newest Event Resources, perfect for your retreat weekends. And we have a ton of new GENERATE dates and locations for 2020. If you’re still making decisions about summer camp, our team would love to chat with you.

On behalf of all of our YM360 Team, thank you for ALL you do to lead teenagers closer to Jesus. You are our hero!

God Bless, Andy Blanks

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TRENDS & CULTURE

1

The amount of time teenagers spend on social media isn’t directly linked to an increase in anxiety or depression, says new research out of Brigham Young University. The study had 500 adolescents between 13 and 20 years old complete an annual questionnaire about their social media use and emotional well-being over eight years. The study found pretty much no relationship between time spent on social media and an increase in depression or anxiety in boys or girls. This doesn’t mean that social media stressors don’t drive depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues for kids and teens. The study suggests that time spent on these apps and programs isn’t a good indication of how they’re impacting kids and teens.

SOCIAL MEDIA

MAY NOT MAKE TEENS

DEPRESSED AFTER ALL

Source: https://nypost.com/2019/10/23/social-media-may-not-make-teens-depressed-after-all-study/

HEAVY SOCIAL

MEDIA USE SUICIDE ATTEMPTS

BY AFRICAN-AMERICAN TEENS ARE INCREASING

LINKED TO

POOR SLEEP

From 1991 to 2017, the rate of reported suicide attempts by African-American teens rose, especially the rate among black boys, according to a study published Monday in the medical Journal of Pediatrics. The rate for black youths grew even as the rate of suicide attempts by teens in other racial and ethnic groups fell. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens from all demographics, according to the study. Only accidents kill more young people. In 2017, 2,200 teens age 15 to 19 died by suicide.

Teenagers using social media for more than three hours a day are more likely to go to bed after 11:00 and wake during the night. This affects one in three teens.

Psychiatrists say screens should be avoided in the hour before bed. A study of 12,000 teenagers found that teenagers who were very high social-media users (five hours or more per day) were around 70% more likely than average users (one to three hours) to fall asleep late on school nights and after midnight on other days.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/14/health/black-teen-suicide-attempts-study/index.html

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-50140111

IN U. S., DECLINE OF

CHRISTIANITY CONTINUES AT

A RAPID PACE

The religious landscape of the United States continues to change at a rapid clip.

In Pew Research Center telephone surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019, 65% of American adults describe themselves as Christians, down 12 percentage points over the past decade. Meanwhile, the religiously unaffiliated share of the population, consisting of people who describe their religious identity as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular,” now stands at 26%, up from 17% in 2009.

Source: https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/

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2

ARTICLE

DO YOU HAVE A STRATEGY ..

TO

PREVENT BURNOUT?

BY LEE MOORE

We can have all the desire in the world. We can have well thought out plans. We can have the right team in place. But for many in youth ministry, if they don’t have a strategy to deal with burnout, there is a ticking clock. Burnout is a real threat to youth workers, especially those in bi-vocational or volunteer roles. We have to have a plan to deal with the impact of the pressure we feel in our role. Here are a few thoughts on how to address burnout in order to be more effective in the long run.

DON’T TRY TO GO IT ALONE

Part of your strategy to prevent burnout is building a team. Luke 10:1 says, “The Lord now chose seventy-two disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit.” That’s some pretty impressive team building. It had an impact on the ministry and the spiritual growth of the disciples.

The stronger your team, the more opportunities you have to expand your ministry and your influence. But if you go it alone, you place a heavy burden on yourself, one that can become overwhelming. Embrace the strategy of team building.

ALLOW OTHER LEADERS TO TAKE REAL OWNERSHIP.

When you truly bring others along and give them ownership, you’ll watch as your leaders begin to buy into your vision for ministry. It’s a fantastic strategy to prevent burnout. With more ownership comes more buy-in. And with more buy-in comes more of a desire to go even deeper. Suddenly, you’re not the only one carrying the burden of ministry effectiveness.

ENCOURAGE OPEN COMMUNICATION

Part of building a strategy for preventing burnout is maintaining lines of open communication. If you are open to questions and suggestions, you can build relationships founded on trust.

When your team feels like you trust them, they feel freer to bring more energy and ideas to your ministry. Creating lines of clear communication helps you communicate expectations

and details in a way that builds confidence in your people.

And when you need someone, or someone needs you, the avenues for communication are already there. It’s a strategy that has long term payoffs.

ALLOW YOUR TEAM TO SHARE IN THE WINS

When we own all the defeats, it’s a recipe for burnout. But it’s also true that when we don’t share the wins, we also open ourselves up to a path that leads to burnout. How so? When we don’t spread the ownership for the wins around, we’ll find ourselves on an island. No one wants to give themselves to be a part of something where they don’t feel like they are a part of the positive results. You’ll quickly find yourself on an island, which is a recipe for burnout. Share the wins, and you’ll find more and more people want to partner with you to be part of what God is doing in and through your ministry.

DON’T SPREAD YOURSELF TOO THIN

Having too much on your plate is not only challenging for you; it can be disastrous for your team and even your family.

