Link Lovin' It: Friends in Missions

I want to continue highlighting some blogs that are worth checking out. You can follow these blogs in the blogroll on my sidebar, or better yet, add them to your Google Reader! Here's some link love for my friends on the mission field:

• Amanda Lehman has spent much of the past two years serving as a teacher and working in an orphanage in northern India. You can read about Amanda's heart for "the least of these" here.
• Jess Gates is mentoring teenage girls and doing some incredible sports ministry in the Dominican Republic with Students International.
• Kory and Ali Lantz are missionaries in the truest sense of the word. They work with at-risk teens right here in our own backyard, in the Keller Park neighborhood of South Bend.
• Miah and Michelle Collins train youth leaders with J-Life in South Africa. Miah recently ran a 56-mile race. You can read about that experience here.
• Nick and Sarah Anderson are church-planters in Oaxaca, Mexico. They talk about "spiritual mapping" here.
• Ranae Holdeman is a teacher for missionary kids in Botswana. She shares some good thoughts about wisdom here.
• Jeff and Amy McKissick serve as medical missionaries in Paraguay. They also have the cutest kids E-VER!

I'm so blessed to have friends serving the Lord all around the world! Check out their blogs, pray for them, and send them some words of encouragement!

Link Lovin' It

I'm assuming by now most of you have noticed my new blog design. (If you're reading this on Google Reader, come over and check it out.) I've also added several links in my sidebar to friends in the blogosphere. Here's some link love to my blogging friends in youth ministry:

• Derry Prenkert is Senior High Youth Pastor over at Nappanee Missionary Church. Derry has been one of the most influential people in my life, and his blog is a must read for anyone in youth ministry.
• Jason Thompson has been a Middle School and Pre-teen Pastor at NMC for several years. Jason was one of my mentors when I interned at NMC in the summer of '05. Jason is currently using his platform to make a big difference in the DRC. You can read about "The Congo Project" here and here.
• Jon Andrews is the youth pastor over at Wakarusa Missionary Church. Jon is doing some downright inspiring stuff right now, raising awareness and fighting against sex trafficking in Asia. At 300 lbs., John also just finished his first half-marathon!
• Kara Szyarto is Youth Director down at Columbia City United Methodist Church. Kara and I studied youth ministry together at Bethel College, and now she's out there on the cutting edge of youth ministry!
• Phil Strahm is the youth pastor at Trinity Park United Methodist Church down in Greenfield, IN. Phil and I have been good friends since 2005, when we interned together at NMC.
• Seth Bartlette is the youth pastor at St. Mark Missionary Church. Seth and I were "partners in crime" at SMMC for several years, working together with the youth ministry. Seth continues to do an incredible job impacting the lives of young people at St. Mark.
• Terry Linhart was one of my youth ministry professors at Bethel College, where he also serves as the Chair of the Department of Religion and Philosophy. Simply put, when it comes to youth ministry, Terry is the man!

You can keep up with the latest posts from each of these guys on the blogroll in my sidebar, or just add them to your Google Reader!

Link Lovin' It

• Geoff shares some challenging and insightful thoughts about lent here.
• Terry talks good books here and here. I also really like his thoughts on rekindling our passions. Read about that here.
• Derry shares some of the funniest videos I have ever seen here.
• Kent from Church Relevance shares about the future of evangelism here.
  

Link Lovin' It

• My friends Kory and Ali are doing some incredible urban ministry. They share their thoughts here.

• My sister, Sarah, cuts a chicken's head off here. Sarah and her hubby, Nick, discuss spiritual warfare in Mexico here.
  

• My buddy, Kyle, is chillin' in Ireland. He waxes poetic here and here.
  

• I challenged my sister, Emily, to start blogging here. My beautiful, talented, incredible mother, genius (are those enough positive qualities, sis?) sister gives me a shout out in her first blog post here.
  

Link Lovin' It...Sibling Style

• My sister, Sarah, and her hubby, Nick, are doing some incredible disciple-making ministry down in Mexico (or I suppose up in Mexico from where I'm currently writing...weird.) Anyway, check out what they're up to here.

• My brother, Dave, is really stinkin' smart. Don't believe me? Read his thoughts on philosophy, religion, church, and life here.

• My sister, Emily, pretends to have a blog here. (Emily, if you're reading this, let this be motivation to get that thing started up!!!).

Link Lovin' It

• Andrew just became a dad. Read his thoughts on fatherhood here.
• My buddy Eric just started blogging. He calls me a girl here.
• Ted's blog used to inspire many of us to rethink the way we live. He hasn't blogged since October 25, 2007. For the love, Teddy!
• Danielle is just a boring old mom. Just kidding...she's a boring old mom who happens to have some great thoughts on life. She talks about wanting more from life here.
• Kyle consistently offers deep thoughts and insights on life from his travels and experiences.

Link Lovin' It

• For great insights on life and ministry, check out Derry's blog.
• If you want your head to explode from lots of big words and great thoughts on church, religion, and philosophy, check out my brother Dave's blog.
• For endless hours of laughter watching funny videos and reading about old men car clubs, check out my buddy Seth's blog.
• To get the skinny on life as an intern in St. Mark Student Ministries, check out Dani's blog.
  

These are some of my favorite people in the blogosphere. Check them out sometime!