It’s been all over the news! Everyone is talking about who is going to win the NCAA Championship tonight. Will it be the University of Michigan who hasn’t won since 1989 or the University of Louisville who hasn’t won a championship since 1986!

Our vote at the office, “Who do you think is going to win tonight and why?”:

Storm: “Louisville. I don’t even watch basketball and I know they’re going to win.”

Justin: “Michigan. Because they beat VCU who has a similar playing style as Louisville.”

Scott: “Louisville.”

Stephanie: “Michigan, duh. Since State got knocked out I have to stand behind at least one Michigan team.”

Alright YM Nation, who do you think is going to win tonight?!?

Post your winner in the comment section!

~Steph (Go Blue!)

      VS. 

Well… have YOU picked your FINAL 4 for only $99?!

Choose from an assortment of SYM resources including:

• The Basics by Josh Griffin
• Pure Sex by Craig Gross and Cris Clapp Logan
• Guy Talk Girl Talk
• Tuff Stuff by Kurt Johnston
• Spin That Wheel
• The Rabbi by Johnny Scott

Pick 4 of these awesome resources and call Jake (1-866-9-Simply) to order!

What are you waiting for?!

-Stephanie

Ever wondered what your volunteers really think about you, your leadership, and your ministry?

Get an insider’s perspective from Rick Williams, who has seen it all as a volunteer in youth ministry: futile meetings, weak leadership, disorganized events, lax standards, and even the occasional guilt trip. Yet despite all these challenges, he has remained a volunteer for more than 30 years!

—Order A Youth Ministry Volunteer Speaks His Mind Here—

Your volunteers have feedback and suggestions that can help you lead more effectively. Most of them want to serve in meaningful ways. They want to take ownership. They want you and the youth ministry to succeed. But are you listening and truly hearing what they’re saying?

A Youth Ministry Volunteer Speaks His Mind will help you navigate the waters of engaging volunteers in life-changing ministry to teenagers. Rick’s perspective may not align perfectly with the people who serve alongside you, but you’ll discover truckloads of wisdom and experience from his insights. Leading a team of volunteers isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but they’re worth the effort!

About the Author:

Rick Williams has been a youth volunteer since 1981 in both junior high and high school ministries. A native of Southern California, he has spent the majority of his professional life in corporate sales and currently is a Realtor in the North Orange County Area. Rick and his wife, Melissa, are the parents of three children and live in La Habra, California.

You’ll really like this book! It’s AWESOME- Stephanie

The word “urban” seems simple to define—but “urban teenager” is anything but simple to understand and explain. Even if you’re a youth worker in rural Kentucky or suburban California, you have urban students in your midst. The days of identifying and labeling our teenagers based on where they live, what they wear, or the color of their skin are gone. Today, everybody’s urban.

—-Own YOUR copy of Everybody’s Urban NOW!—-

More and more teenagers are stuck in survival mode, unable to see beyond today. Their dreams have been stolen, and they’ve given up on ever recapturing them.

But veteran youth pastors Jeffrey Wallace and Leneita Fix know there’s hope.

Everybody’s Urban is infused with their hard-won insights into the urban youth experience, along with dozens of real-world strategies for ministering to today’s teenagers.

About the Authors:

  Leneita Fix recently celebrated her 20th year in ministry. Her passion is multiplying ALL youth workers (full time, paid, unpaid, volunteer, or bivocational) by aiding them to become better trained and equipped. She is honored to be a part of a family that ministers together, with her husband, John, a niece, and three beautiful children.

    Jeffrey Wallace is the president and CEO of Front Line Urban Resources, Inc, which focuses on training and mentoring urban youth pastors and leaders, and providing life-changing youth ministry resources. He’s also founder of Simply Urban Ministry. Jeffrey serves as pastor of youth development at Peace Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia.

THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS? THINK YOUR FRIENDS KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU? THINK AGAIN!

This Book Gets Around is a fun way to learn something new about your friends or family members, neighbors, co-workers, teammates, whoever! (You might even uncover one or two surprising things about yourself, too.)

Pass the book around, let people answer imaginative questions and do some creative activities, and then see what’s written on the pages.

— Buy This Book Get’s Around Now!—

Give the book to specific people or let it follow a random path back to you—whatever way you use it is fine. Get the fun started today, and discover something cool, unusual, surprising, or amazing about the people you already know!

Order This Book Get’s Around for YOUR Youth Group Today!

About the Author:

  KURT JOHNSTON has been in youth ministry since 1988 and currently leads the student ministry team at Saddleback Church in Orange County, California. His ministry of choice is the junior high department, where he tries to spend approximately 87.4% of his time. Kurt and his wife, Rachel, have been married for a long time and have two children: Kayla, a college student, and Cole, who’s in high school.

Enjoy!

