So, I just got off the phone with a youth pastor buddy. He’s over done. Tired. Going in a multitude of directions, at the same time, can’t give enough at home, trying to be who others want him to be, forgetting who God has CALLED him to be, and it sucks! …
A major tension in most marriages is finances. Add an often overworked and underpaid youth worker to the mix and money can become a real source of friction in relationships. Ask most youth workers about recruiting new volunteers, ministry vision or time with teens and they will talk your ear off with excitement and passion.…
This marks my 20th year as a youth pastor in Southern California. I began youth ministry as a 20-year-old when a college girl invited me to come help lead as some guys began showing up at a girl’s Bible study she was leading.…
I will never forget the day, it was a few years ago and I was meeting my former Sunday School teacher for lunch. The cool thing was that after almost 15 years from being in his class we were still friends and we still get together for lunch from time to time.…
Heading into the Christmas season is a great time for reflection and evaluation. Certainly some of that energy needs to be focused on your ministry, but don’t forget to make sure your mentoring relationships are in order, too. Here is one simple strategy to consider: Look Forward – Who Is Leading You?…
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in Group Magazine–the world’s most-read youth ministry resource. For more information, visit groupmagazine.com and get these great articles delivered right to your mailbox or iPad! Most days, I’m tempted to do bad youth ministry. You know what I mean—throw in a Veggie Tales DVD and call it a “Back to the Basics” week.…
The first article addressed the frequently asked question about tips for maintaining your ministry for the long run when just starting out. The article addressed the need to have a team of friends to do ministry with, and when you see them as your friends you feel encouraged and as though you are not alone in the journey.…
From time to time we’re going to take a pause form the normal posts to answer a few questions from you: The youth ministry nation. Here are a couple we have recently received: I’m just starting out! What are some things you did early on in your ministry career that helped you make it for the long haul?…
As I think about caring for and training volunteers and leaders I can’t help but remember the days when I was one of those weary and worn volunteers myself. Then again, I still volunteer quite a bit (as do a lot of youth ministers) with youth camps, retreats, and of course lock-in parking lot patrols.…
How often do we give advice that it equivalent to adding EQUAL to cow manure to try to make it easier to swallow for the recipient of our advice? I don’t know about you all out there in ministry world, but for me I struggle with giving the 100% accurate, God-fearing guidance when people come to me with their problem.…
