I work with teenage moms at Hope House of Colorado—this year, we’ve served 220 amazing moms and their children. These girls come to Hope House determined to become self-sufficient and work toward a better life for their children. Every day they face a murderer’s row of challenges: abandonment, poverty, homelessness, and sometimes abuse.…
In case you haven’t realized it yet, mission trips are messy. Despite all our planning, screening, and noble intentions, every trip involves some really flawed people (including us) who tend to swing from one bit of drama to the next. Even when we’re being leader-like, such as ensuring that people serve for the “right reasons,” we’re pushing values that recipients may struggle with.…
The young man had given his life to Jesus, but for some reason we didn’t see him after that—until I went to get some pizza. It wasn’t on purpose, either. I was eating out with my family and happened to see him behind the counter.…
“Nick” belongs to my church and attends the middle school Christian club where I speak every Tuesday. His younger brother is my son’s best friend. But Nick doesn’t have a best friend; in fact, he doesn’t have any friends. Determined to change that, this honor-roll student recently snuck an over-the-counter medicine onto campus and tried to make the concoction known as Lean.…
It was a crazy night in the mosh pit. Fists and limbs swinging through the air—kids colliding, shoving, and rolling off each other. And, like Moses standing before the Red Sea, I needed these roiling waters to part so I could get through to the other side.…
Three weeks ago, we began a conversation around peer-to-peer mentoring. Then, we talked about how to set it up. Now, we will look at the transformation stories surrounding it. Below are three accounts of mentoring, one from a principal, one from a peer mentor, and one from a mentee.…
Can I encourage you into this next year? It actually involves sharing how I was caught off guard this past month. There I was, sitting in a dark room by myself while weeping hot tears. A couple from our church had stopped by only moments earlier to surprise my family with an end-of-the-year gift.…
We are super thankful for those who serve in youth ministry AND children’s ministry!!! Steve Adams, our children’s pastor at Saddleback Church, was our special guest on the show this week. We discussed the importance of building relationships. Subscribe here!! Remember, if you have a question you can send it to talkyouthministry@gmail.com.…
We can easily fall into the trap of only thinking about our position. It’s much tougher to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and process through what they are thinking or feeling. In hopes of helping us do that in one of the more sensitive areas of our culture, here are 6 questions I believe gay students are asking about us and our ministries: How is it possible for me to relate to Christians in a church context?…
You know the temptation. It goes something like this: Plan for your program. High-five some kids as they come in. Say something profound in your message or class time. Talk up the next big event. Run the next event. Over-hype everything you did so your church is glad they hired you.…
