Albert Huizing, IV
Hmmmm...What can I say? I'm an American living in Canada....a Camerican?
I grew up in northern NJ in the states in one of the biggest and oldest Reformed communities in the states. I've been working with youths since I and a few friends started a Christian Singles Ministry in 1986, where I met my wife. She radically changed the way I think and do Christianity (I call her "my muse" and she's a Brit/English Lit. educator). Her inspiration and energy over the past 25 years have spurred me on to be involved in a large church youth group setting of 110 kids to a smaller group setting of 25 kids. My biggest advice is that the world keeps changing and so does the way we do Youth Ministry. One of my biggest blessings is that after all that time I still passionately love doing youth ministry (the statistics say only 20% make it past 3-5 years)....So I'm excited on this new journey God has led me into and am waiting for His mighty hand to do great and wonderful things
Posted in: Engaging Parents in Youth Ministries
Great Treasure chest full of valuable information......Thanks Again, Leslie!!!!
Posted in: Who is the New Youth Ministry Guide?
Welcome Jason! You are no fraud if you are involved in youth ministry in any capacity....Love the passion, the enthusiasm and the excitement....keep your seatbelt on and and strapped in at all times for the YM roller-coaster ride! at times thrilling....at times scary! You might want to look into attending the CYWC conference in Nov/Dec. www.CYWC.ca
.....we're trying to plan a session of Youth Ministry brainstorming with just the CRC YM leaders....might be extremely beneficial as the new "guide"
Glad to have you aboard!
Posted in: Why Ask Why?
JAson: Great way to begin a new Blog.....that is how I began! When I started at my present job (thankfully in the Summer months) my first task was to construct a Mission Statement, a Vision Statement, a Curriculum Overview and then everything and ideas that support it. By doing this I have a birdseye view of where I am going - a road map, per se, of where I'm going with my approach throughout the year. Do I have detours - Sure, Do I have Road blocks - Absolutely, Do I need to plot a different course - Many times, but it allows me to (1) see my feet in front of me, (2) look down the road and not fall off the path (a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path) and (3) Evaluate it more clearly when I've arrived. At the end of each School year we sit down with our yth and evaluate what went well and what didn't. We correspond this with a Parent Survey to see what their parents see valuable/invaluable about the program. If you do this for 3-4 years then down the road you will have a program that you can use over and over again and just tweeking it a little each you use it to stay up with the times. Also, it creates a program for someone new who may step into the youth ministry position down the road. Always make sure that you are picking issues that are relevant to the times and to the kids; that's one of the biggest benefits of a year-end POw-Wow. MAking sure you're on Target!
Posted in: Why Ask Why?
Jason: Great Questions....it is not usually so Black & White because there are so many factors that effect those changes; to stay ahead of the culture trends, over the last 30 yrs, I believe in the 7 year rule; that is it averages out to 7-10 yrs a new generation evolves with different, likes, goals, visions, technology etc. etc. etc. So making a goal of every 7 years keeps you ahead of the average trend. HOWEVER, if you are honestly "tweeking" your program/curriculum, when you get to that seventh year, not only will you very close to the next generation changes, but it won't look like the changes are that drastic. Also, you are not tweeking the moral foundations/fiber that your beliefs are built on, only the presentation that makes it understandable and easier to chew.The bigger question is "How do we keep youth Ministry worker/pastors to stay at any one given location for more than 3 years. That statistic is a true one, and if yth workers are not staying, they can't even come close to successful ministry in these terms. I'd even be thrilled if that statistic doubled. Also training them to create programs that can be passed along to the next one in line. So the answer to some of that is better training for both employed and volunteer yth minitry workers...
Posted in: Facing My Future as a Leader of Today
Thanks for the excitement, passion and desire to continue and bridge the gap that many times as leaders we fail at; Reaching in both directions we will bridge that transitional gap easier....God bless you as you continue to experience what He has laid on your heart to proclaim without shame!!!!!
Posted in: Pamphlet for New Parents on Educating Young Toddlers?
Derek:
I'll just reiterate what I repled to Jolanda, below...I'm director of youth ministry but overseeing hospitality by designed default. (equipping parents, families etc makes my job easier too, eh?) We're already handing out the Sarah Loyd-Jones Bible (great resource) and want to include an equipping pamphlet/brochure to be inserted into it for these new parents - church or unchurched bkgrds. I think the Home Grown Book will be a great resource for me to use as a framework for a pamphlet I will write, design, print myself. Maybe, if I'm satisfied with it's results I can send it your way to see if you think it is worthy for your arsenal of resources, as well.....thank you for responding personally....you were VERY helpful...
Posted in: Pamphlet for New Parents on Educating Young Toddlers?
OK, well keep in touch....I'm finishing up a ministry directory, I've been working on first....so it will probbly be another few weeks yet....
Posted in: Pamphlet for New Parents on Educating Young Toddlers?
Thanks J. for the directional shove :>) ....I've made contact with Mickie and awaiting a response.....
Posted in: Pamphlet for New Parents on Educating Young Toddlers?
Derek:
Thanks! you're editor at Faith Alive, correct?
(1) Does Home Grown specifically have a chapter that deals specifically with these concerns with practical ideas to encourage action on the part of parents?
(2) And does the Denomination print any handy pamphlets to pass on to the "non-reader" book crowd of parents...that we can insert in the children's Bibles we give out?
Posted in: Pamphlet for New Parents on Educating Young Toddlers?
Jolanda:
Thanks for your add'l, positive & helpful comments; I'm director of youth ministry built overseeing hospitality by designed default. (equipping parents, families etc makes my job easier too, eh?) We're already handing out the Sarah Loyd-Jones Bible (great resource) and want to include an equipping pamphlet/brochure to be inserted into it for these new parents - church or unchurched bkgrds. I think the Home Grown Book will be a great resource for me to use as a framework for a pamphlet I will write, design, print myself. Maybe, if I'm satisfied with it's results I can send it your way to see if you think it is worthy for your arsenal of resources, as well.....
Posted in: How should we train our new small groups ministry coordinator?
There is a great resource called, Seven Steps to Effective Small Group Ministry;
BY David Stark
If he's never had any experience with small groups it has some great tools for structuring a program.
Just remember to tell him SMALL GROUPS WORKS....but make sure you give it time for the relationships within the groups to develop.
Posted in: How should we train our new small groups ministry coordinator?
Dave:
OK....so I didn't read everything....sorry!
You're Coordinator is a she, so I messed up there, and I see someone else suggested this resource also.
I was very skeptical 20 years ago when we begin small groups and my wife even had to drag me kicking in screaming (in typical Dutch stubborness....but I survived and I must say it was probably the best experience I and my family have had!!!