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Justen Little’s ARISE Story
As youth workers, we have lots of great stories. We walk alongside students during some of the most momentous times of their lives. We see them grow up and mature from booger flicking 6th graders to...
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Devon and a Shoebox
Devon received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox at a church in Grenada at age 12. Here is his story: My gift was very unique because the person took the time to wrap the box in fabric. What stood...
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Pounding the Pavement: Finding the Right Ministry Partnerships
As our programs expand, needs grow, and budgets shrink, ministry leaders are forced to reexamine ambitious goals that stretch beyond available resources and sometimes abilities. Partnerships are...
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ARISE: Youth Ministry Isn’t Perfect, But I Believe in it
We all believe in things. I may believe that my favorite team will win the big game. You may believe you have the best car. Another person may believe they make the best food. Believing in things is a...
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Why You Need a Window
During my first 10 years of youth ministry my office had no window. Well, I suppose that is not totally true. My first office did have a window – one that opened to a small entry foyer, which people...
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Junior High Structure is NOT an Oxymoron
We’re excited to have Heather Flies as one of our NYWC speakers. This blog post is a great start to the conversations she’ll be navigating in her seminar: Ministering to Middle Schoolers with Gender in...
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Protected: Example of a Private Password Protected Post
This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: The post Protected: Example of a Private Password Protected Post appeared first on Youth Specialties.
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A Compass for Teenagers
We’re excited to have Sharon Ketcham as one of our NYWC speakers. This blog post is a great start to the conversations she’ll be navigating in her seminar: When Faith and Life Rub: Equipping Teenagers...
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Staying Sane and Avoiding Burnout in Youth Ministry
I live in the west Michigan area, and we just had a season change. There’s a lot of change that happens year-to-year, and a lot that goes on during the year. We have the high attendance Fall as...
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ARISE: How an Art Program Created Unity
“I love art projects. I want to go to the art program! Can I go?” The eager young pink haired girl looked excitedly up at her mother’s fiancé for his approval. There was a silence that pierced the air...
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Visiting Students at Lunch Without Being Weird
We’re excited to have Gina Abbas as one of our NYWC speakers. Check out more information HERE. You want to visit students on their turf. You want to go where they are and all that right? Absolutely....
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The Hammer and the Anvil
When I graduated from Bible College in 1996 as a youth ministry major, I had great expectations. I was very enthusiastic about starting full-time ministry, and I thought my spiritual life was...
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Addressing Pornography in Youth Ministry
We’re excited to have Walt Mueller as one of our NYWC speakers. This blog post is a great start to the conversations he’ll be navigating in his seminar: Pervasive Pornography and Youth Ministry. Check...
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Ministering to a Bullied Heart
There is a razor blade hiding in a night stand, in a small upstairs bedroom, of a rundown home in the suburbs of Minneapolis. Sitting on the bed is a 7th grade boy named Rafique. He slowly studies the...
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10-Second Tip: Know Where NOT to Park on a Youth Ministry Trip
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: “When you take your teens to the...
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The “Problem” with Middle School Ministry
We’re excited to have Crystal Kirgiss as one of our NYWC speakers. Check out more information HERE. Real Simple (which I thought was mostly about food, fashion, and repurposing canning jars and wood...
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How a Youth Pastor Survives the Election Cycle
Some youth pastors, even though they can look like 19-year-old boys (or girls, I’m not one for sexism) who have yet to learn to shave, actually do seem to care about politics. They have followed this...
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The Definitive List of Church Social Media Policies
This post originally appeared on DARREL’S BLOG and we thought it was so wonderful that we wanted to share it too! Church social media policies aren’t exactly on the top of everyone’s to-do list, but...
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Are You Cheating?
Cheating is word that I typically associate with apathy & laziness. And if I’m being honest, those are two traits that I really struggle with. But more often than not, we find ourselves cheating...
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Behind The Ministry: Jessica Thurston
Jared Elrod started this great blog series called “Behind the Ministry” to highlight youth workers who are doing some amazing things in their church, youth ministry, and in their communities. If you’d...
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