Happy Birthday Marko:.

My buddy Marko is having a birthday today. He's old. 43.

ReImagine Youth Ministry:.
ETREK conference call with Steve Argue, March 17, 2006
Notes taken by Fred, a volunteer youth worker.

Intro:
Steve is executive director of Contextual Learning Center at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. Co-founder of Intersect, leadership training and consulting to ministries around the world. Communicator, author, columnist, Group magazine, MDiv from Trinity in Deerfield. Was high school director for Elmwood Church. Co-leader of sonlife for a while.

Riddle:
Traditionally, the objective for youth ministry are to get kids to raise hands or get saved or these kinds of things – come out of a certain understanding of the gospel. Part of re-imagining youth ministry is thinking theologically. What is your understanding of the gospel, how it's changed, and ramifications for youth ministry?

Steve:
Have to respect the past when forging ahead. We need to think hard, push the edge, but be need to be careful not to condemn all that happened in the past – we can't superimpose our thinking on previous eras. They had a need for students to be ministered to in a particular way, with a number of assumptions, like higher degree of literacy regarding the Bible.

There was a desire to explain the gospel (even if reductionistic), but behind it was a beautiful tapestry of Biblical understanding. Trying to convince students that if you know these 3 or 4 things, you will have the gospel. Also, we report to someone who is looking for results, and that unfortunately is expected in numbers, or things like we feel good when we have a quiet time and bad when we don't – we have a weird way of counting things. As a result, we have a gospel we're communicating to a group of people who aren't really getting it. Methods-wise, and theologically, and relationally in the church – we've got problems. We have to remember that first of all we're shepherds and pastors, and it's messy, and if we think it's anything less than that, we're missing it.

As I see Scripture, there aren't , but there's a call to follow Jesus – the promise is there – and the following is what's important. Our understanding of spirituality, we've reduced it to the prayer or raising your hand – and the Spirit may be working there, doing something significant and wonderful, but there's more to it than that. It's more of a process. We've left it in very individualistic way – Jesus came for me, to die for me, so I could go to heaven – very consumeristic. Therefore the thinking goes, I can accept Jesus but reject the church, be disconnected from fellowship. To follow Jesus and submit to his lordship means we are connected with other believers. The fruit of the Spirit is thought of more individualistically rather than communally. We think about gospel individualistically, or tucked youth group away from larger context of church.

In light of all that, the other thing that's happening – we need to look at the gospel in light of the whole story of God. To understand what Jesus has done, need to see He is the pinnacle and vortex of God's large gospel story. Revelation, gospel was spoken to Abraham – something going on where gospel is larger than what we usually think, bigger than a four point reductionistic view. I believe it centers on the kingdom, Hebrews 1, a priestly role established in creation through Adam and Eve, finding its highest completion in Jesus, and from that the priesthood of all believers, in which healing comes about. To come to faith and to come to Jesus means to be part of something God has been doing from the beginning. So the Old Testament is part of my faith history, and I am a redeeming agent, called by God to follow and serve. A very different picture of what gospel is all about – messy, but probably truer.

This is the stuff that keeps me awake at night – I do not want to be somebody that messes the students up, where they miss out on this beautiful thing that the gospel is all about. I want to dive in with them and be part of the journey, and anything we can do to bring it into Technicolor rather than black-and-white, reductionist thing.

Jesus probably asked more questions than he gave answers – pointing to something deeper. You're welcome here with all your questions, doubts, skepticism, and from our working together on understanding, behavior will come out. It's more than "it's this way or no way." Theology isn't fully comprehensible.

Riddle:
What are we calling the youth to commit to or believe in or?

Steve:
We calling them to confession and repentance, to faith in Jesus, but a 14-year-old's understanding of that will be different from a thirty-year-old's. Let me redefine emerging as synonymous with sanctification, growing deeper into God's love and holiness. Show me fruit, passion, a love for God, maturity – I prefer to see those as indicators rather than a one-time commitment (that's pretty limited). Calling people to a decision as the evidence of salvation is as limited as calling people to baptism as the evidence of salvation.


Riddle:
How bridge the gap with the larger church that may not see things this way?

It's important to be bilingual – speak to generation that's come before us, speak to them, and speak to our generation – with grace to all. Possible educate them as well, where opportunities.

