Author Archive

Welcome Helene!

December 2nd, 2011 1 Comment

We are so excited to welcome Helene Foust to the CONNECT Team this week.  Helene started work yesterday as the new Associate Director of Student Ministries, and those of you serving in ministry with youth around the state of Indiana will be blessed by her heart for supporting, resourcing, empowering, and caring for you and your ministries.

Helene was most recently the Director of Youth Ministries at Old Bethel UMC in Indianapolis.  Everywhere she has served – suburban Connecticut, rural Southern Indiana, and the east side of Indianapolis – her heart and passion for sharing Christ’s love with youth has led to growth in ministry.  She brings a wealth of experience in how to reach out to youth in the community, a strong knowledge of the many resources available for youth ministry, and a heart for equipping others.

Please join in welcoming Helene!  You can reach her by email here, or via twitter @INUMCyouth.  She is excited to get started, so let her know how the CONNECT Team can support you and your local church ministry with youth.

Posted in: Connect

Thank You Again

October 31st, 2011 No Comments

“I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. “  -Philippians 1:3-5

Thank a Youth Worker Day is this Thursday, November 3.  It was started by a group of youth workers and youth work organization executives in Indiana who wanted to make a difference for the field of youth work.  Seemed a simple way to recognize all those volunteers and staff who invest in the lives of young people.  The hope was that youth workers wouldn’t have to organize their own thank a youth worker party, but would be able to own the value and impact of their work and ministry.

So as we approach this day of celebration this week, we just wanted to take a moment and thank those of you who work in ministry with youth in The UMC in Indiana.  Hear from the Conference and from the church a HUGE thank you!!! For your ministry with youth, thank you!  For the time and energy you give, thank you!  For the sacrifices you make to be in ministry and share God’s love with youth, thank you!  For answering God’s call to be in ministry with young people, thank you!  You obviously don’t do it for the money or the recognition, and some days are filled with joy and some are filled with (let’s just say not so much joy).  Ultimately you are in ministry with youth because you have faith, you know Christ’s love, and you have answered God’s call to share that amazing love with the youth and children among us.  Thank you for the blessing you are as a youth worker!

PS:  If you’re like most youth workers who don’t want the personal attention and always credit others, take a moment to pat yourself on the back, and then grab an opportunity this week to thank another youth worker who has impacted you.

Posted in: Connect

Media Resources

October 17th, 2011 No Comments

This weekend someone asked a common question about where to find media resources – slides, videos, etc.  For those desiring to add creativity through media to their worship or teaching, finding the media can be time-consuming.  Below are a few links that can help with this task:

Free Resources

Creation Swap – slides and photo backgrounds, some free and some pay to use

Youth Ministry Geek – not exactly free resources, but a blog with links to deals, youtube videos that can be used to teach, and a guide to everything tech for youth ministry.

Livechurch.tv Open Resources – sermon/lesson series with all support media

Wingclips – A library of movie clips indexed by topic, scripture, and movie title.  Lower resolution use is free.

Muddy River Media – A mission group dedicated to providing media content for churches.

Mayang Textures – Looking for generic backgrounds.  This site is filled with textures you can download for free.

StuffICanUse.com – Free resources – video intros, sermon samples, slides – from Southeast Christian Church youth ministries.

Pay Resources

Worship House Media – not cheap but good quality video, song tracks, backgrounds, etc.

skitguys.com – Comedy and drama sketches, often with powerful messages, for $12-$20.

BluefishTV – lots of content/illustration videos, including a whole section for youth ministry.

worshipvue.com – Variety of media, including stills and song backgrounds.

Igniter Media – same format as Worship House Media.

sermonspice.com – Large collection of sermon illustration videos, with other media for sale as well.

Church Media Net – Costs about $40.00 a year.  Lots of media shared, though it can be tough to sift through it all.

Digital Stache – Paid media and games from the tech team at Southeast Christian Church.

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Have resources you find helpful?  Add a comment and share!

Posted in: Curriculum, Ministry Resource
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