Don’t look now, but one of my volunteers will be running between the YS Atlanta convention and a cheerleading competition. Both events are in the Georgia World Congress Center. I fully expect to see the cheering event recreated for us in Hotlanta. I also fully expect you to use the advance notice to find a skirt.

My wife and I are bummed that we aren’t able to make any of the NYWC’s this year. They have been very sweet times for us the past 3 years but it just didn’t work out this time around.

Hopefully next year! Thanks for doing all the work to make it such an amazing time for youth workers.

grace&peace.

Thank you so much Marko for the shout out! I really enjoyed getting to meet you. It is now so apparent that you have an amazing heart for all Christian youth workers, even us Catholics!!! Last year just really had me down but this years NYWC has been absolutely amazing! Thank you for all you did for me this year. You and the gang at YS are truly a class act!

doesn’t your kilt count as a skirt?

I saw you and Tic on McNutt’s blog. The wonders of technology.

Thanks for all you do! Know you are loved!

J

lol … yeah, dude … check my blog … your cheerleading antics were caught by me in my front row seat …

I am really sorry to hear Marko’s comments regarding Greg’s General Session on Sunday Night.

I think it is vital for us to remember that “the other parts of the story” Marko speaks of would have NO context if it were NOT for the work Jesus did on the Cross.

If we just talk about the “other parts of the story” and remember the centrality of the Cross, Jesus is no different than any other dead prophet or the great social advocates of the past.

I choose to remember what Jesus did on the Cross first and see how much more it magnified the “other parts of the story.”

john — interesting. so, are you saying that the other parts of the story (including the cross) WOULD have context without the resurrection? or, without jesus’ role in creation? or, without the incarnation? surely, no.

I would include the resurrection as an essential part of the Cross - they are NOT mutually exclusive actions.

What I am saying is the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension distinguish our beliefs as Christians from other faiths and belief systems put forth in the world.

What Greg spoke of and challenged us to make sure to incorporate into our ministries is a defining article of our faith. Not just another part of it. To quote the old Burger King commercial: “parts is parts.”

You are right that Greg’s message was tough. It is tough because in youth ministry it is soooo easy to forget what the essentials are. It is easy to forget that the purpose of the skits, games, events, camps, missions, etc. should be to direct students into a relationship with a Lord and Savior who did something incredibly unique for them “on the cross.”

I loved every general session speaker. Very good. I did appreciate Greg’s message the most because it brought each of us “back to the basics.”

Please be sure to invite him to do a general session again. I appreciate that he brings a different perspective and this comes from a Methodist who grew up Episcopalian and Anglican.

john — i hope you don’t think i’m advocating for games and skits over the cross! :)

yes, i’m sure greg will be back. i trust him deeply and know his character, love his passion, and appreciate his friendship.

Did not think so at all - but also understand how easy it is to lose focus in the youth ministry gig. I also did not want anyone else to take your comments as diminishing the message Greg delivered. I have been around you enough to know that was not your intention and wanted to have a clarifying conversation. Thanks for engaging with me in it.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should say I did work for D2S for 2 years ending in 2006. Prior to that, I was a youth pastor who took my youth group to D2S and experienced a transformation in our ministry. Now that I am back serving as the Director of Student Ministries in a local church, I will take my new group.

Just wanted to be open and transparent.

I was in your “A New Vision for Middle School Ministry.” And I had a blast. Thanks for the tips and ideas. I had looked forward to this seminar all weekend and it stood up to my expectations. Thanks for your advice and encouragement to youth leaders around the country!

I was at NYWC in St. Louis with five other youth ministers - from five different churches and from 3 different denominations. As you were talking to the young couple about their new position, I began to think of our group. We do things together - rallies, DNow, etc. and we actually all get along. (Even with two different Baptist churches!!)
From previous experience, I believe our group is in the minority as far as interacting together with our kids along with getting together with one another. There are too many ministries doing things on their own and I understand the need for autonomy, but we are all (or should be) about sharing the love of Jesus and the importance of a relationship with Him.
The weekend was great!!!

I don’t want to weight in on the negative side because that is not a very productive role to take, but I have to express that I was bothered by the seeming lack of depth to Greg Stier’s message. It is almost like taking the Bible and hitting someone over the head with it instead of using the richness of the whole story. Now, I know that this is not Greg’s approach because of the seminar that I sat in on by him ealier that day. However, that was his message on Sunday night and seems to be his message to youth whom he is teaching to evangelize. The simplicity of this approach seems to be one of the things that has led to a lack of youth who can articulate their faiths. In this way, while the basics are important they should be the starting point not the whole point in theological teaching.

I, too, attended your New Vision for Middle School Ministry and your general session.
The idea of contextualizing is life-giving. My ministry must reflect what God has created in me and that isn’t necessarily the same as my predecessors or my co-workers. Leading a large suburban and conservative middle school ministry as a small-church minded and not-so-conservative individual, I often feel I must conform, but your words on Sunday and Monday affirmed many of the tugs I’ve been feeling on my heartstrings.
I had today off to do laundry and let my thoughts marinate before stepping back into the office tomorrow. I hope you continue to develop the concept of contextualizing. I have the sense that it is going to be on my fingertips for a while.

we just need to express our thanks once again, marko, for the complete and uninhibited affirmation you gave us sun evening at the session. we didn’t tell you about the horrendous week we had been having the week before and how badly we just needed to get away, spend some time with each other and our Savior, and reflect on what the Lord has done in Lake City. it truly is miraculous that the Lord has done here among 5 churches what He called us to do as a church in the first place. we need to be reminded of that every day.