When we refuse to share our ministry with others, we begin to isolate ourselves and be less than the leaders we are called to be. When we have the feeling of being all alone, burnout will soon follow. You owe it to yourself, your family, and your ministry to learn the discipline of “no,” choosing to only say “yes” to those things that are within your ministry focus.

Burnout takes far too many youth workers off the “field.”

But if you have a strategy to prevent it, you’ll find yourself able to handle the demands of ministry in a way that enables God to continue to do awesome things through you.

LEE MOORE is officially the Director of Customer Care at YM360. Unofficially he is the heart and soul of YM360, and keeps both youth workers and our team well taken care of.

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WE EMPOWER DISCIPLESHIP AT YM360, WE WANT TO SEE TEENAGERS KNOW GOD AND MAKE HIM KNOWN. IN A WORD, WE WANT TO SEE THEM BECOME DISCIPLES. Meet youth ministry’s most used student devotionals. NEW, NEXT & NOW create the Discipleship Bundle.

Bundle This bundle provides three powerful devotional experiences to help your students grow into authentic disciples of Jesus.

When students give their lives to Christ, the Bible is pretty clear: THEY. ARE. NEW! But what does it mean to be NEW? What does it mean to see God in a NEW way? What does it mean to live out the call to follow Christ? These questions can be daunting ones in the lives of the new or “young” Christ-followers in your youth ministry.

NEW: FIRST STEPS FOR NEW CHRIST-FOLLOWERS is a powerful experiential journal that will help answer these questions and will help students take the first steps on their new journey with Christ.

AS LOW AS $7.99/EA

What if there was a resource to help students take ownership of their faith? Well, now there is. Introducing NEXT: GROWING A FAITH THAT LASTS. It is a four-week devotional journal that helps challenge and equip your students to take ownership of growing deeper in their faith. NEXT will teach your students why it’s important to own their faith, what their life’s purpose has to do with God’s mission, how to build spiritual habits that last a lifetime, how to use the influence they already have for Christ, and more.

Teenagers have the amazing potential to impact their world for Christ, and not just some time way out in the future. But right NOW. Today. Their worlds are rich with opportunities to share the hopeful message of the Gospel and to show people the amazing difference Christ can make in their lives.

NOW! IMPACTING YOUR WORLD FOR CHRIST (RIGHT NOW.) will help students understand the PURPOSE God has in store for them, catch God’s VISION for exactly how He wants to use them, and practice real, PRACTICAL ways to impact their world.

THE DISCIPLESHIP BUNDLE (ALL 3) AS LOW AS $15.99/EA

.COM/DEVOBUNDLE OR CALL 866.323.6673

4

FEATURE

BY ANDY BLANKS

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FEATURE

HELP! It’s important to have a strategy for every aspect of your youth ministry: recruiting and equipping volunteers, engaging with students’ parents, leading your team, and so on. But the most important area for us to have a solid strategy is in how we approach teaching the Bible. The Bible is the primary way God gave us for facilitating encounters with Himself. It’s the fullest way this side of heaven that God has given us to know Him. We know this is true. We know that it’s vital that our youth ministries be centered on God through His Word. But here’s something that’s also true: there are a lot of youth ministries who don’t have a strategy for how to do this.

Instead of a pre-determined pathway that guides interactions with the Bible, many youth workers’ strategy is really no strategy at all. They think in terms of week-to-week and topic-to-topic. This isn’t the best way.

We HAVE to have a strategy for how to get our students face-to-face with God in His Word. And there are a LOT of ways to do this. I think the most powerful thing we can do when it comes to formulating our Bible strategy is to reverse engineer it. The goal is to go through the process of visualizing a senior about to graduate from your youth ministry, and to ask yourself:

• What has this student learned about God?

• What have they learned about the Bible?

• What do they know about God’s story?

• Describe their theological foundation.

Do this exercise. Make a list. Involve your team. Dream big. THEN, ask yourself HOW. How does our ministry accomplish this from 6th or 7th grade to 12th? What do we want to teach to achieve our goals (we call this scope)?

And what moments over a year do we have to teach it (we call this sequence)? You accomplish this first by defining your possible moments of interaction with the Word.

I am going to create a hypothetical youth ministry for the sake of an example. In my hypothetical youth ministry, I have teaching every Sunday morning. I have Wednesday nights. I have Discipleship Groups on Sunday nights. I do

5

I DON’T HAVE A STRATEGY FOR TEACHING THE BIBLE! a weekend retreat in the winter. And I do a camp in the summer. This is the landscape of my teaching opportunities. So, you define your moments, then you take what you want students to learn, and finally, you backfill.

Start with Sunday morning and look for a 52-week curriculum that accomplishes what you want students to know.

Why start with a curriculum from a publisher? Because 52 weeks is a lot of weeks to come up with your own curriculum! There are a lot of excellent 52-week Bible study options to choose from. (YM360 has six of them!) Find one that accomplishes your goals and run with it.

