Sunday it was “set” for church. By Wednesday it was rocking for Youthmark’s LIFT event and by Saturday it was decked out for Stephen and Jenny’s Wedding.
Thanks Faith Church!
LIFT was all it was billed to be- concert :: training :: worship
Fun to see friends get hitched!
Grace,
Brian
Believe it or not it rained in Seattle yesterday… I know, shocking!
Though it is a little strange in August to receive the downpours we experienced the rain did more than just water my lawn and dampen my wife’s spirits. As the collected waters flowed toward our downspouts, so my thoughts grew rapid toward the fall and the return to routine.
Of course part of your routine as a youth pastor will be the return to weekly group gatherings, staff meetings and crafting some outreach events. Before you get back to the grind, you should consider four areas of recommitment we all know should be part of our DNA, but few are prioritizing.
NOTE: This article/blog was originally written by me for youthworkers.net (click here to read it there).
I’ve read some amazing stories on blogs and Facebook of the things God has done at camps, retreats and on mission trips this summer! I believe youth ministry is alive and kicking and God is at work, but was it just there (on the trip) that the Lord moved? Of course not, but for some reason growth and change there seems more obvious, practical and tangible. I’d love to see these things here (at home) become just as evident.
Imagine with me some of the first century Tweets we might have read had the technology existed then …
From Luke: As @saulpaul was preaching I saw a snoozing teen @eutychusrocks fall from 2nd floor 2 his death! PTL the dude was healed and now lives! #paulkeptpreaching
A ReTweet: RT @weddingcrasher Just saw the strangest thing, Mary’s son Jesus changes water into the best wine I ever tasted! #whoisthisguy
Of course a status update didn’t happen in real time back then, but rest assured, news did travel quickly. Praise God for people like Luke and John who recorded these amazing acts.
The wonderful reports of what took place on your mission trip have landed on the hearts and ears of parents and friends back home. Students have Tweeted about how great the camp was and they have become fast-Facebook friends with those they met at the retreat. But is that it?
How are you handling the transition off of the trip and into the next 51 weeks? This is a question I grappled with as a youth pastor. I got tired of students living for the “camp high” or the “mission trip great feeling.” But the bottom line is that those feelings produced are the things that often bring kudos from parents, other pastors and/or the board.
I believe a plan is needed to merge your students onto the freeway of life that has been flowing back home. We can help students navigate from commitment there to commitment here.
Three Tips for Merging Back Home
As summer comes to a close, perhaps you already sense that the momentum has been lost, but I urge you to jump back in now, it’s not too late! Your students are cause-oriented, give them a cause greater than reliving memories. Challenge them to get back (and stay) in the Word through something like MERGE, reunite them so they can testify and remember His faithfulness, and above all, invite them to fully invest in their new mission field at home!
Grace,
Brian
I’m finishing up another week of speaking at a camp; this time in my beautiful home state of WA! It’s nice to not have to go “over there” to share the best news ever. Sometimes “over there” is a lot of fun, but I’ll tell you, it’s a lot of fun to be sharing with teens right now who get to share “right here” with their friends and family!
In a few short weeks, teens will be heading back to their “mission” on their campus, at their clubs, building into their community and probably participating in the new programs at their church… I am praying RIGHT NOW for this mission.
However, I am not just praying, I am doing my part to actively train them (and I hope even more importantly, participating with them by pursuing any opportunity I have to share the good news too)!
If you are in the Northwest, I’d love to have you participate with me in a training event we have at Youthmark. It’s not just a training event, it’s a concert and also will have a time of wonderful worship through song! My friends, Everfound, will be there as well as soon-to-be-friends, Kye-Kye! I can’t wait. LIFT takes place in just one week (Wednesday, August 17, 7:00 PM) at Faith Church in Kent. It’s only $5!
Here’s the promo materials.
Whether you’re young or old, this event will entertain and equip! Mission51 exists, let’s reach our community now!
Grace,
Brian
It’s been a long time since I’ve done a 3-for-Thursday, but today, I couldn’t resist the challenge of posting a few of my favorite pics from our vacation. I’ll probably do another post or two about the vacation/speaking/meeting tour, but for now, here are three of my favorite pics from our 23 day trip!
5:15 am day one start in PJ's with much anticipation!
Montana beauty!
In Western CO visiting the Drumm family!
What a great trip!
