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Youthworks College has recently joined up with a number of other youth ministry organisations across Australia to fund new research into how young people engage with the Bible and what influences them to do so.
Graham Stanton
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The problem for leaders and those responsible for training our young musicians is that often they teach the band and song leaders to “perform”. But when we sing together in our youth groups, our purpose is service, directing people’s attention away from ourselves and instead to God and his people.
Graham Thomas
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Recently I organised and ran a camp for a state high school that has very little scripture, and many students who do not go to church and are not Christians. The results were fantastic!
Andy Stevenson
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My kindy friend, Ben, ran up to me one day.
"There is a boy in KB who doesn’t know who Jesus is. He told me he has never heard about Jesus!"Ben stood there, looking up at me, waiting expectantly for my response.
Emma Collett
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Kate and Peter had their fifth child baptised recently. They made promises on Hamish’s behalf to bring him up in the fear and knowledge of the Lord. How will they do that? How do we support parents as faith trainers in our congregations?
Janene Lewers
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The Ethics Trial is about to begin in ten government schools as an alternative to SRE classes. This article, published in the April edition of Southern Cross newspaper, seeks to raise relevant questions and give Christians a greater understanding of the implications of the Trial for the future of SRE.
Archbishop Dr. Peter Jensen
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So, that’s Easter done for another year. I wonder whether that’s how you’re left feeling now that the celebrations of Easter Sunday have passed, the public holidays are finished and even the school holidays have drawn to a close?
Graham Stanton
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"Faith is caught not taught" is one of those pithy little proverbs that I frequently come across in the context of ministry to youth and children, but not in a good way.
Jon Thorpe
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This is the next instalment on how speak to kids about some of the very tricky issues of life that come up in our children’s ministries.
Jenni Thacker
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Boys and girls are different. And that has implications for how they’re raised. James Dobson gives practical advice and encouragement for those shaping the next generation of men.
Andrew Thorburn
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When children in Israel were taught to pray, they were taught the prayers of Israel—the Psalms of the Bible. I'm inspired to continue the task I began many months ago—to teach my kids passages from the Bible while their memories are still fresh and receptive.
Jean Williams
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Some of us do it poorly. Some of us are just starting out. Others are investing well in the Kingdom by raising leaders who will have a deep impact among the young people we serve.
How are you discipling leaders?
Paul McPhail
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Alongside classes on how to use a puppet and how to run a youth camp, the syllabus for ‘The Doctrine of God and the Person and Work of Christ’ can be a little bit daunting, and perhaps even a little tangential to the cut and thrust of children’s and youth ministry. So why study theology, and in particular, why does a youth or children’s ministry worker need to study theology?
Graham Stanton
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Graham Stanton | My eldest daughter had her tenth birthday recently. The big one-o, double figures, one more step on the inexorable journey towards teenage-dom and then onwards to adulthood...
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What makes a good children’s Bible? Is it the pictures? Which stories they do and don’t include? Is it how big it is or how many words are in it? And why is it important to have good Bibles to use with children of different ages?
Naomi Ireland
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The Timothy Partnership is a new project in ministry training that is seeking to move beyond divisions of human sinfulness to be better able to equip Christian people for gospel ministry.
Graham Stanton
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In this interview, we explore the passion, vision and challenges of a Children’s Worker who recently attended the Theology of Children’s Ministry Conference.
Janene Lewers
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Run out of creative ways to do memory verses with your youth group? Here are some innovative suggestions from a Youth Minister who loves to help young people memorise the bible.
Mike Dicker
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Aimed at students in years 7-10, the Jesus.All About Life High School SRE lessons provide an excellent basic introduction or refresher of the gospel message. Not only is it quality material but it’s free as well.
Andrew Thorburn
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As a late and reasonably sceptical starter with facebook, Twitter seemed to me to be a step too far. I was one of those who gleefully pointed out studies showing that 40% of what is communicated on Twitter is pointless babble. So why am I suddenly onboard?
Graham Stanton
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As a theme boys in years 6-8 aren’t big readers, they tend to be more active than reflective and they are easily distracted. We often get frustrated with them in kid’s club or youth group because they never seem to sit still long enough to hear anything...
Jon Thorpe
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In our instant world we expect everything to happen now (or sooner if possible). But this can get in the way of solid investment in gospel ministry – especially when we give up too quickly.
Andrew Thorburn
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High school seminars are pretty daunting: you have a room full of students who are happy you saved them from maths but not so happy about sitting through an hour of ‘religion’. Qurious have come up with a fantastic way to help us connect high school students with the truth about Jesus.
Jon Thorpe
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HOT OFF THE PRESS: YouTube video of our latest venture!
Find out how you can help.
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I am writing a gospel outline specifically for sharing God’s good news with children as part of a paper to be presented at our upcoming conference. This humble attempt is offered in honour of the late Graham Wade's example of sharing Jesus with children.