I like to think in terms of thematic studies for my mid-week service. This is also a great place to cover Book studies. I like to think in four-to-six-week series for my mid-week content block. If you do a focused Discipleship Group or a Student Leadership time, this content slot is a great place to teach spiritual disciplines or focus on leadership development. I love thinking strategically about how your Retreat and Camp or Mission Trip fit in your overall content strategy. When you think big-picture, like we’re talking about here, these content blocks become intentional parts of your strategy, not just “one-offs.”

You may have other content blocks in your schedule. And you may have far less than the ones I tossed out. But what doesn’t change is the need to be strategic in HOW we teach the Bible.

The influence of the youth worker has shrunk over the last 20 years. We have fewer institutional moments with students than ever. We HAVE to be strategic when it comes to facilitating encounters with God through His Word.

Hopefully, this will help you get started thinking about how YOU want to do it in your ministry context.

ANDY BLANKS is the co-founder and Publisher for YM360 and has been in youth ministry for nearly 20 years.

Follow Andy on Instagram (@andy_blanks) or Twitter (@ andyblanks).

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YOUR EVENT MATTERS. WE’RE HERE TO HELP! A Disciple Now, Winter Weekend, youth ministry retreat, or back-to-school event can have an incredible impact on your students, your youth ministry, and your church. We think planning and executing your next event should be intentional, easy, and streamlined. Event Resources by YM360 is here to help you do just that through powerful curriculum, all the student resources you need, plus built-in tools and training for your small group leaders.

Used by 5,000+ youth groups and designed by our team of trusted content creators, these Gospel-driven studies and resources will equip you to lead students to know Christ and make Him known through your event.

14 STUDIES TO CHOOSE FROM FOR YOUR UPCOMING DISCIPLE NOW NEW

NEW

A

B

E

C

F

I

H

L

D

G

J

M

K

N

(A) TRULY FREE (B) REDEFINED (C) UNDIVIDED (D) THE UPRISING (E) TOGETHER (F) THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING (G) FEARLESS (H) ONE (I) RELENTLESS (J) NEXT (K) THE PAUSE (L) EXCHANGE (M) FOLLOWER (N) LIVE DIFFERENT

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4 SMALL GROUP LESSONS Streamlined, easy-to-teach lessons delivered online to your teachers 4 LARGE GROUP OUTLINES Designed for your speaker -choose from simple or detailed -- these help your large group sessions work perfectly with small groups LARGE GROUP MEDIA VIDEOS to kick off and wrap up your weekend, background loops, PowerPoint images, and more

INTERACTIVE STUDENT BOOK Full color Student Books are designed to help your small groups have maximum impact for your students 4 DEVOTIONS Included in our Student Books, these four devotions can be used during or after your Event weekend FOLLOW-UP JOURNALS These 4-week devotional journals help your students continue growing long after the weekend T-SHIRTS Authentic. Themed Design. These shirts offer your group a sweet look for your weekend. We'll even customize them for you if you'd like!

EACH

STUDY

ONLY

$69 INCLUDES A

SUPER

BUNDLE THAT SHIPS

FREE!

1

VISIT YM360.COM/EVENTS

2

SELECT A THEME

3

PLACE YOUR ORDER

4

ANNA WILL CONTACT YOU WITH ALL THE DETAILS

ANNA is passionate about assisting youth leaders with their upcoming event. If it is a Disciple Now, Retreat Weekend, Winter Weekend, or self-done Summer Camp Anna is here for you. She is a dedicated member of your team who is ready to ensure you, your leaders, and students are served with great care. If you are planning an upcoming youth ministry event, connect with Anna today!

CONNECT WITH

866.323.6673 ANNA@YM360.COM YM360.COM/EVENTS

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WHICH STUDY SHOULD I CHOOSE IF I WILL HAVE A MIX OF BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS AT MY EVENT? This Changes Everything is my favorite choice for a wide range of spiritual maturity.

WHAT IS YOUR “BEST” STUDY?

What seems to “hit home” really well with students?

My favorite way to answer this is to get to know your ministry and your specific group of students a little better. Jumping on a quick phone call can really help me learn more about you and which study is “best” for your event.

What works for someone else might not be the best fit for you. Let’s figure it out!

What are youth workers using the most right now, in this season?

What is our all-time most popular study?

CAN I SAMPLE THE BOOKS BEFORE PURCHASING?

ONLY

One step ahead of you! With the purchase of an event study, you get a free sample promo pack which includes a student book, a follow-up journal, and a t-shirt - shipped directly to you.

$69 TO GET STARTED

EXACTLY HOW MUCH TEACHING CONTENT AM I GETTING? You are getting 8 “sessions” worth of material - 4 large group and 4 small group. You are also getting promo media, parent resources, and more!

I’M STILL DOING SIGN-UPS. CAN I COME BACK LATER TO GET BOOKS & SHIRTS? ABSOLUTELY! We actually recommend doing it this way so that you can go ahead and have your study to prepare and promote, but don’t have to order resources until you have a better idea of how many you will need. 10 days out from your event is a good date to keep on your calendar, but I can help you nail it down even closer based on your zip code!

