Some of the stuff that we have put millions of dollars into thinking it would really help our people grow and develop spiritually, when the data actually came back it wasn’t helping people that much. Other things that we didn’t put that much money into and didn’t put much staff against is stuff our people are crying out for.
We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become ‘self feeders.’ We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their bible between service, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.

If I go to your youth group for 6 years of my life, one hour a week... thats 312 hours! At the end of that time... what kind of foundation will I have? What will I know about God's Word? WILL I LEAVE CHANGED?

Labels: Hot Topics, Issues, Videos, Youth Pastors

Please take off your mask and eye coverings before approaching the counter!

Labels: Random

Psalm 143:1-12 -- LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness listen to my plea,
and in Your righteousness answer me. 2 Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous in Your sight. 3 For the enemy has pursued me,
crushing me to the ground, making me live in darkness like those long dead. 4 My spirit is weak within me; my heart is overcome with dismay. 5 I remember the days of old;I meditate on all You have done; I reflect on the work of Your hands. 6 I spread out my hands to You; I am like parched land before You. Selah. 7 Answer me quickly, LORD; my spirit fails. Don't hide Your face from me, or I will be like those
going down to the Pit. 8 Let me experience Your faithful love in the morning,
for I trust in You. Reveal to me the way I should go, because I long for You.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, LORD; I come to You for protection. 10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me on level ground.
11 Because of Your name, Yahweh, let me live. In Your righteousness deliver me from trouble, 12 and in Your faithful love destroy my enemies. Wipe out all those who attack me, for I am Your servant.

Labels: Devotionals

Labels: Issues, Videos, Youth Pastors

Labels: Random, Videos

Labels: Hot Topics, Social Justice

Labels: Music, Students Only

Quick Link: Booking Form Quick Link: Home Page (Blog)

About Terrace:

Terrace Crawford, has been in youth ministry for over 15 years and currently serves as a full time Minister to Students at Crossroads Community Church, Yorktown, VA. At Crossroads Terrace's role not only includes ministry to teens but he also gives oversight to marketing and missions. He is also a part of the preaching team, frequently speaking in the weekend services. Additionally Terrace is currently an editor at ChurchLeaders.com and leads a national Coaching Network, mentoring youth workers who have been in the field 5 years or less.

As an advocate for mentoring Terrace’s passion to reach, encourage and equip people is fulfilled through the theme he has embraced on his blog: “Life on Life," at TerraceCrawford.com. There he seeks to unite next generation leaders and workers in the common goal of reaching the churched, the unchurched and the dechurched. His daily musings draw hundreds of hits and is featured on Alltop.com. Additionally, Crawford serves on the superior editorial team at ChurchLeaders.com, producing the very best content on the web for today's leaders!

Not content to limit his interactions to the virtual world, Terrace also seeks to mentor and resource youth workers and is currrently serving as a mentor for Life in Student Ministry's National Mentorship program. Additionally, Crawford serves on the board of directors for Recovery for the City International, an organization committed to promoting spiritual health and healing to addicts.

Terrace is a much sought-after-speaker for youth rallies, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, churches and conferences. In addition to intinerant speaking, he has been a contributing writer for Campus Life Magazine (Christianity Today), World Publishing Group and the CIU Connection. Prior to his current role on staff at Crossroads, Terrace was employed with WMHK-FM Radio in Columbia, South Carolina and also held a position as Director of Operations for a youth recreational facility in Camden, South Carolina.

Commonly referred to as "TC" (one of a 1,000 nicknames he claims), Terrace is an avid blogger, loves to read, meet new people, watching movies and television, and most importantly-eating chicken wings.

Background:

Born in a Christian family, Terrace was raised in church but it wasn’t until the age of fifteen that he realized what it meant to have a relationship with God. “Now I tell others how they can have a relationship with God and I enjoy getting to be a part of the experience. I am also an advocate for mentoring because I believe it is that ‘life on life’ experience that will bring about lasting change.”

Terrace is originally from Lake City, South Carolina (which he refers to as the City-o-Lakes -- even though there is no lake there), is currently single and lives in Yorktown, just minutes from Williamsburg, Virginia.

(Shawna Lawhorn, Regent University)

Labels: Marketing, Personal

Today was the coolest day. At least it has been so far.

This morning I attended a special reception at LifeWay Christian Stores in Chesapeake, VA that they threw for church staff. They had lots of giveaways and discounts for everyone. I ended up walking out of there with lots of encouragment, a full belly (from the hearty continental breakfast they served) and about $75.00 worth of merchandise for only $2.62!

Later my friend Dave took me out for lunch!

Then in the afternoon I received two encouraging emails from friends and another encouraging word from someone I saw in person.

Wow, it has certainly been a great day. I have to question, is it December Uno already?

[ps] Even though it was a cool day, I am still not looking forward to 30.

Labels: Random

I have this custom that I do. I tag people's names up around my house. For instance, someone's name is on my mantle. Anothers is on my nightstand, etc. When I come face to face with that person's name I pray for them.

