This exact scenario is what I encountered at a recent visit to Saddleback Church, in California.

It was great to see that this church is so keen to meet people where they are at that it seeks to deliver music that meets the needs of the congregation. It was also a clever way to deal with the need to provide overflow seating for their overflowing venue.

However, I couldn’t but help that this was market-driven ministry that had gone too far.

Read my full article at www.sydneyanglicans.net

From this challenge came a solution that we believe will work to see people well-trained and thoroughly-equipped for a lifetime of ministry, whether in the outdoor context or otherwise.

Instead of adopting the ‘normal’ academic year, we will now be offering apprentices the opportunity to spend most days in the warmer months bringing the Word to children and youth, and spend the winter months of their second and four years being taught subjects in the Diploma of Theology. To complement this theological training, apprentices will train for a Certificate III in Outdoor Recreation in first year, and then a Certificate IV in their third year.

Four years of ministry experience, coupled with training in the hard skills of outdoor recreation, and the soft skills of theology.

Check out the whole article at sydneyanglicans.net

PS: I’m looking for ten new MTS Outdoor Ministry Apprentices to start in September. Applications close in two weeks. Visit outdoorministry.youthworks.net for details.

Read my latest sydneyanglicans.net article to see three mixers I’ve done to death, but still work just fine.

One of the interesting findings of recent research is that spirituality has been shown to be a key factor in helping people build this resilience.

The only way a state school could teach spirituality would be for them to ask the local religious communities to send representatives to teach the children of their respective faiths.

Yet, what I have just described is exactly what our NSW state school system currently enjoys with Special Religious Education (SRE).

SRE brings a smorgasbord of spirituality into our state schools. It is taught for free by skilled and passionate volunteers from the community. It offers the tools needed to help students form resilience in this pressured and chaotic world.

If SRE didn’t exist, we’d invent it. So why would we ever want to lose it?

Read my full article at www.sydneyanglicans.net

All of the melody instruments (such as flutes and violins) usually play every verse, and they often play the same melody line as the congregation is singing. The rhythm instruments (such as acoustic guitar and bass) play with the same intensity throughout the entire song.

A better music team will play like a high-school soccer team. The melody instruments will sit back in some verses and be silent, whilst at other times they will feature strongly. Sometimes they’ll play the same tune as the congregation, but sometimes they’ll compliment the tune by playing basic harmonies. The rhythm instruments will feel happy to be ‘subbed off’ for a verse or two, and then warm up as they reach the intensity of the final stages before the final siren blows (so to speak!)

This mindset shift makes a powerful impact on a church band. It’s not impossibly difficult to achieve, but it does take a commitment by all members to not all just run around the paddock, chasing the ball.

Read my full article at sydneyanglicans.net and leave a comment!

We are also looking for a sales consultant to help sell our camps to public schools. It’s a part-time role, and would be ideal for a parent who wishes to work during school hours and terms. Details are here.

Find out more about his new role and this new ministry, in the story at sydneyanglicans.net.

If you’re willing and able, I’d love you to partner with us in this new ministry. Contact access@youthworks.net or phone 02 8525 3100 to find out more about how you can help, or email donations@youthworks.net or phone 02 8268 3325 to offer your financial support.

Check out my latest post at sydneyanglicans.net and give me your thoughts as to what you think is the Next Big Thing.

In fact, to do so might lead me to shoot myself in the foot, given that I work for such an organisation.

However, in a ‘courageous’ move (potentially in the tradition of ‘Yes Minister’), I boldly step where wise angels wouldn’t dare tread.

In my latest column at sydneyanglicans.net read about why I think it’s better to call our ‘parachurches’ by the name ‘hupochurch’.

I just hope I got my Greek right, or I’ll look like a real idiot.

Follow the link, have a read, and leave your thoughts in the comments section.

In truth, I’m actually thrilled to say that Graham Stanton has agreed to join the team of resident bloggers at sydneyanglicans.net.

Graham and I will share the Tuesday slot, with some guest writers from time to time, as we seek to keep raising the profile of youth and children’s ministry in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, and to work at strengthening all of us involved in this vital work.

Graham’s first piece is lots of fun, with some interesting observations and comments about the nature of blogging and bloggers.

Check it out at www.sydneyanglicans.net/ministry/modernministry/hi_im_new_here/