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10 ARTICLE

A FOOL-PROOF STRATEGY FOR

CRUSHING ADMIN TASKS

Youth Ministry is an exciting calling. But there seem to be some parts of the job which are much more draining than uplifting. I’m talking about office work! If we don’t have a strategy for crushing admin tasks, we can actually find our ministries negatively impacted. So here are a few thoughts on admin strategy: PHONE CALLS MATTER One of the best things we can do is remind ourselves of the dual purpose of phone calls for ministry. This is not just a digitally outstretched hand looking to recruit or minister, but a powerful tool for connecting with people from a distance.

Phone calls not only matter for recruitment, but they matter for ministry. Do you have a long list of recruitment phone calls to make? Strategy tip: Reach out to someone in your ministry, who you know won’t be helping you fill that need, and make a ministering phone call instead.

SMALL TASKS STILL MAKE MINISTRY MEAN MORE When we crush the small things consistently, it allows snowballs to keep from turning into avalanches for our ministry.

Organization is what sustains leadership. Your desk doesn’t have to look Instagram worthy at all times, but you should at least have some system to get things done. The piece of paper you received from your Executive Pastor in the meeting earlier today shouldn’t be buried below all your other stuff.

You would be amazed at how much more productive you can be with an organized workspace. It keeps you focused, on task, and ready to handle what you need to each day.

UTILIZING SCHOOL HOURS There are 8 hours a day where your students are at school.

Get into the office early and crush those office hours before your lunch meeting. Make the most of the time between lunch and school release. It might take some restraint, but consider blocking social media and sports apps or websites during these hours. They can be massive productivity killers to keep you from getting the needed things done.

Why does a strategy for admin tasks matter? The easiest way to find value in something is to assign value to it. If you can answer the question, why something matters, then you can find the energy to do it. If you can’t find the answer, ask the person who can. Your time is valuable, and you know that. Having a fool-proof strategy for the admin side of youth ministry is a must.

ROBBIE CRAWFORD serves on the YM360 staff as Assistant Editor. Before joining YM360, he served on various youth ministry staffs in part-time and full-time roles for the last ten years.

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YM360.COM/BIBLESTUDY

12 ARTICLE both spiritual and practical, are virtually endless. The best youth workers are those who are constantly learning.

STRATEGY ESSENTIAL 4: CULTIVATE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. The fastest way to burnout is to neglect your personal relationship with God. You can’t get water from a dry well. The best youth ministers know this and have consistent spiritual habits.

FOR

STRATEGY ESSENTIAL 5: COMMUNICATE WELL. Few things will cripple a youth ministry like poor communication. The best youth ministers communicate clearly and consistently. And their ministries often thrive as a result.

STRATEGY

STRATEGY ESSENTIAL 6: APPROACH YOUR CRAFT WITH PROFESSIONALISM. We can’t forget that what we do is fun. And yet, the best youth workers have the ability to be professional when the moment calls for it. Those who can’t turn off their inner adolescent will often not be taken seriously.

10 ESSENTIALS

YOUTH MINISTRY

STRATEGY ESSENTIAL 7: INVEST IN OTHERS. Parents. Adult volunteers. Students. Interns. Other church staffers. The best youth ministers intentionally invest in others. Genuinely investing in other people around you will never return void.

I was thinking recently about friends of mine who do youth ministry really, really well. I began to try to identify what these guys and gals have in common. I started jotting down a list, and before I was done, I realized these made a pretty good list of essentials for youth ministry strategy.

STRATEGY ESSENTIAL 1: HAVE A VISION AND EXECUTE IT. You can do youth ministry without a plan. It’s possible. But it’s not optimal. When we step back and really think about it, we have such a limited amount of time to influence students. The best youth ministers I know have a vision for what they want to accomplish. And they have a plan for how to get it done.

STRATEGY ESSENTIAL 2: DON’T DO IT ALONE. I’ve seen youth groups of five students and youth groups of 500. From small churches to large churches, the best youth ministers seek out help and empower their help to make change. You can do youth ministry alone. But you can do youth ministry better with someone to help you.

STRATEGY ESSENTIAL 3: BE A LEARNER Books. Podcasts. Blog articles. Sermons. Conferences. Local networks. The possibilities for growing in your knowledge,

STRATEGY ESSENTIAL 8: KEEP THE MISSION IN FRONT OF THEM. Let’s face it: life is nuts. The best youth ministers I know keep the mission in front of them. Remembering why we do what we do is essential. Losing sight of your calling will eventually lead to burnout.

STRATEGY ESSENTIAL 9: EVALUATE AND ACT. The best youth ministers are constantly evaluating the purpose and effectiveness of strategies, programs, and initiatives. They seek the input of others. And if the evaluation finds that a change is needed, they do the hard work to make a change.

