Have you ever worked with a student who just couldn’t stand you? I have. You know the deal – the rolling eyes, snarky comments, being completely ignored, blatant efforts to be disruptive, and the heaps of sarcasm. Having a hater is totally awesome.…
“Hey welcome to the ministry! What’s your name?” “Bob” “Cool. Nice to meet you, Bob. So what grade are you in? What school?” “Woodbridge. 9th grade.” “Awesome. Glad you’re here.” (mutually awkward nods and smiles) -awkward pause- “Aight! Well, let me introduce you to Jim.…
One of the things we’ve enjoyed most in our nearly 25 years in youth ministry is the conversations we have with students. (And the free T-shirts—we love the free T-shirts.) Although these conversations sometimes happen spontaneously, we can make the most of every encounter by asking better questions.…
Serving in youth ministry is both rewarding and challenging. As a leader, you’re a catalyst for helping teenagers grow as disciples of Jesus, a ...
In the often-chaotic cloud that is everyday youth ministry, one goal always rises to the surface—growing disciples who follow Jesus with an all-...
Fortnite, 13 Reasons Why, Snapchat… The shifting currents of culture all play a role in shaping the teenagers you serve, and give you unique opp...
Have you ever worked with a student who just couldn’t stand you? I have. You know the deal – the rolling eyes, snarky comments, being completely ignored, blatant efforts to be disruptive, and the heaps of sarcasm. Having a hater is totally awesome.…
“Hey welcome to the ministry! What’s your name?” “Bob” “Cool. Nice to meet you, Bob. So what grade are you in? What school?” “Woodbridge. 9th grade.” “Awesome. Glad you’re here.” (mutually awkward nods and smiles) -awkward pause- “Aight! Well, let me introduce you to Jim.…
One of the things we’ve enjoyed most in our nearly 25 years in youth ministry is the conversations we have with students. (And the free T-shirts—we love the free T-shirts.) Although these conversations sometimes happen spontaneously, we can make the most of every encounter by asking better questions.…
In addition to all the extra tasks and events during the Christmas season, it’s also one of the busiest times in ministry. There are Advent services, volunteer opportunities, meetings, social events, and parties. Plus it’s almost January, so we’re making sure summer camps and mission trips are booked.…
Are the kids in your youth group the first to grow up in a “post-Christian” world? The research says they are… Post-Christian describes a cultural dynamic marked by the absence of Christianity as the foundation—or hub—of the broader society. One writer also refers to this time in history as the “post-truth” era. …
These youth group activities provide ideas for service during the Thanksgiving season and a fun way for your group to gather the food for a Thanksgiving meal. In Matthew 10:8 Jesus said, “Freely you have received; freely give.” Our lives may not always be everything we hope them to be, but the vast majority of Americans are richly blessed.…
Recently I was in a meeting of the youth ministry minds where this question was asked: “How often does your group, your youth or your church think of missions?” The answers ranged from weekly to monthly to an honest, “never.” It was a great question that I felt was poised around “opportunities” to “go and serve” both locally and abroad.…
How can you help teens fall in love when they’ve known about God their whole life? Here’s one leader’s experience! I was born on the front pew of a church during a Sunday night worship service. Before I could say momma, I said Jesus.…
An old wedding tradition has been mostly forgotten. Brides used to incorporate the following items into their wedding day: something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. Believe it or not, this can be a fun way to help you plan the first few months of the new ministry year!…
