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- Who Is Brenda?
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- YM Shorts Magazine
Brenda has been in youth ministry for thirty two years, twenty three with Wild Frontier. It is truly all she knows. During her first nine years she served as youth pastor of churches in Minnesota and Virginia. In 1990, obeying her original call, Brenda started Wild Frontier. Since 1990 she
Welcome to this unique ideas site. What you will find here are not only articles on the theories and reasons for this type of youth ministry but also ideas that will help you apply a more church family based youth ministry. The strength of this site is from all the
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Wild Frontier
WF Creation Care Stat
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Before it was cool to be green, we at Wild Frontier have been encouraging youth workers to at least put a Creation Care stat on their websites or newsletters to help connect faith to this important issue with teens.
Drink Shade Grown Coffee -It's coffee grown on plantations that preserve native rain forests, rather than on clear-cut open fields. To find it, look for Bird Friendly coffee or Rainforest Alliance-certified coffees. Each cup of shade-grown coffee preserves more than two square feet of rain forest. (TheDailyGreen.com, 2012)
For more Creation Care thinking…
WF Lifestyle Quote
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“Fear isn’t only a guide to keep us safe; it’s also a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life.” –Donald Miller, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
More WF Lifestyle Thinking…
Why I Won't Give to Your Church
"We realize we're arrogant, and in many ways, contradictory. We're OK with that, but we're not OK with you being unwilling to admit to the same. More than half of us will leave the church at some point. Those of us still here find it increasingly difficult to stay. So what is it that we're looking for? What's the magic answer?
"There is none. What will satisfy one person my age may not satisfy me, and vice versa. But for what it's worth, here are my ideas, frustrations, and yes, a little advice."
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Pair of Cleats: Teenager as a Noun
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Originally published June 2001.
A faux dictionary definition of teenager:
1) A mammal found extensively throughout the planet, often clustered in groups in front of television sets (See Sloths). Thought to be a member of Homo Sapiens due to physical similarities, though social and emotional behavior leads many researchers to consider Teenagers to be a completely different species altogether (See Parents). Very territorial. (See It's My Room, Stay Out of My Room.)
Teenagers are extraordinarily social animals, seeking contact with their peer groups to such a great extent that they will forego family, chores, food, and responsibility (See Parents, Quotations Of). The males of the species forage for food constantly (See McDonald's) and can consume three times their weight every day. Some females too but some also eat small amounts until they get into their nests where they gorge out.
WF YM: Youth Strive For Challenge, So Challenge
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The increased popularity of extreme sports is one proof of this true desire for a challenge. Extreme sports is all about the challenge. Another proof is the increase enrollment in AP and IB education programs. Some youth want more challenging curriculum so they feel challenged in their education. Their education means more than seat warming for something that is easy for them. They will take a C in an AP or IB class over an easy A in a regular class.
Be sure in your youth ministry to set the challenge of what a life of faith is which is a challenge. You will be growing true disciples and teaching new converts the true way of faith. The challenge will be respected no matter what their personal decisions are. And remember, youth ministry is part of a lifelong journey. The challenge you set will go with them throughout their lives even if they don’t decide to follow those few short years you have with them.
Masterpiece
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Creating memories happens better when you engage in one or all five of our senses. An idea you can use…
Seeing
I was in the process of planning a youth service about how the teens are all masterpieces of God’s handiwork. I met a girl in the youth group who usually sits by herself and doesn’t talk much to anyone.
I also noticed that she was an incredible artist so I approached her wondering if she could draw someone in the service while I was teaching.
Published Again in Youth Worker Journal
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Brenda's cover article in the new issue of Youth Worker Journal is a synopsis of games of youth ministry past. Check out the article and the memories at YouthWorkerJournal.com.
Brenda's Summer Camp Teaching Theme
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Brenda’s summer camp schedule is scheduled and her theme for the summer is “God is Love.” While straight from 1 John 4:16 and simple, it does have a hippy-dippy feel to it that shouts the truth. Brenda has creative plans to introduce this God of love from a rote teaching of going page by page through the New Testament to teachings of wonder. That is quite a spectrum from rote teaching to wonder but isn’t this God of love astonishing and needs all that space to be described?
Brenda’s summer camp schedule for 2013 is full. However, her fall schedule is open and the “God is Love” theme can be tweaked to fit a fall schedule. To learn more about Brenda and topics she is available to teach on for you, go to Who is Brenda