We have moved!

To its final (hopefully) location – http://networknews.serveouryouth.org/  It has been integrated with our website!  There is a few tweaks to be made, but we are excited!  If you have subscribed to this blog using http://feeds.feedburner.com/ServeOurYouthNetworkNews, no need to change.  If you subscribed using the http://serveouryouth.wordpress.com/feed/ (you are subscribed that way if you are reading this in your feed reader), you’ll need to subscribe the other way.  Sorry for that!  Anyway, let us know what you think of our new digs!

Your Child’s Strengths Book Review and Giveaway

Kelly Curtis, M.S. who is a school counselor in Wisconsin and founder of Empowering Youth wrote us to share about a book review she wrote on Your Child’s Strengths: Discover Them, Develop Them, Use Them.  She also share’s that the author, Jennifer Fox, is having a book giveaway on her blog.

Since we at Serve Our Youth Network are about promoting positive youth development and asset-building in youth we wanted to let you know about it.

You can read Kelly’s review and get instructions about the giveaway at her blog.

Thanks for telling us about this Kelly!

Technorati Tags: Kelly Curtis,Jennifer Fox,Your Child’s Strengths,Positive Youth Development,book giveaway,book review

YHMA Residents Say "Thank You"

We provided $20 Wal-Mart cards and $5 McDonald’s card to 15 young men at Youth Homes of Mid America who had to stay on campus over Christmas thanks to the generosity of a couple of donors. They sent us some thank you cards.

Technorati Tags: Youth Homes of Mid-America,Christmas Thank You

Social Networking

We just wanted to invite you to become a fan of Serve Our Youth Network on Facebook or to add us as a friend on MySpace.  Just two more ways for you to stay connected with SOY.

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: Facebook,MySpace,Social Networking,Serve Our Youth Network

Teens & the Internet Seminar

There is an awesome online workshop opportunity to learn more about teens & the internet.  It is taught by a youth ministry veteran, Tim Schmoyer, and is being live streamed (like a video except live) on November 8^th at 7:00pm (CST).  It will be recorded and archived if you can’t watch it live.  The best thing is that it is free.  You can find out more info on Shane’s blog at http://shanevanderhart.blogspot.com/2007/10/teens-internet.html.   This would be a great training for parents (who it is geared for), pastors, youth ministry professionals & volunteers who may not be familiar with all that kids are into online.

I hope you find it helpful.

Technorati Tags: Parenting Helps , Youth Culture , Tim Schmoyer

CBS Cares, Mentoring & the Super Bowl

Just found CBS Cares webpage on mentoring. Some neat interviews and you can watch all of the PSAs they’ve run on mentoring. I also learned that Tony Dunge (head coach of the Indianapolis Colts) and Lovie Smith (head coach of the Chicago Bears) – both are committed followers of Christ, by the way, are doing a PSA that will be run during the Super Bowl on mentoring. Pretty exciting!

YouthMinistry.com: The Power of Affection

This is a great article by Doug Fields on how we express affection to teenagers.  Sometimes we get so stressed about boundaries that it never happens.  Like I share in my training, use caution, but don’t let the rules inhibit spontaneity. 

Link to YouthMinistry.com: The Power of Affection

Does Anybody Hear Her?

We watched the video of this song by Casting Crowns in a staff meeting recently. It really reminded us of the kids we serve. Enjoy it, but I pray that it will inspire you to look at those who God brings into your life with the eyes of Christ.

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagouges and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest,” (Matthew 9:35-38, ESV).