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 counselor who must deal with upset parents and discouraged adolescents, and an EMT who has to treat the occasional dodgeball injury. Often, all in the same day. As you walk through the ups and downs of your calling, we’re here to support, encourage, and equip you with ideas that will fuel your journey as a Jesus-centered leader.
What You’ll Find
Our leadership topics are designed to give you the knowledge and skills to confidently guide your ministry. We’ll cover the must-know areas—including working with parents and volunteers, planning and productivity, and the broad range of skills you need as an adolescent specialist in ministry. And, most important, we’ll help you grow your own relationship with Jesus so your leadership flows out of a “deeper well.”
In case you missed 1-4 of The Volunteer Cycle, check them out here: It Never Ends!, Enlist, Equip & Empower. Over the course of my youth ministry career I have had lots and lots of people serve on our youth ministry team only to transition off way earlier than I would have hoped.…
We are super thankful for those who serve in youth ministry AND children’s ministry!!! Steve Adams, our children’s pastor at Saddleback Church, was our special guest on the show this week. We discussed the importance of building relationships. Subscribe here!! Remember, if you have a question you can send it to talkyouthministry@gmail.com.…
Lately my heart has been pulled to one position in the church. This person is often full of heart for ministry; a position that is necessary but so often left out; overworked and underpaid. If you feel like I’m talking about you, most likely you’re a part-time youth worker.…
“You’ll only have to volunteer for a little while.” You’ve heard that one before, right? You may have even said it. It’s not the only lie you’ll hear or tell in church. For the record, this is not meant to be a “church critique” article. …
“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.…
“Rob Bell is in the news again.” My wife mentioned this to me the other day. I wasn’t aware of all the details in that moment, so I simply sighed. Bell made headlines this week via an interview he and his wife took part in with Oprah Winfrey.…
This post is focused solely on how to increase your amount of disgruntled volunteers. If you’re already doing some or all of these things then you probably already have a few. So keep it up and watch your group grow. Be vague – Only share the task.…
In case you missed parts 1 &2 of The Volunteer Cycle series, check them out here: It Never Ends! & Enlist. In this little Wednesday series, we are working our way through what I like to call the volunteer cycle (catchy name, I know). …
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.…
My favorite thing about working with students is . . . well . . . working with students. I (Tasha) am a counselor, and my shtick when asked if I counsel children is, “I don’t work with kids because I’m much more comfortable working with a teen who yells the ‘F-bomb’ at me than with a child who needs play therapy.”…
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