Grace,
Brian
The “What Am I Thinking” (WAIT) Contests are essentially an “add a caption” competition. You look at the pic below, add a great caption to it and then I narrow the field to those “in the running” and eventually (after the weekend) pick a winner.
If your caption doesn’t go live right away, no worries, I’ll have to “approve” you as an approve commenter.
Have some fun with this!
Winner gets one of the last few “Together” shirts we have left from our Spring Retreats.
Let the mayhem begin…
Grace,
Brian
*************In the Running**************
“If Lebron had just made a few more shots in the 4th quarter, we wouldn’t be having this problem” ~Nathan S.
“Where did you say you I TOLD YOU SO Cards are?” ~Jan A.
“I told you I really needed to drop a load!” ~Lori
*********** The Winner ***********
We didn’t need any entries after Nathan’s… I knew as soon as I read it it would be the winner. Great job friend! Shirt shall be delivered to a Network meeting soon!
Hey Youth Pastor and Youth Leaders! Do you have some students who are still struggling with “what’s next?” I remember each summer as a Youth Pastor, the mission trips, camps and retreats were coming to an end and I was in the planning stages for the fall program. The “Jordan’s” and “Taylor’s” who hadn’t decided what to do next were still attending (and probably planning on attending) Youth Group even though they had graduated already.
There wasn’t anything wrong with Jordan or Taylor, they just didn’t know if college was what they wanted to do next, or even if it was, they wanted/needed a community to be a part of while they commuted to the local community college.
As a Youth Pastor, I wanted to see these grads have the opportunity to grow and be a part of a community but I also didn’t want them to be in Youth Group anymore. I wish a place like Adelphia Bible School were an option back then.
Over the last four months I have been able to lend my voice to Adelphia and I’m excited about the one-year program they are offering. Not only will the students receive a year foundation in the Scriptures (22 different weeks of teaching, with best-practice teachers coming new each week), but they get to practice what they’re learning NOW, not just later. The Cohort program that I’ve been able to help develop will give students the opportunity to intern or apprentice at a local church (perhaps even their own “home” church). I love this, because I know a number of young adults who think they want to go into full-time ministry, well now they can find out at a very affordable cost, instead of the $35k some schools charge per year.
Each afternoon at Adelphia is intentionally “open” so students can be in a job, get ahead on credits through local or online schools, and/or serve in a local church (Cohort program). All this is done within the context of a great community on the campus of Lake Retreat. The year ends with a two-week mission experience to one of three places the students will choose! Adelphia is all about Mission51 as well!
On top of this… a free iPad2! They’re going green (plus I think it just adds to the “cool” factor).
Because I’ll get to be involved I am biased, but I really am being serious when I say that if you are a Youth Pastor or Youth Leader (or parent) and have some recent (or even not-so-recent) grads/young adults in your sphere of influence, please check out what Adelphia has to offer! I believe this is going to be a top-notch experience!
Adelphia will be at the LIFT event that I get to speak at, I’d invite you to this event as well (bring your group). You can meet with an Adelphia representative as well. Here’s the info!
Grace,
Brian
Two years ago I had the hankering to invite all the Western WA participants from Youthmark Missions to sort of a reunion and “ReLaunch” into their mission field that is their campus, club, community and church. We rented a coffee house and thought we’d have 50-75 people show up to watch some videos, hear some testimonies and be challenged to “live it out” as they head back to school. Well, it was a success. Nearly 175 people showed up that evening.
The idea has now expanded! Along with co-sponsor Adelphia Bible School, we are hosting an event entitled “LIFT.” This event will take place on Wednesday, August 17 from 7:00-9:30 pm at Faith Church in Kent. It’ll include an opening concert from Kye Kye (many of you saw them at Creation) and a practical challenge/training session from me (I can’t wait!). In addition LIFT will include a few testimonies, video’s and a closing concert (performance) and worship concert (lifting praise) by Everfound (I’ve spent four weeks over the last two years with these guys, so genuine in their heart for the Lord and passion to serve Him).
I’d love it if you could spread the word, I’d love to see the place packed. It only costs $5! Here’s the promo materials.
Whether you’re young or old, this event will entertain and equip! Mission51 exists, let’s reach our community now!
Grace,
Brian
Every now and then my blog takes an unannounced vacation. This was one of the times.
