We showed this video last night as a challenge and opener to our new “Summer Blockbuster” message series at Elevate. Watch it and be inspired…

We encourage students to be the culture changers and motivators… to be the ones starting their own “jig”, in a sense.  I love the comments that Carlos Whittaker posted on his blog, Ragamuffin Soul, in this regard:

A few things I think we can learn from this video.

1. One man can start a movement.
2. A movement need not be started by the most skilled member of the movement.
3. When beginning your movement and you look around and no one else is joining the dance, just keep dancing.
4. When the one guy who joins your movement slowly fades away, keep going.
5. Before you know it, the people joining your movement won’t even know you started it.
6. When your movement takes a life of it’s own, just let go. There will be no stopping it.
7. The very people who are staring at you like your nuts as you movement alone, will be the very same people dancing the hardest in the end.

Keep dancing kids… keep dancing!

When people wonder why Deanna and I do youth ministry and why we think it’s SO important to the life of the church, this is big part of the reason why…

We are so thankful to our volunteers and team workers who work alongside us.  Thank you for what you do; it’s SO important.

This post was originally posted at YouthMinBlog.com; follow the discussion there or start a new one here.

Connecting with student ministry graduates? How about Facebook?

Yes, I know what people are gonna say…

“Facebook’s too quick and easy.”
“There’s no real depth in online conversation.”
“Facebook is so yesteryear. The kids are already over it.”

Oh, really? I don’t know…

For starters, although everyone’s Mom and Grandpa are getting on Facebook (which can be a deterrent), many students who moved away from home are looking for ways to connect with those they left behind. Maybe with Mom and Dad and maybe even with their ol’ youth pastor.

Facebook is a great tool for that… and Facebook, which was originally designed to network college students, is where a LOT of students are STILL at — I know 95% of mine are.

I realize that not everyone’s a “Facebook master”, but it is pretty simple to set up friend lists to organize your students into “student ministry grads”, “current students”, etc.

You want to see what’s happening with your former students? Just click over to your list and…

• Start up a conversation. You might be surprised how talkative a student can be through a wall-to-wall conversation.
• Browse their profiles and congratulate them on their achievements and successes.
• Provide encouragement, comfort, or scripture when they are going through tough times or struggling.
• Remind them of God’s overwhelming love and great plan for their lives — sometimes all they need is a reminder.
• Tell them that you believe in them and who God is shaping them to be.

Students who are away from home are usually pretty eager for connecting with someone “back home”. You can be one of their connection points.

And when they’re back home for the summer?

It’s a quick and easy way to ask them to connect in the real world.

Social networking sites were made for networking and bringing people together. It’s where our kids are at. Why not utilize them to our benefit?

Pastor Shawn shares some details about upcoming summer events. There’s a lot going on!

video enclosure: “Can’t Believe It’s June Already!”

Visit our EVENTS page for all the details.

Newbies’ Night is a free annual student event where Elevate Student Ministries celebrates the beginning of summer and new students graduating into the youth ministry program.

The event begins at the Black Hill’s Maze (6400 S Highway 16) at 5:00 pm. We’ll provide rides back to Destiny and dinner for the students.

The Colourful concert will start @ 7:00 pm at Destiny and is open to the public. There will be a free-will donation taken.  Listen to mp3 samples at The Colourful’s official MySpace.

NOTE: The Maze and dinner is for Elevate students and guests only.  The concert is open to all.

All students attending the event will need current Medical / Liability Release Forms on file, including guests.

WEATHER UPDATE: If you are wondering about the weather, there is currently a predicted 40 percent chance of rain and an estimated temperature of around 52 degrees.  We still plan on going ahead with The Maze challenge so please dress appropriately.  Wear warm and waterproof / repellent clothing!