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Embracing Multicultural Youth Ministry During Sensitive Times
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good of those who love God, and are called according to His purpose,” (Romans 8:28). A lot of times when we hear this scripture, we apply it...
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Why does food matter in student ministry?
I love stereotypes. I know I am not supposed to, but most of the time they are funny because there is a chunk of truth in them. And as far as youth ministry goes, pizza is the one and only food group....
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You Aren’t The Only One Who Cares
Like many of you, I like to stay connected to other youth pastors. Whether it’s through local networks or online communities, I like to be in the know about what other people are doing. It’s fun to...
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Embodied Youth Ministry
For the longest time since becoming a follower of Jesus, I have wondered what caused my heart to become awakened to Jesus through such a simple process. I had heard truth in church, as my parents...
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Making Disciples at Home
Make disciples. That is what Jesus has called the church to do. As parents, he has entrusted you with children to raise and nurture in the gospel. Because of these two realities, healthy student...
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PARENTS NEED YOUR HELP TO RAISE UP HEALTHY, MATURE ADULTS
Ahh parents. Your “partners” in ministry. The people who support you, encourage you…and sometimes criticize you, expect too much from you, and tell you how to do your job better. How are you doing in...
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I never wanted to be a firefighter
We’ve all seen it on TV. It’s the headline every summer (at least in my home state of Colorado). There’s a wildfire raging. The forest is up in flames. Homes are in danger. People are being uprooted...
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Five Rules That Should Matter To Ministry Leaders
I was intrigued by the concept in The Leadership Code (by David Ulrich) that 65-70% of leadership is the same basic stuff no matter what line of work. It’s amazing how these five rules apply to...
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Un-blurring The Line (Relationships with Students)
The evening news, newspapers and internet seems like a running weekly ticker update on the latest teacher, coach and yes, “youth pastors” crossing the line into inappropriate relationships with a...
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Creating Volunteer Expectations
We all have them. We had them when we first came to the church we are serving at. We had them when we met our spouse or thought about raising our children. We had them when we were in school. We had...
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The Paradox of Powerlessness
So much of the current political landscape is wrought with aggressive attempts to grab and hold power from the “other” group. Our culture reveres the powerful and we aspire to emulate them; from the...
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A Video Training Series: Being a Timothy at events!
How can leaders maximize their influence, time and energy in serving in student ministry or alongside student ministers? The reality is student ministry cannot be done alone, no matter how awesome...
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8 Tips to Help Kids Reduce Their Screen Time
As a mom of four school-aged kids between the ages of seven and thirteen, navigating and regulating screen time consumption at four different levels requires NASA-grade determination and persistence,...
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5 Reasons Your Youth Ministry Needs Goals
What do you think of when you hear about setting goals? Many think of resolutions, hopes and dreams for the future; but goals are much more than that! Resolutions don’t stick, but goals do. Having...
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A Conversation About Immigration and Refugee Resettlement Issues
Issues of immigration and refugee resettlement are on our Facebook feeds, in the news and on our students’ minds. Regardless of our political leanings, one direction we can all lean is into deeper...
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Changing the Narrative: Black History Month
Growing up, I fondly remember this one picture that hung alongside our family photos. High on the wall, my eyes met those of famous African Americans* like Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr.,...
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Things You Were Never Asked To Do (But Maybe Volunteered For)
One of the opportunities I have been afforded in ministry is time to let my youth pastor friends and colleagues vent. Youth workers are my heroes and they deserve a safe place just like anyone else to...
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How HGTV & Student Ministry Are Basically The Same…
Just to get a laugh I posted this status update on Facebook recently: If you have EVER watched a show on HGTV then you understood the humor— it seems EVERY show on HGTV has this similar storyline....
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What do you do?
“What do you do?” We’ve all asked that question, and we’ve all been asked it. Maybe you meet someone at a party or a convention. You introduce yourself. Within our culture, we’re trained to identify...
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“What do you do for Black History Month?”
A friend of mine with a heart for reconciliation and a desire to engage the young people at his church in Black History Month recently asked me, “What does your ministry do for Black History Month?”...
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