All NexGen Pro articles – Page 71
-
IssuesYCW Investigates: Homelessness
Jack came into contact with Christian youth charity XLP when he was just 14. His relationship with his mum had broken down to the extent where he wasn’t allowed back into the house. He slept at friends’ houses but had no long-term solution. After his mum refused to engage, staff at XLP made an emergency referral but social services wouldn’t intervene. As a last resort they had to leave Jack at a police station for officers to contact social services which resulted in emergency accommodation for one night being secured for Jack. The following day social services still refused to help and encouraged Jack to reconnect with his mum. When she refused, XLP staff escalated the situation and contacted chief police officers and the head of the social service department, as well as speaking to local churches that might have influence. Consequently, social services finally arranged a meeting, which Jack’s mum attended, and the result was that his mum’s ex-partner agreed to house Jack long term. This meant he had to move to a new home over two hours away to live in an area with limited friends and support. XLP is still in touch with Jack, trying to be a constant during a time of incredibly difficult change.
-
IssuesYou can’t hurry Lent: it’s a game of give (up) and take (up)
March 1st ushers in a period of attempted abstinence and holy reflection (until we buckle and stuff our faces with chocolate!) but what should children’s and youth workers give or take up this Lent?
-
-
IssuesEditorial - March 2017
It didn’t feel like the session was going that well. Our usual game to kick off the group had been ignored by the majority of the kids, the video showing Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 was shouted over and our attempt to recover by acting out the story had been sunk by everyone wanting to play the part of the fish offered to Jesus. Sure, we’d had fun talking about our favourite foods and what we’d offer in our lunchbox to Jesus, but that hardly felt like the kind of profound spiritual nourishment I was hoping for.
-
-
BlogThe Youth and Children's Work Book Club - Saying is Believing
The latest book to be read by the CONCRETE Theology and Youth Ministry reading group is Saying is Believing by Amanda Hontz Drury. Tim Broadbent offers some reflections.
-
BlogVeggie Fails...
We’re all aware of the current vegetable shortage dramas – shops being forced to ration lettuce, courgettes and aubergines because of flooding in the Mediterranean – but how can fruit and veg help us in our ministry to children and young people? Here are ten alternative uses for those (not so readily available) healthy snacks:
-
BlogThe Bishop of London's legacy for young people
Last week the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, retired after nearly 25 years in the role. YCW's consulting editor and head of children’s and youth ministry support for the Diocese of London, Sam Donoghue, shares his experiences of working with him over the years.
-
BlogKaty Brand and teenage Christianity
If I was to write a stand-up comedy show about being a teenage Christian, I’d probably talk a lot about DC Talk, WWJD wristbands and using summer festivals as an opportunity for dating. It wouldn’t be a great performance, especially for those whose adolescent years weren’t spent in church halls and campsites in Somerset.
-
-
BlogMentoring: Love
I ran a 10k race last October. I’m a ‘middle of the pack’ runner, so my time of 48:44 was acceptable but not mind-blowing. I occasionally entertain dreams of finishing on a podium, but deep down I’m resigned to it never happening. It’s too big a goal to achieve. On reflection, I realised that if I had improved my time by just one per cent, I would have jumped a staggering 358 places from 585th to 227th. That’s achievable. It just equates to better nutrition and a little more training time. Just a small life change could result in significant growth. Still not a podium, but I would be moving in the right direction.
-
-
IssuesGames: Old School Games
With the ‘New Year, New Me’ motto safely left behind in January why not try some updated old school-style games? Like the latest app updates all the main things still work but they are just packaged with slightly fancier trimmings - some seem fully updated but with others you can hardly notice the difference.
-
-
BlogJustice: Fighting hunger
What are the children and young people in your church talking about? This young generation will change the world. They’re savvy creators, globally connected with a heart for their global neighbours, our job as youth and children’s workers is more important than ever.
-
BlogCraft: The lost coin
The lost coin is a great story to get interactive with, helping children to explore themes of God’s love and our value to him, searching with patience, the lost being found and celebration at finding what you have been searching for. Here are some crafts to help bring these themes to life:
-
BlogParable: Kieron and the bush (mega) death
Kieron glanced in the mirror. His faded black T-shirt was just the right shade of grey. An angry-looking tattoo peaked out from beneath the sleeve, the skull and serpent just visible on his upper arm. His hair hung long over his shoulders and his beard was coming on impressively. No one would ever know he was only 16. A quick check that the rips in his jeans were in just the right place, and he left the house.
-
IssuesRecharge Bible Study: Stumbling over hidden treasure
Recharge is a Bible study just for you, to nurture your own relationship with God. So stop, sit, breathe and read. This month Ro and Robert Willoughby seek the pearl of great price
-
-
IssuesMeeting guide 4: A life of love
Meeting aim: To think about love in action in our communities.
