Archive for Pop Culture
Twitter As a Youth Ministry Tool
I first heard about Twitter two years ago when I was researching for a parent Internet workshop I was preparing to teach. When I found out that the purpose of Twitter was to supposedly answer the question, “What are you doing now?”, I actually laughed about it. I made fun of it in front of my class! But then I signed up for an account and tried it out. The rest — as they say — is history.
You can now follow me at http://twitter.com/shawnmichael. As you can see, I’m pretty much fully immersed in the “NOW” culture that is Twitter.
If you need a little help with how Twitter functions, take a second and watch this…
HOW HAS TWITTER BEEN A RESOURCE AND A TOOL FOR ME IN YOUTH MINISTRY?
* It has helped me network with youth workers locally. I can keep in touch with what local youth workers are doing outside of our monthly network meetings. Depending on what they are tweeting, I can find out what they are teaching, what they are struggling with, how I can pray for them, and — yes — what they are eating for lunch and other trivial things that people tweet about. But I see value in ALL of it. I like getting to know people outside of their youth-ministry-world, too.
* I can also follow leaders in the field of youth ministry. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gleaned some of my best ministry ideas in the past couple of years from my Twitter stream. In addition, I’ve even been able to send short comments to them and, in some cases, hear back! What fun!
* Lots of great student ministry sites utilize Twitter. Be the first to hear about new content, prizes, and youth ministry ideas that they have to offer.
* Keep parents/guardians informed and updated on student trips. Parents can now get updates from camp, youth convention, weekend retreats, etc. in real time and it is as easy as sending a text from your phone.
* Students ministry pics and video are also easy to publish… through services like TwitPic and 12Seconds.tv or even simply posting links to Flickr, YouTube, or any other media site.
* Stay current on just about any topic. Twitter is a great way to keep up-to-date on youth culture, local news, youth training events, etc.
* Get quick answers to general questions. Sometimes if you post a question, you’ll get answers within minutes. For example:“Does anyone have a good resource for teen counseling in the event of a family loss?” “Looking for an extra pop-up tent that I can borrow for camp next month. Any ideas?” “Is there a good online resource for junior high small group curriculum?”
* Get travel help when trouble arises. True life example… I texted the following: “The interstate is shut down due to snow. Anyone want some surprise overnight visitors on the eastern side of South Dakota?” I had about six invites to stay overnight within a couple of hours. Not bad at all!
* It’s a tremendous way to share prayer needs. Think about it: your requests immediately go out to all your followers and they are praying within minutes. How cool is that?!
I could keep going… Twitter has opened up a whole new world of resources for me. I hope I’ve encouraged some of you to, at the least, give it a try. If so, let me know! I’d be glad to help you get started.
Text-to-Movie?
I’ve been seeing videos from a service called Xtranormal pop up here and there and wanted to check it out. This could have some cool youth ministry applications.
Here’s what they say about the service on their site:
Xtranormal’s mission is to bring movie-making to the people. Everyone watches movies and we believe everyone can make movies. Movie-making, short and long, online and on-screen, private and public, will be the most important communications process of the 21st century.
Our revolutionary approach to movie-making builds on an almost universally held skill—typing. You type something; we turn it into a movie. On the web and on the desktop.
Is what they say as easy as it sounds? Well, you’ll see rather quickly that I’m no J. J. Abrams, but I was able to quickly — in about ten minutes — throw together this little video for your viewing pleasure. All it takes is typing in a script, dragging and dropping in some physical reactions, picking the background scene and music, and clicking publish…
Kind of fun, huh? Youth group announcements, anyone? Give it a try!
Family Force 5 Encourages Youth Workers
It’s no secret that I’m a huge Family Force 5 fan. Which is why I was extremely excited to see them featured on this month’s edition of the Youth Specialties podcast. Watch ‘em share their hearts here…
Be sure to listen to some of their newly remixed tunes on MySpace.
Also, it’s cool to see Brooklyn Lindsey’s face in front of the camera. She’s a new contributor on the YS blog.
Battling the Rock Star Mentality
This is a video produced for youth workers. It was conceived as a satire for what many consider to be an unhealthy “rock star” culture that has been growing inside Christendom, as well as an encouragement for the unheralded heroes on the front lines of ministry. Watch Ignatius talk about “the flamers” and enjoy…
ht TC
Generation WE
I’ve been studying this generation since my last year at Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, TX. This generation is said to be “socially engaged”, “the best volunteers you’ll ever have”, and students intent on “making things right”. I believe in this generation and in God’s purpose for them to exact His loving justice, peace, and mercy in our nation.
The term “Generation WE” has gone viral with this new YouTube video (ht to the Source for Youth Ministries) bragging over 700,000 views… a good glimpse of what this generation looks like.
High School Musical 3 Review
This movie is probably already on the must-see list for several students in your ministry. Check out a review from fellow youth worker Todd Pearage, writing for the Source for Youth Ministry.
Top 10 Musical Artists That Capture Our Kid’s Attention
This is an article from Jonathan McKee at TheSource4YM.com with some very good thoughts and information on current music pop culture…
As my daughter was making a break across the field with the soccer ball, a ringtone went off from the soccer mom’s chair next to me. It’s T.I.’s new #1 song, “Whatever you Like.” I guess it’s not surprising to hear it as a ringtone. It is the #1 downloaded ringtone on iTunes right now, as well as the #1 song from his #1 album. An hour later at Wal Mart I hear Rihanna being played in the store speakers, at least until I got to the audio video section, where a Britney Spears video was playing on the big plasma screens mounted throughout the section. One more stop-the grocery store. Christina Aguilera’s song “Keeps Getting’ Better” is playing, a song currently at the #2 spot on iTunes.
Who are these artists whose tunes are being heard ubiquitously throughout our grocery stores and soccer fields… yes, even heard by our homeschooled kids!
MTV keeps a list they boast as the MOST POPULAR ARTISTS, the hottest of the hot. If you check iTunes, Billboard… and your kids’ iPods, you’ll find that MTV’s list is right on the money. These are the artists that are capturing our kids’ attention.
Curious to know a little more about them? Here’s some history… along with Jonathan McKee’s two cents:
Nobody’s Perfect Video Opener
I saw this video…
…over at Josh Griffen’s More Than Dodgeball site and was totally inspired! (grin) I’m using it as an opener in our rally service this Wednesday night. I think it’s “greatness” defined.
A “Tamer” VMA?
Read through a pop culture look at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards (that aired this past weekend) on The Source for Youth Ministry. The show provides a pretty good look at student culture in the window of 2-hours. Did you watch it? What did you think?
