Who's behind the YAM Jam?

So, you’re entitled to know something about the people behind the screen that are going to be responsible for the YAM Jam.

I’ll start and Ryan can weigh in as he wants to. I’m Eric Guy, an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church who served churches in the communities of Fairview, Rippey and Perry in the Iowa Conference for seven years. I also put in a stint (or maybe it was a stunt) doing campus ministry at Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation in Ames. Since 2001, I’ve been a staff member of the Iowa Conference, working primarily in the area of ministry with young people. The latest version of my job title says that I’m a Leadership Development Minister for Young Adult and Generational Ministries.

I’m passionate about the church being a relevant place for all people to connect with God, connect with each other and connect with the world. One of my favorite quotes – one that I’m both energized by and terrified of – is from Thomas Jefferson who reported said, “Every generation needs a revolution”. I live most days wondering if I'm on the right side of the revolution.

I love good conversations – and good coffee – and look forward to some of each while posting, commenting and reading comments on the YAM Jam blog.

What's The YAM jam?

What’s The YAM jam? The YAM Jam is a blog spot for conversation about ministry as it relates to – and is lived out by – young adults in the United Methodist Church in Iowa.

The YAM part is probably pretty clear. It’s nothing with any more theological depth than the acronym for Young Adult Ministry. The jam part may require a bit more explanation.

If you look in a dictionary – either the bulky kind found on a library shelf or one that may be more accessible online - the word jam has a bunch of meanings. Everything from definitions like “stuck in one place” to “sugary fruit preserves”. While those both might have something to do with the state of Young Adult Ministry, neither are quite what’s intended. If you wind your way through all the definitions for jam you’ll eventually come across a few that get closer to the heart of what The YAM Jam hopes to be.

Try any of these definitions of jam out –

• to play a piece of music in a free, improvised way,
• an informal gathering of musicians playing improvised or unrehearsed music for their own enjoyment,
• an impromptu performance by musicians who don’t regularly play together, or
• an impromptu discussion

– and you’ll be in the right neighborhood of what we want The YAM Jam to be.

What’s the purpose of The YAM Jam? What do we plan to accomplish?
Who knows? When the model is unrehearsed, impromptu, joyful, improvised discussion, it’s tough to come up with a purpose statement and expected outcomes. We’re guessing that there may be some complaining. There might be some expressions of frustration. Quite possibly there will be some words of exasperation with the way things are. But… there might also be some signs of a new way that could become a different way of being. Hopefully there will be some creativity and a lot of conversation.


Who’s invited to be a part of the YAM Jam? You. And anyone you know who is interested in some free-flowing conversations about young adults, young adult ministry, and the United Methodist Church. About once a week – or more often if the mood strikes us – there will be a new posting of something that gets us thinking about young adult ministry in a new way. Hopefully there will be something in what we have to say that provides enough of a spark – either of agreement or argument – that you’ll be inclined to take a look at it and comment on it.