Newsletter 42: February 2009

(New Zealand Edition)*

* if you are not from NZ click here for our Australian/International e-newsletter.

New Series of Articles: Youth Ministry According to the Tree of Life

Beginning this month and over subsequent months I will be releasing a series of articles based on my book "LIFE: The Missing Dimension in Discipleship". These articles are not excerpts from the book. What they do is expound on the book illustrating ways in which its principles and concepts can be applied in practical ways in youth ministry.

The first of these articles, which appears on our website this month, is called "Life: the REAL Secret", and serves as an introduction to the series. Over subsequent months I will explore topics such as leadership, discipleship, Bible study and worship, tying each back to the content of the book. I trust they will provide a useful means of drawing practical applications from the book.

It's been encouraging to see how the book has been received and to get feedback. One youth leader is using it to write Bible studies for his high schoolers while another couple of youth pastors have their youth leadership team reading it. Not only does it challenge people to look at the Christian Life from an angle other than "do all the stuff Christians should" but it gives them a great overview of Scripture and how the Bible fits together.

The book can be purchased online - more details here along with further endorsements from readers.

Training and Coming Events

• There is a TARGET7 training day for volunteer youth leaders, planned for 7 March in Auckland at Level 1, Parents Inc Building, 300 Great South Road, Greenlane. If you haven't already done so email me regarding your intention to attend.
• In 2009 I will be holding block courses in both Auckland and Christchurch. These are four day courses at tertiary level and can be done for NZQA credit or by audit (i.e.no assignments required). Topics for 2009 are Youth Ministry Design and Programming and Mission within Youth Culture. For a schedule of dates check out our coming events page. Book these in your diary now.

Youth Ministry Training in Nepal

Here in NZ we have so much by way of youth ministry resources and training. Other countries are not so fortunate. Christians are in the minority and lack the financial resources to access what we take for granted. If you are in a Baptist church you should have heard from me last month about an opportunity I have to go there and help the Nepalese Baptist Youth Fellowship begin a three year strategy to train and equip their youth leaders. In order to do this I need to cover my own costs of getting there as well as costs associated with me being there and the running of 4 conferences. To do this I have set a target of $4000 of which just $300 has come in. If you would like to help you can make payments through the Support Section of our website (credit card or internet banking). If you would like more information either to use in fundraising or to pass on to your missions committee then email me.

Bible Study Material: 2009

I mentioned this last month but it's worth mentioning again - a few have taken us up on this. If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive resource for the new year - something that simply asks good questions to get young people talking and then guides them to think about about how what they have been discussing applies to their lives? Check out our most popular resource - a CD of over 170 studies for all ages. Click here for more information and free downloads.

Movie Clips, Games and Dramas

Our website containhs a number of links to these, mostly free, resources as follows:

• Movie Clips: Information on what clips to use and for what topics
• Games: Plenty of icrebreakers and games for all ages
• Dramas: Scripts to involve your young people and make you programmes come alive.

Transition: Helping young people who are leaving home

If you have young people leaving home to study elsewhere this year help them make this transition by advising us of their leaving through the YouthTRANZ section of our website and we will send you a list of contacts in that area who have pledged to follow them up along with a FREE copy of our booklet Prepare! You may also want to check out a set of three Bible studies here.

Latest Job Opportunities

Latest adverts posted during the past couple of months (more on our website):

• Part time Paid Youth Worker - R D 2, New Zealand (January 30, 2009)
• Diocesan Educator for the Under 40’s - Dunedin, New Zealand (January 24, 2009)
• Youth Leader - Taupo, New Zealand (January 7, 2009)
• Youth Intern/Part Time Youth Pastor - Waitakere City, New Zealand (December 24, 2008)
• Holiday Programmes Co-ordinator (Part Time-2 days) - Christchurch, New Zealand (November 7, 2008)
• Youth Worker (Part Time - 3 days) - Christchurch, New Zealand (November 7, 2008)

Add a little to your 2009 budget

Writing newsletters takes time and there is little tangible return. It is a blessing to do it but in the end the bills have to be paid. We are a faith venture and not underwritten by any organisation or denomination. If you have read this far it's a safe bet that these newsletters are helpful to you. If so why not give a one off donation from your personal or ministry budget to start the new year - no amount is too small. If you are interested in offering some support - regularly or as a one off donation click here to find out more. Wehave a link to our automatic payment form plus a page that tells you how you can make contributions through internet banking.

Many thanks and may I wish you and your family best wishes for 2009!

- Murray