"How many kids came to Christ at the youth retreat?" Tell them stories about the kids, give them something to hang onto, to understand how what is going on now connects to their understanding of the gospel.

Need to work within the environment of the church you're in. If in community, there is an element of unity in diversity, and diversity in unity – it's the harder road, but it's the road to community. Asking bigger picture questions, missional questions that include the whole church, and church often doesn't know what to do with that.

Riddle:
If your understanding of the kingdom of God is heaven, then the structure of your program will reflect that. We're good in a lot of churches to get people to make certain kinds of decisions, but the fallout is, if that understanding of the kingdom of God, of salvation, it seems as though missions and those kinds of things are add-ons. What are your ideas and thoughts on what youth ministry looks like when its framework and thinking is more about being a part of the redemptive story and part of the larger community?

Steve:
Our eschatology matters – it shapes what we do now. If all we care about is getting people into heaven, then this is just a waiting room. How we come at salvation will shape how we disciple and minister. Salvation is more than a free gift – it will also cost you everything. Those expressions come through in the way that we live. A lot of times we don't give reasons for why we do what we do, more a sense of behavior modification. If we get them to do or not do certain things, then we're all right – the test of maturity. Rather, need to say Christian life is one of constant dependence, we need to hear his voice. We serve at local food kitchen because God loves those people and wants us to connect to them. We need to experience the idea of community, of being the church in a real and relational fashion, not optional. Youth ministry built around spiritual disciplines of vulnerability, prayer, social justice – springboard from our identity rather than forming our identity. Have to be interconnected with ministry and larger values of the church – provides anchors in our activities that go deeper. Keeps students connected with church, rather than just seeking next youth group. Alan Jamison's book, people aren't coming back to the church – why is there less connection with the church? Maybe it's hollow programming with no anchor to the community. Need to constantly think about what that looks like in our community and ministry.

Riddle:
What is role of youth pastor and how that's changed. What is your relationship with Dave Livermore, and how you live out the gospel?

Dave and I met years ago, got connected, were wrestling with a lot of these issues, most ministry seemed pragmatic rather than theologically driven. Friendship developed, worked together in Illinois, exciting but bumpy road, and when that job ended we had to decide where our relationship would go – separate? Or does ministry come out of relationship? Tired of living life in segments, keeping all the plates spinning. What does it look like to have friends be comrades in ministry? Conversations interwoven with hearts an dreams. Friendships are too important to just let go. What would it look like to do ministry out of our friendship? We moved to Grand Rapids with a dream to start Intersect, Dave was offered job at seminary, I wasn't at the time, just moved out there with Dave. Met Mark Riddle there, now on staff with seminary. Feel like lives overlap in friendship and ministry, do team training rather than individual – it's a value to us. Learning in ministry is learning in community. Walk together through hard things, feels earthy, real, doesn't feel like theory any more. Marking the church calendar – it's the telling and re-telling of the story of God, of creation-fall-redemption all over again. Changes the way we connect to and serve the church. We're vulnerable to each other, have to decide in community what we do – a liberating thing in many ways. How do we value our time together, investing in the things God wants us to invest in?

Etrek Participant:
What examples in recent days, show this?

Steve:
We have decisions about the summer, Dave has a going overseas opportunity but there is a big thing going on in Grand Rapids this summer, and book writing – still wrestling with what to do here. Another thing – all three of them are holding me accountable to get my PhD, and I have to get my application in very soon. Another thing, more ongoing, house church, a hard group of people, marriage problems, another going through divorce – and sometimes we feel we just want to bail, but have chosen to stick this out, even in midst of tensions in our working it out – how do we lead this together, where need to confess we're not loving the people God has given us? We consistently get together and pray for our kids. The cool thing that's happening with our girls – they'll call Linda and tell her, unsolicited, what's going on in their lives – see their friendship as more like sisters rather than two separate families. A more relational connect that seconds the motion on how we're living out the gospel. Dave and I try to write together, too, which not everybody can do, but it seems to work for us.

Etrek Participant:
Earlier you were talking about youth ministry – it springs out of our identity, and is interconnected – flesh that out for us.


