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.

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.

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!

To make your own, cut thin slices off the end of a narrow log. Use a hole puncher or scissors to make small holes along the top. Find a fun yarn that will be sturdy enough to withstand several days of activity. Enjoy!

Has your congregation gotten creative with decorations or crafts for ReNew? Share your ideas with us! We’d love to hear how everything is going.

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.

From Adam and Eve (the lovable screw-ups)  to Daniel (the invincible visionary), this fifteen course Bible study is bound to spur great conversation. Our hope is that youth will discover similarities between themselves and the many unlikely people selected by God to do extraordinary things. To see a full list of the characters included in re:form Ancestors Old Testament, head to our Facebook page. Take a moment to watch a preview video from the lesson “Moses: the Frustrated Leader.” And be sure to let us know what you think!

And coming May 2012 – re:form Ancestors New Testament. Stay tuned for more!

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!

Visit our YouTube channel for more great videos!

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!

With so many fun ways to get seeds growing, we started brainstorming a list of creative (and low budget!) ways for your VBS kids explore the Parable of the Sower as they watch their seedlings sprout.

• Start collecting toilet paper rolls. Kids can begin growing seeds in them during VBS, then bring the rolls home to place outside or in larger pots. And the best part is you can plant the whole thing – it’ll break down in the soil! Here is a great tutorial on how to make these simple, practical seed starters.
• We recently heard from a church who used ReNew last summer, and aquired egg cartons from congregants to grow their ReNew seed packs. Kids planted a seed a day, then brought their carton home at the end of the week.
• No need to throw away egg shells; turn them into tiny seed starters. Crack open eggs for a scrambled treat, then carefully wash out the remaining shells. This is another great way to use biodegradable products for planting! Here are some step-by-step instructions.

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