We’ve already plowed through the meat of the new school year. And if your life is anything like mine you’ve catapulted from the bustle of summer into the craziness of fall. My schedule is fuller (how is that possible?), overshadowed only by the packed calendars of my teenagers.…
Every summer I have a unique opportunity to spend time with teenagers. I organize short-term volunteers, mission groups, and interns under 18 to come serve at our inner-city ministry. So I get to hang out with young people from all over America and from a variety of backgrounds, denominations, and family situations.…
Teenagers are living in a rapidly shifting morality landscape, fueled by a “your truth is yours and my truth is mine” mentality. Meanwhile, anxiety and depression are epidemic among these over-scheduled, hyper-busy kids—whose addiction to social media has made vulnerability their greatest fear. …
For youth workers, it’s an itch that won’t go away… We know there’s something different about Generation Z, but a recent Barna report claims that today’s teenagers are mirror images of their Millennial older brothers and sisters… If that’s true, here’s a quick snapshot of what that means: They are success-driven and focused on achieving.…
Most of us love superhero stories, even though they force us to suspend our disbelief. Why hasn’t anyone figured out that Superman is Clark Kent or that Bruce Wayne is Batman? Do a pair of glasses and a mask really confound us?…
First, a brutal confession: In high school, I didn’t care about the Bible. I cared about Jesus, but I saw him as a distant Savior who helped only when things went terribly wrong. If I needed Jesus to hear me, I’d read his Word because I thought that would make him happy—and when Jesus was pleased with me, he’d be more likely to answer my prayers.…
If a summer mission trip is in your future, you’re probably in the middle of planning, fundraising, team-building, and parent meetings. Whether you’re traveling far from home or serving just around the corner, every trip is a great catalyst for young followers of Jesus to understand that service is a lifestyle, not an event.…
About a year ago, I finally talked my husband, John, into asking our local high school’s athletic director if he could help out with track. John was an amazing runner as a teenager and had said for a long time that he wanted to assist with coaching.…
I vividly remember opening presents at the dining room table on what must’ve been my 15th birthday. Mom proudly handed me a special gift she’d selected. From the shape and size, I could tell it was a record, which I’d add to my pile of new cassette tapes, to be used in my bright yellow Walkman.…
An exasperated small-group leader stopped me to chat. One of my best leaders, he was dedicated and prepared. He just wanted a quick fix to get his small group back on track. “I’ve never experienced anything like this,” he admitted. “One guy is totally disruptive every week, and nothing I try works.…
