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TheSource4YM.com
Jonathan's Resource Ezine

Weekly Resources, Ideas and Articles from The Source for Youth Ministry
 Wednesday, January 9, 2008

In This Issue

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Featured: The Source Provides Even More Free Resources at Your Fingertips

Have you seen our brand new front page in the last month? If you haven't... don't hesitate for a second... jump on it right now www.TheSource4YM.com

When you jump on our new front page, take a peek at some of these brand new features that will be updated weekly such as:
And those of you who are a little "techy"... take advantage of our new RSS Feeds: Our new RSS FEED page provides feeds for many of our continuously updated pages that other ministries and individuals might want to feature on their web pages.

You just keep up the good work hanging out with kids, and we'll keep expanding our web site and adding even more resources to make your job just a little bit easier!

ALL THIS ON THE NEW
www.TheSource4YM.com


Youth Culture Window: You Had Me at Hello-Capitalizing on Teenagers' Preferences for Communication

You Had Me at Hello
Capitalizing on Teenagers' Preferences for Communication
David R. Smith

Are you managing multiple IM accounts, a couple of online social networks, and several email addresses just so you can communicate with your teens? If your thumbs are one text message away from falling off, take hope, because teenagers still value old fashioned face-to-face conversations.

That's right! According to research performed by the ever trustworthy Pew Internet and American Life Project, teenagers highly value communication that is had over the phone, or better yet, in person. Their findings reveal:
  • 40% of teens talk to friends on a traditional land line phone every day. For all the youth pastors under the age of 25, that's the phone with a cord attached to it.)

  • 35% of teens talk to friends on a cell phone.

  • 31% of teens talk to friends in person every day.
This is really good news for youth leaders who have to guess what's behind their students' generic Emoticon smiles.

But don't think teenagers have written off the web. The same report offered this dose of digital reality:
  • 73% of all teenagers (17 million strong!!!) use the Internet on a very regular basis.

  • 55% of online teens say social networks (like Facebook and MySpace) are very important hangouts for keeping in touch, meeting new people, and making plans with friends.

  • 14% of plugged-in teens use email for communication.
Despite the high numbers of teenagers using digital mediums for communication, a draw to older "analog" methods of conversation still exists. Teens' attraction to voice-based communication might be partly due to the accuracy it offers. Emotions and tones are clearer in conversations that are actually spoken. Jokes are funnier if they are told, rather than read. "It's simply richer than what you get on the Internet," said Amanda Lenhart, senior researcher with Pew. This intangible-yet obvious-difference that Lenhart notes as "richer" is what youth pastors specialize in: the ministry of presence. When we are talking with students, especially face-to-face, they "have" our undivided attention for a moment in time. That sensation you impart is incredibly valuable.

I always tried to have face-to-face conversations with students who are leaders in the ministry at least once every two weeks. In addition to that, I tried to call one student who is new, and/or a kid who hasn't attended in a while. So many times, parents let me know what a HUGE blessing this was to their child.

It doesn't take much to capitalize on these findings. Here are a few ways you can take advantage of teenagers' communication preferences. Think about what you want to say, and then...
  • Call a student during a drive. Most of my phone calls are literally 4 minutes long. Short is NOT bad; it just doesn't take long to leave a significant mark on a teenager's heart. A simple, "I was thinking of you today so I thought I'd give you a call," can mean so much to them.

  • Call a student at home during the evening. It has been said that everyone likes to get a letter in the mail. As long as it's not a telemarketer, teens feel the same way about phone calls. They love to get phone calls, especially from someone who is seeking them out.

  • Visit students during their school lunch. This is my bread and butter! I check in at the front office, get my bright yellow "visitor" name tag, and I'm off to have face-to-face conversations with my students AND their friends! What's really great is when the short lunch breaks run back to back. This allows me to converse with twice the number of students, in person!

There you have it. I'm not saying toss your laptop and cell phone off the side of the bridge; just don't be guilty of grossly underestimating the power a simple conversation can have on the hearts of our teenagers. So, get out of the chat room, pop in a Tic Tac, and strike up a conversation with a teenager. That's what they want!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE GREAT
YOUTH CULTURE WINDOW ARTICLES


Planning Ahead: A Ready-made Super Bowl Party

Those of you who have been EZINE Subscribers for a few years probably are looking forward to an annual resource that we provide to you every year-our ANNUAL SUPERBOWL QUIZ!

Super Bowl XLII In the U.S., we are pretty fanatical about our Super Bowl. This televised event is a great excuse for social gatherings across the country so we like to encourage those of you in youth ministry to cash in on this great event opportunity.

Each year we provide a "ready-made" Super Bowl event idea that you can use during this time. It's this simple:
  • Plan a Super Bowl Party with food, fun and giveaways

  • On February 3rd, host the party at a place with a big TV

  • Use our ready-made quiz (coming a couple weeks before the big game) that we provide as a fun "event activity"

Youth Groups have used this activity for years as a great event for fun and fellowship.

CLICK HERE FOR LAST YEAR'S PARTY IDEA
AND SUPER BOWL QUIZ


Training Tools for Your Leaders: Start the New Year Right by Equipping Your Leaders

START THE NEW YEAR RIGHT
BY EQUIPPING YOUR LEADERS
Order Now So You Can Put Training Tools In Their Hands at the Beginning of 2008


FREE PRIORITY SHIPPING on All Six Packs:

Buy any of our six packs now and we'll give you free PRIORITY MAIL shipping anywhere in the U.S.

You Can't Beat That!




(Those of you out of the U.S... we feel bad we can't provide free shipping.
Shipping out of the country just costs so dang much! But we'll throw in a copy of my first book for free to anyone out of the U.S. who buys any of our six packs.)



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