Wrestling with a few Ideas

Lately our middle school ministry has been chewing on a few things. (I want to always strive to tweak and improve what our ministry is doing)

I though i would post them here and if anyone out there has ideas i would love the input.

1. What would ideal praise and worship time look like geared specifically for middle schoolers?

- Do you remember what it was like being a middles schooler? What do they need when it comes to praise and worship. Should it look high schooler ministry P&W/ children's ministry P&W or a blend of both or something completely different?

2. Games (Riot Time) What would be the perfect game time.

- In our ministry, every youth group night has a 10 - 15 minute game time. How do we reach perfection or close. Middles schoolers love to have fun and fun can be meaningful, but what does that look like. How do you involve all the students or is it impossible.

3. Small Groups. What does small group time look like in middle school ministry.

- Our ministry does small groups twice a week for 2 hours each time. So our small group leaders get to be with their students for 90 minutes twice a month. How do we use that time most effectively?

Reading is FUNdamental

I love to read and am always reading something. For good or for bad i am usually reading several books at the same time. Usually one that i picked, one i being made to read and one that in know i should read. Well that is true right now so i just thought i would highlight a few and recommend them.

1. My Pick- Reinventing Youth Ministry (Again) - by Wayne Rice

Very good, i really love the stories in the book. His history with Youth Specialties as well as his time in the local church. I also love it because he is real about his strengths and his weaknesses. Not many authors are willing to talk about their weaknesses. Most books are about how amazing their are and all of their successes. It refreshing to read a youth ministry book about a real person.

2. Must Read- Think Orange by Reggie Joiner

Again a great book which will make you think about what the role of youth ministry really is in your church. Many of the same insights as in Reinventing.

3. Needed to read- Middle School Ministry made Simple- by Kurt Johnston

I read it a long time ago but am rereading it as now i am in full time middle school ministry. A great encouragement.

4. Just Finished reading- Soul Pancake by Rainn Wilson- Great