Steve:
Before we flesh out the structure, we need to ask what are the competencies, the growth edges we want to see in our students as we shepherd them – then the programs serve that. The other thing, interconnectedness needs to be internally with youth ministry – what will we do in the summer with them, is there interconnectedness and reason behind those choices? How to they connect with parents, and with values of the church? How is our youth ministry different from the volleyball team or drama team or musical coming up? If we're a redemptive community that chooses to think about and talk about things that others don't, then that's what we'll do. They don't need me to figure out for them how they can have fun. We almost use kids to fill up our legitimacy, to whoever we want to be legitimate toward, and that is dangerous ground. We have infused parachurch ideas into church ministry, and that's often irrespective of the church identity – we need to think about ministry in very pastoral ways.

Etrek Participant:
Discussion about youth ministry not fitting into whole church context, intergenerationally – discuss that.

Steve:
If we forget about thinking of youth ministry as part of the church, youth ministry will never go away, because youth are a people group, and some of us are called to work with them. We need people to think about this culture and how we communicate the gospel, and what is good news to them. Often missions, like youth ministry, is separate from the rest of the church, and it shouldn't be that way. We're committed to them, and will send people to serve and love them. Then youth ministry isn't a satellite from the church, but part of the core. The seventy-year-old minister has as much to learn from the gospel as the twelve-year-old. Being intergenerational is more than lumping everyone together. We become incarnational.

Etrek Participant:
Practically, what does that look like? Kids are willing to accept that they have something to offer – but how get adults to understand that as well?

Steve:
The issue is often power – those who are in power like it, they pay the bills, and that's not going to necessarily change. Need a great relationship with the senior pastor, and that this isn't a segmented ministry but is to be integrated with the church – not separate. Incorporate leaders into ministry who aren't just college kids. It's a hard journey because people don't like change, and they don't like their cages rattled. We expect teens to do things we don't expect about ourselves. When do we say to adults, go and pray about opportunity to talk with your boss about Jesus? There's a broader range of application that pushes adults as much as students. Needs to be reflected in the budget for youth ministry, should have as much weight as missions budget – financial investment usually increase personal investment as well.

We struggled with kids coming to youth group and call Sunday morning big church, which was not needed – but kids need worship experience with message that touches them where they're at. We took them out for 3 weeks a month, then once a month bring back in, and ask the powers that be to incorporate things to include that audience – shows kids they're part of it, tells adults you can't do church without incorporating them, using their gifts, exercising gifts to bless each other.

Church also suffers from identity crisis – Robert Webber, pictures in Scripture about fellowship of faith, body of Christ, descriptions give us better idea of what it means to live together in a faith community. Need a senior pastor to beat that drum with you, otherwise it looks like nothing more than a special interest thing by the youth pastor. Do things together with multiple generations. We often don't do things together because we stereotype each other (and it goes both ways).

Riddle:
The conversation about re-imagining youth ministry, rethinking so many things – then we often hit a wall that we can't change the rest of the church yet, or that we're in this kind of church, and we feel that there's this ideal we have, and need to connect it to the reality of the church context we're in.We try to reform from within.

Steve:
When Martin Luther pounded the theises on the wall, he was still Catholic. May need to decide that the chruch we're in – we don't need to be there. Tough decision. The tension is that youth ministry has become a respectable position, with benefits and perks. Need to stay away from that, go toward churches that are thinking intergenerationally, missionally – not a decision you make alone, need others eyes to help decide. It can be hard work, and need people who aren't too quick to bail, but aren't afraid to call it what it is and not perpetuate the dysfunction – and those are fightin' words.

The hope was the first generation of youth pastors would become senior pastors, and they'd understand that – but it often hasn't happened.

What do you guys think about emergent – a happy word, an evil word, what?

It needs to be more than just another niche market. Need to ask what it means to be emergent theologically more than stylistically. Emergent is creating its own ethos, becoming almost its own special interest group. For some, it may be little more than a bunch of academic white guys all over again – need to push toward reconciliation.

Riddle:
Tell us what Intersect is.

Steve:
A small, growing ministry, bridge between how-to seminar and seminary. The type of training we offer has a strong theological ethos to it, with practical applications. Learning in ministry, learning in community. Youth can come, if come with youth leader – don't want them to become Intersect-dependent. Training is being done nationally and internationally (singapore, india, africa). No goals for that, going where we're invited. Work with national leader, believe all education has to be nationalized, and they are the best for doing that, show them the material and work with them to serve the context we're ministering to (more than, here's the package, take it or leave it).

