I have recently added Michael Hyatt’s blog to my feeds.

Hyatt is the Chief Executive Officer of Thomas Nelson Publishers, the largest Christian publishing company in the world and the seventh largest trade book publishing company in the U.S,

Here he  discusses the merits of social media for church leaders and I totally get the whole “I have not thought about it if I have not blogged about it.”

Recently I visited an area of the country where someone attempted to convince me that “her people” don’t necessarily get the Internet.

I’m not so sure.

“You are not visitors in mom and dad’s or Father’s Church. This is your Church. It’s your responsibility to stake your claim in it. ”

In this video and blog post, Roy Petitfils jumps in rather enthusiastically with his opinion regarding youth and their role as the future of the Church.

But, if we really, REALLY believed that youth are a part of the church now and were destined to be the Church of the future…

… what would we / SHOULD WE be doing differently in service towards that vision?

And, spare a chair or few in the process…

These “Digital Didache’s” videos are designed to engage the community of disciples in dialogue regarding our shared service to the youngchurch of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. 

For discussion today, we are asking:

1) What are the challenges and changes that you are experiencing in your parish and school?

2) In this time of transition for us all, how might our offices better adapt (or change) in how we might serve you in your ministry?

If you are from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, you can respond by e-mail, on our facebook page, or below.  If you are not from the land of ArchBalt, but would like to play along with us, feel free.  (But, please identify your {arch}diocese!)

Sorry for the delay on this. As has been noted earlier, this has been a few weeks in the works.

In January, the Pope released the Message for World Communications Day.

“But this development (of the new technologies) likewise represents a great opportunity for believers. No door can or should be closed to those who, in the name of the risen Christ, are committed to drawing near to others. The new media offers us ever new and far-reaching pastoral possibilities, encouraging us to embody the universality of the Church’s mission, to build a vast and real fellowship, and to testify in today’s world to the new life which comes from hearing the Gospel of Jesus, the eternal Son who came among us for our salvation.”

The presentation runs slightly over four minutes. See other Soapbox messages.

Margaret Brogden is the most recent addition to the Division of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.  She serves as the coordinator for youth ministry formation and has recently been working towards preparing our field to make a transition towards a new process of “certification” and training.

(At two-and-one-half minutes, the embedded slidecast is worth a look.)

While this is not officially a Soapbox Wednesday entry, it is this previous post as well as this recent slidecast that spawned the soapbox concept.

The invitation to step up on the soapbox remains open, folks!

(Can’t see the slidecast? Go here.)

You know that new calendar that you got over the Christmas break? Well, crack that bad boy open and go mark down:

March 31st!!!!!

It is a very important day in Catholic Youth Ministry. Know why?  Check out the slideshare, it is brief (only 5 minutes) and after viewing it, you will understand why you should be dedicating this day to prayer, study, and/or packing for Madrid.

Meanwhile, this is the second in our series of Soapbox Wednesdays.  You are invited to get in on this action. You don’t have to “be an expert.” Details are here.

In the future, plans are that the banner up above will also carry notice of a “Comment of the Week.”  Yesterday, we received one that would surely merit such mention.

Warren Dungen, the director of the office of youth ministry in Prince Albert, posted up on yesterday’s invitation to step up on the soapbox.

Warren commented that “If you have any hesitation as to what Scott is saying, check out a video clip entitled Not An Expert by Bluefishtv.com. You don’t have to have a doctorate in ministry to have something that will be of great help to your fellow servants in Christ!”

Exactly! Everyone can cook and everyone can take their moment on the soapbox.  Thanks, Warren.  Looking forward to your entry there as well.

(If you have difficulty viewing the slideshare, please click here.)

We promised on Monday a little something different: I hope that this become a consistent Wednesday feature here on the blog…

Welcome to the Catholic Youth Ministry Soapbox! What will make it “a consistent Wednesday feature here on the blog?”  Why, it’s YOU!

Yes, YOU! You are invited to contribute your thoughts, dreams, key training tips right here on the blog.  We would all love to hear your voice and what you have to say… so, step right on you and speak your mind!

The presentation explains all of it in just over 3 minutes! Here are a few notes regarding the “rules” of everything…

Sit back for a moment… As we all work to “bring new media to the new evangelization,” what can you share with all of us here on this virtual soapbox?