Author Brian Aaby

Urgent Message To Pastors & Elders

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You may have faith, but do you have a faith that anticipates a great work of God?

Your church may have a Youth Ministry program, but are you anticipating God to do a great work through the people that make up that program?

You may hope for revival, but are you willing to challenge your congregation to pray and anticipate that revival for 31 straight days?

“The work has been chiefly amongst the young; . . . few others have been made partakers of it. And indeed it has commonly been so, when God has begun any great work for the revival of his church; he has taken the young people, and has cast off the old and stiff-necked generation.”  ~ Jonathan Edwards, commenting on the First Great Awakening

Elders at our church gifted each family with Pray31

On Monday, October 1, 2012 our church and thousands of churches around the nation will begin Pray31, a one-month, (& approximate) five minute per day, prayer initiative that focuses on praying for our nation. This is not political, it is spiritual. Elected officials will legislate laws that may or may not help the nation look more ethical/moral, but it is only God who can change hearts.

I was recently interviewed by Tim Eldred, the National Spokesperson for Pray31. I am excited about this initiative and we stand together   in hope that God, through Pray31, will unite the hearts of Christians across this country. As a result, I believe we will even then begin to see God at work through the lives of our young adults/teens! To that end, I’m equally excited about something that we (Youthmark) will release very soon (hinted at in the video)!

 

It’s not too late to get involved. Click here and order enough prayer atlases for your church. If you order early this week you’ll be able to pass them out this next Sunday so your church can begin next Monday, October 1!

What’s stopping you? Let’s anticipate God together!

Grace,
Brian

 

You Telling The Whole Truth?

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As a person who has trusted in Jesus, I believe that I have a wonderful opportunity… but it is an opportunity that I often forget or choose not to take advantage of! I have the opportunity to share the Truth, but I often just share the truth (small “t” vs. capital “T”).

The coffee shop is where I often get to choose Truth or truth

I recently wrote an article for the Dare 2 Share “Relational and Relentless Blog” that deals with the small T vs. capital T Truth. Check it out here and leave a comment, contribute to the conversation!

Grace,
Brian

 

Sneak Peak at another Major Announcement Coming Soon

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In just a couple weeks it will be official, and I’ll make a more major announcement then, but was pretty excited to receive an overnighted package yesterday. Pictured below is the proof for the first cover of a Youthmark published book!

We (Brian/Youthmark) have several published projects, but this is the first book that we YOUTHMARK have published! Very exciting times. I’ll explain all the cool details soon! Please pray for this new endeavor!

Grace,
Brian

The Northwest Is Cutting Edge!

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

We may be Sleepless, but we’re a pretty proud bunch of innovators!

Seattle home of… grunge music, the new-era of coffee and some rather larger machinery that flies.

Well, we’ve been selected as the launching point of another pilot, Open Seattle. 

If you are involved in the Student Ministry Field (volunteer, paid, parent of teen, etc.), this is a one-day (Saturday) event worth checking out. In addition to it being innovative in its approach, it is EXTREMELY affordable, just $25!

An event like this typically would cost a lot more, but none of the speakers is getting paid– we’re doing it because we believe it is something that is needed  in Youth Ministry RIGHT NOW (collaborating with others and mutually training one another)!

Come join us, Saturday, October 6! 

Youth Pastors/Directors: Bring a few (or all) of your volunteer team!

Youth Leaders: Bring the ideas you’ve been afraid to share in the past, here you’ll have an audience who WANTS/NEEDS to hear them!

Parents: Come partner with a tribe of youth leaders who so desperately need teammates!

The next stops for Open are Boston and Paris… that’s right, we’re first, AGAIN!

Grace,
Brian

P.S. I’d love to have you join me at my session, “The Virtuous Cycle”… We’ve seen the “vicious cycle” (one bad thing leading to other bad stuff, etc.), I’ll be inviting us to see the cycle of redemption that can exist where we lead with training students to live and share openly about their faith. A virtuous cycle of (warning: Big Theological Terms Coming) Evangelism and Edification!

Register Here!

Super Exciting BIG Youthmark Announcement!

Brian Aaby 4 Comments

Our little organization which has a BIG vision for Mission51 just got a MAJOR boost!

As I have talked about for the last few months and hinted at in a few blog posts, Youthmark has been in discussions with a few organizations about expanding the Mission51 movement!

One way we will see this take place is through our strategic partnership with Youth Missions International (YMI). This alliance will enable Youthmark and YMI to:

  • Equip more people for Mission51
  • Better train for specific locations
  • Send to more places (domestic and international)
  • Increase customer service
  • Offer the most affordable package for missions that include before, during trip and post Mission Venture materials

For those who have experienced a Youthmark Mission Venture you will only experience an increase in what you have received for the same price (in fact, in some cases, for less cost).

