Recently I reconnected with a friend from college named Daniel McGinty when he contacted me to inquire about joining my Coaching Network (Deadline to apply this Friday!) Daniel and I took some of the same classes in an undergraduate program together but really got to know each other better when we lived in the same dorm and worked together in leadership. I served in several capacities during my college-career but we worked together while I served our campus as the Men's Residence Life President. During that time Daniel and I really spent a lot of time together. I founded a forum where men (a symposium of sorts) who attended our University could hear from and dialogue with special guest speakers on topics they struggled with most. Daniel helped me during that time to launch this platform and we built a friendship because of it.
Daniel graduated from Columbia International University and began working with students, primarily in a church setting, and then later found himself teaching Bible to students in schools! Now Daniel is returning to Youth Ministry in the local church and is looking for a position.
It's hard these days to find many youth ministry positions. In fact, most churches are cutting their youth ministry budgets. All of that to say, if you really feel called to work with youth full-time (shucks, even part-time!) its hard to find a position right now because there are more people looking for work than there are positions available. Daniel seems to understand this because he told me about this website he launched to help him get a position as a youth pastor! That, might friend, says to me that he really feels called to this. I thought this was really unique (and certainly creative!) and said a lot about Daniel's heart and calling to student ministry and I wanted to share this with you! If you're looking to hire... please contact my friend, Daniel. He might just be the guy you've been searching for to work with your students! And for all you out-of-work youth workers out there... hang in there! Keep being faithful to your calling to students. You may not be getting paid for your investment now... but heaven is keeping track of your hours!
Daniel graduated from Columbia International University and began working with students, primarily in a church setting, and then later found himself teaching Bible to students in schools! Now Daniel is returning to Youth Ministry in the local church and is looking for a position.
It's hard these days to find many youth ministry positions. In fact, most churches are cutting their youth ministry budgets. All of that to say, if you really feel called to work with youth full-time (shucks, even part-time!) its hard to find a position right now because there are more people looking for work than there are positions available. Daniel seems to understand this because he told me about this website he launched to help him get a position as a youth pastor! That, might friend, says to me that he really feels called to this. I thought this was really unique (and certainly creative!) and said a lot about Daniel's heart and calling to student ministry and I wanted to share this with you! If you're looking to hire... please contact my friend, Daniel. He might just be the guy you've been searching for to work with your students! And for all you out-of-work youth workers out there... hang in there! Keep being faithful to your calling to students. You may not be getting paid for your investment now... but heaven is keeping track of your hours!
Every 6 months I come alongside 10 youth workers who have only been in the field for 5 years or less and mentor them as part of The Youth Worker Coaching Network, that I founded in early 2011. The deadline to apply for my next round of Coaching (which begins in September!) is September 15, 2012 and I hope you'll join me for the experience.
The Youth Worker Coaching Network is the most affordable network you'll find but proves invaluable to youth pastors who really need help. [Apply Now]
Here are some benefits you'll receive as a participant:
- You'll get a coach and cheerleader in me for 6 months. This has proved invaluable to numerous youth workers who needed a mentor in the field.
- We will chat weekly by phone or online. During our semester together I'll be calling you each week for a private coaching session.
- You'll be encouraged and challenged during our times together.
- You'll learn from notable thought-leaders (pictured above is when my friend, Greg Stier, President of Dare 2 Share Ministries, joined me and a few of the participants for a Coaching session)
- You'll receive free books and other exclusive resources periodically throughout your time in the network.
- You'll get the shared experience with other network participants and you'll have the opportunity to help sharpen other leaders.
- and more surprises along the way!
Check out this video and listen to the testimonials from youth workers who have been a part of the Youth Worker Coaching Network:
[Apply Now] before September 15, 2012 to join me for the next 6 months!
Tweet or Share This on Facebook! LAST CHANCE: Been in #YouthMin for 5 years or less & need a coach? Apply to @terracecrawford's network by 9/15/12! http://bit.ly/Rk2vp8
Would you help me? To keep things affordable here I virtually have to sacrifice things like a marketing budget, which means I have to rely on word-of-mouth or social media plugs about my network. You might not need the coaching but perhaps you know someone who does? If you have a blog, facebook, or twitter, would you please mention it for me?
