"Let's Ride!" 2011 NYC Day 1 (Saturday)

Saturday morning at 10am, 23 Planet Impacters met at the Smithtown train station and headed into New York City for a week-long adventure of serving Jesus and growing in God. We to the Long Island Rail Road to Jamaica, then took the subway to Dekalb Ave. in Brooklyn where we disembarked and walked two blocks to our host church, Living Waters Fellowship. We were blessed to have chef John Long welcome us with a hot lunch. We then quickly jumped back on the train and headed all the way up to Hunts Point in the Bronx where we met Pastor Reggie Stutzman, a friend of Pastor Kevin, who is planting a church in the area. Hunts Point is an area of the Bronx that desperately needs the message of hope, the good news of Jesus.

A cool thing happened when we got off the train. Pastor Reggie instructed us to walk up the street while he parked the car and he would meet up with us. Pastor Kevin led the team up a few blocks and then stopped in front of an vacant building to call Pastor Reggie. At that moment Pastor Reggie walked up and said, "I't really interesting that you stopped in front of THIS building. We have been praying over this building for a while now - that God would open a door for us to make this our permanent church location. Wow!

After a briefing and a time of prayer, our team walked the area for about 45-minutes and handed out 300 flyers inviting people to the service tomorrow. A group pic, goodbyes to Pastor Reggie, and we were back on the train heading down to Manhattan where we took the team to The Top of the Rock - the top of Rockefeller Center. Today was brutally cold with strong, whipping winds, so you can imagine what it felt like 70 floors in the air. We got a group pic and enjoyed the fantastic views of the city. Back downstairs we had some coffee and snacks, then took the train back to Brooklyn.

Dinner was followed by an orientation by Pastor Ron and Anna - the pastors of Living Waters. We then got settled into our rooms, PK met with the leaders, then we had our small groups. Our theme today (which tied in with the trip to Rockefeller) was human potential. We studied the story of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11 and had some terrific conversations about the good things people can accomplish together as well as the potential negative consequences of human achievement. We then worked on our first memory verse of the week (2 Corinthians 4:7) and prayed together. A great start to this adventure!

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47 of 50 3-Pointers!

Duffy Robbins' Travel Tips

Check out more "Duffy Week" on Doug Fields' Blog

Frustrated Youth Pastors ... Need Some Input

Sadly, yesterday I had another in a series of conversations with youth pastors who are really dealing with frustration in ministry lately. Apathetic, complaining students seems to constantly top the list followed by inconsistent volunteers and unsupportive or non-understanding church leadership. So, here are a few questions I would appreciate your input on as I seek to encourage these leaders:

1. What are some common denominators you've observed that contribute to your frustrations?
2. Are there certain times of the year (seasons) when you notice a rise in frustration levels?
3. What keeps you going when you're frustrated?
4. How do you deal with ...
1. Apathetic students?
2. Inconsistent volunteers?
3. Unsupportive church leaders?

I Corinthians 13 for Youth Workers

-By Dave Boyd

And now I will show you the most excellent way.

If I give amazing talks every Wednesday with three points and a funny story, but have not love, I might as well be talking to myself.

If I possess deep insight into the lives of teenagers, and surprise the elder board by my depth of Bible knowledge, but have not love, I will not make a difference.

If I have a fired-up faith that can wake kids up (even on Sunday mornings) but have not love, I will not be used by the Spirit to bring revival.

If I give up my ambition for fame, and I learn to be content with my salary, and if I sacrifice my body to all-nighters, week-long mission trips, and a steady diet of fast-food and pizza, but have not love, it won't get me anywhere.

Love is patient, giving us peace even when teenagers are late getting back to the bus.

Love is kind, enabling us to speak inviting words in a world filled with sarcasm and satire.

It does not envy middleschoolers who have nicer phones or high schoolers who drive better cars than us, nor bemoan how we suffer for Jesus.

Love is not proud, and does not worry about our image among the church's big givers or influential leaders.

It is not rude, but listens and values others.

It is not self-seeking, realizing that our ministry is not for or about ourselves.

It is not easily angered when the boys don't follow the rules of our new game.

When looking at people, it does not remember their past criticisms, but only sees the best in others.

It always protects those who have never known safety, it always inspires trust by living a life of integrity, it always holds out hope for those who have lost their way, and it will never give up on those who stray.

Love never fails.

Stunning talks will be forgotten, and exciting activities will pass away. Even the most amazing retreat will move from reality to photos.

 Love, however, is the gift that is not forgotten, always needed, and forever impacting.

When I began in youth ministry, I was a child. I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But now I have become a man, putting childish ways behind me.

I will choose the way of love. 

Dave Boyd is a longtime youth pastor in Minnesota.

Ethnos Conference 2011

Here's a cool video promoting Elim Fellowship's Ethnos Conference, February 25-27th. Would be a super conference to go to if you're feeling called to reach the nations with the gospel. The subtitle: From "I will go" to "I am going." As side note: The video is probably twice as long as necessary, but it's a quality production nonetheless ... all filmed on my childhood stomping grounds, the campus of Elim Bible Institute.