The path to adulthood looks much different than it did a few decades ago. And this shift has serious implications for youth ministry and how we navigate the realities of adolescent culture and the call of discipleship.

That’s why we’re excited to co-sponsor the one-day Extended Adolescence Symposium, featuring a dialogue (and probably some debate!) between Dr. Robert Epstein and Dr. Jeffrey Arnett. Dr. Epstein and Dr. Arnett come from distinctly different perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of this shift in adolescence, and facilitator Dr. Kara Powell will help us consider what it means for people in ministry. The event is being put on by The Youth Cartel, and it all goes down Monday, November 21, in Atlanta (after the National Youth Workers Convention).

Do you want to join us?

Since sparkhouse is one of the event sponsors, we have one (1) ticket to give away (worth $100). Two ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment explaining why you want to go to the Symposium.
2. Mention this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter, and then leave a comment on this blog post to let us know you did.

*Please note: The contest has been extended! Comments must be posted by 11:59 pm CST on Thursday, November 10. We’ll randomly draw one (1) winner and post about it on Friday, November 11. This giveaway is for the tickets only—you are responsible for your own transportation and lodging.

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Update: Congratulations to Extended Youth Symposium ticket winner Lana Jernigan! We look forward to seeing you next week in Atlanta.

Are you gearing up for any fall events? We sure are! With the San Diego National Youth Workers Convention just 10 days away, the sparkhouse team is packing up and heading west. And we’re really looking forward to spending time meeting with youth workers from around the country!

Can’t make it to San Diego, but are venturing to the second National Youth Workers Convention in Atlanta this November? We’ll be there, too! With the promise of great sessions and speakers, and opportunities to connect with God (and each other!), both are bound to be incredible weekends. We’re going to have a booth set up with all sorts of re:form goodies and some great giveaways. You’ll definitely want to stop by.

For those of you on the East Coast, we’ll also be at the Momentum Youth Conference in Hickory, North Carolina later this week. We hope to see you at one of the youth events this fall. Whether you’re headed to San Diego, Hickory, or Atlanta, be sure to find us and say hi!

Not able to make it? No problem! Follow along with re:form on Facebook and Twitter to catch all the latest event updates.

Back in June we wrote about The Art of Curating Worship conference in Pasadena, California. This event provided musicians, poets, visual artists, and worship leaders with the opportunity to learn, experience, and collaborate with some of the most innovative practioners in worship curation today. For those of you who were unable to attend our west coast conference, we have great news! From September 12-14, we’re hosting another event – in Chicago!

This time featuring Mark Pierson, Jodi-Renee Adams, Ted Lyddon Hatten, and Troy Bronsink, participants can expect to:

• Collaborate with others to gain hands-on experience with worship curation.
• Learn the language of worship curation through the guidence of our event mentors.
• Discover new ways to foster your congregation’s gifts, skills, and passions to enhance your local worship.
• Leave with the tools and inspiration to curate worship in your local context.

You can register online. All those involved or interested in designing, preparing, and creating worship are welcome. We look forward to seeing you in Chicago!

When was the last time you attended summer camp? Odds are it’s been too long! In just two weeks, JoPa Productions, headed by Doug Pagitt (pastor, radio host, and author of the Inventive Age series) and Tony Jones (author, theologian, adjunct professor, and re:form contributor) are presenting the first ever Social Phonics Summer Camp for those interested in learning more about the ever-evolving world of social media. Since 2009, Doug and Tony have traveled the U.S. consulting and speaking at day-long boot camps, but this summer camp provides the opportunity to dive even deeper into Facebook, Twitter, blogging, and much more.

As their website explains, “In a fun, relaxed, summer camp environment, we’ll spend an entire day embellishing your Facebook page; we’ll delve more deeply into free broadcast media — both audio and video; we’ll tutor you in blogging; we’ll make sure that your Google listing is optimized; and we’ll do some serious tweeting!  Guest speakers will teach about writing compelling copy for your website and maintaining privacy online.  Plus, our certified Social Phonics Coaches will be your camp counselors all week, giving you one-on-one attention.”

Think this is exactly what you need to jump-start your social media savvy? After three days at this camp, you’ll leave with tips, pointers, and hands-on experience that will help both you and your organization. Plus, nothing says summer camp like a trip to Minnesota! You can register here.

In just two weeks members of the sparkhouse team will be traveling to a farm outside Pittsboro, North Carolina to participate in the inaugural Wild Goose Festival. This innovative family-friendly gathering, based on the U.K’s successful Greenbelt Festival, is bringing together people interested in learning more about the intersection of justice, spirituality, music, and art. We couldn’t be more excited! As their site says, ” Wild Goose Festival offers a truly remarkable lineup of musicians, artists, speakers, performers and events . . .  we’re seeking to nurture a space that is both entertaining and transformational.”

