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Author Archives: Randy Raus

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Keys To Being a Great Core Member

By | May 9, 2011

I was training a group of young core members when I commented about what a great looking group of young adults they were. I think I said they looked like they could be in a Gap Ad. All of a sudden one of the girl Core Members asked me “What’s the perfect core member looked like?” I thought for a second and then immediately responded – “that’s simple – the perfect Core Member looks like Jesus”. You see the world tells teens how they should look, as Core Members it’s not about how we look, it’s all

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No Static At All?

By | April 19, 2011

In the days before satellite radio and streaming music over your smart phone, there was good old AM radio. One of the features of AM radio was that the further you were away from the signal, the more static or fuzzy sounds you would hear. In the days before cable or satellite TV there was only broadcast TV with rabbit ears antennas that at times could give you a visual picture of static if you were too far from television broadcast towers. In terms of static in my spiritual journey, I have found

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Advice to Any New Youth Leader

By | April 15, 2011

After starting out by hitting my head against several brick walls in the first few months on the job as a part time parish youth leader, I wish someone had sat me down and given me advice to get off to the right start at the parish. So now 23 years in youth ministry, I have decided to write some advice for any one who’s new as a youth leader. Advice for new youth leaders: 1.) It’s Not About You, It’s About the Teens – The world and our Church has seen enough self centered leaders. We don’t

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Talking With > Talking About

By | March 28, 2011

I believe that who we talk about is a big indication of where our hearts are. If we spend a lot of time talking about God that normally means are hearts are alive for Him. If we talk about our families, it is a sign that family matters to us, even if it is messy at times. I always tell people interviewing someone to be the youth leader at a parish to note how many times the person talks about teens, as it is a good indication about the posture of that persons heart toward teens. The only problem

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W.I.J.D?

By | March 23, 2011

Most of you probably remember the WWJD bracelets that so many people were wearing 15 years ago. WWJD stands for “What Would Jesus Do?” It serves a reminder to apply how Christ lived to whatever situation we are facing. What if instead of asking what Jesus would do – we asked WIJD? “What is Jesus Doing?” What parts of our ministry are being blessed in tangible ways? In these parts, What is Jesus doing? What parts of our ministry are being pruned? In these parts, What is Jesus doing? Who are the

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How to Rock the Parish Bulletin

By | March 21, 2011

I visit a lot of parishes in the course of a year and I usually will pick up a parish bulletin to see what is happening. Since my passion squarely is with parish youth ministry, I always look at how the youth leader communicates with the community via the bulletin. First of all, let me say that I have seen some great examples and some epic fails on the part of my fellow Catholic youth ministers. If you ever struggle with the concept and wonder if it makes any difference at all, here are three ways

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Lord, It’s Hard to be Humble In Ministry When…

By | March 18, 2011

I don’t like to speak of humility, just the mention of it implies I am not humble. Here is a gut check regarding humility that I have found a huge spiritual help. The Seventeen Evidences of a Lack of Humility By St. Josemaria Escrivá 1. To think that what one says or does is better than what others say or do 2. To always to want to get your own way 3. To argue with stubbornness and bad manners whether you are right or wrong 4. To give your opinion when it has not been requested or when charity

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Who Is Changing The Words In Your Bible?

By | March 10, 2011

Yesterday, the USCCB released a new edition of the Bible with revised texts. This is not something that happens that often. But on a personal level, I don’t know about you, but the more I read Scripture the more the words seem to change in my Bible. I know that in reality the words aren’t changing, it’s me that is changing and with each new read I discover a whole new way of looking at them. As Catholics we hear the entire Bible proclaimed at Sunday Mass every 3 years. If you attend daily Mass

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They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Skinny Jeans?

By | February 28, 2011

I may take some heat for this with some of my close ministry friends, but here goes. I have attended several Catholic and non denominational youth leader gatherings over the past couple of years and I am always amazed at “the uniform” that many youth leaders and musicians utilize. Skinny jeans, plaid shirts and hip glasses are the rage. A lot of people can pull off wearing them and look great. Unfortunately, there are many who appear really awkward and fall into the group of “trying too hard to fit

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The Number One Reason Youth Leaders End Up Off Course

By | February 16, 2011

Ever wonder what happened to some of your peers in youth ministry? Over the past few years, I have talked with long term veterans who have maintained strong ministry for years, veterans who are no longer involved in ministry and a bunch of youth leaders in between. I have come to the conclusion that there is one main reason why a youth leader ends up off course.