All NexGen Pro articles – Page 66
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Issues
Real life: “The vicar comes with a free youth worker”
For the past eight years I have been involved in youth work as a volunteer, a youth theatre practitioner, a full-time church worker and now as a sessional youth worker. I have a diploma in youth mission and ministry (just to try and prove I vaguely know what I’m doing!) but all of that seems to pale in comparison to a decision I made in May 2015 - I got married to a trainee vicar.
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Blog
Understanding Christianity: RE resources
Dream: think strategically and with vision about our work in schools.
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Issues
How do you deal with the aftermath of a big romantic breakup within the group?
Deep down, we all love a youth group romance. Maybe it plays to our egos as leaders that we’ve created a context where love has blossomed; perhaps even it’s because we know that if they stay together, it might be our one chance to preach at a wedding. Generally speaking, we share in the group excitement when two of our young people get together.
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Issues
After the festival
After the highs of summer festivals, how do we continue to disciple our children once they get home? HTB’s Tory Tomlinson has some ideas…
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Faith at home
Forming faith rituals: Open-ended activities
When we think about fostering the faith of our children, the pressure to provide all the answers or create a Pinterest-worthy activity can be overwhelming. However, activities that are open-ended (ones that don’t have a predetermined end point) can be more effective in faith development than any perfectly formed craft.
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Faith at home
Manchester attack: How do we support children and young people?
For many of our children and young people, the overnight attack at an Ariana Grande in Manchester, which left at least 22 dead, might be the first such event that feels ‘real’.
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Issues
The general election
As you’ve probably noticed, there’s a general election this month, and it’s more than likely that the needs of children and young people won’t be front and centre during the campaign. But what should be being talked about? We asked some youth and children’s workers what should be on the top of the new government’s agenda…
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Issues
Loneliness a concern for thousands of children
They used to say that childhood was the happiest days of your life, but a recent report from the NSPCC suggests that that is no longer the case – children these days are lonely and isolated. Childline provided 4,063 counselling sessions about loneliness in 2016/17 and 73 per cent of these counselling sessions were with girls.
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Blog
Parable: Pocket Rocket
Tom cradled his new purchase in his hands. He could barely believe he had got his hands on one. At the launch three days ago, journalists, tech experts and big businesses had been clamouring to buy this revolutionary gadget. And now, by some fluke, he’d been able to buy one.
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Issues
Mentoring: Kindness
Interestingly, as I was thinking about writing about kindness this month, I ended up in a conversation with my 12-year-old daughter about a lonely lad at her youth group, and whether it was her responsibility to look out for him if he was sitting on his own. As a year-eight, life is hard enough already just trying to fit in - is going out of her way for others actually her job?
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Issues
Justice: Pepsi vs protest
What are children and young people in your church talking about? This generation will change the world. They’re savvy creators, globally connected, with a heart for the global neighbours. Your job as youth and children’s workers is more important than ever.
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Issues
Games: Spring games
The weather is getting warmer and the sun is (hopefully) coming out. Let’s take full advantage of God’s beautiful creation and go outside! Grab the sunscreen and first-aid kit and bring on the fun.
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Issues
Samewise: Spiritual flashes and red herrings
I almost had one of those conversations the other day. You know one of those chats that we dread; the ones that starts when an older member of the congregation asks if they can talk to you about the children’s work. I say almost because while the conversation began with that phrase, it took an unexpected turn.
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Issues
Craft: Passover
The story of the first Passover, as God’s people prepare to leave Egypt, is full of powerful imagery. Here are some crafts to help children to explore the rich themes of what unfolds.