not long ago, barefoot ministries (the youth and youth ministry arm of nazarene publishing house), now lead by chris folmsbee, acquired the journal of student ministries, and have re-launched it as immerse: a journal of faith, life and youth ministry. the new journal, with mike king as its executive editor, is not merely a title change, but a complete overhaul. it’s something, i believe, very different in the world of youth ministry magazines, with a level of depth and whole-life embrace that fits nicely in the space between purely academic and purely pop. i’m stoked to be a part of the advisory team of this venture, and have written a column for an upcoming issue.
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here’s the little bit i wrote for the preview issue about why i’m excited about immerse:

We’re clearly in a time of deep change, and I expect it’s likely we will always be from here on out. The dramatic changes in the world around us and the world of teenagers calls on youth workers to re-think assumptions, values, practices, models, roles, goals and theology. What’s needed is nothing short of a Youth Ministry Reformation.

The time is seriously ripe for Immerse; and I’m hopeful that this journal will become one of our tribal sweat lodges. We need real-life physical spaces for dialogue, experimentation and exploration. But we also need this kind of collaborative trail of breadcrumbs, a printed resource to host and foment reflection and revolution. I, for one, am full of anticipation about journeying together.

i really encourage you to check it out.