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Features Below is a collection of features from the Youthwork archive. Dip in for a taster...
SEPTEMBER 2010 Kenny Wilson explores the idea of ‘youth ministry from your doorstep’, and asks – are you missing incredible youth work opportunities right in front of your eyes? SEPTEMBER 2010 Jenny Baker explores how time away on retreat with your team can transform your ministry together, and gives practical suggestions to make the time memorable. SEPTEMBER 2010 HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE - WEB EXCLUSIVE Experienced youth and schools worker Philip Eley looks at some of the difficulties involved in handling the Bible with young people, and explores key questions around interpretation, before offering practical ideas to get young people engaged. AUGUST 2010 Working with young people means that we’re doing schools work whether we realise it or not. Brad Hawkes argues that the ones we disciple and mentor in our youth groups are the ones we need to be envisioning to see schools as their mission field. AUGUST 2010 Are some areas of schools work more attractive, and easier to respond to than others? YFC’s Nigel Roberts explores the missing links in Christian schools work, and suggests ways that we can innovatively engage with these areas if we are to have a greater impact in schools. JULY 2010 Rites of passage are no longer a major part of UK culture – but in the US ‘coming of age’ celebrations are still popular. Dave Wright, who has worked in both cultures, asks if we should re-engage this idea, and explores how milestone moments could provide the perfect opportunity to challenge young people. JULY 2010 An increasing number of churches are employing combined youth and children’s workers, but many of them have only been trained in one discipline. Help is at hand though, as Diocese of London Children’s Ministry Advisor Sam Donoghue presents a rundown of what to look for in good resources for under-11s. JUNE 2010 Tackling a fundamental question of our theology of youth ministry, Dr Andrew Smith asks: does God’s work with young people depend on our presence among them? JUNE 2010 Joel Toombs assesses the highs and lows of the festival culture, and explores the trend of youth workers structuring their whole youth work programme for the year around a potentially life-changing festival visit.
MAY 2010 The General Election is looming, but for many young people - especially those who can't yet vote - the response is a resounding 'so what?'. Political journalist and youth worker Andy Walton asks young people and politicians why, and presents ten ways to counteract apathy and catalyse activism among young people. MAY 2010 A Christian fresher may find that their faith is under attack in the first months of their university life. Fusion’s Rich Wilson explains the five key ‘battlegrounds’ that your young people will face, how you can prepare them and how churches can support them through the fight.
APRIL 2010 East to West director Andy Burns explores why the Church is often apathetic in responding to young homeless people, and asks: what can we do to help a young person who turns up at our group with nowhere else to go? APRIL 2010 How do you feel when a teenager begins to question God and doubt the very premise of their faith? Is it something you encourage, or view as the beginning of the end? Becky Coster explains why a healthy grasp of doubt is essential for growing lasting faith in young people.
MARCH 2010 Will you have to plan a residential or weekend away for your young people this year? We’ve gathered experienced practitioners, and asked them to recall how they’ve made key elements of their own getaways so special. MARCH 2010 What if oversight of a ministry didn’t start and end with a single youth worker? Claire Farley unpacks Mark DeVries’ approach to strategic-level youth ministry teams, and asks whether this US model can be adapted for a British context. MARCH 2010 Martin Saunders looks at how passion and skills are the hallmarks of balanced youth workers, and challenges training providers to ensure that’s what their graduates look like. Includes comprehensive listing of youth ministry training options...
FEBRUARY 2010 MINISTRY OF LAUGHTER - WEB EXCLUSIVE What place does humour have in our work with young people? Becca Dean explores the links between spirituality and laughter, and draws on her own research in this area to present practical tips on how to ensure humour builds relationships – not barriers – among teenagers. FEBRUARY 2010 Richard James concludes his series looking at youth ministry through a range of academic filters, by taking us to the business studies classroom. Looking at theories around power, greatness and innovation, he asks if there are important principles to draw that could help to shape the development of our work with young people. FEBRUARY 2010 Many young people will walk through seasons of depression in their teenage years – some more seriously than others. Jo Swinney explores how youth leaders can help young people to feel supported and understood as they fight what can be a devastating illness.
