GIVEAWAY: Real Conversations by Jonathan McKee

What it is…

Jonathan McKee (The Source for Youth Ministry) just released a 4-week video based curriculum that’s all about how to have real conversations about sharing your faith. (Which is cool considering it’s called, Real Conversations.) As a youth leader, this is one of those plug-n-play options that would be cool to have on your bookshelf. Each week there’s a 12-14 minute video and a participants guide to help drive it home. For instance, let’s say most of your team is going to take August off and you’re solo teaching? Bam, press play and let Jonathan do the work. It isn’t quite that simple but the videos and the guides make it pretty simple.

Who is Jonathan…

If you know Jonathan and you know me you might not see the connection. He’s more conservative on some things than I am, approaches life a little differently than I do, and he’s from NorCal while I rock the fish tacos down in SoCal. But,while we often have a different approach Jonathan and I have one important thing in common: We long to see the church get better at reaching people right where they are… and we are putting our necks on the line to try to make a dent of a difference. I think that’s one reason we get along so well… we care first about people.

Another reason, and this shares something I don’t talk about a lot, is that I connect well to people who hustle. Jonathan works hard. Yes, he’s talented. But his stuff does so well not  just because he’s talented, but also because he flat out works harder than a lot of other people in our world. He and I worked on a project earlier this year and he was RELENTLESS! He wanted to not just get it done and on time… he wanted it to be great and put in the work to make it great.

Why I like it…

I dig Real Conversations for a number of reasons. I think that there are a lot of youth groups looking for this type of training. It’s consistently choses to stay practical when a lot of similar curriculums get lost in theory and apologetics. I like that its Gospel-oriented without limiting the Gospel to a message. I like that it’s funny, really… I LOL’d a couple times. And I like that it was shot and edited real pretty. (The crew at Zondervan did a real nice job.)

In the end, I see a lot of similarities between Real Conversations and Good News in the Neighborhood. They are two-sides to the same coin. As I’ve tried to figure out and live into the realities of becoming Good News on my block I’ve had several instances where someone, completely out of the blue, has asked me… “So, I know you believe in Jesus and there’s something about how you’re living that makes me want to know more. What is that Jesus thing all about and how do I get me some of that?

So you can think of it like this. The Good News curriculum might teach you how to live for Jesus on your block. But Real Conversations will actually help you answer the natural questions that will come up as a result of partnering with Christ to become good news to your neighbors.

How you can get it…

Two ways you can get this.

  1. BUY IT. The more direct way is to head over to Jonathan’s website and pick it up. (It’s $10 off, awesome.)
  2. WIN IT. Zondervan was nice enough to send me a copy of the DVD & Participants guide to review. The simple reality is that I watched the DVD and flipped through the book, but I’d rather give it away to someone who might actually teach it than stick it on my bookshelf to collect dust. It’s brand new! So, leave a comment on this post on 5/1/2012. And I’ll pick a random winner to get my copy. To enter… just leave a comment of any kind. I’ll announce the winner on 5/2/2012.

WINNER: Jeffrey Dyson – send your mailing address to mclanea@gmail.com

Let’s do this again next week! I’ll be giving away a DVD/participants guide for Love is an Orientation next Tuesday.


Posted

in

, ,

by

Comments

28 responses to “GIVEAWAY: Real Conversations by Jonathan McKee”

  1. Joel Mayward Avatar

    This is me leaving a comment, thus increasing my chances of getting awesome free stuff. 🙂

  2. Callie Avatar

    I’d like to win free stuff, too! 🙂

  3. CindiAshbeck Avatar
    CindiAshbeck

    I think this is great for adults also.  Sometimes adults need to hear the very same stuff!  Myself included.  I found the clip interesting.

  4. Gabriel Pina Avatar
    Gabriel Pina

    Leaving a comment of any kind??? Brave man you are.

  5. Tim McDaniel Avatar
    Tim McDaniel

    Oooooooooo, MEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEME!

  6. Shawn M. Shoup Avatar
    Shawn M. Shoup

    Sounds great! Count me in!

