flashback friday (feb. 25): this week's links from the youth ministry blogosphere

One of the things we are committed to at ym360 is Networking. Our vision for networking is connecting you to people and organizations doing awesome youth ministry. Flashback Friday is a feature where we give you the run down of all the interesting posts from the past week in the youth ministry blogosphere. Consider it our way of keeping you connected with what is going on.

This week's posts from the ym360 Blog

• Youth Ministry Essentials: Tips For Recruiting Volunteers
• Youth Ministry: Your "God-sized" Task
• Why The Pursuit of "Cool" Hurts Your Youth Ministry
• Free Bible Study Lesson: The Least of These
• If You're Not Making Disciples, What Are You Making?

Posts From Other Awesome People

We search the Internet to bring you relevant information to help you be a better youth worker. Here are some links from posts we thought were pretty great.

• Orange Leaders--An awesome article on 9 ways to use Social Media to communicate to volunteers.
• The Overflow--Brian Berry writes a series of cool posts looking at "Student Ministry Truths." This post is entitled "Adolescence Is Becoming A Lifestyle." Could not agree more.
• Jeff Goins--Jeff (one of our great ym360 Contributors) writes an AWESOME post on finding the balance between marriage and ministry. One of my favorite posts of the week. Def worth a read!
• Life In Student Ministry.org--We're happy for our friend Tim Schmoyer who just released his first book, "Life In Student Ministry." It's a great book, really practical and highly applicable. It is one of the books I will recommend to new youth pastors. If you want to enter to win a free copy, check out this post.
• The Source 4 ym.com--Jonathan McKee is a sound voice of insight for youth culture. In this post, Jonathan provides a few different resources for helping know how to discuss with students Lady GaGa's new smash-hit song, "Born This Way." The theological implications of this song are very real. Your students are listening to it. Jonathan helps you know how to engage in meaningful dialogue.
• More Than Dodgeball.com--Josh Griffin is one of the leading youth pastors in the country, and not just because he has one of the largest youth ministries. BUT, there is a lot we can glean from seeing how youth ministry is done in such a large organization like Saddleback. This post is the first of two posts answering Frequently Asked Questions about Saddleback's Student Ministries.
• The ADD Youth Pastor--Great post by Andy Lawrenson about a method he uses for event sign-ups. Short and practical post.
• YouthMinistry.com--The first in a series of posts by Doug Fields and Matt McGill entitled "Good Leadership Teams Need To Meet Regularly." Good little series here. Worth a read.
• REyouthpastor.com--Friend and ym360 Contributor Jeremy Zach writes a really thought provoking post entitled "12 Things I've Learned About the Youth Pastor's Mind." It's a good one . . .
• After The Music Stops.com--Our friend "Rev Russ" (aka, Russell St. Bernard) writes a post on the balancing act between giving students the fun they want, and the intentional spiritual development they need.
• Emerging Youth Pastor--Thought this was avery valuable post on the "noise" that totally dominates our students' worlds. I have preached on the very same thing, even using some of the same resources. Good thoughts from Marv Nelson.
• Chasing Daylight--Friend and ym360 Contributor Danny Bowers writes a short and challenging post on what happens when there is a leadership void.

Super Awesome SYMC Posts

• Brit Windel--Brit writes a great post on a few things you should know if you are going to SYMC. We are so pumped to be headed to Chicago to hang out with youth workers. Can't wait.
• Jay Higham.com--Jay is a contributor to ym360 and a friend. He writes a very cool post on why you should get pumped about Connect Groups. If you are headed to SYMC, read this post. Good stuff.

That will do it, folks. As always, have a great weekend . . . And THANK YOU for the chance to serve you as part of the ym360 community.

Share your thoughts with the youthministry360 community:

• As usual, we want to hear your thoughts. Any particular post catch your eyes? Make you think? Did you disagree with anything? Let us know! Your voice makes the ym360 community stronger.