So… what do you think of this sign? Apologies. I’m actually asking you the wrong question. It reminds me of how someone recently asked me, “Does the idea of the ‘church’ even work anymore?” That’s also not the right question.…
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.…
If you ask people in ministry about their “calling” they give you the answer about what they now “do” for Jesus. You know what I mean. We are “called” to be youth pastors. However, I believe that “calling” is a far more transformational experience than any “one thing.”…
Does your ministry have NEGATIVE kids? Teenagers who are more cynical and critical than others are easy to spot but tough to change. Everyone in the room typically knows how the negative kid is feeling because he or she is willing to openly share their cynicism.…
One of the core skills of a good small group leader is the ability to facilitate deeper relationships. Deeper relationships don’t accidentally happen, they typically begin with conversations and most conversations don’t begin deep. Leaders must learn to initiate conversation and some time getting conversations started can be tricky.…
The training of other leaders is a crucial element within a healthy youth ministry because there’s too much work for one leader to accomplish! Since there is no “one way” to train small group leaders, here are a few big-picture ideas that have shaped our thinking in training small group leaders: Keep the training short and simple.…
