conversations from the couch

There’s a little handful of folks at Group who work year-round on the National Youth Ministry Conference. Planning this event is much more than a job for our crew, it’s a ministry that we’re really passionate about. Part of our passion comes from working alongside people like Doug Fields (the Saddleback/Purpose Driven Youth Ministry and Simply Youth Ministry guru of youth ministry) and Rick Lawrence (executive editor of Group Magazine)–who constantly amaze us with their depth of understanding, heart and vision for youth ministry. We’re also fueled by the conversations we have with other youth workers–hearing their stories, struggles and dreams for this generation. And the rest of our inspiration comes from the times when God just shows up–in significant ways, and in the little details.

We’ve realized that the process of creating and planning a big youth ministry conference has just as much significance as the event itself. Our ministry isn’t contained within a four-day period; it’s all wrapped up in the journey to get there. That’s why we’re starting this blog–to invite you along for this wild ride to NYMC 2008 in Cincinnati , to know the real people behind the scenes, to share the stories and conversations that shape the event, and to hear from you along the way.