I don’t think they really thought we’d have livestock, but we did. The goat was sick and couldn’t make it, and the llama wasn’t really going to be the best idea for us to haul through the front lobby. I’d like to keep my job. Anyway–we had a blast–there was a little bit of fire, and the chicken did poop in the middle of the hallway at Group–but it’s all ok. No one can tell.  This video might out-do last year’s stuff!

seriously–it was the highlight of my day. Josh and Jake from Saddleback are coming out here on Sunday (dinner with our family of course, hope to not repeat any of the Brazelton disaster) and then a video shoot at Group on Monday for some of the general session program stuff. This would be the same crazy team that brought us the ‘Hotel Hotel’ video last year, and this shoot looks like it might top it all. Jake sent over a shot list for the video, with suggestions for some random elements.

I thought we’d ad lib a bit. Nothing says “random” like a few barnyard animals wandering around Group. I’m SOOOO going to get in trouble for this…

It’s an acronym fest! No, actually it’s a great collaboration of two ministries who value the importance of connection and conversation. I’ve always respected the vision of the National Network of Youth Ministry–they’ve been a long-standing leader with the mission of connecting youth workers locally. It makes perfect sense to throw out the welcome mat to members of NNYM for a chance to all gather together at this conference. If you are a member of the National Network of Youth Ministry–or if you’re interested in learning about youth worker networks in your area, join NNYM President Paul Fleishmann and many others on Friday, Feb 22 at 10 pm (after the general session) for a national gathering of network-minded youth workers.

With Monday being Martin Luther King day and the recent overload of registrations hitting our system, we’re extending the conference advanced registration deadline through Tuesday to accommodate the stragglers and hopefully spread out the load! If you haven’t haven’t registered yet, do it now to grab the advanced savings, and avoid any possible technical malfunctions!

And the best part of it is I’m still not technically supposed to be announcing it–but I can’t stand it any longer! Plus–I just looked at the Kutless website…and NYMC is on their tour schedule…so you heard it first here!  The details have been inked for weeks–but stalled with Christmas break and a few little details to clear up (their people making sure we weren’t going to market Kutless with weird copy like “open mic night with Kutless” or “Back stage passes for everyone to hang out with Kutless in the green room” or something of that nature.)

Anyway–that’s the big announcement–(thanks to Allen Weed at Interlinc for making this a super-easy deal) The bad news is that Leeland won’t be joining us this year (in person, anyway)–Leeland had a change in their tour with Casting Crowns that kept them in Florida through Sunday too late to make the general session time.  They were legitimately bummed, and their booking agent was legitimately nervous when I threatened to post his personal cell phone and email on the blog to field complaints about the cancellation of a band this late in the game. I still think we could negotiate some free Leeland CD’s (for everyone) in return for a few days of extreme aggravation. HMMMMM….

golleeeeee that’s been a long time of the same stuff. A HUGE thanks to our web team (and Karen) for wrestling the details out of my brain and up on the website–you guys are awesome, and I should buy you some food or something. Check out the totally updated conference schedule, and the HUGE list of workshops! Now if we can just get the 43 other speaker bios we’d be even better….

Believe it or not, Doug, Josh and the gang are really on the ball this month. The Christmas episode of the Simply Youth Ministry Podcast is in the can and it should arrive later today. Not much youth ministry in there though, just as a warning.

The conference team (Karen, Sherri and I) share office space with the incredible crew who run the Group Workcamp programs. It’s a great blend of personalities, and possibly the loudest and most energetic wing in the building. We spend a lot of time sharing stories and ideas, and recently dreamed up a little synergy with the National Youth Ministry Conference.

NYMC 2008 is taking place in Cincinnati this February, and the Group Workcamp Foundation also has a Week of Hope program in Cincinnati for 7 weeks this summer where they will partner with local service organizations and ministries to bring in Jr./Senior highers and adult volunteers for a community service missions program. This particular Week of Hope will focus on some homeless ministry efforts, creating “Hope Bags” with various items desperately needed by people in shelters.

With more than 2,300 youth workers coming into Cincinnati for the February conference we wanted to help with an authentic effort to support the mission happening in Cincinnati this summer. We contacted the Cincinnati ministry partners and came up with the idea of a collection center for needed items for the Hope Bags. You can find the list of items on the NYMC website–things like toothbrushes, Bibles, toiletries, etc.

Please take a moment to check it out, and consider rounding up anything you’d like to donate. Have the kids in your youth group organize a tooth-brush drive, or a church-wide Bible round-up. The Week of Hope team, and the Cincinnati ministry partners will be on-site at NYMC gratefully receving donations at a welcome booth near registration. 

We’re home from So. Cal after wrapping up a massive programming meeting with Doug, Josh, Rick, Tim, Kurt Johnston, and Jeff MacGuire (from Mariner’s) We went through the entire conference schedule (made a few great tweaks), and walked through the morning and evening general sessions in detail. It’s all looking awesome–Rick went through his plan for the mornings,  Josh presented plans for pre-show and evenings, and Doug massaged it all together with his special loving Doug-touch.

For a creative meeting with a bunch of passionate people, it flowed suprsingly smoothly. I enjoyed actually NOT being the most talkative person in the room, and kicked back to absorb the dynamics as these guys integrated their gifts:  Rick’s passion for deep Jesus-centered thinking and interaction, Josh’s radiant energy and humor, and Doug’s profound insights, experience and vision for staying true to the message we’re trying to communicate in each session.

It was a great day–productive, powerful and humbling.

Tim and I headed home on a late-night flight to CO. He slept, and I worked through conference details and logistics in my head. Honestly, I’m struggling with it all right now. Normally a fearless champion of optimistic move-it-forward action, I’m beginning to get overwhelmed with the responsibility associated with executing these great ideas without letting someone down. Karen, Sherri and I have been sprinting so hard through the last few months, and I feel like we all just rounded the home stretch and there’s a mountain to scale before we cross the finish line.

 I’m really tired right now. I think the team is tired. We need to catch our breath and get a second wind.

Natalie’s bummed because her tree doesn’t shine as brightly now. My solar calculator is working though–I’m happy about that.