A few years ago, while writing monthly top ten lists for Group Magazine, they asked me to come up with a list of things that youth pastors “settle for”? Here is what I came up with… 10. Mid-90’s 15-Passenger Van as Your Ministry Transportation. 9. $5 Little Caesar’s Pizzas as the Meal for Every Event. […]
Get Your Game Face On! What if the teens don’t like the game? What if the game is a flop? How can I get more game ideas? These questions are normal for anyone who has been working in the youth ministry for any amount of time. We want to focus on the most important thing, […]
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 […]
I choose to lead with my wife and family, when I lead my ministry, especially in the area of family and parent ministry.
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 […]
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 […]
Here are at least ten proofs! Lock-Ins Are of the Devil
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 […]
