International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry Conference in London

It wasn’t as hard to leave my Holy Land group because I was looking forward to seeing good friends gathered for the IASYM… Tony Jones (Princeton Theological Seminary PhD student and Emergent Guru), Will Penner (Editor of Youthworker Journal), Jay and Jen Howver (YouthSpecialties Staff) and Kenda Creasy Dean (PTS Professor, Author and Youth Ministry Guru of Guru’s).  It was great getting to know Jonny Baker better and Andrew Root.  The best times were the late night Pub conversations.  It was good to meet Youth Ministry Specialists from all over the world.  A few North American youth workers embarrassed me, for example, the American youth worker that kept referring to “our great Christian President.”  Kenda’s paper NUMB AND NUMB-ER: YOUTH AND THE CHURCH OF “BENIGN WHATEVER-ISM concerning the data from the UNC’s research on was compelling; she is one of my heroes.  Tony’s presentation of the design and focus of his PTS dissertation was great, especially his discussion of Hermeneutical Phenomenology (I just like saying that).  Andrew Root presented a paper entitled, Adolescence and Social Relationality: Examining the Profundity of the Incarnation.  It was  Brilliant!  I can’t quit thinking about it.