Recently, a friend said something intriguing: “As believers, we aren’t promised a better life but a better hope.” Personally, I wouldn’t mind having both an awesome life and a bright future. My guess is that if I live with rock-solid hope, then the odds go up that I’ll live a more purposeful life.…
Early one afternoon, I walked to throw something out in a back room, when I spotted him outside next to my bike. A large gentleman in his 50’s was doing something, and it hit me immediately, “He is taking my bike!”…
Yo, so this weekend I got to support one of my small group guys as he shared his testimony in the adult service at church. It was a very proud moment for me. He is an awesome dude who loves Jesus with all of his heart.…
Dear youth pastor of my son who’s getting ready to graduate high school: Forgive me for being so preoccupied right now, as the last weeks of high school are finally here, and I can’t believe it’s almost over. I’ve been meaning to reach out and express my gratitude, but I’ve been so busy that I keep forgetting to say thank you for everything you’ve done for my son.…
He stared right through me. I said his name over and over, but he just didn’t’ have the strength to look me in the eye or respond. If he stopped staring at the wall or dared to break the silence, then time would begin to move and he would be forced to figure out how to live life without her.…
One of the most frustrating conversations I have with friends is the “You should quit ministry” conversation. Sure, there are days when I want to quit, more than I care to admit. You know those days. They are filled with church politics, angry parents, mess-ups, complacent students, bad youth nights, and heartache.…
Easter is right around the corner with a whirlwind of candy, plastic eggs, and fake grass. As one of the “big two” times of year people think about church, it’s natural for it to also be a time of outreach. Some ministries will go to extremes to launch their Easter egg hunt out of a helicopter, while others will go to lengths to ensure that Sunday is one of the most inviting of the year.…
Some days, I could care less. Other days, I couldn’t care more. It doesn’t matter what the topic is… there are days when my feelings get bullied by my logic, and other days when my emotions want to rule my life.…
On a Friday night in 1998, after watching a comedy with friends at a movie theatre, my brother came home, kissed my mom goodnight, went into his room, and hung himself. We don’t know the exact reasons why Brandon took his life, but we know he wrestled with depression on a daily basis.…
Hey YM Nation, I am Estevao Yu, and it is my honor to write my first blog post for awesome youth workers. Thank you for serving with all your heart in the youth ministry because YOU MATTER to the students. Every year, I struggle to bring the right balance of local and overseas missions for my students to serve during the summer.…