Da Bulls:. Da Bears:. Da Vinci:.

So I'm going to see Da Vinci tonight with my buddy Jimmy. (anyone else want to come?)

So I was mowing on Friday and had a thought. I always think when I mow. Suburban American Monastocism. It's the closest thing I'm going to come to to cleaning the stairs in the Monastary and as I've said before there is something spiritual about working with your hands.

There are "these people" out there who are concerned that the church has lied to them and that the Da Vinci Code has somehow uncovered some lost truth.

There are "these churches" who say we haven't lied. Dan Brown is a liar.

So I was mowing and thinking. Then I had a this thought.

Maybe we did lie. In fact, I think we did in fact lie.
Not about Da Vinci, or Jesus, or about these gnostic gospels etc.

But about something more important than that.

Our lie is a lie of omission. We have been so concerned with other things, building churches, doing funerals, planning services, writing our pop culture sermons that we have failed to help our communities understand the history of the scripture and orthodoxy.

To be certain, HOW we have done church has led to this as much as what we have said when people arrive.

We have lied. People believe what we tell them and that is how they understand orthodoxy. The expert, professional pastor says what is or is not orthodox. Our communities believe us. They tell us not to watch a movie and we listen. But mostly they don't tell us not to watch movies, because frankly they will loose us if they said something like that. We wouldn't listen. We might stop coming. Is orthodoxy becoming a supply and demand venture? Is orthodoxy whatever the market demands?

How else may we have lied to our communities?

The DaVinci Code, Rob Bell and Saul:.

This weekend I read the DaVinci Code. Yes, I broke down and read it. I have a few thoughts about it. Not that anyone cares at this point, pretty much everything that can be said, has been said... yet... I will through in an idea or two.


First. The book is fiction. At times is reads like non-fiction. I guess this is why everyone is so upset. It was slow in a few places. There were a few moments in the book where I was bored, because the main characters were too slow in figuring out clues. It made me skip pages at a time. Nothing new to contribute here though.

Second. We live in an Age when we are obsessed with history. It's interesting to me that we are a culture (America) who has very little history of our own and that in this time in our culture we are completely fascinated by history. I'm not sure why this is. But between the popularity of folks like N.T. Wright among pastors and Rob Bell who is something of a "gateway drug"* to the emergent converation. People love Rob because he makes history, especially Jewish history (our history within the church) intelligible. He's not the first to do this obviously. Rob reads a lot of other people. The point is, people eat history up. Whether it's a Ben Franklin, John Adams, George Washington, Hamiliton, or Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, Pearl Harbour we are a culture in search of some bearings. History provides this. A sense of trajectory. DaVinci Code taps into this modern day desire to connect with who we are by understanding how we connect with the past.

Third. People want to believe this is true. I think this is directly connected to our loss of mystery within the church.

Forth. If you are a pastor and you are concerned that your congregation will be lead astray by the DaVinci code you might want to look at what you are teaching. IF you are teaching a lot of topic, "3 steps to a better life" sermons then it should not be a surprise to you they believe Dan Brown as much as you. (or more) If you spend most of your time telling people your opinion on what the Bible has to say, but never giving people the chance to tell you what they actually think, it might be a surprise that a lot of your congregation smiles and tells you your sermon was "nice" but actually think you are a crazy narrowminded individual.

Fifth. For the pastors and congregations who are really concerned. I appreciate your love for the people of your congregation. But there is a part of me who thinks the church sounds like Saul, when faced with Goliath. We are looking for someonen else to go and fight and frankly we are missing out on the power of God and his good news. I personally don't think God is all that intimidated by DaVinci code. DaVinci code is a book turned into a movie. a movie....

*Thanks to Tony Jones for the gateway drug metaphor

an intro that will never be published:.

The book proposal was titled "How Youth Ministry Jumped the Shark"

Here's the intro...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Introduction:
How Youth Ministry has Jumped the Shark

You do not want to read this book.


Put it down.

Quickly. You might be spotted.


Don’t panic.


Gently, clandestinely, put it back on the shelf, so as not to draw attention to yourself. Pretend to be looking for books by Rice or Robbins or even McDowell. Then walk away.


Pretend it never happened.


This book was a gift?

