Audio by album uywi_2005

We serve a generation desperate for authenticity, desperate to move beyond the rhetoric of cliché Christianity to something meaningful, transformative, and real. Christ’s model of revolutionary ministry was to concentrate His activity in a small number of authentic relationships. By modern standards, the immediate results of that strategy were mediocre at best and a failure at worst. Yet His influence over twelve disciples split history in two and changed the world forever. How did He do it? Are His methods applicable today?

In the last thirty years hip hop has revolutionized pop culture while evangelical Christianity has created an insular subculture. How have self-proclaimed “controversies” like Eminem and “hard-knock” lifers like Jay-Z sold millions of records to suburban kids all across America? Fundamentally, it’s because Jay-Z and his counterparts have become better fishers of men than we are. They identify with kids’ pain and address their needs in language they understand and in a forum they frequent. The question for the Church is no longer whether to engage, but how to do so effectively.

by Steve Gerali                                                                                                                                                                               

Talk presented Fri, May 20, 2005 at the Urban Youth Workers Institute Conference 2005.

by Ruben Austria
Talk presented Fri, May 20, 2005 Urban Youth Workers Institute Conference 2005.

Mentoring is one of the most effective and least expensive forms of ministry, and is a wonderful tool for reaching young people who need adult support. This workshop will explore different models of mentoring, some Scriptural principles that make mentoring work, and provide some practical guidance on how to start a mentoring program.

by Brian Jenkins
Talk presented Fri, May 20, 2005 Urban Youth Workers Institute Conference 2005.

This workshop will introduce you to why entrepreneurship education is a necessity. You will learn techniques and curriculum to lead a successful, dynamic, and fun entrepreneurship course with ideas and resources on how to develop programming.

FASTEN (Faith And Service Technical Education Network) offers a website rich with hundreds of practical, relevant resources for urban youth workers. It includes how-to skills, model programs, free curriculum, grant writing advice, information on best practices, and more. Come see his demo of the website, and take advantage of all fasten has to offer your ministry.