(I’m picking up the convo where we left off last week; see Steps 1-5). You’ve been fired, you didn’t see it coming (though, I’d push you back on that and say, “Really?”), you’ve gone home to sequester yourself for 24 hours.…
“So what do I do now? Seriously – what are my actual next steps? I just left the pastor’s office. I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. I didn’t see this coming. I know I should have seen the signs…but I didn’t.…
Critics: they’re everywhere! It feels like something in our public air waves has changed and everyone really IS a critic. Is it social media? Is it “post Christian” society? Is it a God-given right? Are we just a grumpier people? I was talking about this dynamic with a ministry friend just yesterday and I don’t like where we’re heading.…
I hope your youth group took a few weeks off. I really do. You needed the break, your students needed the break, and so did your family. But now it time to plan for the first time you meet again in 2015.…
In my last post about whether small church youth workers should or shouldn’t go to big conference, one of the reasons TO go is an opportunity to connect to other youth workers. More directly, youth networks run a-plenty in visibility at conference crossroads whether formally (through sponsorships or booths) or informally (through notes tacked up on a bulletin board).…
…and I don’t mean parents. I’m talking grandparents, the old ladies in the women’s group, the crotchety dudes who grumble when students wear hats in the Sanctuary. The answer to the title question? Of course they do! Can you believe that I STILL run into YP’s who say their counselors really shouldn’t be older than college-age?…
Well, let me restate that title. You probably don’t need a covenant to create conflict in your small church leadership; I bet there’s plenty of that already. What would it look like if all the leaders in your ministry signed something like the covenant below?…
“I mean, come-on. Can’t someone step up?” This was the sentiment expressed to me recently by a small church youth leader who was looking for volunteers. Not for the mission trip. Not for summer camp chaperones. Not for VBS. Not for any major ask like that. …
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.…
(Here’s the 2nd installment from Brent Lacy from his new book, Rural Youth Ministry. Enjoy! – Stephanie) Article 2) The Value of your Community in Rural Youth Ministry You won’t be very long in your new place of Rural Youth Ministry before you hear some form of the following statement – “you’re just a transplant; what do you know? 
 Rant About (the lack of) Volunteering){kind=link}