Tweet or Share This on Facebook! LAST CHANCE: Been in #YouthMin for 5 years or less & need a coach? Apply to @terracecrawford's network by 9/15/12! http://bit.ly/Rk2vp8
Two Great Events & A Chance to Win an iPad!
164 Comments Published by Terrace Crawford on 8/23/12 at 2:13 PM.
My friends at the Youth Cartel (Marko and Adam) have cooked up a couple of really great events this year for youth workers! I'd like to tell you about them, and then give you some details on how you can win an iPad!
First up, The Middle School Ministry Campference: this one-of-a-kind conference (in a camp setting!) is for Middle School workers and will be held at Springhill Camps in Seymour, IN on October 26-28, 2012! Last year's campference went so well that the Cartel has brought it back again! Don't miss this opportunity to hear from youth worker veterans like: Kurt Johnston, Brooklyn Lindsey, Tic Long, Scott Rubin and more! Register [here] by August 31st for the best price!
Secondly, have you heard about The Summit? I'm really excited about this one. The Cartel has put together a world-class, two-day conference (November 9-10) in Atlanta, GA where you'll hear from some incredible thought-leaders and get a "Panoramic" view of Youth Ministry (where its been, where it is currently, and where its going). You'll also get to meet with individual presenters who will help you wrestle with the ideas they are passionate about. The Summit is billed unlike any youth ministry event you've ever experienced before. Go... register [here] now by August 31st for the best price!
Finally, the Cartel has teamed up with The Youth Culture Report to give away not one... but two iPads! Here's how it works. [Click this link] and follow the instructions on how you can "Join the Cartel" (basically just LIKE their page on Facebook and joining their email list) and that's it. You'll get one entry for an iPad just for doing that alone. After you sign up, just post to your Twitter or Facebook page and get 5 of your friends to use it and you'll get a 2nd entry!
Seriously... I hope I win. If there is ever an iPad contest my name is in it! I want one. Make sure I don't win though by blowing up your Twitter and Facebook about this great opportunity ... and get your friends to sign up today!
The Top 25 Youth Ministry Blogs Announced!
13 Comments Published by Terrace Crawford on 8/10/12 at 8:31 AM.
My friend, Adam, over at the Youth Cartel just published this year's list of the Top 25 Youth Ministry Blogs ... and I'm honored to see my name among so many great influencers. Actually, I'm quite humbled to be named among them.
Here are a few quick thoughts about this year's list:
- There aren't many female bloggers on the list. I'm glad to see my friend, Rachel Blom, made it on this year. She delivers excellent content on her site! One of my favorite reads.
- Looks like I slipped in the ranking this year. I nearly slipped right out of the Top 25! But then, I see several other people also slipped. Time to up my game, no? =)
- With at least 7 new folks showing up on the list this year my prediction is that next year this list will be turned upside down! If you aren't blogging you need to start already!
- Adam offers a little insider's look at how the list is created. Go [here] to view the background on how it all comes together as well as the full list with last year's stats.
I recently announced that I would be kicking off my next Youth Worker Coaching Network Group and included 8 benefits to joining me for the 6-month experience.
A number of youth pastors are just finishing up their 6-months with me and I'm happy to say they have enjoyed the experience (it's mutual, really!). I could sit here and tell you stories of how God seemed to orchestrate youth pastors (who are only in their first few years of ministry) hearing about the Youth Worker Coaching Network, applying to join, and then share a bit about their takeaways... but nah, I'd rather you hear it from their mouths!
Meet Drew Peterson. Drew is a sharp, young leader in Illinois. He's been in the youth pastorate less than 5 years and he saw the need for coach. He wanted someone to come alongside him and help him for 6 months. So he applied to my Coaching Network and the rest is... history! Drew & I are friends now and according to him, he's in a much better place in ministry after having participated in my network.
Listen to him tell his story... then go apply to join me for a round of Youth Ministry Coaching this Fall! I promise, you won't regret it.
Still not convinced? Watch this video of some other youth workers/pastors who have been through the experience [here]
If you don't need a coach, perhaps you know someone who does? Please pass a link to this post on to them. Applications are being accepted through this Friday, August 10th! Apply [here] now.
