November Hilarious Youth Group Holidays, special dates to make your youth group special in your student ministry in November. Nov. 2nd: National Deviled Egg Day Oh, the fun you could have with deviled egg games and eating contests!! Nov. 6th:: National Nacho Day Three Words- “Kiddie Pool Nachos” Nov. 8th: National Dunce Day Great day […]
There’s a phrase that has echoed in leadership circles for decades: the tyranny of the urgent. It names a truth every pastor, leader, or volunteer knows all too well—the endless stream of pressing demands that crowd out what matters most. But in the church, I think we actually face three tyrannies: the urgent, the desperate, […]
When you step into a new ministry context, resist the urge to immediately lead with solutions. Be a student of the culture before trying to be its teacher.
Learn the language.
Honor the traditions.
Understand the personalities.
Walk into a good locally-owned coffee shop and you’ll notice something: it feels different. The space is intentional, the people are known, and every detail—from the music to the mug—tells a story.
What if the local church operated with that same level of care and creativity? Here are ten things your church can learn from your neighborhood hipster coffee shop owner.
Engaging Middle Schoolers in Small Groups (Because Let’s Be Honest — It’s Hard) She stared at me, full attitude and eye-roll, like only a middle school girl can. We’d broken into small groups a while back, and when I asked why she wasn’t in hers, she said she didn’t want to go. Not because she […]
Bringing in the right speaker can make or break your next ministry event. The right voice doesn’t just fill a slot on the schedule — they breathe life into your theme, connect deeply with your audience, and help move your mission forward. But with so many options (and limited budgets), how do you choose wisely?
Falling Off Your Stepping Stone… Too many young leaders enter youth ministry thinking of it as a temporary stop—a “stepping stone” on the way to what they consider the “real ministry.” But here’s the hard truth: that mindset isn’t just a personal career misstep—it’s dangerous, deceptive, and can deeply hurt the students you’re called to serve
Ugly Truths About Youth Ministry
“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 […]
Stockholders vs. Stakeholders in the Church: Why the Difference Matters in Ministry
In the world of business, the terms stockholder and stakeholder sound similar, but they have very different meanings. Let me be clear, while the church isn’t a corporation, this distinction can actually help us think more clearly about how we lead, serve, and make decisions in ministry.
