ADVOCATE
Eyes to See and Ears to Hear
By: Jill Duffield Recognizing God right in front of us can be a challenge. Jesus, seemingly irritated with the disciples, asks, “Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and faith to hear? And do you not remember?” (Mark 8:18) The risen Christ’s refrain to...
Photography as a Spiritual Practice
By: Susan E. Moorefield In the world of Instagram and selfies, it is hard to imagine that photography could even be suggested as a spiritual practice. Everywhere you go, smart phones are photographing everything from a foot-long chili dog at the ballpark to a squirrel...
Wired That Way
By: David M. Csinos Several months ago, I traveled to St. John’s, Newfoundland, to speak at a weekend youth retreat. As is typically the case with youth retreats, the final evening was slated to be a social time, and the leaders had planned a coffee house in a room at...
Welcome to the New Advocate!
By: The Advocate is doing a new thing! As we continue our goal of helping connect, enrich, empower and sustain those serving in educational ministries, we are changing with the times. Over the last year we have transitioned from a quarterly print magazine to a...
Finding Space for New Ministries
By: When I began working as a youth director in the church 14 years ago, I had a list of things I thought all youth should know about God. I found curriculum and experiences that helped me check off this rigid list, congratulating myself on graduated seniors that...
Thin Places in Digital Spaces
By: Kimberly Knight Imagine the scene at our church on any given Wednesday. As people begin to arrive, prelude music is playing softly while candles flicker and float in a pool of water. This group has been worshipping together for over a year now, and their joy...
Learning by Letting Go
By: Cynthia Campbell Kids and parents arrive for a new and exciting Advent Workshop that’s been promoted and advertised. But what they find is not so exciting—only a couple of tables with craft projects set on them. Along the walls of the room are boxes full of other...
Go Ahead, Try It
By: Zeta Lamberson Experimentation is at the heart of creative education. We have good news to share, and there are a multitude of ways to share our story. Good educators know that what works in one context does not necessarily work in another. So we find ourselves...
Abundant Grace Dinner Church
By: Kristie Webb Finley Abundant Grace Dinner Church in Plainsboro/West Windsor, New Jersey, has a vision: In the abundant grace of God, guided by the example of Christ's love, inspired by the Holy Spirit, we gather together around the table to worship, feeding the...
Claiming Sacred Space at the Bar
By: Danny Trapp Holding a worship service in a bar or restaurant is not a new concept. Google “church at a bar” and you’ll find examples across the country—in Missouri, Virginia, Georgia, and Texas to name a few. Something is happening in Charlotte, North Carolina, at...