In a conversation with a youth last week, I was again made aware of how illiterate I can be in the culture of today’s youth.  (OK, so I know watching Glee would help, but it competes with Lost in our household on Tuesday night.)  While I don’t believe you have to know all the latest trends to form Christ-centered relationships with young people, we do need to do a little homework if we see our role as engaging today’s culture with the Gospel.  For help in that effort, check out CPYU.org.  Walt Mueller and his team provide links to all kinds of articles that inform and educate on current cultural trends, and you can sign up for email updates.

If you don’t already get updates, you might find the email list or the FB fan page for YouthWorker magazine a good resource.  You’ll get a few ads and promos for their published books and resources, but you’ll also find games and youth culture facts that can enhance and support your ministry.  See their youth group games and activities page at www.youthworker.com.

Interested in a game and ice breaker for youth to add to your ministry tool kit each month. ULead, an organization in Northeast Indiana that helps equip student and youth leaders in youth-serving organizations, provides a free group-building game and/or ice breaker each month on their website.  You can find them on the web at www.leadership3.org.