I believe in Youth Ministry.  I want to be a "lifer" in Youth Ministry.  I believe the Church needs Youth Ministry.  I love this video from Mark Matlock, director of Youth Specialties.  He does a great job leading us to some of the greatest needs of the church and why Youth Ministry is so important.  It is definitely worth the time!

If you don't have time to watch the full video, here's a quick snapshot:

1. Youth ministry is vital to helping teens integrate into the larger intergenerational community of the church.
2. Youth ministry resists the status quo, helping a church stay relevant in a changing culture.
3. Youth ministry focuses on inviting those who are not already part of the church into the deeper narrative of God's plan for humankind.
4. Youth ministry reminds the church that teens are not marginalized members of the body, but are co-creators and conspirators in the divine work of the church, restoring life on earth as it is in heaven. **I think this one is so important!**
5. Youth ministry helps the church focus on the way of Jesus, which goes beyond tradition, dogma, and ritual.

Even though Youth Ministry has not been around very long (in the grand scheme of the Church) I believe it is vital and necessary for the future of the church!  Barna Research and Youth Specialties discovered that in the past three years, 60% of churches have experienced growth in their Youth Ministries overall attendance and 66% of churches believe that Youth Ministry must be one of their top priorities.  God is showing us that the next generation is not the future of the Church but they are the Church... NOW!  They are needed!

What are some reasons that you think Youth Ministry is needed in the Church?  Comment and let me know!

- Rick

For anyone who works with teenagers, you know that apps rule their world.  From Snapchat to Instagram, most teenagers spend a lot of their time plugged into the newest app.  I saw this article the other day that showed the Apps That Teens Actually Love.  Here are the graphs that they used to chart teenagers app usage:

As youth workers I believe it is our responsibility to understand and know youth culture and what is going on in the lives of our students.  Being able to look into the apps that they use everyday helps us to understand what they value and care about.  The overall arching truth to these graphs is that teenagers want to connect with the people around them.  All of the apps that are mentioned deal with connecting with others through pictures, music, videos, posts, etc.  This should be huge for us in ministry!  What are we doing to connect with our students that ultimately leads them to connecting with Christ?

What do you think?  Do you think these are the apps that teens really do love most?  What apps do you see your teenagers using?  Comment and let me know!

- Rick

About four years ago, God called Danielle and I to Keystone Fellowship outside of Philadelphia, PA to be the Student Ministries Pastor where I oversaw students in 6-12th grade.  The past few years at Keystone have been some of my favorite years of ministry that I've ever had.  I've had the privilege of seeing students surrender their lives to Christ, baptizing more students than I ever have before, making incredible relationships with students and leaders, having a ton of fun, and seeing God grow in Danielle and my own life.  God has taught Danielle and I continually through our time at Keystone.  Despite these past few years being some of our hardest years of ministry, we are so thankful for all that God has done in us and through us and we would not trade it for anything.

However, it is with sad hearts that we share that God has released us from our calling to Keystone.  We have loved our time at Keystone and the family that we have created while we have been here.  They have grown with us and helped us go through some of the toughest times of our lives.  Though we are sad to leave, it is with excited hearts that we also announce that I have accepted the position as Middle School Pastor at Oak Pointe Church in Novi, MI!

Danielle and I are so excited to go to Oak Pointe and see all that God wants to do in this next phase of our lives.  About three months ago, Oak Pointe called me to discuss the position and the possibility of coming back to Michigan.  Over the past few months, we have spent significant time in prayer, fasting and listening for God's voice on what His desire and will is for us.  We know completely that God has called us to Oak Pointe and God has confirmed that for us again and again.

We will be moving in the beginning of August to Michigan with a planned start at Oak Pointe in mid August.  Please pray for Keystone during this transition as they seek to find a new youth pastor and for Danielle and I as we seek to sell our home.  While this was not something that we expected to happen, Danielle and I have always committed to doing whatever God calls us to do, whenever God calls us to do it, wherever God calls to us go.  Therefore, when God clearly called us to Oak Pointe we said yes.

Thank you for your continued support of our ministry at Keystone over these past few years and we look forward to sharing with you all that God is going to do in our ministry at Oak Pointe!

- Rick