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Teens Just Wanna Have Fun
Have you ever known a teen to do something so dumb that you just had to stop, laugh out loud, and say, “What were you thinking!” If you have, you probably received the same response I did: “I don’t...
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Faith in the Age of Social Media: 3 Tips for Parents
We live in an age of unprecedented exposure and access to technology. For instance, smartphones didn’t exist twenty years ago. Yet we now have at our fingertips access to an array of resources and...
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Helping Your Volunteers Increase Their Biblical Literacy
How many times have potential leaders told you that they can’t help in your ministry because they don’t know enough about the Bible? The Bible can be an intimidating book—many people feel ill-equipped...
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Ministering to Students in Broken Homes
My parents just celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary, and growing up, I had a very traditional family. Looking back, I would estimate that 80 percent of my friends came from similar family...
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Bye, Felicia
There are many reasons you might leave your church: ordination; a move to be closer to family; a call to something else; budget cuts; an irate parent; a restructuring of staff; a moral lapse;...
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5 Lessons Older Youth Workers Teach Us
This post originally appeared on TIM’S BLOG and we thought it was so wonderful that we wanted to share it too! It’s always good to get wisdom and advice from the older and wiser ones, especially when...
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When We Disappoint Our Students
Recently I wrote about what to do when our students disappoint us. As I was thinking about the experiences I’ve had with students, I found myself also thinking about the times when I disappointed some...
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Seven Essentials for Small Group Leaders
Leading a small group can be hard! Whether you’re a full-time, part-time, or volunteer youth worker, you’ve certainly experienced difficulties in a small group. I can’t tell you how many volunteers and...
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10-Second Tip: Be Constructive with Your Criticism
At the NATIONAL YOUTH WORKERS CONVENTION, we stopped youth workers from all across the U.S. and asked them to share a 10-second youth ministry tip. THE 10-SECOND TIP: To not be shy with your youth...
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You’re Not Alone: Depression in Youth Ministry
For months, I felt isolated and alone. I felt as if I had a target painted on my back and every person I encountered was out to get me. The world felt volatile and dangerous. Quite often, it seemed as...
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5 Tips for Serving Parents Who Don’t Go To Church
As youth workers, we need to spend time thinking about how we can serve and support the parents of the students we serve; and that includes the parents who don’t go to church. Supporting and serving...
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When Kids Are Cutting
This post originally appeared on JIM’S BLOG and we thought it was so wonderful that we wanted to share it too! I’ve been in youth ministry for more than 20 years and have come to realize that there is...
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Was Jesus Ever Discouraged in His Ministry?
Jesus is the Son of God, and he was also a great leader and minister. He had the message (okay—he was the message) and the life that changed the world. He got stuff done and made things happen. So it...
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How to Survive and Thrive in Your First Youth Ministry Job
There is nothing quite like being young, idealistic, and naive. Let’s face it, this is a fair way to describe most people in their first full time job out of college (or at least when it’s in their...
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Side Hugs and Open Doors: Healthy Boundaries with Students
I’m an awkward hugger—I have been since I was young. My signature move is to go in for a handshake, only to realize that you’re about to hug me. I quickly switch to a hug, but you’ve already switched...
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Creating Missional Parents
As I hung up the phone with a student’s mom, it occurred to me that this parent was doing a better job at youth ministry than I was. (I get that same feeling when I watch Coach Taylor in Friday Night...
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Failure as Speed Dating
Job interviews can be nerve-wracking: We sit down with strangers and let them ask us questions for 30 minutes. We put a lot of weight on that one moment, letting it define us. If we get the job, we...
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For Your Next Jr High Boys’ Bible Study: 5 Verses Featuring Excrement
It’s the perfect way to bring junior high boys—and those who think like junior high boys—into the Scriptures. Unload these verses on your guys, and they’ll think you’re making this crap up. You might...
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10-Second Tip: Don’t Let Them See the Fear in Your Eyes
At the NATIONAL YOUTH WORKERS CONVENTION, we stopped youth workers from all across the U.S. and asked them to share a 10-second youth ministry tip. THE 10-SECOND TIP: Never, ever let them see the fear...
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Synthetic Fruit
I’ve never been much for fruit. My kids eat fruit of all kinds and seem to genuinely enjoy it. Not me. The past few weeks I have been on a diet. I’ve given up baked goods and soft drinks, I’ve limited...
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