New term, new challenges for youth & children's work
Jonny Woodbridge
It's the beginning of another academic year. And, for children, youth, and certainly their youth and children's workers, this is a big time of change.
There is so much to be thinking about, and I want to offer four pieces of advice, four things that we must seek to remember (yet I often forget) at the beginning of the new school year:
What is your summer camp trying to achieve?
Jonny Woodbridge
It is the season of summer camps at the moment, and there are loads that you can choose from.
There are lots of ways that you could distinguish between them, but one way it is worth thinking about is: what is the main purpose of the camp?
youth ministry
Youth ministry: 'Am I making a difference?'
Jonny Woodbridge
If you've ever climbed a mountain (or even just a good-sized hill) you'll know that it can feel like hard work and it's not long before you start to question whether it's worth it. But on a clear day, what can really make a big difference, is after putting some serious effort in, looking up and seeing some good progress made and knowing you are nearer to the top.
However, the danger comes when you're desperate for that burst of encouragement and you keep looking up at every opportunity you get. But each time you look up, the top looks just as close as it did last time. Plus with your eyes up, you're more likely to miss something on the floor and trip up.
youth ministry
When people in your kids groups who should be friends, aren't.
Jonny Woodbridge
It's a funny title but bear with me as I think this gets to something that can cause real heartache among youth and children's workers up and down the country.
Picture the scene - in your small youth group dominated by boys, one girl comes week by week but you know she's not loving being part of it. And then to your utter joy a new family arrives who have a daughter the same age! Problem over, right?
youth ministry
Starting September well
Jonny Woodbridge
How has your new academic year begun? It can feel like landing back to earth with a bump and maybe you wonder how you ever used to cope doing all a normal term-time week entailed?
We all want to start the term in a great place so we can hit the ground running but I'm sure we all achieve that to different extents and are painfully aware of those areas we weren't quite ready for. Before I share what those are for me, here are a couple of ways we were able to begin in good shape thanks to two wonderful members of our youth and children's team.
Should we teach hard doctrine to children?
This term at our children's groups, I made the decision to attempt teaching the doctrine of union with Christ — with mixed results!
It got me thinking about how we teach tricky concepts and ideas to children, and whether that's a good idea or not. Let me tell you what went well, and what didn’t go quite to plan.