My Epic Journey

After some great worship with Tim Timmons and another devotional piece by Duffy Robbins, the day started differently than the last two. 

We no longer were in our 8 hour intensive tracks.  We could chose a number of different shorter tracks.  I chose Mark DeVries, president and founder of Youth Ministry Architects.  His track was on Building a Sustainable Youth Ministry.  Though I have been a youth pastor for 12 years, I know I can still learn a great deal about healthy youth ministry.

Over all I would give the conference a C+.  My only complaint is that I was hoping for a conference about WHERE youth ministry is GOING.  Not necessarily about where it has been and where it is at now.

If you interested in attending next year, click here.  It is in Chicago next year.

Day Three.  Not really much different than Day Two.  Worship was done by Station 2 and the devotional was given by Duffy Robbins (by the way, Duffy Robbins is one of my favorite youth workers.  His love and passion for students is contagious.  If you haven’t picked up his book, The Ministry of Nurture, do so).

Today, we were back into the 8-hour track intensives.  Rahn and Klein are doing a fabulous job.  I am thankful I chose this track.  My hope is to make it applicable to our (Olentangy School District) current expanding dilemma.  To many schools, to few youth pastors in them.

Tonight, we had the privilege of hearing from Doug Fields, founder of Simply Youth Ministry and Teaching Pastor at Saddleback Community Church.  He challenged us with taking simple coins in our pocket and using them to remember God’s faithfulness to us.  Here were his points:

    P–Past (Ephesians 1.6-7; Colossians 1.13-14)

N–Now (Romans 8.11; 15.13)

    D–Determined Destiny (John 5.24; Romans 5.21)

Q–Quality Growth (Matthew 13.4-8)

This talk was a great challenge for me to remind myself of how great God has and is and will be in my life.  Next time you look at the coins in your pocket, remind yourself of God’s faithfulness.

Day 2 started early in the morning–at least for this youth pastor.  Worship began at 8:30 am with Station 2 leading and Duffy Robbins speaking.  It was an amazing time of reflection and a great way to start the day.

After worship we began our 8 hour intensive tracks.  Thankfully they weren’t 8 hours straight.  After wrestling what may be the best track for me to take I decided that Dave Rahn and Chuck Klein’s track, Moving Your Ministry on to the Campus, would be most fitting for me.  Our church is located in the fastest growing school district in the state of Ohio.  There averaging a new Middle School every two years and a new High School every three years.  It is hard to keep up but it is also an amazing mission field.  Over the past year I have been racking my brain as to what is the best way to get a vibrant campus ministry going.  I was extremely pleased to have some great insight from Rahn and Klein as to what has worked well for them.

Later that afternoon I got of watch Megan Vallely at a cheerleading competition that was also being hosted at the Convention Center.

I left early and missed the evening talk which was led by Kay Warren, pastor’s wife of Rick Warren and Saddleback Community Church.  It was Anna and my 11 year anniversary.  We got rid of the kids (thanks Upchurch family) and went to the Cheesecake Factory.

Overall Day 2 was a great day and it made me look forward to Day 3.