We are running links to our favorite ten events of the Catholic Youth Ministry blog in 2010. Here’s number five – Some of my favorite writing comes from a moment with my kids and Zombie Church is a metaphor built out of a summer’s dinner on the grill conversation. Some pull quotes:

So, if the “Zombie Apocalypse” occurs, what skills will you bring into the new future?” It was a confusing question. The family was sitting down for a picnic dinner and my young adult children were playing a game called Zombie Apocalypse. It was “What can you contribute to the general good?” sort of game… which is not an uncommon young adult sort of question…

Will (young people) experience the Church that Pope Benedict XVI discussed in his instillation homily in 2005. As he became the 265^th successor to Saint Peter in a centuries old faith, he proclaimed “…The Church is alive. And the Church is young.” As these young people return to their own parish communities, this is a good time of assessment for us. Are they returning to a Church that is alive and young? Or might it scarily resemble the slow, lifeless, faith of the undead?

A while back, Josh Griffin had a post reminding us that We Will Never Arrive, that there are goals that we will never complete, that we will never reach the finish line.

He reminds that "Youth ministry is about seasons of success, seasons of failure, busy seasons and busier seasons. Youth ministry is good, bad and ugly all wrapped into one. You will never arrive – God’s church and your leadership will always be a work in progress.”

And that’s OK!  And it is permission!! Somewhere over the Christmas break, after whatever holiday programming, you will likely actually have a break. Rest in the knowledge that you will not get there.  Refresh, Refuel, and Re-energize so to continue the journey ahead.

We are running links to our favorite ten events of the Catholic Youth Ministry blog in 2010. In the sixth slot is an “event” entry  – The blog, itself, I believe, has been a door opener on a variety of different opportunities. 

Although, I have sorta resisted the tag of being a “technology guy,” it is a credit line that has gotten me some places… on the campus of Villanova University or the pages of the National Catholic Reporter and articles such as Using New Media to Promote Vocations for The National Religious Vocation Conference journal, Horizons, and Reaching Youth Through Technology for the National Council on Catechetical Leadership magazine Catechetical Leadership.

The blog was an entry point for interviews with Saint Mary’s Press and fodder for discussions with Sean Herriott on the Morning Air show on Relevant Radio. I have had the honor and pleasure of these opportunities in November, October, September, August, July, and June.

Finally, the site has been a opportunity to grow in some virtual relationships like blogger Roy Petitfils, tweeter Alison Griswold, Youth Specialties Adam McLane, frequent commenter Marc Cardaronella, England’s Jack Regan of CatholicYouthWork.com, and even, eventually meeting virtual heroes like Mark Oestricher in real life.

Make no mistake about it… the blog has been a blessed “event” in my life.

There is a business bestseller that suggests that a four-hour workweek that suggests a leader could outsource your life, train your boss to value performance over presence, and creating meaning to life and work.

When Timothy Eldred, executive director of Christian Endeavor International, realized that he needed a radical paradigm shift in his way of doing youth ministry, he learned “how to quit your job” which he compared a “wedding planner for kids,” and become a “mentor of mentors.” in his book, 4-Hour Youth Ministry: Escaping the Trap of Full-Time Youth Ministry, he claims that instead of adults planning and executing the programs and enticing youths to come, they should let the youths plan and lead themselves and support them as mentors. By letting youths plan and lead, a youth minister can cut “multiple hours of crazy” down to four hours  a week of conversation and coaching of young people and be more effective.

Eldred adds, “The idea of investing my time in relationships below the waterline where real development occurs in young lives was revolutionary (to me).” He categorizes relational connections into four types: personal, intentional one-on-one communication; group, time spent with a small group of friends; verbal, brief verbal conversation over phone; and written, an email, letter or note on a social media site.” (h/t Christian Post)

Not having read the book, I would further contend that it is the youth ministers’ challenge to make many (or most or all) of these types of relationships with adults of the parish to their their own God-given call to ministry with young people.

We are running posts with links to our favorite ten events of the Catholic Youth Ministry blog in 2010. In the seventh slot is The Pigeon Hole Effect. If we are experience-rich and language-poor, it was a key moment to put language to our youth ministry experience.

If we pigeon hole young people’s involvement in the parish to the definite place or the set aside indefinite time of the to the youth group or the youth mass, we deny (spare) the parish community of their youthfulness, energy, vitality, hopefulness, and vision. Of even greater concern, however, is not fostering within them a spirit of commitment through making (really) meaningful roles available to young people.

flew home on Sunday and did not have the complications that many others had in their return home flying home.  Have other things going on on this Tuesday- a phone conference call, a staff luncheon at home (I screwed up the main course last night— will try again this morning.)

While wireless was available at the conference, I made a choice to not blog over the weekend … and instead experienced the conference… I will be updating the weekend today, but meanwhile did have posts scheduled…  Thanks for your patience.

Meanwhile, here’s a special little taste from the conference, featuring many of our itinerant ministers and something they never thought they would ever have to face – - – choreography!

We are running posts with links to our favorite ten events of the Catholic Youth Ministry blog in 2010. In the eighth slot is a quote related to Kenda Creasy Dean’s book, Almost Christian: What the Faith of our  Teenagers Is Telling the American Church.  Yes, we ran lots of quotes from the book but this one was the most encouraging to our field.

(What) gives me hope is all of the people who are committed to kids in the church. Youth ministers are an irrationally hopeful breed. I have the privilege of working with youth ministers all the time, and they are constantly ignoring what’s impossible and doing it anyway, and that’s the “one radical thing” that keeps the church alive. God shows up under conditions like that.

Just back from New Orleans and have some new ideas… How about you?  Seth Godin recently posted 20 notes on Where Do Ideas Come From? Here’s a few, hit the link to read the rest.

1. Ideas don’t come from watching television.
5. Ideas hate conference rooms, particularly conference rooms where there is a history of criticism, personal attacks or boredom.
11. Ideas come from our ego, and they do their best when they’re generous and selfless.
14. Useful ideas come from being awake, alert enough to actually notice.
20. An idea must come from somewhere, because if it merely stays where it is and doesn’t join us here, it’s hidden. And hidden ideas don’t ship, have no influence, no intersection with the market. They die, alone.

We are running posts with links to our favorite ten events of the Catholic Youth Ministry blog in 2010.  There were a couple of runners-up for this list, like A Church for Young People and A Call to Live Out. But, the selection of the ninth slot was suggested by a reader like you as well as readers who came up to say “Hi” at the NCCYM, (Which, by the way, was a source of wonderful encouragement.  Thanks!!!)

In our #9 for 2010, Evangelist at Work, you have an opportunity to watch a video that many of us agree was the most positive, encouraging message on the blog this year! It is 20 minutes, yes, but it is the fastest, cheapest spiritually uplifting retreat you might ever find.  If you have not watched this, please, please do!

Even if we did not have the readings of the day, the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry serves to remind us that we are but messengers sent ahead for the Lord, assisting the Spirit in preparing the way for the Truth and the Life.

As we met with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning did flee. Our hands were strengthened, weak knees were made firm, hearts are no longer frightened. We recalled the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord and take them, brothers and sisters, as examples of patience in enduring hardships until the Lord comes once again. he coming of the Lord. Our God shall reign forever, through all generations.