Over the last couple weeks we were able to take “Speak-ation Meet-union!” (one part speaking, one part vacation, one part Youthmark meetings and one part family reunion). Good times.
I’ll be posting more about this in the next few posts, but wanted to give the ever-decreasing audience a little heads up as to what’s been going on (it’s funny to see the reader-ship dwindle when you don’t post).
Here are few little highlights (with some pic-posts to come as well):
WA (on our way east): Met with the Spiritual Life Director of a Christian school; Elisabeth and I are speaking together this next year during s Spiritual Emphasis week at an eastern WA Christian High School.
ID: We blinked during the panhandle portion of I-9o, so we completely missed Idaho.
MT : Spent 5-6 days with Elisabeth’s sister and husband. Did some sites and sounds, but mostly enjoyed the pool and family time.
WY: Yellowstone and some long open roads.
CO: Spoke at Summit Camp again, awesome time. 50 people trusted in Jesus for their salvation. So fun to have my family at one of my speaking gigs. In addition got to see family and friends and celebrate our 15th anniversary (July 20) at the place we got married (Colorado Springs). Mission51 has begun.
NM/UT/CO/AZ: We did the 4-Corners thing. Really ugly area, but fun place to take our kids and say that “we’ve been to 4 corners.”
AZ: Great price on a 4-star hotel (thanks Priceline). Saw friends and had a very good meeting for Youthmark (more later)
CA: Elisabeth’s folks live in SoCal! Always great to see them!
I’ll be posting some pics and more stuff about the actual events that took place soon!
Grace,
Brian
Dear Student Ministry Parents,
Hi! Let me introduce myself, my name is Brian Aaby, I have been involved with Youth Ministry for about 20 years, 16 as a Youth Pastor and now I serve as the President of Student Ministry related organization (Youthmark). I want to write this letter to you, parents of students involved in Youth Ministries across the country, just to give you a quick heads-up.
A few weeks ago I walked in to a very familiar setting, the coffee shop that some of my best friends meet in each week. This group of friends represents 5-8 different churches each week (depending on who is able to attend). I love this youth ministry network, but on this particular day, I grieved for this group! They had the look.
It was early June, too early for the look, but I saw it nonetheless.
Parents, you know the look, because you often have the look. Metaphorically (or perhaps for real), your feet are sore from all the running around at your job. Your legs are cramping from lifting your own load and carrying the burdens of your family and friends. Your back is tight from the stress the economy has placed on your budget. Your brain feels fried from the bombardment of questions that need to be answered by anyone and everyone. Your hands are calloused due to the constant cleaning, straightening and fixing of everything in your house. And unfortunately, it’s not just your hands that feel calloused, but your heart too. Sometimes you feel unloved, under appreciated and certainly unnoticed.
Yeah, you know that look. Tired. Weary. Questioning.
Yet, like you, most of these youth pastors in my networks (and around the nation), will keep going, because it is their passion, their calling and their love: Your children! They do it not for the money (’cause rarely is there much), they do it not because they couldn’t make it in other careers (unfortunately, we have too many good Youth Pastors leaving because they no longer can afford to be in youth ministry) and they do it not because they NEED the affirmation (because, as mentioned above, it’s just not always there). They do it because they love to see LIFE!
Youth Pastors (and I’ll expand it to Youth Leaders, many of whom are you–parents), live in the lifestyle of Youth Ministry because they love to see lives changed. They long to see Jesus change hearts. They live to see your students reach out to others with the gospel of Jesus. They pray, plan and produce, so that your children can learn, love and lead!
Parents, youth pastors need to do much more to include you, inform you and appreciate you, NO DOUBT. But as a former youth pastor, I so appreciated when parents went out of their way to draw me in. Youth ministry was such a balancing act, I wanted to pour into students, develop a volunteer team, look good in the eyes of the elders and THEN try to keep parents happy. It was an endless cycle and one that I had NO CLUE about when I was in my lower to mid 20’s (the age of most youth pastors).
That look in June is dangerous, because the summer season hadn’t even begun. Mission trips, camps (i.e. “time away from family”) VBS, fall planning, filling the pulpit for the vacationing senior pastor, weekly studies & programs and all the impromptu events haven’t even happened yet. It’s a look I expect to see in mid-August, not in June. But it is something YOU CAN HELP! You can help GIVE LIFE so that in turn, youth leaders can do the same. Here are a few quick suggestions:
BRIANAABY.COM 