Youth ministry weekend

Just got back from National Youth Workers Convention hosted by Youth Specialties.  It's one of the best treats a youth worker can have!  It sets you up to hear great bands (like Crowder & Starfield), enjoy insightful speakers (like Kara Powell & Chap Clark), & enjoy belly-laugh funny entertainers (like Skit Guys or Lost & Found).  It was a wonderful time of rest and recharging.
But something that I never remember (I've gone before) is that the time spent with other youth workers is exhilarating!  It's an under-rated selling point.  "Do you want to come be with people like you?  Then join us for NYWC!"  I ignore that pitch 11 out of 10 times, but that's what I'm so thankful for now.  For you not involved in youth ministry you may think we're all nuts... and you're probably right.  But to have a chance to join with thousands of other just-as-nuts people, who immediately get it, without fear of judgment; it's a beautiful thing.

Pothead support group

This community is more than great for a solid weekend, it points to a more central desire inside us all.  Acceptance is often a driving force in our culture.  We wear what we do to maintain or project the right style.  We say what we say to impress or develop the right reputation.  We work and sacrifice to make ourselves provable by our bosses for promotions.  We want to be welcome, we fear being rejected.

A present current inside the conference was stepping away from the programs and focusing more on the point of being the church.  The point was to let go of maintaining the machine and use the new found time and energy to establish relationships.  This would effectively set the church up to be the place of acceptance and relationship that is at the root of our desire.  We want a place to belong and be welcome, the church SHOULD be that.

It shouldn't take five days to remind church leaders of that truth.  But 5 days are a small price to pay if we will come together, remember, and then leave to be different.

PS: Here's the links for the above mentioned artist.
http://www.davidcrowderband.com/
http://www.starfieldonline.com/
http://www.skitguys.com/
http://speedwood.com/