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Syracuse Tour begins Friday (5/15) at 7 in the evening and finishes at 7 the next morning. Each group meets and registers teens at their own church. Youth groups travel in their own vehicles to the first stop and meet other groups there. Everyone’s first stop of the evening is a local mini-golf course. You will be told which one you are going to when you register. At the mini-golf course you will be responsible to pay a per head amount for your group only. The next event brings the entire group together at Believer’s Chapel for pizza and the outreach. At this stop you will give the entirety of your group’s remaining money to your area leader (made known to you when you register) and will not be responsible to make any payments for the rest of the evening. This payment must be in the form of ONE check made out to SAYW. There will be four different area groups. After the outreach, you will rotate throughout the evening to various venues with your area group. Each of these stops lasts an hour and a half. You will end up back at your church around 6:45. Please note that groups are not allowed to change schedules or pay for partial aspects of the evening.

So how can YOUR group participate?

• Contact the SAYW if you have any questions regarding the Syracuse Tour
• Recruit a team of adult chaperones (recommend 1 adult per 6 students)
• Arrange for your own transportation
• Use the provided materials to promote this event
• - If you need Posters to advertise please let us know – we will mall them to you.
• Invite teens that need to hear about Jesus – THIS IS AN OUTREACH EVENT!!!!!
• Maintain registration list and collect permission slips (it is VERY helpful to keep SAYW aware of your numbers as they accumulate)
• Send t-shirt sizes along with registration (S, M, L, XL, XXL only)

Register your group (along with tshirt sizes) by Friday, May 8th.
Attend the pre-event prayer/training time on Tuesday night May 12th.

This event has become not only a source of great fun, group building and memory making
but also one that has been noted for it’s effectiveness as an outreach. We are excited to have
you join the SYRACUSE TOUR ’09 this year! Please contact me with any questions.

If you just want to use the image from the front, use these links: Blank Price,  $30 Card, $35 Card, $40 Card.

Here is a description from SimplyYouthMinistry.com:

If life were a bowl of fruit, most youth workers would have their share of lemons in it. Not just lemons…there would be tasty strawberries, pineapples, and mangos; but there would still be those lemons! Mistakes, mess-ups, and misfortunes. Some bitter, others downright sour. Many youth leaders try to dodge, duck, or completely avoid lemons, but the ten authors in this book believe there is a better way. They’ve discovered how to mix Youth Ministry Lemonade by allowing God to take “sour” experiences and turn them into leadership success. And since these youth workers are ordinary people just like you, they’re convinced God can mix lemonade in your ministry as well. Inside the pages of this book are ten real life stories. Some humorours, a few serious, but each intensely personal. And every scenario represents situations you are likely to face such as:

• Restoring credibility after offending others
• Making changes the wrong way
• Leaving God out of the success equation
• Learning to partner with parents
• Knowing who, when and how to trust others

All ten authors give you a peek inside their private thoughts – almost as if you are reading their personal journals. This straightforward approach allows you to learn firsthand from their mistakes, and the leadership lesson you’ll pick up are powerful. If applied…they will help you turn your “sour” experiences into leadership success!

Choosing to Cheat: Who Wins When Family and Work Collide? by Andy Stanley

• Editorial description from Amazon.com

Product Description

Work. Family. Church. Hobbies. Fitness. Housekeeping. Socializing. Sleep. With only 24 hours in each day, we simply can’t fit everything in. And what we choose to cheat is a clear announcement of our values. When you come home an hour earlier, miss a round of golf, or let the dishes sit while you play with your child, you make your family feel valued and secure. Bestselling author Andy Stanley helps you restore your vision of what really matters – and guides you in making courageous decisions about your time.

Who are you cheating? 
You love your family. You love the challenges of your job. But there’s not enough of you to go around. Somebody isn’t getting as much of your attention as they want or deserve. 

This little book presents a strategic plan for resolving the tension between work and home—reversing the destructive pattern of giving to your company and career what belongs to your family. 

But be forewarned…you will have to cheat. 

 

What Matters Most: When No is Better Than Yes by Doug Fields

• Editorial description from Amazon.com

Product Description
Doug Fields, youth ministry survivor for more than 25 years, is giving you permission—no, he’s telling you—to learn to say no and say it often so you can say yes to what’s most important. If you want to do more than just survive, if you want to thrive in youth ministry, this may be the most important lesson you’ll learn. 

From the Back Cover

This small book will call to you on days that the janitor reads you the riot act, the church secretary jumps down your throat and those home school parents just won’t leave you alone. In this book, Doug Fields shares the wisdom that has helped him survive over 25 years in ministry: Just say No. That two letter word (that often feels like a four letter word to some people!) has the power to help you stay in ministry for the long haul and keep your family intact and thriving. From the book: Jesus said “no” to good things… “no” to significant things… “no” to important people. He was 100% God/100% human and he had limits. He needed solitude. He needed time to reflect and pray and nourish his spiritual life and time away from those bonehead disciples. He needed space. And, Jesus had a lot to do. You try being the Savior of the world! He had a short window to accomplish his life mission and yet he seemed to prioritize and live so different than we do. To say “no” in ministry is to be radical…to be radical is to be counter-cultural…to be counter-cultural is to be like Jesus…to be like Jesus should become our goal. 

First three people to ask Todd for a copy of What Matters Most will get a free copy at the November lunch!  That’s today!

• Houghton College Youth Pastors’ Conference – October 20 – More info here.
• National Youth Workers’ Convention – October 31 – November 3 – More info here.

FYI- For a significantly discounted rate on the NYWC you can register for free membership at NNYM.com and then use “special code” NNYM1 

The lunch:

• SEPTEMBER 26, 1pm
• Sacred Melody Bookstore

There will also be some info about an upcoming concert at the Palace Theater (Relevant Worship) and some other events too.

Feel free to just show up and bring a friend.

• Download the September Agenda

• NFL “pick ‘em” group

Private Group ID: 384129

Password: sayw

Click here to go to the Fox Sports page.

• For the October meeting: Please remember to bring paintball info and info about a “Sunday school” (or similar) program that you have used and would recommend to others.

The student led Youth Alive Campus Clubs will be starting soon after the September 20 kickoff!

The SAYW are trying to encourage, equip, and connect the students on high school campuses all around Syracuse and the kickoff event will do just that.

Here are the details:

• September 20, 6:00 – 8:30pm
• Northside Baptist Church, Liverpool (Rt. 57 near K-Mart)
• High school students who are or who might be interested in getting involved with a Youth Alive club in their school.

Download a PDF of full color, printable postcards to invite your students to this event!