JANUARY 2010 Richard James continues his series looking at youth ministry through a range of academic filters, by suggesting that youth workers should think of themselves less as social engineers and more as ‘cultural artists.’ Includes practical suggestions to help young people to explore ‘the art of life.’ JANUARY 2010 Want to raise money for a trip away or a local cause, but lack inspiration for fundraising ideas? Look no further as Jo Derry presents a run down of the ten best sponsored challenge ideas – each with practical tips and a twist to make even the most basic event go with a bang.
DECEMBER 2009 Working with and alongside young people of other faiths is becoming an increasingly common reality for Christian youth workers. Richard Sudworth uses a case study to explore some of the complexities that can arise, and suggests how you can avoid turning a tricky issue into a cultural clash. DECEMBER 2009 Richard James begins a new series exploring how recent developments in science can help us to understand young people better. NOVEMBER 2009 Rob Bell’s high-spec teaching DVDs have been a revelation in churches across the world, but what else is out there in terms of multimedia resources? Martin Saunders investigates. NOVEMBER 2009 Philip Eley presents a list of practical ways in which youth leaders can shape cultures, respond to injustice and be a powerful force for change. OCTOBER 2009 Like boys, teenage girls bring their own special needs and challenges, as well as bringing a unique contribution to the church and to youth ministry. Sophia Network co-founder Jenny Baker separates gender fact from fiction, and looks at how we can respond to some of the pressing issues facing girls today. SEPTEMBER 2009 'How far can I go?' is a familiar question presented to youth workers by hormonal teenagers. Romance Academy founder Rachel Gardner explores the future of sex and relationships education and unpacks how the church can guide young people in right relationships. SEPTEMBER 2009 As youth group members become student freshers overnight, they are often making the biggest step of their life to date. But are they likely to graduate with their faith intact? Krish Kandiah believes they can, but says relationships will make the different. NOVEMBER 2006 Nigel James is one of the men behind the Ignite discipleship declaration - designed to keep young people focused on and passionate about Jesus. Explaining the thinking behind the declaration itself, he unpacks six principles to help you keep your young people's passion alive.
Five years on from the 9/11 atrocities, we live in a very different world. But what does this mean for youth ministry, and how do we need to adapt? John Allan addresses five areas of challenge for youth workers, and suggests ways in which we can respond to the defining issue of the decade. NOVEMBER 2005 Chris Curtis has been using magic in youth work for years. But aren't 'the dark arts' bad for your spiritual health? Chris explores the arguments for and against using magic with young people, and discovers why illusionists are becoming cool again. NOVEMBER 2005 We use the phrase often, but what exactly does 'relational youth work' mean? Becky Coster unpacks the phrase and questions the cost of having meaningful relationships with young people. OCTOBER 2005 There's a fine line between what young people think is 'fun' and what adults think is 'just plain stupid'. So why do teenagers take risks, asks Arthur Brown. JUNE 2005 How do you get the most from your residential youth holiday? Celia Hyland trawls the brains of experienced youth workers from across the UK for their top tips and big ideas on breakaway success. MAY 2005 It's an unfortunate fact that even the most zealous 18-year-olds can lose their way at University, but JON LANGFORD and LISA WALSH realised that their young people were bucking the trend. Having interviewed many former youth group members, they identify five key factors which appear to have made all the difference.
After suffering a decline in popularity in the '80s and '90s, comic books and their characters are now enjoying something of a renaissance. SIMON CROSS, co-creator of Christian graphic novel SAM119, looks at the history and influence of comics and suggests several ways to use this accessible format within a youth work setting. FEBRUARY 2005 What does it look like when a church or organisation really supports youth work? How do we a create a platform on which our work with young people can thrive? DAVE WRIGHT explores these questions, and provides ideas and questions on the issue for youth workers and their employers to wrestle with. NOVEMBER 2002 How do we gauge the effectiveness of youth ministry? What can we truly class as successful or unsuccessful anyway? DAVE WRIGHT unpacks some tough questions.
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