Graham Stanton
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I had the privilege of sitting under some great teaching this week. I was confronted, comforted, refreshed and spurred on. It felt like therapy, but the funny thing was: it wasn’t new. Yet it was refreshing, like the scent of jasmine flowing through our house.
Paul McPhail
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Green has moved from fringe, tree-hugging, save-the-whales activism, into main stream popular culture. Ask any young adult and they will tell you they care deeply about the environment... unfortunately though, not enough to actually do anything about it.
Jon Thorpe
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Four years ago I was introduced to BOB. Over those years I have watched BOB grow and develop. Now it’s my turn to introduce you to BOB.
Paul Rees
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One thing that has been significant in my thinking of late is our desire to produce leaders who will willingly give up their own honour and glory and influence for the sake of the honour, glory and influence of Jesus. Here are some thoughts from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book Life Together.
Graham Stanton
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Those of us in youth ministry are well-acquainted with the fact that most teenagers can’t comprehend a world without iPods, the internet, mobiles and Xboxes, but child-protection policies, website costs and administration often get in the way of effective web communication.
Catherine Fung
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Technology in ministry seems to incite a similar reaction to the Apple/PC debate. For some it’s manna from heaven, for others its digital procrastination. Here are the top 5 technologies that help my ministry.
Jon Thorpe
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Children’s faith development is often overlooked by parents, and people in ministry to children. Having even a basic understanding of children's needs at various points along the way will helps us to be well prepared, ready to empower young people to discover faith for themselves.
Peter White
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Advertisers are now targeting babies in their quest to “get them young” and indoctrinate them into consumerism. It is crucial we understand the culture that our girls are growing up in, in order to help them to navigate their world.
Janene Lewers
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Why should we persevere in teaching the Christian faith to ungrateful and unruly school students who do not care? Are all these resources, time, and energy worth it for the growth of our churches and - ultimately - the kingdom of God?
Andrew Stevenson
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Introduction videos from Bishop Glenn Davies and Youthworks CEO Zac Veron
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It’s a theological question often asked by adults as we try to understand prayer in the context of God's sovereignty and omniscience. Yet how do we answer the question for children and young people? The way we choose to answer will teach them a lot about prayer.
Graham Stanton
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One of the quarterly academic journals Youthworks College subscribes to is Youth Studies Australia. Every quarter I aim to report on research that has direct relevance to the work of those in youth and children's ministry. Here is the July Report!
Graham Stanton
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Much of our current conversation has been about being prepared for hard times ahead, the need to learn how to do more with less & a time for tightening our belts. All of which says clearly that this is a day of scarcity and lack and we all need to be prepared. But is it true?
Graham Stanton
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Many teens can feel at times like there are no clear words from God, no clear well-worn path and no fellow travellers as they stumble through the everyday demands of growing up. So what skills do we need to be teaching our young people to prepare them for the inevitable 'lost days'?
Graham Stanton
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"Great Story! So what has it got to do with me?"I’ve often thought this as I’ve heard stories being told as a part of sermons or talks.
Peter White
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Christian leaders should always strive to be the best leaders they can be. A willingness to be trained speaks volumes to children, their families and the community.
Jenni Thacker
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Whilst idealism can stop us from being complacent, it can also stop us from being content. This is particularly true for zealous Christian young adults as they grapple with the bleak realities of everyday church life. This is a syndrome I refer to as DWC - disillusionment with church!
Graham Stanton
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In the current global financial crisis it is important to be reminded of the place of money in our lives. As soon as the topic of money is mentioned most of us have some sort of reaction. Money is emotive, we are unsettled by ...
Jim French
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We have children’s ministers for children, we have youth ministers for youth, we have ministers for adults, but who teaches and encourages parents?
Jon Thorpe
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It is amazing what scripture and songs, the Holy Spirit reminds you of when you are in the furnace. On Feb 20, 2009, our worst nightmare as parents, became reality.
Janene Lewers
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Surprisingly, the authors are 19-year-old twin brothers with a vision to see youth in all nations step up and step out, in Christ, to change the world for his glory. This is definately one to get in the hands of your teenagers!
Andrew Thorburn
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I hate not knowing how to give an answer! But what do you do when a child throws a curly question your way? Do you just throw your hands in the air and say “I don’t know!” or do you give answering the question a go and fumble your way through?
Peter White
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What should we say to kids who share their stories of loss with us? It is a very important topic and what we say to kids can have some very big consequences on their view of God and his character.
Jenni Thacker
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‘Anhedonia’ describes what happens when a person reaches a point in life where they have had so much stimulation and so many thrills that NOTHING, brings them any excitement or pleasure anymore. So what can we do?
Barry Costello
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An “SOS” has been sent out for high schools in the greater Sydney area. “Bring back our scripture classes!”
Andy Stevenson
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