Burnout Is Not the Cost of Success—It’s a Symptom of Bad Energy Management For years, the idea of burning out has been worn like a badge of honor. Late nights, packed schedules, and sheer exhaustion have become symbols of commitment and success. But the truth is, burnout isn’t the cost of achieving our goals—it’s a […]
Game: “Silly Sloppy Slingshot Scramble” Supplies: Water balloon slingshot – At least 1; 2–4 for larger groups, bigger areas, or a more advanced challenge Towels or old youth group T-shirts – Enough for one per team of 4 students (Pro tip: this is where old youth group shirts go to die) A wide variety of […]
KEEP PEOPLE COMING AFTER EASTER!? A quick ran-dumb top ten list for your day after Easter “ministry hangover”… 10. Bacon Sunday- a free pound of bacon for every friend you bring? 9. No Cover Charge Sunday- one Sunday a year, that offering WON’T be taken? 8. Give-Away Sunday- shoot polos and button-up oxford out into […]
MASLOW AND YOUTH MINISTRY: Help in understanding and applying Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in Youth Ministry. How do we create an effective, holistic youth ministry through recognizing and addressing the various levels of needs based on Maslow’s research and theory, that influence youth development and engagement. Here’s how each level can be applied to a […]
🧠 Think Formation Over Information Shift from “what do I want to say?” to “what kind of person is this forming them into?” (moving from “me” to “we”) Gen Z and Alpha are saturated with content. They don’t need more info—they need meaning, purpose, belonging, and identity. Prep with a formational lens: How will this […]
ARE YOU COMING UNGLUED WITH YOUR EVENT PLANNING? Stuck on Purpose: How to Plan Events Without Coming Unglued Connections are essential to church leaders because they create the glue that helps truth and relationships stick. In youth and family ministry, we’re passionate about helping students connect with God, His Word, and one another. We do […]
Helping Students Grow: Why Systems Matter in Spiritual Pathways Have you ever watched a student come alive in their faith, only to see them struggle to figure out what’s next? Maybe they had a powerful experience on a retreat, felt a nudge from God, or got excited about serving, but then… nothing—no clear next step. […]
Game: “Sanctuary Pac-Man”, real-life youth group version of Pac Man. Transform your sanctuary/auditorium into a big game!
Special Needs Student Ministry Accommodations for youth pastors to consider for their church youth group from Dan Istvanik & Youth Min Hub
Good Lesson Watching Bad Coaching, ten reflections for ministry leaders from Dan Istvanik and Youth Ministry Hub.
