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Just Wait Until Year 4
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No, not Santa’s birthday – FOOTBALL SEASON! As I bask in the glow of being a Super Bowl champion for the first time in my life (GO BIRDS!), I think back to...
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Pimping the Poor or Changing the World?
“Pimping the poor” was a phrase I first heard during a dinner conversation with former CEO of City Service Missions, Dan Reeves, in Chicago. From this conversation, there are two types of mission...
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It’s Just A Phase | Resource Review
As a pastor, I have read a lot of books. In fact, my que is increasingly growing as new reads are recommended or a title catches my eye in a bookstore. While listening to a podcast recently, I heard...
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When Volunteers Go Bad
Ministry, especially youth ministry, runs on volunteers. It is no secret that you cannot do everything. There are far too many activities, lessons, and people to connect with than there are hours in a...
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Words That Build Students
If you’ve been a youth worker for even a short while, you know certain words and phrases linger with people. Who hasn’t had the experience when a former student comes back to you after months/years and...
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Mental Health + Students
Conversations surrounding mental health and mental health awareness have shifted dramatically over the last 10-15 years. This week represents the annual Mental Health Awareness Week presented by the...
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Mental Health + Families
Conversations surrounding mental health and mental health awareness have shifted dramatically over the last 10-15 years. This week represents the annual Mental Health Awareness Week presented by the...
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Mental Health + Youth Worker
Conversations surrounding mental health and mental health awareness have shifted dramatically over the last 10-15 years. This week represents the annual Mental Health Awareness Week presented by the...
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Mental Health + Church
Conversations surrounding mental health and mental health awareness have shifted dramatically over the last 10-15 years. This week represents the annual Mental Health Awareness Week presented by the...
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Stop Playing God
I can hardly wait for this year’s National Youth Worker’s Convention! Great Speakers. Great Information. Great People. It is…you know…going to be great! God has a way of using “conference moments” to...
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The Rest of God | Book Review
Last summer, I stopped working…for three months. I didn’t quit. I wasn’t fired or put on administrative leave. I was given the gift of rest. The church that I have served for over twenty years gifted...
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Partner Feature | TreeHouse Youth
There are thousands of hurting teens in the country and we’re going to reach every single one of them. We’re going to reach the hard ones. The defiant ones. The ones that get under our skin. The ones...
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Youth Group Games Gone Wrong
In order to generate some enthusiasm around teaching the Prophets of the Old Testament to our high school students, we began our Wednesday evening together with a game we titled, “Jonah’s Revenge.” One...
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The Hardest Thing I’ve Ever Done in Ministry
Have you ever had one of those weeks where you lock up the church, start up your car, and then instantly torture yourself with the haunting question, “Did tonight even make a difference in anyone’s...
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3 Apps You Can’t Live Without in Youth Ministry
I think it’s safe to say, that for most of us in the youth ministry world, our phones double as ministry tools. I’m using mine on a regular basis for a ton of things like planning, advertising, and...
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5 Boundaries That Have Saved Me In Ministry
We live in a society and culture that elevates immorality. Therefore, as youth workers we have to always put ourselves in a position of living above reproach. It seems like the norm, with all the...
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Partner Feature | Treehouse Youth (Part 2)
TreeHouse’s approach to ministry is unique. We’re a youth ministry conceived by a school teacher, informed by mental health professionals and soaked with the love of Christ. We do ministry and train...
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Staying Grounded In A Toxic Environment
Do I leave? Do I stay? What about the students? God, have you really called me here? If those questions have ever crossed your mind, you are not alone. No leader or environment is perfect, and...
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Surviving In Ministry: Finding Hope When Churches Hurt
Working in youth ministry has brought a lot of meaning and purpose to my life as I strive to love God, love people, and lead others to do the same. Unfortunately, working in churches is not always...
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3 Ways to Get Students Talking
I think we’ve all had those students that we just can’t get to engage. Maybe they are really shy or maybe they just aren’t interested in conversation with the youth leader. Whatever the reason, I hope...
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