Dear Writers…

Hello, writer friends! We hope you’ve thawed out (or dug out, if you’re in the Northeast) and are having a health and happy start to 2016. What writing goals have you set for yourself this year? 

YWJ Panel Reviews

Up for grabs this week: Next: Growing a Faith that Lasts by Andy Blanks. Copies will be sent to the first 10 people who email a complete mailing address to ALee@SalemPublishing.com.

May-June 2016 YWJ Theme: ‘Self’

– What is the best way to invest in students without losing our souls?
– How do we stay connected to the most important relationships in our lives? What are the best, healthiest practices for staying in touch with your family while being immersed in youth ministry?
– When we’ve been a vapor at home and with our family, what’s the best road home?
– What boundaries do we need to set between work and home?
– Each one of us has a personal and a spiritual identity. What steps do we need to take to preserve those?
– Dreaming for ourselves is so important. How do we best do that? What happens when we can’t dream for ourselves?
See guidelines and themes here.

July-Aug 2016 YWJ Theme: ‘Parents’

– What new family systems and parenting styles are emerging? (They used to be helicopter parents, blended families…What’s new?)
– How do overbearing parents ruin youth ministries? How can we help overbearing parents learn to let go?
– What do we need to communicate to parents that will help them feel comfortable with their kid going on a mission trip, retreat or out-of-town event?
– How do we respond when parents choose not to bring their kids to youth group?
– What do we do when parents expect youth workers to be their kids’ spiritual parents?
See guidelines and themes here.

Proposals:

For those who ask for feedback, our editor mentioned that many proposals we received for “Managing Your Ministry” had more to do with professional development. Remember we still welcome your content for the site regardless of theme; but when proposing ideas for the print journal, you want to target your message to that particular theme. If you’re interested in submitting a proposal for the upcoming Sept/Oct theme of “Church,” email your proposal to: ALee@SalemPublishing.com. Proposals are due by May 1.

In the “Church” issue: Many young people leave church once they graduate from high school. What is church? How can youth workers help kids connect to Christian communities for a lifetime? How do youth workers survive and thrive in church bureaucracies? What role do parachurch organizations play in the future of the church?

Click here for the Writer Guidelines and here for our 2011 Themes.

YWJ Mar/Apr 2012 Theme: Teaching and Preaching

Last week for Teaching and Preaching proposals! When your kids leave your youth group meetings, what do they take with them? How can youth ministry leaders create messages and learning experiences that stick? Technology: Does it help or distract? Which methods and approaches work? Is Socratic youth ministry (teaching through questions) the best form of learning for all students? What are the best resources about teaching and preaching? How do you go about developing a multi-year curriculum, and what are the dis/advantages?
Proposals due: 11/1/2011. Articles due 12/1/2011. Email your Word documents to ALee@SalemPublishing.com. See the YWJ Guides here.

What We’re Looking For…

If you have an interest in writing for our other publications, keep in mind we publish Preaching, Homecoming, Singing News, CCM and ChristianCollegeLink.com. If you would like to try your hand at writing for any of our print publications or online, let us know! Email your idea, proposal or article to: ALee@SalemPublishing.com.

Youth Lessons

If you have a great idea for a youth lesson, let us know! These typically are shaped around current events with the premise being what your students can learn from what’s going on in youth culture and a biblical response to that event or trend. The primary goal of these lessons is to help kids show themselves approved and have a ready answer.

Youth Bible Study

The Bible studies on our site are intended to provide simple helps to engage students in selected Bible passages. New Bible studies are added regularly, but we always welcome additional lessons. After all, we’ll never know all that the Bible has to teach us in this lifetime. If you feel drawn to a specific passage and have a lesson to share, please let us know!

Youth Group Games and Activities

Is there a great game or activity your students just love? Let us know! Be sure to include clear instructions for how the game is played, rules, a list of any items needed in order to play the game, and any other specifics such as age-appropriateness or time allowances if those are of special concern. Ready, set, play!

Youth Camps, Missions and Retreats

Modern changes in modes of transportation have made camps, retreats and missions much more feasible. In a sense, going on at least one mission trip is almost a rite of passage for many youth today. What’s more in our harried and hurried culture, we need experiences such as camps and retreats in order to recharge so we’ll be able to do missions — even the day-to-day variety — better and with a greater awareness of who God is and His activity in our lives. So share with us what you’ve learned as you’ve helped engage your students in these opportunities.

Dear Writers:

We’re glad you’re here! It’s not unusual to want to be published in print, but keep in mind it’s easier to be published online due to fewer space and time constraints. So, if you have items you’d like published on Preaching.com, please send your material in a Word doc to ALee@SalemPublishing.com. Click here for the Preaching Guides.

Also, we recently launched our social media efforts, so please “Like” Preaching on Facebook and “Follow” PreachingMag on Twitter (and send your Twitter name to the email address above if want to be a part of Follow Friday).

Please Remember:

• Please no footnotes, end notes, headers, footers for site content — just too fancy. We’re not grading you.
• Please use appropriate caps (i.e., beginning a sentence, proper nouns, etc.), but please don’t write in ALL CAPS.
• Please email your articles in a Word document to ALee@SalemPublishing.com. (Following these tips will help us get your articles posted more efficiently. Thank you!!!)
• Please specify if you intend your work to be solely for print. Otherwise, we’re going to assume you intend it to be published online as we’re able to post it. Also, be sure to include a brief bio info with each submission.)

Community Connection

If you’re just joining us, please “Like” YWJ on Facebook and “Follow” YWJ on Twitter! Also, send your Twitter name to ALee@SalemPublishing.com if want to be a part of Follow Friday.

Again, please “Like” Preaching on Facebook and “Follow” PreachingMag on Twitter.

When we post your articles on YouthWorker.com or Preaching.com, share them with others by:
• Posting a link to your article on your blog or website if you have one;
• Tweeting links if you’re on Twitter; and
• Sharing those links with your friends on Facebook.

Have a great week!
Salem Publishing Team