by Andrew Zirschky As a junior political science and philosophy major at a Christian college on the West Coast, Laura looked to be the paragon of devoted and vibrant faith: she prayed and read her Bible daily, spent her weekends ...
Have you ever noticed that every story can be told from a positive or negative perspective? One team's story of winning the national championship at the last second is another team's heartbreak of losing the championship at the last second. ...
by Chris Mucha It’s the students that constantly talk while you are trying to teach, the ones who disappear during programming, the guy and girl who seem to think youth night and date night are the same thing, and the ...
by Michael Adkins If we’re being honest, the question of technology in youth spaces is really one of mobile devices (such as phones, iPods, and tablets) in youth spaces. And we have to face facts: Our students are increasingly wired ...
by Joseph Robinson Oh, cell phones… There is almost nothing I can think of that has as much potential to be either great or terrible for youth ministry. I’m a big believer that there’s not really anything that is inherently ...
I was fresh out of college. I had been in professional youth ministry less than two years. I was six months into my first full-time youth ministry job when it happened. Joel had been attending our youth group for three ...
by Randy Knighten In January of every year in the United States of America we celebrate the life of one of the most influential ministers and public theologians in the history of the world. The birthday of Dr. Martin Luther ...
by Andrew Zirschky The last thing anyone needs is another article on leadership. We’re a culture obsessed with the topic as any trip to the local bookstore will reveal. Faced with a declining Christian culture, church leaders in particular have ...
by Erin Hicks Suicide is something you will never be prepared for. When I got the phone call last January that one of my youth had taken his life, but was still not legally dead, it wasn’t real to me. ...
Several years ago, I developed severe back pain and had to go to the chiropractor. My chiropractor taught me several things about my body during my visits. The two most important lessons I learned were: The nervous system running up ...
by Andrew Mochrie Growing up, my parents instructed me to play well with others, specifically my sister. Those conversations often came after I had not played well, or somehow left my sister crying in the sandbox. (I was just doing ...
by Dietrich "Deech" Kirk When I was younger, I sometimes got confused about who was in charge of the church. I seemed to be the only one who knew the church had problems, and if a few others knew, well, I knew ...
by Carlisle Jones What does it mean for the church to really care about or DO youth ministry? How important is it for the whole church to be involved in the youth ministry? During the fall semester of 2013, second ...
When I think about my ministry, one of my goals is to leave a legacy of youth ministry. In addition to seeking to teach youth that they are beloved Children of God, redeemed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, ...
You've decided that you would like to have someone other than you speak on your next retreat, but need some advice on how to go about doing it. Well, before you book Rob Bell, here is some advice: Get someone ...
Great music can really enhance your youth event, retreat, or camp, but before you book Chris Tomlin to be your worship leader, here are some things to consider: Make sure you get someone who is actually a worship leader. Just ...
by Peter Carlson Some of the best youth ministry happens when a student knows and trusts an adult who is willing to be a mentor, someone who can, on a regular basis, intensely show Jesus to the student through word, action, ...
You've booked your retreat location, your general logistics are nailed down, and your schedule has a framework. (Read "Successful Retreat Planing: Part 1" here.) Now it's time to think about the details: Lessons, Devotionals, and Worship Three months out, begin ...
Don't have it all together for your summer retreats? Don't know where to start? Read on for some time-tested tips from veteran youth ministers . . . Prayer and Purpose: Why? Begin in prayer with your ministry team about the ...
I stood on a front porch with my two friends, all three of us, 12 years old. It was a Sunday afternoon and I had been at church that morning. The lesson was from Matthew 5:38-42. You know this one ...
