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 […]
Years ago, I sat in aYouth Specialties National Youth Workers Convention, listening to Kara Powell, talk about her research connected to the new Sticky Faith book. I remember her on the main stage talking about programs being a tunnel to ministry but not being our ministry. She warned the crowd to make sure to be […]
Youth Ministry, It Is Not About You!
Friend to Father: Youth Ministry Seasons, reflections, and thoughts from 28 years of youth ministry. I didn’t think it would ever happen, but it has! I have become a youth pastor and a father of two students. In fact, I just watched my daughter graduate from High School and my youth ministry while my son […]
Ten Youth Ministry Mistakes… People always ask me what I would tell my younger self, starting out in youth ministry. What are the mistakes that you made that you wish someone would have told you about during your first year in youth ministry? The other question I get is what I observe as the big […]
Mel Walker was a youth ministry legend, having served actively for over 45 years in youth ministry. He was the author of many excellent youth ministry books, and he was also a curriculum writer. He was a regular trainer and speaker all over the world. He was a youth ministry leader and teacher to so […]
Daddy Always Said (Youth Ministry Wisdom) Father Knows Best… Go Ask Your Father… Fatherly Wisdom… In Honor of Father’s Day, Yesterday, Here Are Ten Things “Daddy Always Said…” Growing Up, that May Also Still Apply In Your Youth Ministry Life? 10. “Walk It Off….“- Sometimes in ministry, you will get hurt, and you might need to walk away […]
A Note About Mel Walker, One of My Youth Ministry Heroes: On Thursday, December 2, my personal youth ministry hero past away. 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 talked often about […]
A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN…You know the scene. The outlaw in the black hat walks down the dusty street, then out steps the guy in the white hat. He announces, “I am the new sheriff in town”, with his hand resting on the handle of his six-shooter. It is a scene that plays in my […]
