Great Resources

If you're like me you are always looking for great resources. Here is a list that our teaching team came up with. Enjoy, and please add any additional that we missed in the comment section.
Video Ideas:

http://youtube.com/ (use tabs for highest rated/most used)
http://www.preachingtoday.com/
http://www.sermonspice.com/
http://meatloafmedia.com/
http://www.bluefishtv.com/
http://www.ministryandnmedia.com/
http://www.36parables.com/
http://www.thesource4ym.com/
http://www.worshipfilms.com/
http://www.lifechurch.tv/
http://www.mediashout.com/
http://www.creativepastors.com/
http://floodgateproductions.com/
http://imeem.com/
http://barnafilms.com/
http://www.churchmedia.net/
http://postmodernparables.com/
http://worshiphousemedia.com/
http://radiatefilms.com/
http://sermonvideos.com/
http://visualscripture.com/
http://www.highwayvideo.com/
http://www.ignitermedia.com/
http://www.atomfilms.com/
http://funnyjunk.com/
http://www.collegehumor.com/
http://ebaumsworld.com/
http://funmansion.com/

Preaching, Stories and Information:

http://Sermonnews.com/
http://Willowcreek.com/
http://northpoint.org/
http://www.creativepastors.com/
http://GCCwired.com/
http://Pastors.com/
http://www.lifechurch.tv/

Blogs:

http://Evotional.com/
http://swerve.lifechurch.tv/

Songs:

http://Billboard.com/
http://www.myspace.com/
http://www.rhapsody.com/
http://www.apple.com/itunes/
http://MTV.com/
http://www.vh1.com/
http://Pandora.com/
Any radio station’s playlist

Worship Music:

Rhapsodyradio http://internetradio.wetpaint.com/page/Rhapsody+Radio?t=anon
http://Christianmusic.com/
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/
http://Christianmusic.org/
http://Worshipmusic.com/
http://todayschristianmusic.com/
http://www.christianmusicplanet.com/
http://www.ccmmagazine.com/
http://Klove.com/
http://Worshiptogether.com/

Dramas:
http://Dramashare.org/
http://Churchdramas.com/
http://willowcreek.com/ServiceBuilder/


Thanks!

More of Me

Because you just can't get enough information about me... check out my new blog at http://www.mattsilver.org/.

Enjoy :)

Podcasts

So I finally broke down and got an Ipod. Although I've had a shuffle for a while for activities I finally forked out the money for a nano. One of the primary reasons for the purchase was the ability to listen to Podcasts. My drive times are now opportunities to learn a few things or to listen to some entertainment that I actually care about. For me it's like Tivo... I'm not watching more TV, I'm watching better TV!

I'm sure my subscriptions will change in the future, but as of now here they are...

As you can tell, I enjoy listening to other communicators (none of which compare with BRIAN JONES:) ). Youth Ministry specific stuff comes from Simply Junior High, Simply Youth Ministry, Youth Specialties, and the Source for Youth Ministry. The rest are either entertainment or leadership training.

If you don't have an Ipod yet... go get one and get Podcasting! Did I mention that all of those listed above are free!

Also, post any of your favorites that I should check out!

Rise and Shine

So... the early bird gets the worm. I'll settle for a bowl of cereal or perhaps some eggs and bacon. At least that's what I've said for the longest time. It seems everyone I talk to who has a consistent daily quite time with God, does so at the crack of dawn (or earlier)!

My argument has always been I function on Vampire time. I have always possessed the most energy in the evening. The times I did the early morning thing it would only take 1 late night and BANG, I'm sleeping in again and going back to my preferred schedule. I would get up at 7:00 (high school students would have to get up earlier than me!) and still be able to have at least a 1/2 hour of time to read and pray. But then out of nowhere my son became mobile. It happened just a little over 2 months ago. Poor little dude can't get up when he falls, but he can get around as long as he's up.

While reading I would here him running around and screaming and in that moment I wanted to just be with him. I would call whatever time I had spent reading and praying, be it 25, 15, or occassionally 5 minutes, as "good enough" for the day. After all I would inevitably have God moments throughout the day.

Well for me the well began running a little dry. Not concrete, but not fresh water either. So I made the decision to join the early bird club and get up at 5:??. It's quite a feeling to look out your window and see that no one else is awake in your neighborhood, no lights are on. It really gives you a feeling that it is just you and God.

I then go down to the basement and spend some time with God. I can't say I feel perky when I get up yet, but I am excited to actually have some time to think, pray, journal, read, and reflect. I feel the water's rising in the well.

So when is your quiet time? God is available 24x7 not only in the wee hours of morning, but when are you available. If you're like me, good intentions to read in the evening fell victim to catching up with my TIVO shows. Morning became a necessity.

Leader Retreat 07

For the longest time I've wanted to take the adult leaders on a retreat to provide them an opportunity to bond together, get refreshed, and even take on some training. The solution in the past has been to invite our leaders to join me on a trip to a student ministry conference such as NYWC, NYMC, or Willow Creek's SMC. The current number of volunteers as well as the addition of student leaders has limited that options appeal. I knew in order to effectively train and motivate our leaders we would need to put on our own retreat. To me that sounded like a daunting but necessary task.

While in a forum at the Orchard Group retreat, a meeting designed for the churches planted by the Orchard Group, I began to network with the other youth ministers. One of them, Jon Hentrich, said he had been putting on retreats for the last few years. After a few discussions we determined that we should team up and do one together.

Last weekend we had our first. We met at a church in the heart of Brooklyn (NYC baby). Although the accommodations were not at the Hilton caliber, we had a great time. The format was very simple and flexible...

Friday - We arrived late in the evening and had a time of Worship and Prayer.

