Why Talk About Technology? If you are working in children’s ministry (Generation Alpha) or youth ministry (Generation Z), you are working with “Digital Natives.” Young people have never experienced a world without the internet, cell phones, and digital devices. We live in an advancing digital, technological age. The future is now, and it will just keep […]
Social Media Savvy is a hard thing to come by and to balance. Social media over the past decade or so has been a gift and a curse. It has allowed youth workers to have an almost continuous flow of connection into the lives of our students. It has also been a window into […]
15+ Appropriate Halloween Fall Movies. This is a question I hear every year around this time, “What is an appropriate movie to show students during the fall…Halloween season!?” Obviously, this is always a bit of a delicate topic with “Halloween” parties vs. “Fall/Harvest” parties so please do not be offended. Here are a few that […]
Why Key Ministry Leaders Fail? I grew up in a pastor’s home. Some of my best friends growing up were pastor’s kids. We would go to ministry conferences as a family growing up, so I was able to quietly observed ministry leaders from “behind the curtain.” I attended a private Christian school and was […]
Youth Ministry Leadership Fails
PERSONAL NOTE: On Thursday, December 2, 2021, the world lost a giant in youth ministry. Mel Walker was a mentor, friend, and surrogate uncle to me. He was always willing to talk, pray, and guide me through the path of personal and ministry life. We spoke regularly about the future of youth ministry. I can […]
Successful Big Parent Meetings- Parent meetings can be intimidating but they do not have to be. So many youth leaders/pastor dread these meetings, as moments where they are put on the spot, questioned, or even feel like they are being critiqued. Often younger leaders feel threatened, put-down, or disrespected as they walk away from […]
THE MIDDLE YEARS (5th-9th grade, Ages 10-14) ARE A HUGE TIME OF LIFE TRANSITION. IT MIGHT EVEN BE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TIMES IN A PERSON’S LIFE! Do youth pastors/workers know and understand the transition that is happening in the lives of their students? Do we appreciate the power and the potential for doing effective […]
Helping Students Return to School… Ten Quick Hints and Ideas. 10. Offer Sharing Times, During Regular Meeting Times/Small Groups to Talk, Before and After Their First Week. 9. Be Available Virtually and In-Person After-School for Students That Need to Talk. 8. Support Parents in the Back to School Process. 7. Teach “Back to School” Lesson […]
Discipleship is and Is Not… Some Quick Reflections On What IS and IS NOT Discipleship in our ministries. Discipleship IS Small Groups. It is NOT Cliques. Discipleship IS faith involvement. It is NOT faith information. Discipleship IS a guide on the side. It is NOT a sage on the stage. Discipleship IS an invitation to […]
