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Youth Ministers Pick tJJeb'5 Best Site5,-lln-l lll:n W

"', students along with imploring other
People can find anything on the Internet, Surgejh Guy of Berean Baptlst Church
in Mansfield, Ohio, recommended Young greats to help with subjects for those of us
for better and worse. Thankfully, the
Life Playbook (YlP]aybook.com), a site dealing with these hyperactlve'
information age has been a blessing for
created by Young Life, the parachurch prepubescent little rats that we love so
youth minlsters looking for ways to
youth ministry organization founded in much," said Ryan Feltman of Deil Rapids
understand and better serve the young
1941. Guy says the site is a place where Reformed Church in South Dakota.
people they lead.
"For many PeoPIe, the Internet has youth workers can gather and submit Mark Oestreicher's blog, WhylsMarko
ideas for "disgusting" skits and rate their (WhylsMarko.com), is atso widely read for
become the one place where you go look
effectiveness. 'Every year' their games its information on the youth minlstry
for what is happening in the world, " said
and challenges are the hightight of our fall consultant's latest speaking engagements'
Joseph Winston, a Pastor living in
retreat," he said. as well as his book reviews and poetic
Houston, Texas.
Joey Fine of the Church of Llving Water musings about everything from Sept. 11' to
YouthWorker Journal Posted five
questions on its Facebook page in an in Pratville, AIa., suggeste d Pastor2Youth baby sea turtles.
(Pastor2Youth. com/games), which offers "He has a really amazing ability to
attempt to find out which online games,
holiday, simulatlon, theater and water intertwine humor and faith together as a
activities, blogs, researchers, retailers and
games ln addition to standard indoor and form of encouragement to all
reviewers are the buzz of today's youth
outdoor activities. youthworkers, " said Elizabeth Burnside of
groups.
Saint Andrew Lutheran Church in
Youth workers resPonded. Then we
went deeper, interviewing some of the 2) Your Favorite Youth Ministry Centreville, Virginia.
respondents to find out more. Here's what Bloggers:
you told us. Tim Schmoyer of Alexandria Covenant 3) Your Top Websites for
Church in Alexandria, Minn., ts an Tracking Youth Culture Info and
1) Your Favorite Websites for especialiy popular blogger. His posts at Trends:
Life in Student Ministry: Conversations Ypulse (Ypulse.com) is a popular resource
Youth MinistrY Games and
Among Youth Workets for ministers to stay "in the loop" with
Activities:
(StudentMinistry.org/tag/blog) cover today s youth. offering insights on
The NBC show Minufe to Win ltis a nearly
church growth. spiritual burnout. anger contemporary teens, tweens and
universal hit among youth workers. At the
with God and other difficulties associated collegians based on thorough research.
show's online game iibrarY
(NB C. com/minute-to-win-it/how- with being a "professional Christian. " Another prevalent site for tracklng
"Tim is very transparent in his developments in youth culture lifestyle,
to/index.shtml), kids can learn the joy of
struggles with various sins and in helping fashion, entertainment and technology is
flipping pencils off the backs of their
all of us as youth workers learn from those Trend Central (TrendCentral.com).
hands and catching them, lifting paper
struggles, " said Jason Huffman of First "I have found TrendCentral.com to be
bags with their mouths and collecting
United Methodist Church in Palestine, very helpful in keeping me ahead of the
balls off the tops of cardboard tubes while
Texas. curve, " said Dale Tadlock of First Baptist
blindfolded, among other activities.
Tim's article on his top website Church of WaYnesboro in Virginia.
"(They're) great for a small group," said [See
and tech tiPS on Page 34. Todd Perkins of Discovery Church in
Becky Durham of Presbyterian Church of
Several middle school minrsters find Orlando, Fla., suggested the Center for
Henderson in KentuckY.
comfort in reading Parent/Youth Understanding ( CPYU. org)
An almost equally large amount of
youth workers suggested The Source for JuniorHighMinistry.com, which not only for its youth cuiture news, top 10 lists'
tracks Kurt Johnston's experlences as a guides to new music and film releases and
Youth Ministry
iunior high pastor at Saddleback Church in identification of popular quotes and
(TheSource4ym.com/games) for "proven,
Lake Forest, Callf., but also offers nearly images among contemporary teenagers.
tested good" games and icebreakers for
50 video episodes about ministering to The site was created by Youthworket
various grouP sizes and settings.
Christian teens and tweens. Journal culture columnist Wait Mueller
"it is hands down my go-to site when I
"I(urt Johnston speaks on matters of the and his team.
need a fresh idea," said Debble Ogden
heart, finding balance, struggles and the Todd Jackson of Christian Heritage
Tansimore of Mlddletown Road Baptist
uncontrollabje desire to serve junlor high Church in Tallahassee, Fla., recommended
Church in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvanla.

3O January/February 2011 Youthworker Journal

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