Creative Planning Process

James began sharing the creative planning process the second part of class. I don't know about you guys, but I loved it. I have never participated in that process of narrowing down ideas. I enjoyed hearing others ideas through the process. Which of the steps did you like? Did you find it easy or difficult to share ideas and opinions with the group? Would you use this creative planning process in ministry?

Summer Camp Project

Hello class! It was great seeing you all again this Monday and to hear everyone's Summer Camp Project. I think that we will all experience some sort of event or camp planning in our ministry and this assignment just proved how much work goes into an event like this. With that said, what was your easiest and hardest part of planning this summer camp? Also, what parts of the planning did you like the most and which did you like the least? If any of you have any words of wisdom when it comes to planning an event like this, go ahead and share that too!

No Post This Week!

Since we didn't have class, there will be no post this week, and there will be TWO next week. Just wanted to update everyone so there was no confusion. Have a blessed week friends!

Beanbags, PBJ's, and Trees

Assuming all of us had an incredible time this past weekend connecting with people and and growing closer with our incredible Heavenly Father, what is something specific that you came away with from the retreat? It can be something specific God revealed to you or simply an experience where you had a truly uplifting time (elaborate please). Also on top of that, what is the first thing you were compelled to share with your friends when you got back from the trip? If you haven't shared to anyone what you experienced, I encourage you to do so! :)

teaching through experiences

So in class on Monday we talked about the importance of spiritual experiences through retreats. There are so many aspects involved in making a "successful" retreat. Many of us have been to camps or retreats in the past and they have greatly influenced how we have been spiritually formed. I want to know what is a spiritual experience that you have had at a "successful" camp or retreat that has lead to growth in your spiritual walk in some capacity? How did the planning process contribute to the impact the retreat had on your life that made it successful? And, how could you plan to facilitate that kind of impact and growth in your students in the future?

So What Have We Learned?

James and Jenn have taught us a lot over the past five weeks, from how to lead games and adapt games to how to work on teams and plan events. On our own, we've had to implement these things and balance our many assignments. While we had a trial run two Mondays ago with the Bible lessons, this past Monday was our real test to see if we actually learned anything. My question, then, is twofold: What is one thing you saw within your team that could be improved? and What is one thing you saw in another team that could be improved (you can do both other teams)?

Engaging All Senses

In class, we have recently discussed the importance of creating a lesson that can engage all of the human senses. This week, we had the opportunity to teach and lead a Bible lesson for various ages of students. In your opinion, what are some practical ways to make sure that each type of student (auditory, visual, and kinesthetic) receives the maximum amount of learning? –both in spiritual growth and knowledge. What are the challenges that may arise? Within your response, mention how you saw Godly play implemented throughout the evening.

Learning and Growing: What that looks like and how we can help

In our book, Experiential Youth Ministry Handbook, on page 11, Losey asks two questions:
How do people learn and grow? and
How can we as leaders and teachers best help others in that process?
He goes on to say, "Too often, instead of living with the question, I would focus on finding a quick answer." ... "As my focus shifted to the questions themselves, my teaching and leading moved from a desire to inform to a passion to transform." So, now that I've rambled on and on about what the book says, my question is how would you, in your various forms of ministry, transform people instead of just informing? How can you help your "students" in the process of transforming?

Focusing on Sabbath

In Dodgeball Theology on the chapter about Sabbath, Blair Spindle states that  'today's child has become the unwilling, unintended victim of overwhelming stress.' The generation in schools now has a very little idea about Sabbath or very little room in which they think they can spare time to do it. In your ministry, how would you help students partake in Sabbath and understand its purposes? (list of suggestions on pages 58-9)

Shunting the "Average"

In our reading for this week the author talks about the philosophical thoughts on games. In this section he talks about how what used to be games a long time ago has now become professional sports in our society today. His example of this is lawn tennis in the 1905 compared to professional tennis now. He makes the point that when this happens only the extremely talented and athletic are asked to play and participate. He urges us to not allow this to happen in our youth ministry; so my question to you is this: What is a practical way that we can keep our games and activities from being over-run by the athletically gifted and shunting the "average" players to the side?

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test post

Test Post

I am testing to see if I am able to write a post.

This is James posing as Amie

I hacked her account! Just kidding. She is right here.

AM I doing this right? -Spring 2015

blog blog blog blog....??