STRATEGY ESSENTIAL 10: BE A LEADER. Period. The best youth ministers I know are people who can stand in front of others and say, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” It’s that simple.

Here’s the coolest thing: this list may not describe you, but the best news is that it could. This list isn’t a bunch of unachievable ideals. I’ve encountered countless people over the years who embody these qualities. What’s keeping you from doing the same?

By Andy Blanks

.COM OR CALL 866.323.6673

TRY EVERY GAME FREE FOR 30 DAYS. Does your youth group play games? Do you want to play something a little more fun than PowerPoint trivia games? When it comes to games for churches, you might notice that there are tons to choose from, but the quality is hit or miss. Unfortunately, you’re more likely to have misses than hits. Your youth ministry deserves world-class games that will play week after week!

S E K A M T WHA S E M A G OUR ?

T N E R E F DIF

NEW

GAMES

RELEASED EVERY MONTH! .COM/GAMES OR CALL 866.323.6673

14 ARTICLE

SUMMER STRATEGY:

DON’T FORGET CAMP! I’ve spent the last 29 years leading and crafting experiences, including summer camp. Here’s what I can confidently say: God works mightily through what happens at camp to transform the lives of students. From my seat, camp is a vital aspect of disciplining teenagers.

HERE ARE TWO REASONS WHY I BELIEVE summer Camp should be part of your youth ministry strategy.

JESUS WENT ON RETREAT. SO SHOULD WE. As you read the scriptures, you see Him often retreating from the crowds and the “normal” flow of life. He goes away and spends intimate time with His followers or with His Father. I believe that model still has great value. When teenagers remove themselves from the distractions of their everyday lives, they tend to hear the Lord more clearly.

STUDENTS ARE CHANGED AT SUMMER CAMP. Every summer, I hear youth workers talking about all God did in the life of their group and in their students. Some students come to Christ for the first time. And there are countless other decisions that come in these intimate times with God. Summer camp is about lifting up the name of Jesus and letting the Spirit do what only He can do. Students learn the Gospel and are challenged to make the Gospel known. (At least they SHOULD. This is a major component

of GENERATE Camp by YM360. And it should be of any camp you take your students to.)

A great camp can be budget-friendly.

I know resources are always limited, but I believe that an excellent experience can be created at a great value.

We see this at GENERATE, and I’ve seen it in camps that youth workers do themselves. You don’t have to break the bank to make camp a part of your ministry strategy. The most meaningful times are ones where the Church is gathered together, serving, worshipping, studying, and having fun in God’s name. There are plenty of ways to do this with a budget in mind. So when you’re thinking about camp, make sure the cost is worth the experience.

For camp to be a valuable part of your youth ministry strategy, it has to impact the other 51-weeks of the year.

Make that your goal as you consider your camp options for summer.

J. Roger Davis joined ym360 in 2015 as President and leader of all live events & experiences. Roger has been creating and giving leadership to excellent, gospel-centered youth ministry events since 1992.

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52-WEEKS OF JESUS-CENTERED

BIBLE STUDY

The Jesus Studies offers 52-weeks of Jesus-centered Bible Study designed to cut through the confusion. Teaching your students a Christ-centered look at the major issues they deal with in their daily lives.

$349 ALL-ACCESS $29.99 FOR EACH FOUR LESSON SERIES

FEATURES: Manage Teachers & Material Online

Teacher Prep Videos

Leader’s Guide + Bible Backgrounds

Social Media Guide for each lesson

Weekly Student Devotions Weekly Parent Pages

Background Images for your presentation software Promotional Artwork

*see a detailed scope & sequence online at: YM360.com/Jesus-studies.

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REGISTER NOW

LETS PARTNER THIS SUMMER

G E N E R A T E S T U D E N T S.C O M

$159 A S L OW A S

CAMP: ONE WEEK THAT WILL IMPACT THE OTHER 51 WEEKS

PER PERSON

MEALS

Eleven meals on campus or a boxed lunch for the SERVE and EXPLORE options.

LODGING

You sleep in beds! Either in dorms or lodges. Housing priority is based on when your group deposit is paid.

CURRICULUM

Our team at YM360 provides biblically sound lesson plans for small groups. Every student receives a student book with Bible Study and quiet times.

PROGRAMMING

Worship, Kickstart, and First Light are all designed to allow the Word to do the work. Your students will experience quality preaching, worship, and live production elements in a relevant way.

DEDICATED TIME WITH YOUR STUDENTS Moments throughout the day are crafted for you to spend quality time with your students as we take care of the details.

T-SHIRT

Everyone in your group will get a themed t-shirt!

KIDS ACADEMY OF AWESOMENESS

Bring your family to camp with you! While you spend the day with your students, in the Kids Academy, children who have completed kindergarten through 5th grade, will have a Bible lesson, sing songs, play games and will be led by two GENERATE staff members. (Kids Academy of Awesomeness is not available at beach locations).

