Over the past year, there have been a lot of really cool things that have happened and I feel really blessed. This includes stuff that has been happening with me professionally and with YM Sidekick. So, as I have reflected on the past year, here are a list of blogs, vlogs and podcasts that were some of my favorites to do and the reasons for them: The Countdown to Christmas Checklist – This was a checklist that was created to encourage ministers the remember some key elements of Christmas planning for their ministries. Intermixed in the blog are a series of videos that go along with the points. How to develop a Content Strategy for your Church – Having a content strategy for your Church or ministry is a must. That is why I invited Jen Wilder from Orange to help talk through how a minister or Church Communicator would create a content strategy. A New Approach to Online Life Groups – Online Ministry is growing at a really fast pace as technology continues to evolve. I invited Jeremy Henderson on the podcast to share about a NEW way he is doing a combination of online and physical, in home life groups. Digital Missionary: A New Kind of Missionary – The reality is today’s ministers are digital missionaries. Learn how we are all ones and how you can be using online tools to expand your reach in your community. This is also special for me because I introduced the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to help ministers learn digital tools. If you haven’t joined yet, check it out. How to get Specific about Honoring your Volunteers – Volunteers are vital to the mission of the Church. Rediscover some simple things you can do to honor your volunteers. How to stay Fit as a Minister – Fitness is key in any vocation but in particular for people in ministry. It is easy to eat unhealthy and not workout at all. Learn how you can stay fit as a minister whether or not you already have healthy habits. Creating Excitement through Pop Up Events – This was an interview I did with Joel Pazmino who is a Church Planter and did a “pop up” event to build excitement before the launch of his Church. It’s a great idea. How to Create a Rock Star Leadership Team – Instead of worrying about hiring a “rock star” Youth Director, work on building a Rock Star Leadership TEAM. Learn how. How Privatized Social Media can benefit your Ministry – Privatized social media such as Snapchat and Instagram direct messages are becoming more and more popular. Learn how to use them for ministry. How to Create an Effective Facebook Group – Facebook Groups create a community for your Church that can really help others grow in their faith. Hear from Katie Allred about how to effectively create a Facebook Group. Introducing the Lead from Second Facebook Group – Stan Rodda and I are Campus Pastors and we started a Facebook group geared to helping Campus Pastors minister better. If you are a Campus Pastor, this is a great group to join. The Value of Wishing Someone a Happy Birthday on Facebook – Can simply saying, “happy birthday” actually make a difference in the life of someone else. I believe it can and here is why. As I look back, 2017 was truly a wonderful year. The posts above were some of my favorites to do over the past year and as I am planning out 2018, I look forward to what is ahead. If you had a favorite share it below or post it on social media using the hashtag #ymsidekick. [mc4wp_form id="8855"] ]]>