06
Mar
By Dan Istvanik
Youth Ministry Hints, Youth Ministry Lessons, Youth Ministry Resources, Youth Ministry Thoughts

Speaker of the Week: Travis Dean

TRAVIS DEANS has been in full-time youth ministry since 1996 as a youth pastor, campus ministry director, and youth network coordinator. Through Travis’s role, he mentors youth workers, consults for churches, assists youth workers to collaborate through evangelistic outreaches, equips students to share their faith, shares strategies for students to form campus ministries in their schools, and organizes youth ministry conferences.

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02
Mar
By Dan Istvanik
Youth Ministry Hints, Youth Ministry Resources

Youth Ministry Mission Trip Organizations (2025-2026)

Planning a summer mission trip for your student ministry involves more than choosing a destination — it’s about selecting an experience that is safe, spiritually formative, logistically manageable, and meaningful for both your students and the community you serve. This list (*in no order) highlights ten trusted organizations that specialize in SHORT-TERM (5–10 DAY), U.S.–BASED […]

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20
Feb
By Dan Istvanik
Youth Ministry Hints, Youth Ministry Lessons, Youth Ministry Resources, Youth Ministry Thoughts

Speaker of the Week: Andrew Laird

ANDREW LAIRD has been in youth ministry since 2016.  Since then, his passion has been to equip students, volunteers, and parents to live out Jesus’s method of relational discipleship, share the gospel, find evangelistic avenues in their school and community, and challenge them to hold on to their faith.

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19
Feb
By Dan Istvanik
Youth Ministry Hints, Youth Ministry Resources, Youth Ministry Thoughts

Leading With Purpose (Policies, Procedures, & Processes)

Leading With Purpose (Policies, Procedures, & Processes).  In the heart of every truly thriving church, I have seen is a clear sense of mission—a compelling “why” that drives everything from Sunday sermons to midweek ministries. Unfortunately, I have also seen and worked for those without clarity around their mission.  Understand also, even the most passionate […]

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13
Feb
By Dan Istvanik
Youth Ministry Hints, Youth Ministry Lessons, Youth Ministry Resources, Youth Ministry Thoughts

Speaker of the Week: Kyle Fox

KYLE FOX is a husband and father of four and currently serves as the Discipleship Pastor at West Bridge Church in Danville, Indiana. He loves helping students walk closely with Jesus by going deep, tackling the real issues they face, and helping them see the real Jesus. HE also loves encouraging youth groups and the leaders who pour into them.

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