Saturday - Pancakes and Eggs for breakfast! Through the course of the day we kept the same format for three training topics: First, watch a conference DVD, then have a large group discussion, followed by a breakout within our own ministries. Our topics were mentoring youth, the Sunday night program, and personal evangelism. Following the training we went to Time Square for dinner and to hang out.

It's amazing what you can do in a day and a half. I am convinced that these retreats are invaluable to your ministry. You know the ways conferences impact your students; don't expect any less from a retreat for your adults. Take care and have a great retreat!

What is STRETCH?

STRETCH is our summer event designed explicitly for middle school students. The purpose of STRETCH is to connect students with peers, our ministry, and ultimately God. This event isn’t designed to cause a conversion experience, although that happened for some students last year, but is designed to get students interested in God. In our area students embrace many of the stereotypical thoughts about church: it’s boring, irrelevant, and a waste of time. We try to program an environment to shred those beliefs.

This years theme is "Out of the Box" and breaks down for the three days as follows: Day 1 - the box your peers put you in (dealing with the pressures to fit in), Day 2 - the box adults place you in (believing in yourself despite being stuck between childhood and adulthood), and Day 3 - the benefits of allowing God to take you out of the box. Here are the top things I would recommend when hosting a middle school camp:

Promote it
We created flyers, placed door hangers in the community, and continuously sent out emails to our people. Utilize your web-site and create a MySpace (ours isn't utilized to its potential)!
Involve Others - Your event will not be great if it rests on your efforts alone. Events are the best way to find new leaders for your ministry because you get to observe others in a short term volunteer commitment. Events are also a great way to allow your current team members to STRETCH their leadership potential. Obviously this allows for specialization in ministry areas allowing for great success.

Bring on the WOW
This event needs to take your normal programming to a much higher level. For example, we always provide an hour of free time for our students to get involved in activities. For STRETCH instead of the normal games and regular fun stuff, we are bringing in inflatables, a laser tag course, makeover station, dance instruction, video game room, etc. Do things for as many groups of students as possible. You need to have awesome elements (countdown timers, opening songs, funny media). Everything is a WOW!

Get a Speaker
If you are the point person and key coordinator for your event I would strongly discourage you from being the key speaker. I am the MC for the event and have plenty of stage time to allow students to know who I am. There is just too much going on right now and too much exhaustion setting in to speak at a high caliber for this event. Last year we used Jeffrey Dean (awesome!) and this year we are going with Travis Crim.

Utilize Local Talent
Last year we brought in a comedian for all three days but this year we did a local talent search. We are using a fire eating, uniclyclist, juggler for day 1. A illusionist/comedian (lot's of box tricks) for day 2. For day 3 we are having a local karate team come in and break stuff (they're doing it for free)! This allows for "themed" variety and keeps cost down.

Bring in a Ton of Food
Enough said. PS - Get a donation specialist on your team!

Bring a Friend Contest -
For each day of the event we give a $50.00 Credit Gift Card to the person who brings the most friends.

Give Stuff Away
Each day we are giving away something to keep the excitement of the event alive. Day 1 - Temporary Tatoos and Wristbands, Day 2 - Carabiners, Day 3 - Bouncy Balls.

Get Them Back

The week following STRETCH we show a highlights video during student ministry and give a STRETCH t-shirt to every student that attends the following week. This has been great for bringing students back to regular youth group nights and that's the point of the event!

Here is the schedule for the event along with the key elements:

• 5:45-6:30 - Registration - during this time students will be arriving, signing in, and permitted to do some of the free time activities.
• 6:30-6:42 - Students enter the building - In order to create a high energy introduction, we open the doors to our lobby area but keep the auditorium doors closed. In the lobby we will have a countdown timer as well as some funny Youtube videos looping in the background.
• 6:42-6:45 - Doors open, fog machines are kicking, and countdown video is playing with the sound system cranked. You cannot underestimate the energy created by a cranking coundown timer. Last year we did a movie collage but this year we went more of a computer generated feel from five:am productions. I know these guys personally and they are top-notch and do not charge near enough!
• 6:45-8:00 - Programming - The opening song is cranked and the kids are going nuts. We then transition into three worship songs which take students from highly energetic, to medium, to serious and focused. We then do some announcements, give-aways, games, and bring out the evening talent. The last thing of the programming segment is the main speaker.
• 8:00-9:00 - Free Time - This is when students have the blessing to be themselves! We try to have something for everyone.
• 9:00-10:00 - Optional Free Time - For those whose parents want to expand on their date night.
• 10:00 - Clean up!

If you would like any additional information or have specific questions about our event please don't hesitate to email me at matt@moviechurch.com. Please also take a moment to pray for this event being held on July 20th - 22nd.

STRETCH Yourself

This is the second year our ministry is doing a blow-out event for middle school students called STRETCH. We call it a camp but it's more like a conference or maybe better stated - our youth ministry on crack! Our entire staff, as well as over 80 volunteers, come together to make this event a success. That is what is so amazing to me!


No one can ever say that this event is a success because of his or her solo effort. Although this year has gone smoother than the previous, it is still an "ACT OF GOD" that it comes off successful. It is the passion placed by God in the hearts of his people that allows and motivates...

• 40 people to deliver 15,000 door hangers in our community to promote this event


• Props people and staging people to give up countless hours cutting themselves with scissors, getting paint on themselves, and smashing their thumbs with hammers


• Band and tech members grinding their way through both early and late practices


• People giving up their entire weekend (at the expense of vacation and shore time)


• Volunteers rising up to great heights in leadership


• Staff members bonding and loving on one another through the stress of the event

To all those involved in STRETCH or other student events in the country, THANK YOU! You inspire me!