Youth Group Lesson Take-a-Longs… 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 […]
Successful Marriage AND Ministry Trips- Ten tips that work for both your marriage and your ministry! 10. Faithfulness- Don’t be check out other people’s… 9. Fun- Enjoy and learn to laugh. Learn to laugh at yourself. 8. Plan- Make plans and stick with them, what you say you will do…do! 7. Relax- Take and find […]
A “Home Run” Lesson Every Week? The conversation would be similar each week as I would walk through the plan for that night, and it would always end the same before I left the office. I would be asked about my lesson. Each time I would hear the same thing… “Is it a home run, […]
Youth Ministry Hints, Youth Ministry Resources, Youth Ministry Thoughts
Christ-Centered vs. Student-Center Ministry
Like many homes where adults choose to make the children the center of attention and decision making, there are ALSO many youth ministries and churches doing the SAME thing. Like homes that are consumed with making sure children are not bored or unhappy, we as youth ministries may also be unknowingly doing the same thing […]
Be Focal, Buy Local with your youth ministry. Let’s be real, we spend money, whether we are the big church in town or small fry around the corner we are spending our church’s (*God’s money) or the parent’s money. Why not be more “Focal” in our spending by buying “Local”? Whether it is the next […]
Youth Ministry Hints, Youth Ministry Resources, Youth Ministry Thoughts
Using Parents as Youth Leaders
Using Parents as Parents As Youth Leaders. Does the sound of that idea make you quake in your Vans? It doesn’t have to. Parent volunteers can be our allies, our trusted group of faithful, hard-working ministers whom we link arms with. There are many reasons why having parents as youth ministry volunteers is a good […]
Ten Youth Group Bus Games for your upcoming summer trips and other amazing moments you are stuck in a bus trying to kill time, beyond everyone on the phone or sleeping. The first set of ten FREE youth group favorites of my students from over the years. These are simple, low, or no-prep games that […]
“A-Way” Style Youth Ministry Leadership… We lead people; that is what we do, but how? Is there “a way” that works? Here are three “a-ways” to leading better in your youth ministry. More often than not, the term “pastor” in our leadership role in youth ministry is interchangeable with words such as “leader,” “director,” or […]
Youth Ministry Hints, Youth Ministry Resources, Youth Ministry Thoughts
Engaging Middle Schoolers in Small Groups
ENGAGING MIDDLE SCHOOLERS IN SMALL GROUPS IS SOMETIMES CHALLENGING; OTHER TIMES, IT MAY SEEM IMPOSSIBLE. She was awkwardly staring me down, like only a middle school girl with a little too much attitude could. We had dismissed into small groups a while ago. I had asked her a simple question, “Why aren’t you in your […]
Youth Ministry Hints, Youth Ministry Resources, Youth Ministry Thoughts
Things Have to Change Post-Covid!
Things Have to Change Post-Covid! Whether it is finally, truly over, is to be seen but it would seem like after exactly two years, we are emerging from Covid. Schools, restaurants, stores, and yes, the Church. Now as we come out of this as churches and youth ministry, it is time for us to […]