Post-Simply Youth Ministry Conference thoughts...

So I've been asked several times yesterday and today about the Simply Youth Ministry Conference over the weekend.

A couple of things keep popping up.

First, and I totally expected this... but I'm always reminded... how incredible it is to rub shoulders with 2,500 other youth workers. Some of these folks were old friends... Dan, Ben, Doug, Brian, Josh, Jake, Matt, Shan, Dave, and others too many to continue mentioning. But many of these folks were new friends. They were folks that I sat down at the dinner table with. They were members of Dan and Ben's student leadership teams. They were folks that I sat beside and across from in workshops and behind in worship. It's always encouraging and exciting to hang out with a bunch of folks who are as crazy about working with students as I am.

Second, I was kinda caught off guard by this... I was amazed and energized by Kent Julian's workshop on Shepherds not Chaparones (he's on Twitter HERE and on the web HERE). I've been to a lot of conferences over the past 10 years of youth ministry and Kent's workshop ranks in the top 3 of workshops that I've taken... maybe even the best. His ideas were practical... they weren't particularly new as they were things that I thought to myself, "Of course... why didn't I think of that?" But they were challenging and engaging in a new way and made me rethink something that I thought a lot about. They will likely affect how I view my volunteer teams in the future. I can't wait to get my hands on his book "Inside Out Youth Worker. It will jump to the top of a very deep pile of books yet to be read.

Finally, I had a great time. I had fun laughing at the Skit Guys and Johnny and Chachi. Jake Rutenbar is incredible. TobyMac rocked the house Sunday night. I was challenged by Doug Fields, The Skit Guys and Duffy Robbins. And it was just an enjoyable weekend.

Aside from feeling a little sick... probably too many handshakes and hugs over the weekend... I feel pretty refreshed. And when I got back to Batavia on Monday, I was ready to jump back in.

Which is the mark of a truly good conference... when you get home, are you ready to go back to the trenches? If so, it was a good conference.

And it was a good conference.

Jim

TobyMac singing Jesus Freak live

Man!!! This song last night by TobyMac took me right back to freshman year of college!!!

Jim

Watch it HERE

Fight The Youth Ministry Stereotype - Jake Rutenbar's new video!

Here is Jake Rutenbar's most anticipated video...

Hot, hot stuff!!!

Jim

Hammer's SYMC Fun

One of my buddies is planning a little fun at the conference this weekend. Check it out:

"I will be giving away prizes throughout the SYMC weekend. Why? 1) I love to be generous, 2) PEOPLE LOVE FREE STUFF! and 3) Sincerely, I love to connect with people. So if you want a chance to win, here's what you need to do:

Follow my twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ypmhammer
@ypmhammer

It's that simple. That's where everything will come from. It may be "find me here" or "bring this" or other random things, but it will be fun - and that's the whole point.

Please tweet this to your friends:

Random fun @ SYMC planned. Want FREE stuff? Check out http://bit.ly/smphmr or @ypmhammer for info. Pls retweet! #symc2010"

Sounds like fun to me. Can't wait to get started today.

Jim

I've Seen It All Music Video (HD) from NYMC - Jake Rutenbar

One of the best things about each Simply Youth Ministry Conference is an original Jake Rutenbar video. This was last year's... Can't wait to see this year's.

Here's a couple from the past HERE, HERE and HERE.

Jim

Simply Youth Ministry Conference 2010

The Simply Youth Ministry Conference is THIS weekend here in the Chicagoland area!!!

I'm excited about this for a couple of reasons.

First, I get to see some awesome people that I love to connect with. I traded emails with some great friends today (Ben, Dan and Ken) as we set up dinner plans for Friday night. It will be great to see some faces that I haven't seen in a year or so... and it will be great to catch up on ministry and life with folks that I have been connected with for 5+ years... that's awesome!!!

Second, I get replenished with some great encouragement. This conference has some top notch talent. We will be taught by Doug Fields and Duffy Robbins. We'll be entertained by TobyMac and Nicole C. Mullin! That's worth the price of admission right there. Plus I'll rub shoulders with people who always challenge me and my thinking.

Third, it's right here in the Chicagoland... so I get to sleep in my own bed and still do the conference. I love to travel. But I also love to be home. It's great that it's here in Chicagoland... so I can drive in... do the conference... but then drive home and sleep in my own bed and hang out with my wife. Always a plus!!!

Finally, I get to make some new friends and encourage others. One of the unique and incredible things about this conference is that they shoot for relationships. The conference is big on relationships and relational time. I'll walk away having had some incredibly challenging conversations with people that I haven't met yet... but will after the weekend. I'll also walk away having invested in someone that I don't currently know. That's exciting.

I'm looking forward to this weekend. Looking forward to seeing old friends. Looking forward to catching up on life with them. Looking forward to making some new friends and new contacts. Looking forward to being taught by the best.

And looking forward to being replenished!!! Can't wait!!!

Jim