During the Christmas season, most youth ministers try to find new ways to teach old truths. With the same old “angels sang, shepherds wondered, Mary did you know?” routine, it’s easy to lose sight of the wonder of Jesus’ birth. On the first Christmas, [tweet_dis]God came to earth and conveyed his message in some pretty incredible ways.[/tweet_dis]…
A Christmas Eve Candlelight Experience This is a complete plan for an unforgettable student-led Christmas Eve Worship experience that will have a profound impact on your whole congregation. With this simple and inventive plan, your students can plan and pull off a powerful and profound experience tied to your church’s Christmas Eve service.…
The calendar tells you that October 31 isn’t far off. And your kids are getting anxious about the youth group’s Halloween plans. Some won’t participate in traditional “scary” activities. But all demand a high percentage of fun. The day’s creeping closer…the kids are getting impatient…getting scared yet?…
Enjoy Ministry This Christmas! Episode 1: The Christmas season is steaming toward the weekend, and it can be one of the toughest weeks of the year. Join Brent as he upends the typical ways we cope and shows you how to actually enjoy ministry this Christmas season!…
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.…
Every December it’s the same hopeful mantra: This year, Christmas will be different. I’m going to find a way to slow down and focus on “the reason for the season.” I’ll find the time to really concentrate on Jesus and help the teenagers in my ministry do the same.”…
If we’re not careful, December 26 can be the “melancholiest” day of the year. All the excitement, buildup, and celebrating that leads to Christmas Day can make for a darn depressing denouement. [tweet_dis]We doubt that Jesus is a fan of post-Christmas letdown.[/tweet_dis]…
Christmas has always been one of my favorite youth ministry seasons. There’s no end to the creative possibilities! If you’re searching for Christmas game and event ideas, here are some of my all-time favorites: 1. Reindeer Games—Set aside an entire night for Christmas game fun!…
Have you noticed that many family devotionals for the Advent season focus on younger children? Those of us with junior highers, high schoolers, or kids of various ages at home don’t always know how to make the most of this time of year.…
Blitz campaigns are meant to reach a target audience with a specific message in a short period of time yielding very direct results. A successful blitz will make you better known to your target audience. Timing also plays a big role in a successful blitz.…