In this partnership Youthmark gets to do what we do best: train, equip, send and return participants for Mission51 – the 51 weeks of mission back home!

Likewise, YMI gets to excel all the more in what they are known for: delivering custom-made domestic missions and fantastic YMI hosted mission trips to international destinations.

In this arrangement we will now be able to send church groups and individuals  on mission trips! EVERY participant gets the Youthmark (Mission51) training and follow-through while being ushered through the on-trip experience by the esteemed YMI!

The Short List of What’s Included:

  • Choice of trips on 5 different continents or any of the 50 states
  • Customized aspects for every Mission Venture
  • Personal consultant for the entire process
  • Complete Leaders Guide (the A to Z of missions)
  • Complete 10 week curriculum for the entire students ministries (not just mission team)
  • Mission Prep Workbook for every person going on the trip
  • Mission51 Training Retreat
  • Devotional for each participant on the mission venture
  • Guided Study for family members at home
  • Follow-up book to launch your study and application for after the Mission Venture

Domestic trips are offered for as little as $289-$349 (and include ALL of the above). Check out the BUILD YOUR TRIP tab at YMI and get the ball rolling! Don’t hesitate to call us at Youthmark, 800.455.1450 if you have questions or call YMI to talk about any specifics as well. YMI: (866) 487-7563!

Spread the word to others. Pray for this partnership and join in by pre-registering a group or individual now!

Can’t wait to see how God uses this for his glory!

Grace,
Brian

Big News For This Little Organization

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24… 40… 53…

…These numbers likely don’t mean much to the readership, but they were quite startling to me, especially last year when that 53 hit. These numbers represent the number of churches/mission teams Youthmark engaged for the purpose of training and missions in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Though the seed was planted in my mind after the summer of 2010, somewhere around the new year (2012), I began to aggressively change the way I viewed the future of Youthmark. As I have stated in a previous blogpost, it was never my intention for Youthmark to be a Short Term Mission (STM) Organization. My own core conviction is that the entire field of Student Ministry should be our focus. I want to see students, staff, parents and the church improve the way we are ministering to one another and the needs around us. Mission51 (the 51 weeks outside the mission trip) is my passion!

Linking w/other orgs will enhance M:51!

Instead of focussing on the short-term mission, I began to focus on long-term partnerships with those who would be able to carry the load of managing mission trips so that we (at Youthmark) can be focussed on providing materials, strategies, consulting, speaking, etc. for the 51 weeks outside of the mission trip. Even with much of my time focussed outside of the “trip” God still blessed us with a wonderful spring and summer for Youthmark Mission Ventures (close to 50 churches/organizations engaged again).

With that as the backdrop, there are three or four STM organizations who are in discussions with Youthmark to partner with us at some level so that their mission trips can be more than just a trip and begin to really engage participants to be on mission the other 51 weeks of the year as well.

In my next post I’ll introduce you to our first official partner! I believe this partnership will lead to:

  1. More options for churches and students in the area of mission trips (domestic and international).
  2. Better  (specific trip) training for all engaged in STM’s.
  3. More tools/training options for Mission51 (ahh yeah, you’ve only seen the beginning)!
  4. More excitement (and more equipped missionaries) for the 51 weeks outside of the mission trip!

Though the concept is a couple years old, I truly believe Mission51 “the movement” is about to launch!

Stay tuned…

Grace,
Brian

 

(CONTEST) WAIT: School Picture

Brian Aaby 12 Comments

Yay, another “What Am I Thinking” Photo Contest!

First, we have a pretty legitimate prize, the winner of this one gets a free first edition Imprint The Planet t-shirt. These are fantastic shirts and will play a part in this amazing movement we think God will use for his cause!

Okay, so essentially this contest is a photo-caption competition. You come up with a quote, title, caption, etc. and submit it as a comment (on the blog) and then after a day or two I’ll start the “in the running” section. I’ll name the winner sometime after the weekend!

In honor of the beginning of the school year, I had to go with this great picture!

Have fun!

Grace,
Brian

*********In The Running*********

“I had to leave room for Snuffleupagus.” -Marc

“The first day I realized what deodorant was for.” -patloonytoon

“I’m a loner dotty, a rebel.” -mikegaines

“I now understand why I should shower after morning hockey practice.” -Joseph Cimaomo

“It wasn’t me!” -markmoder

“Another perk of homeschooling.” -Jan A.

