Short-Term Missions A Waste?

What do you think?  Did Thom get it right?

For 4 consecutive Saturdays in October you have the opportunity to make a real difference.  The dates are October 8, 15, 22, and 29.  You can find more information here.  We’re making this event a little different than most The Big Day of Serving.  We want anyone and everyone 12 years old and older to come serve – not just your youth group.  You can invite the men’s ministry, women’s ministry, adult small groups, Sunday school classes, pastoral staff, etc. to come with you to help.  We’ll take everyone who can help.

Please consider bringing your youth group!

The Big Day of Serving – Bloomsburg, PA Disaster Recovery

Kurt Johnston and Josh Griffin share some great thoughts on this topic in the Simply Youth Ministry Today and at youthministry.com.

Please join the conversation.  What do you think?

Mark Oestreicher and some friends are organizing this event just for you – if you work with Middle School students.  It’s gonna be a great time. Let’s be honest about this:  it’s not every adult who wakes up thinking, “How can I spend some time with 13 year-olds today, and influence them for Jesus?”

That calling, that wiring, is extremely unique and wonderful.  And our wise and wonderful God, who cares so passionately about the young teens in your church, chose YOU!  You are truly one of the few, one of the unique; and you are God’s plan for showing love to middle schoolers.

But this ministry is difficult, and sometimes lonely.  You need to be surrounded by others who understand you, who share your calling. That’s why we created the Middle School Ministry Campference.

Check here for more info.   Toby and I will be there as well…

If you work with junior high or middle school students, you owe it to your self to at least check out this event.

http://middleschoolministrycampference.com/

What’s God doing in our lives….

Awesome stuff!  How about your group?  What God been doing through your ministry so far this summer?

Awesome Deal on Youth Ministry Resources

Our friends over at Simply Youth Ministry are have an awesome sale on youth ministry resources. Up to 40% off for 40 hours plus 40 free backgrounds. The 40 hours are up Thursday so don’t miss out on this great opportunity.

See the promo here!

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We work with local partners in all the communities (domestic and international) where we serve.  It’s core to our philosophy of ministry.  We’re based in Colorado.  How could we possibly know the needs in Racine, WI or Manassas, VA or Pucallpa, Peru?  So we look for local “experts” who live, work and minister in those communities to help us organize the service.  These partners also provide funding for the projects and ministry done when we are in that community.  Nearly all of these partners are supported by donations, grants, government funds, foundations, etc.  They’re struggling, just like everyone, to get funds.

The youth groups and church groups that attend our mission trips are another “funding” source for us.  And as any of us that are part of a church know, there are budget issues for many, many churches.  Attending a mission trip is a big deal.  Costs a lot of money.  Whether it’s to Haiti or Appalachia or just downtown.  We hear story and story of groups struggling to raise the necessary funds to go on their trip.

In all of this, however, there is one interesting truth…

We get the money for things we believe in.  We just [...] Continue Reading "Money – where your heart is…"]]> There is so much going on right now and for the last several years when it comes to finances.  The crash, recession, budget crisis, unemployment – the list goes on.  It has had an effect on everyone.  Those of us who do missions certainly have been affected.  For our ministry it’s been on multiple fronts.

We work with local partners in all the communities (domestic and international) where we serve.  It’s core to our philosophy of ministry.  We’re based in Colorado.  How could we possibly know the needs in Racine, WI or Manassas, VA or Pucallpa, Peru?  So we look for local “experts” who live, work and minister in those communities to help us organize the service.  These partners also provide funding for the projects and ministry done when we are in that community.  Nearly all of these partners are supported by donations, grants, government funds, foundations, etc.  They’re struggling, just like everyone, to get funds.

The youth groups and church groups that attend our mission trips are another “funding” source for us.  And as any of us that are part of a church know, there are budget issues for many, many churches.  Attending a mission trip is a big deal.  Costs a lot of money.  Whether it’s to Haiti or Appalachia or just downtown.  We hear story and story of groups struggling to raise the necessary funds to go on their trip.

In all of this, however, there is one interesting truth…

We get the money for things we believe in.  We just do…

Our best local partners always come up with the necessary funds.  Churches and youth group that really believe in, are committed to, and passionate about missions always make it on their trip.  When we need to we find the money.  When it comes to what we believe in.  Money isn’t an issue.  Our heart is in it.

We know this is true in so many other places.  I’ll give a very personal example.  I have a son who loves soccer.  He’s only twelve but he plays on a local club team.  For those of you who have kids who play clubs sports, you know what I’m about to say.  It costs hundreds and hundreds of dollars to play.  Fees, away games, uniforms, equipment, tournaments.  You add it up and it’s real money.  But I wouldn’t deny my son that opportunity.  My heart is in it.

So…

How about your mission trip?  Is “your” heart in it?  When I write “your” I mean you, your group’s, the parents, your whole church?  Are all of you “heart-connected” and passionate about what your doing and who you are serving?

In our experience – where your heart is, the money will follow.

Can 1,000,000 teenagers really transform communities across the country?

Doug has been a great friend and supporter of our ministry (He was right there in the room with us as the dream of 1 By Youth came together).   His blog is full of great ideas and insights about life and ministry.  Be sure to visit his site often!

We’d like to introduce you to two great organizations that are all about helping you raise money for mission trips…and all about helping make a difference around the world.

Get Green To Get Green – I met one of the guys who leads Get Green at a youth conference several years ago. He’s a former youth leader who feels called to help other youth leaders pay for mission trips. Get Green is based on a simple idea: recycling old cell phones. There are many uses for a used cell phone. Instead of just tossing them, they can be almost completely recycled. And you get paid for every phone. Check out who Get Green is and how it all works.

More Than Coffee – Who doesn’t drink coffee? That’s exactly what the founders of More Than Coffee thought. And on one of their own mission trips they got a chance to meet some Christian coffee farmers. It changed the course of their ministry. Now, by selling coffee, they support people in countries around the world and help churches send people on mission trips. Check out who More Than Coffee is and how it all works.

These two fundraising companies are ministries at their core. They are led by people who’ve been in youth [...] Continue Reading "Fundraising!"]]> It’s getting pretty late in the mission trip prep timeline and for many of you there is a big issue still looming out there: fundraising.

We’d like to introduce you to two great organizations that are all about helping you raise money for mission trips…and all about helping make a difference around the world.

Get Green To Get Green – I met one of the guys who leads Get Green at a youth conference several years ago. He’s a former youth leader who feels called to help other youth leaders pay for mission trips. Get Green is based on a simple idea: recycling old cell phones. There are many uses for a used cell phone. Instead of just tossing them, they can be almost completely recycled. And you get paid for every phone. Check out who Get Green is and how it all works.

More Than Coffee – Who doesn’t drink coffee? That’s exactly what the founders of More Than Coffee thought. And on one of their own mission trips they got a chance to meet some Christian coffee farmers. It changed the course of their ministry. Now, by selling coffee, they support people in countries around the world and help churches send people on mission trips. Check out who More Than Coffee is and how it all works.

These two fundraising companies are ministries at their core. They are led by people who’ve been in youth ministry and view their current role as ministry. If you’ve not finished your fundraising for this year and are looking to jump start your process, give these two fundraising organizations a look.