FULL DETAILS ABOUT GENERATE CAN BE FOUND AT G E N E R A T E S T U D E N T S.C O M

DON'T JUST TRUST OUR CAMP,

TRUST OUR TEAM. There are a few things that are extremely important to GENERATE Camp

by YM360. The first is the Gospel, but two others are trust and team. Trust is crucial in the decision of which camp option to partner with for 2020.

Rather than ask you to trust a logo or a video, we want you to trust the actual people that make up our camp team. Our team has leveraged their lives to serve students and churches through your camp experience. We believe that camp is more than the sum of its parts. That is why we have carefully built the GENERATE team that will be there with you during your week of camp, is equipped to answer any of your questions, help you reach your students, and ultimately engage them with the Gospel.

REGISTER NOW TO JOIN US THIS SUMMER GENERATESTUDENTS.COM

LIVING A LIFE OF IMPACT SUMMER 2020

“FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND, THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.” EPHESIANS 2:10

Everyone wants to change the world.

But how do you define real impact?

Do you define impact by the total number of followers or likes?

Do you define impact by being invited to the right places with the right people? Or maybe you define impact by achievements, where your contribution to the world is measured in trophies or scores. If so, here’s a hard truth: trophies and likes can make an impact, but not truly matter.

Real impact happens when God works in us and through us.

And when we grasp this truth, the way we see our lives and the world around us changes. Make It Matter shows how much difference a life empowered by the Word can make; how Jesus

DON’T MISS IT! @THE BEACH

is the power source for a life that matters; how God designed us to impact the people in our path; and how trusting in God’s plan is the key to real impact.

Join us in 2020 as we discover together what it means to Make It Matter.

DAY 1: THE WORD OF GOD DAY 2: THE WORK OF GOD DAY 3: THE WAY OF GOD DAY 4: THE WILL OF GOD

@THE BEACH

ORANGE BEACH, AL SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX

JUNE 8-12, 2020 JUNE 22-26, 2020

Join us for a week of worship, Bible Study, and bonding at the beach!

Worship services, beach recreation, small group Bible study material, and t-shirts are all provided. Lodging and meal options are available!

REGISTER NOW! ALLOW US TO PARTNER WITH YOU THIS SUMMER G E N E R A T E S T U D E N T S.C O M

L E A D I N G T H E WAY

REGISTER NOW

ALLOW US TO PARTNER WITH YOU THIS SUMMER G E N E R A T E S T U D E N T S.C O M

2020

DATES & LOCATIONS

@THE BEACH

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, GA MAY 27-31 JUNE 1-5 JULY 4-8 JULY 8-12 JULY 13-17 JULY 17-21 JULY 21-25

CULLOWHEE, NC JULY 6 - 10

DURANGO, CO JULY 6 - 10

ASHEVILLE, NC JULY 20-24

ESTES PARK, CO JULY 13 - 17

WINSTON-SALEM, NC JUNE 15 - 19

CHICAGO, IL JUNE 22 - 26

BIRMINGHAM, AL JUNE 22 - 26

MARSHALL, TX JUNE 1-5 JUNE 29 - JULY 3

CEDARVILLE, OH JUNE 29 - JULY 3

ORANGE BEACH, AL JUNE 8 - 12 DELAND, FL JUNE 15 - 19 JOHNSON CITY, TN JULY 13 - 17 CLEVELAND, TN JUNE 1-5 JUNE 8 - 12

BELTON, TX JUNE 8 - 12 @THE BEACH

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX JUNE 22 - 26 RUSTON, LA JUNE 15 - 19

SILOAM SPRINGS, AR JUNE 29 - JULY 3 LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO JULY 20 - 24 HOUGHTON, NY JULY 27 - 31 PHILADELPHIA, PA JULY 27 - 31

SEE GENERATESTUDENTS.COM FOR THE LATEST DETAILS AND AVAILABILITY! CONTACT OUR TEAM TO SECURE YOUR SPACE FOR SUMMER CAMP 2020!

ANGELA@YM360.COM

LEE@YM360.COM

LAUREN@YM360.COM

FINN@YM360.COM

ROGER@YM360.COM

LINDSEY@YM360.COM

HANNAH@YM360.COM

22 YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCES

YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCES TO SERVE YOU & YOUR MINISTRY YM360 is the premier provider of youth ministry resources, training events, and live student events. We are committed to providing youth workers, like you, with an ever-expanding offering of Gospelcentered, Bible based, easy-to-use, and amazingly priced resources which are innovative, creative, and relevant. From Sundays to Weekend Retreats and all in between, YM360 is here to serve you with great resources.

FOR YOU & YOUR LEADERS A

B

C

D

E

(A) The 7 Best Practices for Teaching Teenagers The Bible (B) Consider This: A Youth Pastor’s Guide to Longevity (C) Disciple: The Ordinary Person’s Guide to Discipling Teenagers (D) Protect: A Youth Worker’s Guide to Navigating Risk (E) Teach: The Average Youth Workers Guide to Teaching the Bible

.COM/STORE

OR

CALL 866.323.6673

FREE SHIPPING ON MOST ORDERS OVER $99 • VISIT US ONLINE. SAMPLES FOR EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND MORE YOU DON’T.

YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCES

23

BIBLE STUDY CURRICULUM

YOUR BIBLE STUDY MATTERS. WE’RE HERE TO HELP. Thousands of youth ministries across the nation trust Bible Study Curriculum by YM360 to assist in teaching students the Word of God. With our 200% Guarantee you are able to get any of these life-changing studies risk-free.

NEW

THE FOUNDATION & FORMATION SERIES

A complete six-year Bible study strategy with a Gospel-centered scope and sequence solution. This includes the complete Foundation Series (The Thread, Activate, and Amplify) and Formation Series (The Jesus Studies, The Rescue, and The Life) at a significant discount. $2,094 $1,799 | YM360.com/Bible-study

THE THREAD: DISCOVERING THE THREAD OF THE GOSPEL THROUGH THE BIG PICTURE STORY OF THE BIBLE Includes 10 The Thread: An interactive devotional journal physical 52-week devos. You can add more at a discount. $420.90 YM360.com/thread-devo-bundle Curriculum only is $349

NEW

THE FOUNDATION SERIES

A three-year complete Bible study strategy where your students will learn the big-picture story of the Bible, as well as 34 core concepts of what it means to be a Christ-follower. The Foundation Series leads your students on a journey of faith-development based on the powerful truths of God’s Word. Includes The Thread, Activate, Amplify.

NEW

ACTIVATE: THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF FAITH

$349 | Each 3-lesson series: $21.99 | YM360.com/activate

$1,047 $999 | YM360.com/foundation-series NEW

AMPLIFY: GROWING A FAITH THAT LASTS

$349 | Each 3-lesson series: $21.99 | YM360.com/amplify

THE RESCUE: DISCOVERING HOW THE GOSPEL RESCUES AND REDEEMS US

Includes 10 The Rescue: An interactive devotional journal physical 52-week devos. You can add more at a discount. $420.90 YM360.com/rescue-devo-bundle Curriculum only is $349

NEW

THE FORMATION SERIES

THE LIFE: EMBRACING THE LIFE OF A CHRIST-FOLLOWER

A three-year complete Bible study strategy where your students are immersed in the Gospel, teaching them who Jesus was, what He taught, and how He radically changed them and the world through His life, death, and resurrection. This series equips your students with the knowledge they need to live bold lives for Christ. Includes Jesus Studies, The Rescue, The Life.

$349 YM360.com/life

$1,047 $999 | YM360.com/foundation-series

THE JESUS STUDIES ALL-ACCESS $349 All-Access Bundle | Each 4-lesson series: $29.99 YM360.com/Jesus-studies

.COM/STORE

OR

CALL 866.323.6673

FREE SHIPPING ON MOST ORDERS OVER $99 • VISIT US ONLINE. SAMPLES FOR EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND MORE YOU DON’T.

24 YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCES

MEDIA Finding quality and affordable media in youth ministry is tough. At YM360 we have created an online selection of youth ministry media approved by Youth Pastors. We know that your youth ministry is unique, which is why we provide such a wide variety of youth media resources to help you create a welcoming environment, communicate the Gospel, or start your event. Visit YM360.COM/MEDIA and shop a growing library of videos and media.

ALL MEDIA $17 & UNDER

VISIT YM360.COM/MEDIA FOR ALL MEDIA OPTIONS. NEW MEDIA IS ADDED CONTINUALLY.

.COM/STORE

OR

CALL 866.323.6673

FREE SHIPPING ON MOST ORDERS OVER $99 • VISIT US ONLINE. SAMPLES FOR EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND MORE YOU DON’T.

YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCES

25

When you stand up in front of students to lead them to proclaim the Word of God, you need trusted, creative, Biblically solid content.

YM360’s Sermon Series is exactly what you’re looking for. Field-tested, from-the-trenches of youth ministry, complete sermon outlines and graphic packages designed to help you lead students closer to God through proclaiming His Word.

EACH STUDY IS ONLY $24.99

VISIT YM360.COM/SERMON-SERIES FOR ALL SERMON SERIES. NEW SERIES ARE ADDED EVERY MONTH.

WHAT’S INCLUDED: EVERY SERMON SERIES FROM YM360 COMES WITH: Sermon Outlines Small Group Discussion Questions Promotional Art (including Social Media images) Title & Background Slides Sermon Theme Artwork Native Files

• • • • •

.COM/STORE

OR

CALL 866.323.6673

FREE SHIPPING ON MOST ORDERS OVER $99 • VISIT US ONLINE. SAMPLES FOR EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND MORE YOU DON’T.

26 YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCES

BIBLE ST U GOSPEL-CENTERED | BIBLE-BASED | EASY-TO-TEACH | AMAZINGLY PRICED

EACH STUDY AS LOW AS $22.99

VISIT YM360.COM TO SEE ALL 50+ MULTI-LESSON BIBLE STUDY OPTIONS.

