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.”
There is an ever-growing conversation around the end of youth ministry as we know it. Whether it be the end of paid full-time positions, the end of weekly youth group meetings, or the end of youth ministry altogether. At times these discussions get deeply heated and personal.…
Serving in ministry is a mixture of ups and downs—just like life. There are hilltop moments when students are responding to Christ, parents are happy, and the staff seems to be getting along…and there are valleys where criticisms spring up on what feels like a never-ending loop, students struggle, and you feel undervalued and on the verge of burnout.…
Let’s Talk Youth Ministry Video Blog is BACK!!!!!!!!!!!! And we are posting a NEW SHOW EVERY WEEK. On this week’s show: 1. Nominate a Youth Ministry in Need!! 2. How to Finish Strong with Small Groups!! 3. Apps/Tools That Save TIme.…
If you are like most youth workers, you probably find yourself in some sort of teaching environment once or twice a week! Let that settle in for a second; a couple of times a week you are responsible for creating learning environments in which the members of your youth group are exposed to, and wrestle through, some of life’s most crucial topics.…
Sometimes students have questions about life, youth ministry, the Bible, themselves, etc. Questions that they may be uncomfortable asking anyone. It can be hard growing up and feeling like you are the only one who doesn’t know anything. It seems like everyone else knows everything and you don’t want to look stupid.…
It was two years ago—a typical student service on a typical Sunday night. We served the typical food and played the typical music and games right before I made our typical announcements and launched into one of my typical teaching times.…
So… what happened? The week before Easter, I asked a question about “Communion Alternatives” that created quite the conversation. If you contributed to it, thanks. If you missed it, head on over. The bottom line is I was looking for a way to celebrate Communion while also claiming the Resurrection.…
Well, Jon Foreman has officially issued the best articulated statement regarding “Christian” music and bands I have heard to date. When asked if Switchfoot was still a “Christian Band” he responded with these words: “To be honest, this question grieves me because I feel that it represents a much bigger issue than simply a couple SF tunes.…
I recently read my 6th grade autobiography. I’m so glad Mrs. Leedale gave us that assignment. It was the first time I felt really alive while doing school work. So, I like writing. But even if you don’t there are some great reasons to consider writing in your ministry, for your ministry, and for others connected to your life and ministry.…
Holy Week means many different things to many different people. People who serve in ministry are not exception. Many of us have some kind of awkward slant on it. I’m one of them. It occurred to me that I view Holy Week like an anniversary date.…