Return it to the strange and generous person who gave it to you. It’s a Trojan horse, a virus. It’s not safe.

Reevaluate your friendships.
Garbage in, Garbage out they say.

Reconsider listening to the “friend” who gave you this book. Something may be wrong with them.
I’m not kidding.
This is not a ploy.

You don’t want to read the contents of this book. It might not be good for you.

I know, I know. Your friend warned you about me and how I’d warn you about her. This so-called friend still took the time to write down the title on the coffee jacket. Can you trust her? She works for a church.

This book will make you sick. Regret will come. Or anger. This is not another happy Christian book. You’ve been warned. Put it down.



[NEW PAGE]

Why you are still here? Didn’t I tell you this is not witty introduction or a lame excuse to grab your attention. The whole book will likely go on and on like this. Trust me. Don’t continue reading. You are nice. Too nice. A person like you doesn’t need this kind of abuse or backhanded mental games.

It’s not too late to return this book. Here’s a trick. Just get a bigger book, a heavy book like an old World Book Encyclopedia from the 80’s or an Unabridged Dictionary with a College Thesaurus and place it on top of this little one. Given enough pressure maybe the pages will lay flat. Leave it over night and then return it to the store. If you decide to read on, keep your Thesaurus handy, because you’ll need it for synonyms for words like catachrestic, fatuous, and churlish. I’ve never used those words before, but you’ll use them to describe me later. (Oh and these are pedestrian excuses for the author to sound intelligent while giving the reader intelligent ammo to unleash upon his head.) (What kind of author does this?)

When you return this book for store credit, or a refund, ask for the manager. You’ll recognize him because he’s got a comb-over. Or blue hair. Tell the manager that you can’t believe they sell “rubbish like this” in his Christian book store and that he shouldn’t like it either. Inform him of my comb-over remark. That will help you with your cause. If he still won’t listen, remind him how many copies The Purpose Driven Life, your church purchased from his shelves.

The guy who wrote this book is not stable. Sure, he lives in a suburban neighborhood outside Grand Rapids, but he never walks his dog and he isn’t a very good neighbor. Or friend. Or pastor. Don’t trust him. Look at the picture of the guy in the book. Happy. Or is it Smug? Nice guy? It’s hard to tell. I don’t know. He just doesn’t seem safe. Something’s not right.






[NEW PAGE]

And another thing…

God probably didn’t tell me to write this book. I made that decision myself. I think. He might have. I am not certain. Honestly, I can’t tell for sure. Think about it. I’ve whimsically switched back and forth between first and second person in this introduction without warning, or regard for the consequences. He’s/ I’m not a good writer.

Put...... the... book... down.....

Be safe.

Opt for comfort and convenience. I can’t be held responsible for what happens. Don’t blame God either. He didn’t get you in the mess you are in. Maybe he wants you to put this book down too.



“Don’t read this book.” Thus says the Lord.




Did you believe me when I said that? Do you believe anyone who does? If I meant it would you still read on? If so. Burn this book with your neighbor’s Harry Potter library.

The author doesn’t know you. He would say he cares about your ministry. Most days he might. Some he doesn’t.



Some Advice on How to read this Book
1. You might be asking questions at this point about the author. Is he angry? Or is he Artsy? Is he just a cynical burnout that blasts everything as he sits high upon his perch of arrogance, bitterness and self-righteousness. Did he have a bad church experience? Is he reacting rather than responding? Is he a wounded idealist?
2. Or. Is he an artist, writing in a style seldom seen within Christian publishing circles? Is his style of writing indicative of his character or is this book a creative expression in and of itself attempting to say something else.
3. This is not a book on a better way. The author may actually write one thing but believe something else. He may in one breath declare that he’s not trying to create a better way, while unfairly generalizing and critique another without explanation.
4. This book is a catalyst. It is written to make you think and sometimes react.
5. This book contains gross generalizations. These are not absolutes for you and your youth ministry. However, It would behoove you greatly, not to quickly write off many of these hyperbolic statements as not pertaining to you. Because they might.
6. It’s best not to listen to the Commadors when you’ve just broken up with your girlfriend. It has nothing to do with the book. But it’s good advice the Author wanted to throw in somehow.
7. In fact, Lionel Richie should be avoided during a break up as well. Especially, Dancing on the Ceiling.
8. This is a book written to my friends in youth ministry, who courageously, with great risk to their person and reputation, lay down their lives in obedience to God. I am in awe of your faith, hope and love. I have much to learn from you.