  7. Jennifer Snyder Avatar
    Jennifer Snyder

    Would love to win a copy! Getting ready to graduate seminary 🙂

  8. Ken Avatar
    Ken

    No one hustles like Jonathan.  Seriously!  And he’s NorCal Baby!!!!  Go Giants!!!!  (who took 2 out of 3 from your Padres last weekend).

    so real question here, how does this resource measure up for middle school students?  Are you thinking that this would transfer to 7th/8th grade students?

    1. Adam McLane Avatar

      Jonathan may be able to speak to that better. When I watched the videos I thought it would be native to HS students. Like, I’d show it to my small group. I don’t work with MS students… so I dunno. Maybe? 

    2. Jonathan McKee Avatar
      Jonathan McKee

      Thanks Ken… good question. This video is based of a training I’ve done for years now to both middle school and high school students who wanna reach their friends. If you have even a 6th grader who wants to share their faith with their friend, but just doesn’t really know what that actually looks like…they seem to really respond to this, especially session 3 which talks specifically about not being “Pushy” and not being “Silent” either. Hope that helps.

  9. Josh Robertson Avatar
    Josh Robertson

    Always looking for good studies that will encourage youth to share their faith with others! 

  10. Jeffrey Dyson Avatar

    Thanks for the opportunity to save some dollars.  It looks like a great resource.

    1. Adam McLane Avatar

      Jeffrey, you won! Send me your mailing address – mclanea@gmail.com 

  11. Westbrookgrant Avatar
    Westbrookgrant

    I have been searching for a way to get students talking at haven’t been able to figure it out. I love Jonathan’s materials and would love to teach this to my students.
    Grant Westbrook

  12. Adam Reed Avatar

    Looks like a great resource!  I’d love to use this in our ministry.

  13. Daniel Avatar
    Daniel

    Free resources are awesome. Especially when they can help someone feel more comfortable sharing the Gospel!

  14. Rick D Avatar
    Rick D

    Free stuff is fun…

  15. Kyle Wassom Avatar
    Kyle Wassom

    Pick me, pick me 🙂

  16. Adam Sharp Avatar
    Adam Sharp

    Would love to be able to do this Real Conversations curriculum this summer with my student impact team!

  17. Nate Mclaughlin Avatar
    Nate Mclaughlin

    Throw me in the drawing. I’d love to get my hands on it and use it. Trying to break free from always having the same curriculum writers to teach from. I love them, but it’s nice to get some fresh ideas from the minds of other people. Sounds like a great series!

    PS – Did you know The Summit (Nov. 9-10, 2012 in Atlanta) opened registration today? How awesome is that? 🙂

    1. Adam McLane Avatar

      I heard that rumor, too. I think it’s great that Real Resources is sponsoring 200 people to go, right? 🙂 http://theyouthcartel.com/summit/ 

      Also heard that Good News in the Neighborhood would be an excellent follow-up resource for missions teams. Just a rumor, I think. 

      1. Nate Mclaughlin Avatar
        Nate Mclaughlin

         Well since I am definitely the decision maker, I’ll use what “juice” I have to look into that for you!

  18. Jeff Dempsey Avatar
    Jeff Dempsey

    Here’s my comment in hopes of winning free stuff. Because you can’t put a price on free!

    1. Adam McLane Avatar

      Well I can. It’ll cost me $4.90 to ship this sucker!

  19. Kris Fernhout Avatar

    Adam, look at my profile picture! You know I’ll teach this stuff…I let my kids put shaving cream and cheese puffs on my face.  Earning the right to have ‘real conversations’.

  20. Ben Cook Avatar

    Thanks for posting this Adam. It’s always great to know what resources are out there to use, and this is one I would like to add to my library for use maybe next fall.

  21. TJ Avatar
    TJ

    I follow both you and @injonathanshead & I am a better youth worker for all the resources you guys give. thanks for doing what you Di abduction following God’s lead.

  22. Brandon Pachey Avatar
    Brandon Pachey

    Adam, I have no youth budget. WWJD?

    Sounds awesome bro, wed definetley use it!

Leave a Reply