Just as many attendees have mentioned on Facebook and Twitter, we too are looking forward to learning, conversing, and working with enthusiastic participants and contributors throughout our three days in North Carolina. We will be representing both sparkhouse and Clayfire, our brand new worship design platform that will be available this August. Look for bright orange t-shirts and smiling faces. We hope to see you there!

Follow @Clayfire and #wildgoosefest as we embark on this adventure to Wild Goose Festival!

Some of you may remember hearing about the Art of Curating Worship event we hosted in Minneapolis last June. Presenters Mark Pierson, Jodi-Renee Adams, and Eric Herron focused on exploring, deepening, and reimaging worship throughout the one-day event.

This year, we’re presenting the Art of Curating conference, an interactive, experiential three-day event in which participants will learn and practice the art of worship curation. The conference will be held at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California from June 29 – July 1 (visit our registration page for schedule highlights).

Once again featuring Mark, Jodi-Renee, and Eric (along with fellow curators Todd Fadel and Ted Lyddon Hatten), participants will be mentored by five of the most innovative and seasoned practioners in worship curation today.

You can expect to:

• Collaborate with teams of musicians, poets, visual artists and others to gain hands-on experience with worship curation.
• Learn the language of worship curation from experts in the field.
• Laugh, sing, laugh, draw, laugh, write, and make art. And laugh.
• Discover how your gifts, skills, and passions can enhance your local worship.
• Leave with the tools and inspiration to curate worship in your local context.

You can register online. Early bird discounts are available through June 6. All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of Mark Pierson’s groundbreaking book, The Art of Curating Worship, prior to the event.

All those involved or interested in designing, preparing, and creating worship are welcome. We look forward to seeing you in Pasadena!

On March 2 and 3, sparkhouse hosted a group of youth ministers, pastors, and theologians from all over the country for a Creative Jam. The focus of the Jam? Kicking off work on the next round of re:form resources! It was truly collaboration at its finest. Thanks to everyone who participated and stay tuned for what’s coming next!

January is going to be a busy month! Over the next few weeks, we’re attending two exciting events, giving us a chance to learn more and and serve an ever-growing community. First is this weekend’s Recharge at Berean Baptist Church in Burnsville, MN, focused on children, youth, and family. Recharge is a “one day multi-denominational event that aims to inspire and equip church staff and volunteers in their efforts to help kids and families love, follow and serve Jesus Christ.”  We’re excited to experience a jolt of mid-winter energy with youth and family ministry leaders!

From January 20-24 we will be in Kansas City for Extravaganza, an event that’s all about renewal, education, and networking.  The Youth Ministry Network website says it best: “[Extravaganza] is for the professional and the volunteer.  It is for the old and the young.  It is for the urban, the suburban and the rural.  It is for pastors, it is for laypeople.  It is for all who share in the adventure we call youth and family ministry.” We are looking forward to hearing about your Christian education programs and discussing how we can serve you best!

What events are you attending in the New Year? And be sure to stop by the sparkhouse booth if you’re at Recharge or Extravangaza. We’d love to meet you!

image source: http://www.elcaymnet.org/

This month, sparkhouse is co-sponsoring a social media event, organized by BeDeviant.com, a blog dedicated to addressing faith-based issues in real time, with an emphasis on 21st century media. With so many changes happening in the world of communication, Justin Wise, publisher of BeDeviant, decided to host a Social Media Summit on October 23 to help ministry leaders better understand how, when, and why to use social media to engage with their communities, congregations, and friends. It’s bound to be an educational, fun, and unique event, and it’s one that we are excited to be a part of!

“The BeDeviant Social Media Summit has the tagline ’social media for the rest of us’ because so many people in ministry are daunted by the social web,” says Justin. “They hear about Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and blogging and have a sense that these media could be helpful in expanding the reach of their ministries but they just don’t know where to start or who to ask. The Summit will give them the both the information they need to use social media and the practical steps for getting started . . . We want people to walk away not just knowing, but doing, as well.”

Session topics cover:

• The social web: how did we get here?
• The effects of social media on communication habits.
• Is online community real community?

Are you looking for new ways to approach communication and want to learn more about social media? Click here to register for this event!

This week marks the start of the San Diego National Youth Workers Convention, and the sparkhouse team is heading west to spend some time connecting with youth workers and celebrating the wonderful world of youth ministry!

Wondering what NYWC is all about? Well, as their website explains, this event is ” a chance for you to connect with other people who understand your unique challenges and who are as committed to teenagers as you are. It’s a time for you to feed your soul, equip yourself for effective ministry, and come back to your ministry with energy, vision, and even more passion for impacting a generation of teens for the kingdom of God.”  It’s going to be an incredible weekend and we can’t wait to learn, experience, and connect with all of you!

We’re going to have a booth set up with all sorts of re:form goodies and some great giveaways. Be sure to stop by and say hi! We look forward to seeing you there.

Not able to make it? No problem! Follow along with re:form on Facebook and Twitter to catch all the latest updates on the event as it unfolds.