On Mission and Vision.

Earlier this week I was on the panel for Blueprints (an online youth ministry training resource) and our topic was Mission and Vision.  Among the many topics we discussed were the differences between the two, how to create them, and how to maintain and evaluate them.

For me, a vision statement helps answer the question of "Where are we going?"  It defines what success will look like and describes what the impact is going to be.  It is meant to be inspirational and doesn't necessarily explain the "how". 

Thus, I believe it includes a lot of what Jason Frizzell spoke about earlier this week here in his video blog on Vision.  It can be thought of as an orientation, a long-term direction, and even a destination.

Contrast that to a mission statement which tells the reader why your organization or ministry exists.  It is a bit more practical than the vision statement from a standpoint that it starts to dip into the "how".

As an example, check out our vision and mission statements for the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry (OYYAM) that I direct for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver.

Vision:  That all youth and young adults encounter Christ to live out lives of personal and communal holiness.

Mission Statement:  The OYYAM  exists to provide spiritual and professional formation for those who serve youth and young adults.

Enjoy this video...it's over an hour long but features insight from many prominent Catholic youth workers in North America...and me haha.

The intros start at the 7:30 mark and the nitty gritty begins as the 15:30 mark.



Clayton Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah and Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie.  He has served as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for the past ten years, helping parishes develop their own youth and young adult ministries.  When not doing ministry, Clay enjoys spending time with his family, playing music, playing sports, playing naptime, and writing blogs on topics such as family, faith, and the Vancouver Canucks.  Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo     

The Valentine's Day Talk!

Valentine's Day Friday is just around the corner. Are you doing the Valentine's day Talk?  Check out this video and please reconsider.

There is so much you can do. Feel free to use the lighter illustration in the video. Happy Valentine's Day.

P.S. This is my first video blog ever! Your feedback and tips are most welcome. You can send them to the email posted in the video.

The Founder of the Young Woman of Power (YWOP) Conference, Alison develops programs that are designed to build girls confidence such as the YWOP PivotFWD workshop which she delivers in Calgary’s Youth Judicial System. Alison’s heart for young women is to see the statistics of violence against women decrease and to see females become counter culture/culturally dangerous by growing in true confidence. For more info or to book Alison as a speaker visit www.ywop.ca 

Vision - Orientation or Direction

We all need to know where we are going and how we are going to get there. Vision is a key element to youth ministry. In this video I share some thoughts about reframing the practice of vision in youth ministry.

What are your thoughts about vision?

About Me: Jason has lived in Calgary, Alberta Canada since 1995, and been a youth pastor since 2001. He is married to the love of his life, Bonny, and together they have three incredible children: Saydie, Cannon and Deklon. Jason possesses a desire to see youth, parents and families become who God created them to be through loving and living like Jesus. He currently serves on staff at Centre Street Church in Calgary. He loves hockey, playing guitar, writing and creating environments and opportunities where others can realize their potential in Jesus while experiencing the full life He promised to those who follow Him!

The Gap Between Should and Is

This is a fascinating little video featuring some thoughts on the process of creativity from Ira Glass:

This "gap" goes beyond creating good art that matches our taste. Our view and understanding of our ministry experiences a similar divide, a gap between what we think ministry should be and what our ministry is.

When we're fresh and eager, like in our first year of ministry, we *know* what makes for a great youth ministry. But after experiencing enough bumps and bruises along the way--a group of critical parents, a student whose faith goes sideways, an unjust firing situation--many in the youth ministry tribe simply give up and leave, or become a bit cynical about ministry and Christianity. Leading in ministry--particularly leading up--requires tenacity and patience.

Take Ira Glass's advice to heart: When the gap between what should and what is seems impossible to navigate, keep doing the work of ministry.

Let me add one piece of wisdom to Ira's ideas: Don't just do the hard work of ministry alone--lean into the Lord for your strength and endurance.

(ht to Paul Martin for sharing the video)

Joel Mayward is a pastor, writer, husband, and father living in Langley, British Columbia. He’s been serving in youth ministry since 2003, and is currently the Pastor of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at North Langley Community Church. A writer for numerous youth ministry publications and author of Leading Up: Finding Influence in the Church Beyond Role and Experience, Joel writes about youth ministry, film, theology, and leadership at his blog, joelmayward.blogspot.ca.

Seeing Through the Fog: Book Review

Has your world ever fallen apart? On more than one occasion mine has fallen apart. My wife Heather has journeyed through the last 15 years of her life with leukaemia + a bone marrow transplant. You can read her story here: www.smythfamily.wordpress.com

That's why I was so intrigued to read Ed Dobson's new book, Seeing Through the Fog: Hope When Your World Falls Apart.

Ed has written one of his best books about his own eleven year struggle with ALS. He shares his heart, struggle and emotions from the point of his diagnosis + physical deterioration + seeking forgiveness + spiritual journey + thinking of the after life.

We ask for forgiveness. And we forgive others who ask us. In that way, we can experience healing, healing in our souls. - Ed Dobson

Regardless of how your world might be falling apart right now, Ed's book is MUST READ!

Follow Ed's Story.com

You can purchase Ed's book through Amazon below.

Fasting Isaiah 58 style

I'm writing this from the the beautiful west coast, Vancity. I've traveled out here a ton in my lifetime (lived in Whistler over a decade ago), yet  I never tire of how stunning God's creation is. There's just something so awe inspiring of the mountains.

The beauty of creation is one thing we have in common with everyone regardless of race, religion or economic status. However, unfortunately the earth has been destroyed in a lot of places. There is suffering because of the way we've treated the earth and our rate of consumption. We have contributed to droughts, floods, tsunamis and typhoons.

Isaiah 58 calls us to the kind of fasting that loosens the chains of injustice:

6-9 (MSG) "“This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families."

This is a fast of poverty! How cool. 

At the end of that passage its says we will experience God through this. What actions can you do with you youth so they experience Jesus in this way? Here's a few fun ideas taken from page 10 of the 30 Hour Famine 101 Guide:

About me: I live a pretty simple life... trying to love God and treat others as good as myself... I epically fail at this but mercifully God loves me anyway... different cultures inspire me... the outdoors is my passion... I'm pursuing my MDIV / Masters in Counselling at Tyndale... I spent 22+ years in the skate / snowboard / entertainment / marketing / retail industry at the executive level... led the charge at West 49/Billabong for 12 of them... I've worked in youth ministry leadership roles for more years then I can count.. after many moons in the corporate world I switched to the dark side and am currently the Manager of Youth & Student Campaigns at World Vision Canada... but more then anything I love giving my heart to mentoring and helping youth! #lovelife #dreambig #keepitreal #socialjustice #jesusjustice I/T @cindymielke facebook.com/cindymielke

Let's Change Normal

Normal isn't always good. Normal in our ministries, our churches, and even our Christian culture isn't necessarily always excellent. Let's change normal. here is one way....

Dave Brotherton was a youth pastor from 1984-2006 and now teaches youth ministry at Ambrose University College in Calgary. Dave is also the National Youth Guy for the Alliance churches in Canada, the director of Legacy Youth Conference, and a junior high volunteer in his church. Dave is married to Lisa and they share 2 of the greatest kids in the world. Fishing, camping, and cheering on the Leafs are some of his favorite things. 
twitter: @oldbrotherdave