This month we’re introducing a new series here on the Simply Youth Ministry Today newsletter. We’ve talked Top 3 screw-ups (and who couldn’t add to that list, right?!) We’ve taken a look at three stellar resources on apologetics. And after being married to the Glass House Spouse for 21 years, I have a few Top 3 lists of my own—starting with the Top 3 ways to make your spouse hate youth ministry.…
Hopefully yesterday you took some time to think about the tightrope of ministry and how challenging each step of the journey can be. So what are some practical ways you can do youth ministry life well? Glad you asked! Here are 4 ways we try to put into practice ourselves: 1) Talk through the calendar before you go public with it.…
Occasionally Kurt and I take the time to take on “the 3” and this week our topic is what we are each learning right now about ourselves and ministry. I’ve picked out things I’ve learned in the past…or I think I’ve learned them in the past because it seems like all three of these are old and new at the same time.…
Why does your youth ministry exist? For a longer and fully developed book on the subject, we highly recommend Purpose-Driven Youth Ministry by our friend Doug Fields. Today we want to offer up a few key thoughts as you put yours together, or evaluate the one you inherited from the previous youth worker.…
Editor’s Note: Jeff Wallace is an anomaly. He’s a longtime African-American youth ministry innovator in the urban world who feels just as comfortable in the outer-space of the white suburban world. He’s a respected strategist in the urban ministry context, but has used ideas he co-opted from the suburban world to invigorate his approach.…
Part-time youth ministry seems so easy. Just work 15-20 hours and you’re done with youth ministry for the week. Those who are, or have been, part-time youth ministers know that’s definitely not the case! That’s doubly so if you have family, another job, or school.…
How many times have you planned your lesson on a Saturday night while also trying to watch SNL? How often do you pray for red lights on the way to mid-week so the Holy Spirit can “lead you” to come up with something to talk about once you get there (as if the Holy Spirit can’t lead you a few days ahead of time!)?…
By Marv Penner Kaylee’s urgent text message shouldn’t have surprised me: “We need to talk marv, not doin good. can we plz get together soon.” I set down my phone and that nagging inner voice jabbed at me—“You really should’ve pursued her first.”…
This week, Josh and I are each going to share a few things we’re thinking about this summer. We purposely aren’t looking at each other’s thoughts, so there could be an overlap or two. If that’s the case, then maybe we’re thinking about worthwhile stuff!…
I remember telling my mom that I was nervous about raising “pastor’s kids” because I had seen a fair amount who had not made healthy life choices. I clearly remember her saying, “Erik, you will raise them the same whether you’re a youth pastor or a plumber.”…
