Jodie McNeill lives in Sydney, Australia,
and is a member of the team at Anglican Youthworks.
Level 1, St Andrew's House, 464 Kent St, Sydney
PO Box A287, Sydney South NSW 1235 Australia
jodie@jodiemcneill.com
Phone: +61 425 222 338
The other day, as I trained a bunch of youth and children’s leaders at my church, I was vividly reminded of the impact that youth leaders have on the teens in their group.
For many years I’ve trained youth ministers and leaders about the importance and impact of their ministry.
But now, as a parent of teenagers of my own, the significance of youth ministers on the teenagers has arrived very close to home.
Read my tribute called ‘Thank you, youth leaders’, in today’s sydneyanglicans.net.
If asking questions is the way that youth (and often adults) learn, then why would we choose to miss out on the benefits of this powerful way of speaking the truth?
Read my thoughts in my latest article at sydneyanglicans.net: http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/ministry/modernministry/are_you_using_questions_to_communicate/
I’m off to speak at the ‘Real Hope’ mission in Tamworth on the 9th and 10th of November this year. Details here at christianitytoday.com.
I will be speaking to the youth on the Friday night, then speaking to all ages at the Saturday night outreach event. I will also be conducting a training seminar on youth ministry in the afternoon.
As has been the custom of the past four years, I continue to teach the DM211 ‘Youth and the Churches’ Diploma of Theology subject at Youthworks College.
This 30-hour course provides a detailed overview of youth ministry, from foundations and strategy to practical hints and techniques.
I’ve been reminded that ‘intensive’ doesn’t just describe the method of lesson delivery! Preparing for and teaching these lectures takes lots of time and energy. However, as always, they have been very rewarding.
This year I am recording the lectures with the intention of producing a book based on some of the material I have presented. The only problem is that 30 hours equates to about 90 hours of typing. Look out for the blisters on my fingers sometime in March!
As always, January and February are the biggest months for youth ministry training. Since the start of the year I have delivered training from Katoomba to Nowra, and everywhere in between!
The year began with two big Mondays at KYLC (Katoomba Youth Leadership Conference) where I trained all of the first year delegates on the Essentials of Youth Ministry. http://www.kylc.kcc.org.au This was followed by training at the Youthworks LiT (Leaders in Training) Conference in Nowra. http://www.lit.youthworks.net
As always, I have also spent two big weeks teaching the Australian College of Theology (A.C.T.) Diploma of Theology Course in youth ministry–Youth in the Churches (DM211) at Youthworks College. 30 hours of youth ministry for youth ministers. Details at http://www.college.youthworks.net
In addition, I have spoken at the Youthworks Scripture in Schools Conference at Dapto, plus delivered training in at the annual Salvation Army youth and children’s ministry training conference.
Thanks to God for the opportunity to train around 800 people throughout Sydney!
Recent sydneyanglicans.net blogs on youth and music ministry