“As part of the 1% club, I choose not to “occupy” my class photo.” -Wescott

********The Winner********

With the walk-off homer in the bottom of the 9th, Wescott (or Wecott?) wins with the 1%/Occupy comment! Wes, your shirt shall be delivered soon! Congrats!

I’m Open, are you?

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I’ve had some great opportunities afforded me the last few years to do consulting with several churches (especially pertaining to Youth Ministry and transitions of staff).

The most consistent theme is that the churches present a STRONG desire for change to take place. We all love the idea of change… until it is happening to us! Bottom line, as soon as I (the consultant) begin to introduce possible changes the guard goes up and the defensive attacks start.

For those of us in Student Ministry we all know that something is broken in ministry to young adults, the reality is, this side of Heaven, it always will be broken. But here is a case where I do believe in evolution, I believe that youth ministry needs to consistently evolve. We must explore change! Stagnancy stinks!

I’m excited about a gathering coming to the northwest where I believe both the professional and lay youth leader can be spurred on in his or her approaches in student ministry.

Please join me at Open Seattle. This an even that has taken on new (oh no, change!) approach. The speakers are not paid, the financial sheet is “open” for all to see, the electives are geared for both those who want to dream about new stuff and practical for those who simply need some great “on the ground” training! I love the mix of local and national speakers. I can’t wait to hang out with friends like Mark, Lars, Leena, Nick, Adam and hopefully YOU! Click here to get in for cheap!

  • It’s cheap.
  • It’s time-sensitive (2/3 of your Saturday).
  • It’s historical (seriously, the first ever “Open” with Boston and Paris to follow).

Grace,

Brian

A Can’t Miss Movement! Crying.

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NOTE: This blog was posted just prior to news breaking about yet another school shooting in the America. Yet one more thing that cuts right to the heart…

**********

What is it that truly stirs your soul? What causes your heart to break and moves you to take action?

A friend of mine was on a plane flying from the US to a Central American nation. When my friend struck up a conversation with the passenger sitting next to him he asked, “what brings you down to (names country)?” The American businessman responded, “where else can you get a 17 year old for less than $50?”

Sickening.

A few months ago I read a story of three siblings, all under the age of 4, who were left to die in an abandoned shed. Thankfully after a day/night in the vacated property a neighbor heard their voices.

So sad.

These are the types of stories that rock me. I tear up just thinking about kids feeling alone, abandoned and without hope. My heart aches for those teens (here and abroad) that are being sold for the perverse pleasure of others.

I know that many think that they have the answers: programs, better teaching, politics, law and the like. But in order to get to the answers, we must first with the cause…

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. -Romans 1:21-23

My friend, Timothy Eldred, recently went to DC to see what others thought would produce the changes needed to make our nation a better place. Check out the answers:

Though better teaching, programs and political changes may be part of the solution, the bottom line is we need to begin by crying!

Cry out to God. Ask in desperation. Unite in our hope that God is much bigger than mankind’s depravity.

I am humbled to be part of a movement and to represent such a worthy cause. I anticipate a mighty work of God and I want to see more than One Million of us on our figurative (or literal) knees, in the month of October.

Please spread the word. Talk to your lead Pastor and get the entire congregation behind a movement that takes but a few moments each day (Pray31 materials guide you through specific requests for each state over the 31 days of October).

I know we can’t change the hearts of others through politics and programs. But we know the Author who is full of compassion and wants to see all turn to Him!

Do whatever it takes in September (believe me, start praying now, don’t wait until October), but let’s get the word out now, so that in October we see as many as possible joining the movement! I have included all the different links you can pass on to others below.

Grace,
Brian

Twitter: @pray_31

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/105380429609209/

Pray31 website/resources: http://onemillionpray.com

Not Just a Movie: The Breakfast Club

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When we started Youthmark Mission Ventures several years ago I wanted to make sure we had something to help students transition into life-back-home. A book entitled, Merge, was created. This book was a parallel Guided Study through the book of James and a modern day fable telling the story about a teen who had just started at a new school. Merge has since become a series of post-mission/camp books: Merge-Joshua; Merge-Ephesians and Merge-The Life of David (1 & 2 Samuel). 

I just recently started contributing to the Dare 2 Share Relational and Relentless blog; my first post is about two young men who started something vibrant on their high school campus after God sparked an idea in them that they found in the Merge books.

Check out that idea and the video of one of the young men at the full post here.

I’m excited about my partnership with Dare 2 Share, if you’re in Northwest, make sure you’re getting your group out to the conference in April! If you’re not in the NW, check out D2S here to see where their other conferences will be in 2013.

Grace,
Brian