We’ve been working on some really cool projects lately. One of those is an online conference/workshop site where we’ll make informal Spanish youth ministry training available to people all over the world who have an internet connection. The idea is to post videos of conferences and workshops so that people can watch them online (or download the audio, or order a CD or DVD). We’ll also have downoadable discussion questions, notes, and other things.
We’re also working on an informal institute to train youth workers here in Mexico City. This is going to be a more informal, weekly training that we’ll do on the seminary campus, offering a diploma or certificate in youth ministry over the course of a year. The first class is scheduled to start the 3rd week in April. Right now, we’re tweaking the final details for the first course.
Another thing is we’re preparing for an all day workshop next week a little north of where we live. I’ll be sharing a youth ministry training workshop all day next Saturday, then attending the church service next Sunday and having a time of questions and answers after the service.
Overall, we’ve got a lot planned and a lot of details to work out.
Well, summertime isn’t looking any less busy than the next few months. We’re supposed to be in Florida raising more support, but we’ve also got trips planned to Monterrey, Mexico City, Cuba, and California. I also have my eye on the YouthSpecialties conference in Guatemala.
I’m trying to keep my Sundays free to speak at churches. If you’d like for us to come speak at your church or to your group, please post a comment, and we’ll get back to you. We’re looking for new monthly financial support, special project support, and of course, prayer support.
I’m working on a syllabus today for a Master’s level class that I’ll be teaching at the seminary in March (the week between quarters). It’s my one shot with these students who are already serving somewhere in ministry (mostly as pastors).
I have a lot of ground to cover in 30 hours, and I know I can’t give them everything about youth ministry. I’m trying to help them understand the concept of youth ministry so they will do the following:
- Be aware of the needs of young people.
- Place a higher value on the ministry to young people in their church.
- Implement a youth ministry in their church.
- Find someone who can be trained in youth ministry for their church.
- Understand that it’s more than a Saturday night meeting for the “church kids.”
We’ll see if we can pull it off.
This morning, just before we left to go to church, Nathan fell and hit his head on the corner of our concrete wall. We put ice on it right away, but were a little worried about it. We took off to go to the hospital. About half way there, we reconsidered and went home because he was acting mostly normal. We called a nurse we know, and she said to just wait and see, but to not let Nathan sleep.
So, we went to the church and let him run around and play for a while to keep him awake. Then we went to the mall, and then we went out to eat with some friends. We got home from lunch at 4 pm, and Nathan was acting normal. He was just really, really tired. We think he’s fine now. Anyway, it was quite an eventful day.