This is a book to my friends who dare to imagine a life with adolescents beyond our traditional assumptions, trendy catch phrases or models. This is a book to encourage my friends who continue to challenge the status quo, who are so bold in their convictions and calling that they will drop popular understandings of youth ministry, bad organizational habits, poor thinking, laziness and the gravitational pull of a tradition, all to follow Jesus. There is beauty in obedience and this book is written to my fellow youth workers who are painting faithfulness with the brush of their lives, on the canvas called the kingdom of God. My prayer is that you will remain centered in your relationship with God, and continue blessing the church with the dreams God has given you. The church needs your voice. To the youth pastor who dares to imagine an alternative reality within the church where grace and teens abound; To the pastors who see teens as priceless, a commodity in the kingdom worth redemption and great sacrifice. I am in awe of your faith, hope and love. I have much to learn from you.

My good friends Jason and Dana living the Gospel:.

When a church becomes a mission.

Powerful stuff.

rivervalleysprings.org

Music I'm listening to today when I mow the lawn:.

Tom Jones - Help Yourself
Right here - Staind
Everything Changes - Staind
Destiny on the lawn - The Bees
Mr. Brightside - The Killers
Who I am hates who I've become - Relient K
Steady as She goes - Racanteurs
We're Going to be Friends - The White Stripes
My doorbell - The white stripes
Denial twist - The white stripes
Over my head - the fray
Hemorrage - Fuel
Tribute by Tenacious D
Casimir Pulaski Day - Surfan Stephens
Deep Dark Truthful Mirror - Elvis Costello
Razor - Foo fighters
Cocaine Blue - johnny cash

Quote for the Day

"Be careful who's advice you buy. But be patient with those who supply it.

Advice is a form a nostalgia.
Dispensing is a way of fishing the past from the disposal wiping it off painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth."

Baz Luhrmann

A Few Random thoughts about Zondervan buying Youth Specialties:.

First, I must say that some of my best friends in the world work for both of these orgainizations.

Second, I understand the healthy dose of skepticism. I think YS gets it too. Skepticism can certainly inform the free "pushing the envelope" kind of thinking YS is known for. This kind of cynicism can feed youth workers and create a since of unity with a creative vibe of YS. But, if you think that is actually what feeds YS, then you would be wrong... at least more often than not. YS's pushing the envelope is born from character and a relentless connection to the person of Jesus. It was integrity that informs the radical, dangerous, messy spirituality of YS.

In the same vein I get the "evils of the christian bookstore" or "christian publishing" is nothing but a sell-out... the same way "christian music" has sold out... or so the arguement goes. But look, YS has always existed with a tension. They sell products and host events, that are completely dependent upon a consumer base. They want you to buy their stuff. This is what a youth ministry resource company does. The message of the company is a deep love for God, a deep love for the church and a deep love for youth workers. It's a chicken or egg thing right? The cynic says, they are only trying to sell books or seats at an event. The naive say, they don't care about selling stuff, they only care about making the world a better place. A third option is to hold these two ideas similtaneously, understanding that there would be no "messy spirituality" without the "idea's books." To think that YS is now going to be about business is to deny the reality of the past. If you loved YS before, you loved a company. Certainly a very unique company. Maybe that last sentance is unfair, to you and YS. Let me put it this way. There are people who lead the company that you identify with, perhaps you even know them, and they know you and actually care about you. This is not something that changes.

Third, Think Pixar and Disney.

Forth, Karla Yaconelli is amazing. If we say we were inspired by Mike Yaconnelli's message, goals, vision and prophetic voice especially regarding YS, then we must trust the one who knew Mike better than anyone else. Karla. One can only guess what the past few years have been like for her. I personally can't think about the future of YS without thinking about what Mike would want for YS AND Karla. I can only hope that this move is beneficial to Karla and that any pressure that may have been present over the past few years would have been relieved.

Fifth, It's not a takeover. Unless by takeover you mean, that YS willingly put YS up for sale to Zondervan. There was not stock to buy in YS. It appears as though this is a consentual relationship. So if you are blogging this, please stop using that term.

Sixth, I'm proud of the YS folks, especially the executive team.