.COM/STORE

OR

CALL 866.323.6673

FREE SHIPPING ON MOST ORDERS OVER $99 • VISIT US ONLINE. SAMPLES FOR EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND MORE YOU DON’T.

YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCES

U DIES SEE WEB FOR CURRENT PRICING “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

- 1 John 1:7

VIDEO DRIVEN

VIDEO DRIVEN

Friendships drive, and in many ways define, teenagers’ lives. Friendships are vital to how teenagers function in their culture. This is especially so with Christ-centered friendships.

Friendships among Christ-followers take on a much deeper meaning. Or at least, they should. Your students are called to Christ-centered friendships, where Jesus is at the heart of how they engage with one another. And when this is fully realized, your students will see their friendships take on greater meaning, and greater purpose. Christian fellowship

kindred

is more than the comradery of friends; it is a coalition of saints, called to the highest purposes of God. Friendship becomes kinship. This is the message of KINDRED. KINDRED, a 4-session, video-driven Bible study, will challenge your students to see how their friendship as believers is dependent on the centrality of Christ in all they do.

This video-driven Bible study includes the following features: A 4-part short film that drives the Bible study Discussion Guides for building a Bible study around the movie

kindred Discovering Christ-centered Friendship

Promotional Art and PowerPoint backgrounds Parent Pages and Student Devotions to keep the conversation going out of class

Produced in partnership with our friends at:

8

58558

00230

0

A 4-LESSON VIDEO-DRIVEN STUDY

youthministry360.com 1.888.969.6360

.COM/STORE

OR

CALL 866.323.6673

FREE SHIPPING ON MOST ORDERS OVER $99 • VISIT US ONLINE. SAMPLES FOR EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND MORE YOU DON’T.

27

28 YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCES

MOST USED NEW BELIEVER RESOURCE

A

B

GET THESE

FOR YOUR STUDENTS YOUR STUDENTS ARE LONGING TO LEARN FROM THE WORD OF GOD. THESE GREAT RESOURCES WILL HELP YOU LEAD YOUR STUDENTS CLOSER TO JESUS.

.COM/FOR-STUDENTS

(A) NEW: First Steps for NEW Christ-Followers (E) Anchor, A 6-Week Devotional

A

NEW

B

(A) Wake Up, Rediscovering a Passion for God and God (D) Therefore Go: An Interactive Mission Trip

YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCES

29

NEW C

D

E

F

G

(B) NEXT: Growing A Faith That Lasts (C) NOW: Impacting Your World for Christ Right Now (D) Facing Your Fears, A 40-Day Devotion (F) How to Be a Man, Learning From the Real Men of the Bible (G) How to Be a Man, Pursuing Christ-Centered Masculinity

C

D

E

F

the Bible (B) Tracing The Thread, A 52-Week Journey Through the Story of the Bible (C) (Extra)ordinary: 365 Ordinary Moments With an Anything but Ordinary Journal (E) NOW: Impacting Your World for Christ (Right Now): Interactive Mission Trip Journal (F) To The Ends of The Earth: Interactive Mission Trip Journal

.COM/STORE

OR

CALL 866.323.6673

FREE SHIPPING ON MOST ORDERS OVER $99 • VISIT US ONLINE. SAMPLES FOR EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND MORE YOU DON’T.

BE PART OF THE MOVEMENT

10.10.20

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

IF YOU’VE EVER STRUGGLED TO READ THE BIBLE, WE’VE GOT GREAT NEWS. If we’re honest, most of us find times where our passion for reading the Bible is just sort of missing. God feels far away. The Bible feels intimidating. It doesn’t have to be that way.

“Wake Up: Rediscovering a Passion for God and the Bible” is a 31-day devotional designed to help you meet God in the Bible in ways you never have. And in doing so, your passion for God will be rekindled. Remember, God is always near. He is never far away. Sometimes, we simply need to know how to look for Him.

TO SAMPLE OR FOR ORDERING INFO, GO TO

.COM/WAKEUP OR CALL 866.323.6673

JOIN OVER 14,500+ YOUTH PASTORS IN THE WORLD'S LARGEST ONLINE YOUTH MINISTRY DEDICATED COMMUNITY TODAY.

JOIN TODAY BY SEARCHING 'YOUTH PASTORS ONLY' ON FACEBOOK OR GO TO YM360.COM/YOUTHPASTORSONLY

DISCIPLENOWWEEKENDS.COM

INSPIRING STUDENTS TO THINK, DREAM, AND LEAD We exist to serve students and the leaders that are serving them. Our goal is to awaken a vision inside of young leaders that is so compelling that they just might dedicate most of their life chasing it.

JANUARY + SUMMER 2020

Teaching students that leadership begins at the feet of Jesus 18 hours of leadership training over four days Exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences Worldview training from leading Christian Apologists Business leadership lessons from top level executives Personality assessment and time/goal management training 3.67 CEU credits for educators

STUDENT LEADERSHIP UNIVERSITY

www.slulead.com

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