Ben Mizen
I am the Youth and Children’s Work Adviser for the Diocese of Portsmouth. I cover all work with children and young people aged 0-18+ and work across Portsmouth, Havant, Gosport, Fareham, The Isle of Wight, Petersfield and Bishops Waltham. You can contact me at the diocesan offices on 02392 899652 and ben.mizen@portsmouth.anglican.org
Home page: http://dopcandy.portsmouth.anglican.org
Posts by Ben Mizen
Poverty
With Christmas just around the corner, many families will be stretching their budgets in (over) buying presents and food and end up feeling the pinch come January. But for some families, poverty is something they live with all year round – and its effects can be devastating. This report from Save the Children shines a light on what it is like to live in poverty and this interactive game from The Children’s Society shows just how easy it can be to tip over into the poverty trap. 3.6 million children in the UK live More...
Going For Growth – Advent, Christmas and Epiphany Special
The weeks leading to Christmas can feel like a helter skelter ride. We climb to the top and see the landscape set out before us, but then the descent begins, twisting and gathering speed. The landscape disappears in the breathless, disorientating rush to the bottom, where we end up in an untidy heap! All too often, Advent becomes like that. We see the Advent landscape and determine to keep the season, then find we’re hurtling through the shopping and attempts at perfection and end up on Christmas Eve in an untidy heap feeling spiritually unprepared.
This Advent, try to keep More...
Mission vs. Vision
Do you have vision or a mission statement for your youth and or children’s ministry? I found this article by Sharon Ely Pearson really challenging and helpful…
Many churches have vision statements. Many have mission statements. What’s the difference? Does a church need both? Is one better than the other? It all depends on what you’re trying to accomplish, as well as what you’re trying to communicate with others – in your congregation and beyond.
A visionary is someone who imagines possible futures. Creates momentum for leading with inspiration. FUTURE
A missionary is someone who does work under More...
Christmas Resource Links
- Simply Youth Ministry – 12 Days of Freebies! Beginning today, so get your skates on – click through on the link to find daily free resources, today is a “Christmas Trivia” Quiz. http://www.simplyyouthministry.com/12daysoffreebies.html
- Life Changer – A Graphic Guide to the life of Jesus. Written and illustrated by Sussex based teacher Jason Ramasami, this is a great gift you a young person (say 13 upwards) who doesn’t like reading, but thinks cartoons and graphic novels are pretty cool. Check it out here: http://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/catalog/product/view/id/3684
- BONUS! “The Jesus Comic Nativity,” is FREE to download as
Christmas is coming….
And if you’re after some last minute ideas, have a look at these sites:
- What’s Advent all about? This brilliant video from BustedHalo will tell you in just 2 minutes!
- Nativity 2:Danger in the Manger (starring David Tennant) has just been released. Damaris has created free resources based on it for churches and schools to explore the Nativity story and song writing.
- If you need a last-minute idea for an Advent Calendar, have a look at what Faith in Homes suggest.
- And Going for Growth will point you to plenty more ideas.#
(HT Mary Hawes)
Looking for youth group games and ideas… try EGAD IDEAS
Is your youth group lacking that certain element of energy and enthusiasm? What could help you perk up the sessions to keep young people, and even leaders, energised? Egad! Ideas is an excellent site full of ice-breakers, creative games and ideas to to do this!
This is what they say about themselves:
You’ve found the Internet’s largest collection of FREE youth group games online. We also have tons of other fundraisers, sermons, illustrations, activities, resources and ideas for those who work with today’s youth. Each one has been tried and tested by those currently working in youth ministry
Is Multi Tasking Killing Your Ministry?
here’s an excellent reflection for the beginning of Advent.
Volunteer shortages and demands on your time tempt many leaders to multi task. When several projects sit on your desk, the office isn’t the only thing that gets cluttered–so does your mind. (At least that’s true in my case.) I end up falling down spiritually too. Multitasking is a great ability when cooking a special meal or running an office, but not when you’re working in ministry. Too many irons in the fire stifle the flame! Is multitasking hurting your ministry? If you’re constantly frustrated, it might be.
An effective leader More...
Self Harm
Young Minds has published the results of a self-harm survey. Key findings include:
• 3 in 4 young people don’t know where to turn to talk about self-harm • A third of parents would not seek professional help if their child was self-harming • Almost half GPs feel that they don’t understand young people who self-harm and their motivations • 2 in 3 teachers don’t know what to say to young people who self-harm
(HT Youthblog)
family-friendly carol service
The wonderful Carolyn C Brown has posted a simple, family-friendly carol service for Christmas Eve on her Worshiping with Children blog (HERE).
Prepare for Christmas with the Jesse Tree
Following its success in the last few years, this Advent we will once again provide you and your family with a wonderful Jesse Tree activity to help you prepare for Christmas and the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
The Jesse Tree traces the spiritual family tree of Jesus Christ in the retelling many of the Bible stories that led up to Jesus’ birth.
Each day during Advent visit this website to get a new symbol with which to decorate your own Jesse Tree. The symbol represents the person or event for that day. We’ll also give you a Bible passage to read More...