Helping Teens Make Healthy Decisions By Duane Smith, Small Church Ministry Architects One of my favorite periodicals is Youth Culture Update, a monthly publication produced by the Center for Parent /Teen Understanding, to help parents and youth workers understand the influence of modern culture upon our teens.…
So if I was your youth ministry volunteer, or hoping to be, here’s what would keep me around: 1) Advanced scheduling: I want to be all in but I can’t do that without advance notice, especially for retreats or trips. Just because I’m uber-busy, I can make time for things I know about.…
You’re back at it—into the Fall with your youth ministry. Move quickly and don’t miss the opportunity for a kickoff payoff! With well-done, comprehensive events that help your students find their “onramp” into your ministry, you accomplish three things: 1) You send the message that this year is something special, which, in turn, generates more buzz.…
One of the best parts of my calling as a speaker/trainer and senior consultant for Ministry Architects is that I get to hear/borrow/steal ideas from youth workers all over America. Last week, in a coaching call with a church that’s part of a yearlong cohort I’m teaching with smaller churches in the Dakotas, a volunteer shared an idea that sparked an even bigger conversation.…
A huge part of the youth ministry rhythmic year? THE SUMMER TRIP! It’s one of my favorite things about working with students. Taking a trip together has multiple purposes and benefits, the greatest of which is the growth that God fertilizes within each of us during the time away from normality.…
Cockiness in youth ministry is something I know about from personal experience. In my thirties, I headed up a large youth ministry of about 200 students. We averaged 100 at youth on Sunday nights, not counting other students who participated on Sunday morning, Wednesday nights, and Friday nights.…
Imagine this scenario: You’re taking your family on a trip to Disney World. None of you have ever done a big park before, so you decide to spend the money to hire a professional guide, someone who is experienced at how theme parks work.…
Dear PK’s, I was you once. Well, I guess I still am, a ‘Preacher’s Kid’ even though my Dad went home to the Lord a few years back. I wanted to say “thank you.” Thank you for all the time you sacrificed with your mom or dad for my family to have a wonderful holiday season.…
Heard a quote today through the FB posting of a friend (Thanks, @bradfiscus): “The needs of the students must drive your ministry not the needs of the campus (youth) minister.” – Marilyn Thornton (Marilyn is the Wesley Foundation Director at Fisk University.)…
A story about one woman’s attempt to serve at her church’s VBS: I’ve been attending a small church. I’m not sure they have picked up on the fact that I’ve been coming, though. I think they don’t get a lot of new members, so maybe they don’t recognize it when it happens. …
