I just had lunch with a parent with students in our ministry. They were at their previous church for eight years before moving to ours. They were new so I wanted to connect and make sure they were fitting in …
Every youth pastor has faced it at some point. You’re standing in the church lobby and someone says, “Wait, we have a youth ministry?”
If your church is new or your student ministry feels smaller than the rest of the …
You did it.
You survived the travel, the late-night Taco Bell run, the endless sessions, and the emotional rollercoaster of worship + free coffee refills. Now you’re home, your brain’s full, your heart’s inspired, and your inbox is angry.
Before …
After sixteen years in youth ministry, I resigned from my position during one of the messiest seasons of my life.
Usually, when I tell that part of my story, people ask where I went after I resigned from my church. …
Because “thanks for serving” only goes so far
Somewhere between the fall kickoff and the Christmas party, ministry can start to feel like a treadmill. The energy that fueled the first month is running low, students are buried in school …
Youth ministry without parent communication is like planning a party and forgetting to tell the guests. You can have the best events, the most creative series, and the funniest game ideas, but if parents do not know what is going …
Let’s be real. Summer is weird in youth ministry. Some weeks are packed with camp hype and mission trip miracles. Other weeks feel like you are speaking to four kids and a pizza box. Maybe your rhythm took a hit. …
Fall in youth ministry is like the Super Bowl, Black Friday, and your mom’s birthday all rolled into one. There is pressure. There are expectations. There are last-minute surprises. You want to start strong, make an impact, and not forget …
Welcome to fall, youth worker!
Your sandals are barely back in the closet, your inbox is overflowing, and the church copier has jammed twice before 10 a.m.
It must be the start of the youth ministry year.
Whether you’re a …
When I started in student ministry, my “strategic plan” was basically pizza, dodgeball, and staying awake long enough to drive the church van home after camp.
Fast forward 25+ years, and while pizza is still a viable ministry tool (unless …