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Justin BolingMore Posts FREE Tech Tools to Help Your Youth Ministry

When I was in college the tech rage was Instant Messaging, today most of my facebook friends shut their chat feature off. Tech seems to progress so rapidly we can miss all the tools and toys that could be a good addition to our ministries…by the end of this post facebook may change what our home screens look like again…and again. Mmmmmm, Timeline 3D…

**DISCOUNTED REGISTRATION ends February 1, 2012 and SAVE $20**

I am excited to be teaching on tech at SYMC. I will lead two workshops, one on “Top FREE Tech Tools for Youth Ministry” and another on “Making the Most of Today’s Technology.”

In these workshops I will do my best to communicate for:

Add Comment January 18, 2012

Justin BolingMore Posts Transitional Ministry

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” – Deuteronomy 31:8

Making a major transition in ministry to another state means everything is different. The local news channel personalities are not what you’re used to listening to and seeing every night at 11:00. Radio stations even seem to play different music as you drive unfamiliar streets finding your way around. The barista at the Starbuck’s isn’t your regular barista that knows your name and what you drink and the regulars are not…your regulars. And on a night you’re expecting God to move through your new students, something doesn’t go quite right and you’re left feeling discouraged and defeated.

**DISCOUNT REGISTRATION ends February 1, 2012**

Yes, everything is different and sometimes even a little scary. I doubt for a moment that any of you who have had to make a major transition in your ministry and life can say you never felt a little scared of what’s ahead, unsure of yourself and slightly discouraged no matter how long you’ve been in ministry.

It’s these scary, frustrating, discouraging and sometimes confusing moments that I have the privilege to share my own experiences with youth workers from all over the country who are facing transition in the ministry. For my second year in a row I’ll be leading the Surviving Transitions Connect Group at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference being held in Louisville, KY from March 2nd to the 5th.

**DISCOUNT REGISTRATION ends February 1, 2012**

This year I’m particularly excited about it as I’ll have my wife by my side for the first time. She’ll be available to share her experiences about surviving transitions from the stand point of the spouse.

How does transition impact our families? So often when we talk about transition in ministry we only focus on how it impacts us in our ministry, but we rarely discuss the impact it has in our homes and on our families.

So as I prepare to lead the Surviving Transitions in Ministry Connect Group at this year’s SYMC, I’ve been giving a lot of thought about the personal care of youth workers that are in transition based on my own experiences. I am looking forward to connecting with you and other youth workers who are or will be facing transition of some sort in ministry to hear their stories, pray and be an encouragement to them.

Brian Ford
Student Ministries Pastor
Agape Christian Church
xposed2jesus@gmail.com
twitter: @ypbrianford

Add Comment January 17, 2012

Justin BolingMore Posts A Female Perspective

Excitement is building at my house as the Simply Youth Ministry Conference in Kentucky approaches!! First and foremost, I can’t wait to run away from home to spend some quality time with my own personal youth pastor and a few thousand of my favorite people- youth workers! I want to laugh until I’m hoarse, sing until I escape, and be renewed to a fresh perspective for ministry.

**The Simply Youth Ministry Conference 2012 | Register TODAY Jan 16, 2012 and SAVE $20**

Mostly, though, I’m bursting at the seams to gather with other ministry spouses who know what it’s like to have their spouse change their hair color to pink as a motivational tool; who are on a first name basis with the manager of the local pizza joint; who have had the checkout lady question why someone would buy 40 cans of whipped cream and 13 jars of pickles with the church credit card; and who have had at least one piece of furniture in their house destroyed during a youth event. I know I’ll find friends when ministry spouses gather together for a fun-filled breakfast at SYMC filled with surprises just for us! I’m looking forward to sharing with youth workers about how to help their spouses successfully navigate the difficulties of living a ministry lifestyle. I’ll expose the elephant living under the red couch when you attend the workshop, “Things Your Spouse Wants You to Know (But is Too Supportive to Tell You)”. And I’m humbled to share peer panels with some of the most real and relevant people I have ever met in youth ministry.

**The Simply Youth Ministry Conference 2012 | Register TODAY Jan 16, 2012 and SAVE $20**

This year has been one of the most challenging years our family has ever experienced in ministry. The lowest of valleys has been mingled with the highest of mountain tops. SYMC fuels the trek back up to the top while friends who have walked these mountain paths before hold my hand and tell me that I can make it no matter how tired I am right now. So bring your climbing gear! The air up here at SYMC makes it much easier to BREATHE~

“I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone.” Numbers 11:17

Katie Sutton
Co-Founder of Millennial Influence – MiPodcast, Glass House Spouse
GlassHouseSpouse@gmail.com

1 View Comments January 16, 2012

Justin BolingMore Posts Can I Help?

Several years ago by chance or God’s favor the first Simply Conference took place just a few miles from my church. Wanting to be a part (and take some adult volunteers) but not having the budget we asked if we could help and get some training that way. It was one of the best things to ever happen to me.

**The Simply Youth Ministry Conference 2012 | Register by Monday Jan 16, 2012 and SAVE $20**

The Simply Youth Ministry Conference is full of great teaching that we have used in our minstry for years, but I have been more impressed by the hearts of the people behind it. A conference like this needs so many hands behind the scenes doing the things nobody wants to do, and the hearts of the people who work and volunteer are amazing. It truly is a conference by youth workers for youth workers, only not all the youth workers are up front teaching. There are people who volunteer and show up days early to set up, youth workers who after they go to their sessions will come downstairs and clean up the main session ballroom or wake up an hour early to help put treats on the seats for attendees. These people aren’t paid to be there, they registered like everyone else, but they want to minister to others as much as they are being ministered to at this conference. There are hundreds of youth pastors across the county right now praying for this conference and all who attend.

**The Simply Youth Ministry Conference 2012 | Register by Monday Jan 16, 2012 and SAVE $20**

A person with the servant’s heart to ask at quarter to midnight “How can I help?” is what makes this conference special to me. Youth workers aren’t just attending this conference, they are helping with it, they are invested in it. There are tons of conference where you can amazing training, but finding one where you know you are cared for, where you know people are praying for you, where people will work twice as hard to cover for someone who is “not doing their job” because a fellow youth worker needed someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on, that is what makes this conference special to me.

Troy Richards
Senior High Director
Fisher’s United Methodist Church
TRichards@FishersUMC.org