Newsletter 45: September 2009
(New Zealand Edition)*
*
if you are not from NZ click
here for our Australian/International e-newsletter.
YouthTRAIN on Facebook
In an effort to make the latest news and resources ideas
in youth ministry readily available, YouthTRAIN have set up
a fan
page on Facebook. You can find it here
(you need to sign up as a member of Facebook to view this).
To participate and to receive notifications of updates you
need to become a “Fan” (see link on the left hand
side of the page).
What will appear on the page? I’ll be posting items
that I normally include in our e-newsletter such as links
to free resources, articles, upcoming events and job opportunities.
However instead of having to wait one or two months to see
these they will be available right away.
Another great feature of Facebook is that it allows YOU to
make your own contributions. Here are some things you might
post to YouthTRAIN’s Facebook page:
- Tell us what you did at youth group this week (The good
the bad and the ugly!)
- Share resource ideas (I just came across an amazing Bible
study resource!)
- Ask other leaders for ideas (Anyone know a good movie
clip on....?)
- Ask advice (A “friend” of mine is facing
a tricky situation...)
- Share photos and videos from youth group events (Remember
it’s a “family friendly” site!)
- Share prayer needs (No names please if it involves a
young person)
- Advertise events (We are doing this... come join us!)
Funny, serious or just plain weird... do SHARE! There are
no “rules” as to how you use this page (well,
almost! OK I might regret saying that...)
I’m setting this up as a trial for a month. If it’s
not well subscribed to and used, then no problem. I’ll
shut it down. If it IS well used I’ll look to add some
“extras” which you can sign your youth leaders
up to such as a brief daily devotional for youth leaders things
and training tips.
If any of you have other ideas of how this page could be
used please email
me... or Facebook message me!
So sign up as a Fan, tell your friends, and start posting...
FREE Online Bible Studies
Below are some free downloadable programming ideas. Use them
to build your own programmes
- Questions
about Sex: Twenty questions about sex - use to create
your own Bible study or prepare for a message.
- Risky
Business: Why do young people do crazy things? (Youthworker
Journal)
- Rough
Waters: Guidelines for pursuing your dreams (Youthworker
Journal)
- Repentance:
A Bible study on true repentance (built off Chris Brown's
apology to Rihanna).
- Facebook
’em, Danno: When Teens Reveal Too Much Online
(Youthworker Journal)
- Bite
Club: Vampires Have Gone from Creepy to Chic
- Helping
Hand: Youth Volunteering at Inspiring Rates (Youthworker
Journal)
- Food
for Thought: Eating Disorders are Complex, Serious (Youthworker
Journal)
FREE Sample Chapters from Youth Ministry Books
Check these books out and download a free chapter from each
to read:
FREE Do Your Own Retreat - For Youth Workers
Bible on an iPod
Here are some sites for you and
your young people to check out for listening to scripture
on the go:
- PodBible:
Recorded in NZ using the CEV version. To go through the
Bible in a year click
here. For whole books of the Bible click
here.
- The
Bible Podcast: An American resource using the New English
Translation. To download whole books click
here.
- Audio
Bible for iPod: Includes daily devotionals, Bible-in-a-year
and more.
- GoBible
is an "iPod like" resource - an electronic audio
Bible you can carry with you and listen to anytime. To find
out more about getting these from a NZ distributor for NZ$125
and for using this as a fundraiser, click here.
DVD's and Youth Ministry
Ever sat down to watch a DVD with your young people only
to find the content is not suitable. Yes we should have watched
it ourselves first but with our busy lives we just don't have
time to watch 6 movies before finding one that won't see parents
phoning us up to complain. Help is at hand with theses sites:
- Parent
Previews: Synopsis of films and rating. Even includes
discussion ideas.
- Plugged
in Online: Contains a synopsis of each movie along with
other information including positive elements and spiritual
content
- Internet
Movie Database (IMDb): A comprehensive listing of movies.
Type in a movie and scroll down for the link "View
content advisory for parents". These are filled in
by viewers but are generally reliable (not all movies have
this section completes).
Latest
Job Opportunities
Latest
adverts posted during the past few months (more on our website):
Can you help?
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 - 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. We have a link to our automatic
payment form plus a page that tells you how you can make
contributions through internet
banking.
- Murray
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