- I’ve really enjoyed reading Adam Mclane’s blog posts the last couple days concerning a return to programmatic youth ministry….or if not a full blown return, at least a discussion about the benefits of programs, strategies, intentionality, etc. My ongoing challenge when I read Adam’s stuff is figuring out when he actually believes what he is writing, when he is just “thinking and processing out loud” and when he is simply trying to stir the pot.
- Just bought Seth Godin’s new book, The Icarus Deception, and can’t wait to dig into it.
- Tomorrow morning we leave for our 3rd annual Staff Camp; a two-day working retreat with all of our paid JH, HS and College teams from all 7 of our campuses. We’ll pray, remind ourselves of why we do what we do, dream, play and get to know each other a little better. I started it two years ago with the hopes of doing it every-other year but it was so well received and so beneficial that we decided it needed to be an annual event.
- Yesterday in our executive leadership meeting my boss, Rick Warren, spent 30 minutes working us through some very specific stuff he’s been learning about organizational leadership. I was so impressed and inspired by his humility, willingness to admit where he’s weak, and desire to truly learn from somebody else. Here’s a guy who is arguably “America’s Pastor” and he’s still in full-blown learning mode. And, he’s not just learning, he’s doing it enthusiastically…he was like a kid in a candy shop sharing the stuff he’s been stretched by.
- My 8th grade small group continues to be the best part of my week. Not always the easiest part….or always the most fun part….but the BEST part. Paul, my 50-something co-leader who runs the group with absolute genius and perfection, wasn’t there last night so it was left up to me and Cody, our 19 year old college age cohort. Good times! No genius or perfection present…but good times.
Kurt Johnston leads the student ministries team at Saddleback Church in Southern California. His ministry of choice, however, is junior high, where he spends approximately 83.4% of his time. Kurt is also the founder of www.simplyjuniorhigh.com, and he writes, speaks and looks for opportunities to encourage other youth workers. He likes to surf, ride dirtbikes and hang out in coffee shops. He is married to Rachel, and they have two teenage children, Kayla and Cole
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Scott Rubin is the Director of Elevate, the junior high ministry of Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago. He's mostly a middle school pastor, but he also writes some, speaks some, and blogs some. He's the co-author of the book Middle School Ministry, and a few other titles too. He likes sports, summer, his wife Lynette, his 3 sons, and often wishes that Lake Michigan was actually an ocean.