Stephanie

The best coaches, the most effective teachers, and the strongest leaders all know this truth: If you want to build something that endures, you have to start with the basics.
That idea applies to our spiritual journey, too. The Basics will help students explore, discuss, and apply some of the core truths of the Christian faith. The truths in this series aren’t called “basic” because they’re childish or simplistic; they’re “basic” because they’re foundational and essential to leading a life that honors God.
Each week, your teenagers will explore key Scriptures that relate to these topics, discuss the significance of each biblical truth, and consider how it relates to their lives today.
The Basics is ideal for students who have recently become Christ-followers or for teenagers who are exploring the claims and truths of the Christian faith—but students who’ve been followers of Jesus for years will benefit, too.
This DVD-based curriculum covers four topics:

• Start Here: Salvation [08:13]
• The First Step: Baptism [05:29]
• Remembering the Past and Looking Forward: Communion [06:50]
• Keep Moving Forward: Next Steps [07:14]

You’ll get tons of helpful materials to help you use the curriculum, including discussion guides, promotional materials, and more. All of the resources are editable and reproducible, so you can tweak away and infuse them with your ministry’s unique personality!

Order The Basics here!

About the Author:

Joshua Griffin is the high school pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. While he’s given up on his dreams of winning American Idol and running seven marathons in seven days, he remains committed to the dream of seeing teenagers passionately live out their faith.

-Stephanie

Want to make a difference this summer???

Play games with the elderly?

Help a local food bank?

Landscape the yards of non-profits and different ministries?

Check out WEEK OF HOPE!! You can make a difference in someone’s life!

When you request a FREE infopak you’ll be entered to WIN $500 in SimplyYouthMinistry.com resources!!

Request your FREE infopak here!

ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!

Helping your child make wise choices about sex and dating requires more than just one chat. It’s about building bridges of ongoing dialogue throughout the teenage years.

But youth workers Mark Oestreicher and Joel Mayward realize many parents don’t feel comfortable or prepared to have these kinds of conversations. That’s why they wrote A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Sex and Dating—to equip you to initiate healthy, honest discussions with your teenager. This book will also help you understand some of the relevant trends and issues in today’s youth culture.

Your role as a parent is to do more than provide your teenager with information about sex and dating. You have the opportunity and the calling to help your child live wisely and honor God in this sometimes tricky, occasionally awkward, and always vital area of life.

Order your copy of A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Sex and Dating NOW!

About the Authors:::

 MARK OESTREICHER (Marko) is a veteran youth worker and founding partner in The Youth Cartel, providing resources, training, and coaching for church youth workers. The author of dozens of books, including Youth Ministry 3.0, Marko is a sought-after speaker, writer, and consultant. Marko lives in San Diego with his wife, Jeannie, and teenage children, Liesl and Max. Marko’s blog: whyismarko.com.

JOEL MAYWARD is a pastor, writer, husband, and father living in Langley, British Columbia. Joel loves youth ministry, movies, and theology and writes about it all at his blog, joelmayward.blogspot.com.

Making a Difference in the Bronx! A Chat About The Big Day of Serving

Wednesday, February 20, 2013 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM MST

Webinar Registration

Join Jake Rasmussen for a live chat about The Big Day of Serving! He will share about what to expect during this amazing experience and answer all your questions!
BIG DAY OF SERVING Want your kids to be part of something amazing – something bigger than themselves? They can… Introducing the Big Day of Serving…a series of one-day events across the nation where neighborhoods are transformed by a swarm of Christian kids eager to help people in need. At the Big Day of Serving, your group will transform a neighborhood in need.

They’ll clean city blocks, alleyways and parks

Help with landscaping & plant community gardens

Remove graffiti

Paint and tackle minor home repairs

The best part? The Big Day events are local (within minutes or hours from where you live), easy (you simply show up and serve) and affordable (for the cost of $29 per person with super early bird registration, your group has access to an all-inclusive service experience!)
On a practical level, The Big Day can be seen as an introduction to missions. If you’re new to youth ministry, the event can be the stepping stone you’re looking for. Or, if you’re a youth mission trip veteran, consider getting involved with The Big Day. It’ll re-energize  your kids and continue to help them develop a servant’s heart. And, it’s a great way to start preparing for your upcoming summer mission trip.

The Big Day is not just a day of service; it’s a national movement. The goal: one million kids all over the country working together for the same cause. Imagine city after city and block after block, these changes will multiply and change not only local neighborhoods…but entire cities all across America!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM MST

REGISTER HERE!

Hurry! SYMC is almost SOLD OUT and we want YOU to be there with us!

Click here to check out all the different speakers and artists that will be there to help renew and strengthen you.

Main Stage speakers include:

John Stumbo

Trace Bundy

Margaret Feinberg

Greg Stier

Propaganda

The Skit Guys

Jon Acuff

Jason Ostrander

Rick Lawrence

Click here to REGISTER to ensure your spot at SYMC in Indy!

Hope to see you there,

Stephanie