Video of “El Mejunje”

Video of “El Mejunje”

I posted on our vlog (Mexico Movies) about El Mejunje, a place called Mejunje (translated = concoction) that I visited in Santa Clara, while I was there teaching two weeks ago.

I don’t want to duplicate the post, but you should check it out over there and watch the video of the band we saw playing there.

It was truly a cultural experience. If you’re at all interested in global youth ministry or global youth culture, you should click here to watch the video and read about El Mejunje.

Memorable Moment – Graduation 2008 (Video)

I sat there like a proud dad, even though I’m not related to any of the graduates. This was an emotional moment as I watched all 13 of the students who started the youth ministry program walk the aisle to graduate.

Three years ago, we thought it would be a successful endeavor if half of them graduated. But as a sign of their determination and hard work, there they were, the dream team, united at graduation, just like they’ve been for the last three years. Congratulations!!!

Video on Vimeo

The Last Three Years – Part 2

The Last Three Years – Part 2

In part 1 of this series, I talked about a little part of the graduation last week. It was the result of 3 long, hard years of work.

Today, I wanted to write about some of the results that we’ve seen because of the Master’s in Youth Ministry program that we completed (in part) last week. All of this is what is happening in youth ministry in the country of Cuba and beyond.

It’s just a small slice of what is happening, but I hope it gives you an idea of what this incredible team is doing.

What can you do with a Master’s degree in youth ministry?

  • One student has seen his youth group triple in size since he started taking the courses in the program.
  • One student says that the training from the program is the backbone of what they are doing in youth ministry for his entire denomination.
  • One student has seen his youth group grow at a record pace, both in numbers and in depth.
  • One student is using the principles he learned to begin a ministry to university students.
  • One student feels that God wants him to be a full time youth pastor and plans to seek a youth ministry position as soon as he fulfills his obligations as a senior pastor.

What can you do as a youth ministry trainer?

  • There is a Center for Youth Ministry in 3 different seminaries throughout the country. There’s another one that will be started in another seminary this year.
  • There is talk about starting a program at another Bible institute in Pinar del Rio in the western part of the country.
  • In the Eastern Baptist Convention, they have begun to train trainers. There are 22 students preparing to be professors of youth ministry.
  • Many of the students have expressed interest in carrying the vision to other nations by training in other countries, using the same modular format that was used with them.
  • One of the students has begun a “national network of youth workers,” uniting youth workers throughout the country.

There are many other things that have happened to all of us on a personal level. In the next part of this series, I hope to write about how I have changed as a result of being a part of this incredible journey.


Picture: The team on top of the seminary

A Moment I’ll Never Forget

A Moment I’ll Never Forget

As a Dad, there are lots of things that Nathan does that I hope to remember forever. Then there are some things that I know I’ll never forget. One of those things happened last Saturday morning, and it was better than any Father’s Day gift I could have gotten.

Friday night, I flew to Miami after 12 days out of the country. Saturday morning, I arrived just in time for the beginning of Nathan’s first t-ball practice. I walked up to the field from the car, and our eyes met. He came running around the corner and across the bridge that leads to the field. When he got to me, I could see him holding back tears. He was so happy to see me, and it felt so good to hug my little boy.

I’ll never forget his little face in that moment. I hope that he’s always that happy to see me after I’ve been away for awhile. Regardless of how great the trip is, the best part about going on any trip is coming home and seeing my family again.