WHILE I KNOW YOU ARE COMING TO THE END OF YOUR YEAR, I WANTED TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU, AS YOU HEAD INTO THE SUMMER AND PLAN AHEAD FOR YOUR FALL! Every fall, right before we kick off our youth ministry year. I started off with a couple of things. I always seek to have […]
Everything is mobile and portable in our world, why not your lesson? We all want our lessons to be remembered. We always say things like “take this with you this week”. I know I am always looking for ways to make the ideas and lesson topics stick with our students. Why not create what we […]
May 4th: May the Fourth Be With You: Star Wars Day! (The possibilities are endless!) May 5th (Wednesday): Cinco De Mayo! (Celebrating this with my group this week, check out my game collection later this week) May 6th: National Mini Golf Day (Create a mini-golf course around your building/church!) May 11th: Invention of Hostess Cupcake (Lots of cupcakes to eat, […]
We lead people. That is what we do. More often than not, the term “pastor” in our leadership role in youth ministry is interchangeable with words such as “leader”, “director” or even “coordinator”. In fact, that might be the title that is on your door or card. We directstudents, volunteers and our paid staff. We […]
Years ago, as a young youth pastor in my early 20s, I remember saying pridefully to an older pastor-“I would rather burn out than being blown out”. He was trying to encourage me to stop working longer and longer hours, but I would not listen. I was a dangerous combination of young and energetic meets unorganized […]
10. Never Fall Asleep During a Lock-In/Overnight Event. (do you like your eyebrows?) 9. Eat A Healthy Breakfast Every Morning. (skittles and a 24 oz Monster does not count) 8. If Attacked by a Group of Upset Middle School Girls, Curl Up on the Ground and Play Dead. (If you can’t react fast enough just throw out Starbucks cards and […]
Here is a quick in-the-trenches, real-life hint/help as you head into your summer camp and mission trip month! It depends on the group and even the leaders that I have had over the years, but pranking especially at camps and retreats can quickly get out of hand! I have heard various theories and debates over […]
We sat quietly looking at our Sr. pastor, sitting across from us in our living room. On the coffee table sat a stack of brand new Bibles and a neat stack of papers with a shortlist written on them. It was late and he had just arrived at the church’s home that we were living […]
People ask me all the time, if I have read any good books lately or what I am reading. I physically sit down a read, but I also have books that I listen to, as I drive places. I try to change it up so some are youth ministry, leaders, or even a classic. The one kind of book […]
THE MIDDLE YEARS (5th-9th grade, Ages 10-14) IS A HUGE TIME OF LIFE TRANSITION. IT MIGHT EVER BE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TIMES IN A PERSON’S LIFE! DO YOU KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT TRANSITION THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE LIFES OF THESE STUDENTS? HERE ARE AT LEAST TEN OF THE LIFE TRANSITIONS THAT ARE […]