How about near the toilet? Anyone there? Can you put my name there? She laughed and said, actually your name is in my cupboard. Whenever I got to get a cup out of the cupboard I pray for you.

We have now committed to pray one night a week together. We pray for our children but we also pray for you.

Labels: Deep Thoughts, Devotionals

If you don't know who I am referring to, Joel Osteen pastors the largest church in the United States. Over 47,000 people attend the church he pastors, Lakewood Church, in Houston, TX. He is a best-selling author, speaker and has been referred to as the "Spiritual Rock Star."

I anxiously awaited the season premiere of The Price is Right (which took forever to get here btw!) and it finally came yesterday with Drew Carey making his debut as the new host. I thought I'd share my thoughts on the show today on the blog.

Nothing about the show changed much. The colors of the set were probably the biggest change I noticed. I don't know that I expected radical change either. I mean, this is TPIR we know and love. Drew took the stage and the audience went nuts. Of course, they always seem to go nuts when Barker took the stage too.

Drew did a great job considering it was his first time. He seemed fairly comfortable and did a better job than I would have. Actually, it was the contestants who seemed disoriented to me. And the camera men. Some of the contestants didn't know where to go when they were on stage and Drew tried to be patient. Camera men should know not to follow them if they are looking like idiots but thats just me. Guess it made for good TV? One time was particuarly funny. At the first showcase showdown someone had just spun the 'big wheel' and didn't stand on the red dot on the floor and Drew was like "on the spot! stand on the spot!" It was almost like he was saying, "guys, I know you've watched this show before. c'mon!"

Another funny thing was this lady was playing a game and one of the items she had to bid on was medicine caplets. She was like "uh, whats that again?" and Drew was like "It's for constipation!"

As promised, Drew signed off reminding us to have our pet spade or neutered. Overall, pretty good job Drew. Once you get comfortable, it'll be slick.

Click here for a video clip I found on YouTube that is of this guy competing in the Showcase Showdown with Bob Barker and thinks he must be bidding on the entire set. It's funny.

Labels: Celebrities, Television

What is the Gastric Bypass?" Gastric bypass surgery makes the stomach smaller and allows food to bypass part of the small intestine. You will feel full more quickly than when your stomach was its original size, which reduces the amount of food you eat and thus the calories consumed. Bypassing part of the intestine also results in fewer calories being absorbed. This leads to weight loss.

Gastric bypass surgeries may cause dumping syndrome. This occurs when food moves too quickly through the stomach and intestines. It causes nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness, and possibly diarrhea soon after eating. These symptoms are made worse by eating highly refined, high-calorie foods (like sweets). In some cases you may become so weak that you have to lie down until the symptoms pass.

Risks common to all surgeries for weight loss include an infection in the incision, a leak from the stomach into the abdominal cavity or where the intestine is connected (resulting in an infection called peritonitis), and a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism). About one-third of all people having surgery for obesity develop gallstones or a nutritional deficiency condition such as anemia or osteoporosis.

3 in 200 (1.5%) people die after surgery for weight loss.

An iron and vitamin B12 deficiency occurs more than 30% of the time. About 50% of those with an iron deficiency develop anemia.

The connection between the stomach and the intestines narrows (stomal stenosis) 5% to 15% of the time, leading to nausea and vomiting after eating.

Ulcers develop 5% to 15% of the time.

The staples may pull loose.

Hernia may develop.

The bypassed stomach may enlarge, resulting in hiccups and bloating.
(courtesy, Healthwise)

Labels: Health and Wellness

(Photo: Kevin Moloney, NYT)

This article is very thought provoking. I've chewed on this quite a bit myself for a while already considering our student ministry just opened a recreational room in our church - complete with a Nintendo Wii. I'm still processing. . .

I thought Tim Schmoyer offered some good thoughts in his latest blog entry.

Read the New York Times Article here. Read Tim's Blog here.

Labels: Hot Topics, Video Games, Youth Pastors

Labels: Videos, Youth Pastors

This Thursday we gather for a fresh, new topic and some incredible fellowship around the table. Don't miss our discussion as we talk about student ministry in these post-modern times. Many youth pastors are attempting to do cutting edge ministry in a very traditional church setting. Others struggle to bring a balance of traditional hues to their emergent church. Traditional. Contemporary. Post Modern. Who can keep up? What does your ministry look like? Do you find yourself frustrated with creating a ministry atmosphere that you like? Does your student ministry atmosphere gel with your church? What the heck is emergent?

Labels: Youth Pastors

Labels: Random

Dove released a new video for their Campaign for Beauty; addressing the distorted perception our culture pushes of what beauty is all about.

Here’s the video (may not be viewable in RSS readers or email):

Ypulse has a great response to this on what the industry can do to stop this onslaught.

(ht to Tim Schmoyer)

Labels: Issues, Students Only, Videos, Youth Pastors

Labels: Itinerary