A number of youth pastors are just finishing up their 6-months with me and I'm happy to say they have enjoyed the experience (it's mutual, really!). I could sit here and tell you stories of how God seemed to orchestrate youth pastors (who are only in their first few years of ministry) hearing about the Youth Worker Coaching Network, applying to join, and then share a bit about their takeaways... but nah, I'd rather you hear it from their mouths!
Meet Drew Peterson. Drew is a sharp, young leader in Illinois. He's been in the youth pastorate less than 5 years and he saw the need for coach. He wanted someone to come alongside him and help him for 6 months. So he applied to my Coaching Network and the rest is... history! Drew & I are friends now and according to him, he's in a much better place in ministry after having participated in my network.
Listen to him tell his story... then go apply to join me for a round of Youth Ministry Coaching this Fall! I promise, you won't regret it.
Still not convinced? Watch this video of some other youth workers/pastors who have been through the experience [here]
If you don't need a coach, perhaps you know someone who does? Please pass a link to this post on to them. Applications are being accepted through this Friday, August 10th! Apply [here] now.
Ever wanted to curl up in a ball somewhere and cry until you can't cry anymore?
I've had that feeling several times in my ministry career and one day, recently, I experienced one of those times.
That day was, quite possibly, the saddest day of my ministry career.
Here's how I came to that conclusion:
I heard a student sharing recently with another teen about how he wanted more of a passion for Christ and for reaching people who don't know him. Then he proceeded to talk about how much he admired another person's passion and said "I want his passion!"
As I was hearing this my first thought was "this is exciting. He wants more passion!"
My next thought nearly killed me inside.
"Is he having to look elsewhere for an example?" I thought.
This thought took me back about 10 years. About 10 years ago is when I received one of the greatest (if not the greatest) compliments of my life. A fellow pastor told me that he had never met someone who talked about Jesus Christ or had more of a passion for Him than me. I remember being completely speechless when he said this.
And now I shudder to think that this pastor would not say the same thing (of me) if he knew me as I am today. I believe I've lost some of the passion... and, quite arguably, I've grown complacent at times in my faith over the last 10 years.
This realization rocked me.
I don't know about you but I don't want the people I lead to have to look elsewhere for an example of Christ.
A couple months ago I read Paul's words to the Corinthians "Imitate me. You should imitate me just as I imitate Christ." (1 Cor. 4.16; 1 Cor. 11.1). When I read this I thought "Paul is definitely on a whole other level than I will EVER be. How in the world could you ever be at a place spiritually that you could say...'Ok, everyone, look at me! I'm the example'?" Paul was on a whole other level -- let's be clear. However, he'd be the first to say that he wasn't without sin (the 'chiefest of sinners', he'd say!)... and that he was encouraging them to follow his example so long as it reflected Christ. I want to be able to say the same thing.
I want a burning passion for Christ and a passion to reach others who don't know Him. I want the students I lead to not have to look elsewhere for an example... not to the youth pastor down the street, nor the preacher or Jesus-follower from the history books, but the living-breathing-Jesus-freak (named Terrace or "TC" as he's commonly called) that is standing right in front of them!
So if you were to ask me "What would you say has been the saddest day of your ministry career?" I'd probably reply, "the day I thought that students may have to look elsewhere for an example to follow."
Bottom line: I'm not where I want to be. I'm not the example I should be. And, quite honestly, I'm not okay with that. Are you?
Free Webinar: The Missing Link in Discipleship!
0 Comments Published by Terrace Crawford on 8/6/12 at 8:43 PM.
My friend, Greg Stier, and Dare2Share Ministries are offering a FREE webinar on "The Missing Link in Discipleship" tomorrow (Tuesday, August 7th) that includes a FREE book "Firing Jesus" for everyone who attends! The goal of the webinar is to help youth workers walk away with tools to be more effective in equipping teens to share their faith!
Go [here] to sign-up now for one of the following webinar times:
- Tuesday August 7th: 12:00-1:00 PM CST (10-11 AM Pacific, 11-Noon Mountain,1-2 PM Eastern)
- Tuesday August 7th: 7:30-8:30 PM CST (5:30-6:30 PM Pacific, 6:30-7:30 PM Mountain,8:30-9:30 PM Eastern)
