Youth ministry brings with it a built in level of uncertainty, disorder and chaos. While many youth workers feel the need to minimize these aspects (books have been written, seminars taught, and blog posts written to help), I think a better strategy is to leverage them to your advantage. Here are a few thoughts: Leveraging […]![]()
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Leveraging Chaos
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Lifetree Adventure Update: Hope Found in Cuba
Hey Simply Insiders! Lifetree Adventures is a really cool international facet of Group Workcamps Foundation. They offer one-of-a-kind global mission experiences designed to grow your faith. Plus, they have some great international mission experiences specifically for youth in 2015 that you should look into as you plan next summer’s calendar! Recently, Lifetree Adventures took a […]![]()
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Stealing Someone Else’s Sermon
I just invented a new word: plagiarism. (Actually, I didn’t. Someone else did. I didn’t even write that joke. I saw it on Twitter. I’m horrible. Forgive me. Hold me. Love me.) You know how there are some things you’re sorry for because they’re wrong, and other things you apologize for because you get caught? […]![]()
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GIVE THE MINISTRY AWAY
Here’s a quick post about something I’ve been thinking about and trying to do in as many areas as possible concerning student leadership. And that something is give away as much of student leadership as possible. In our high school and Jr high ministry we’ve tried to give away as much of the ministry as possible. […]![]()
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The Best Ways to Lose Volunteers
“I can run a ministry alone,” said no youth worker ever. We simply can not do everything ourselves. Yet, so many times we recruit volunteers in a way that acts like it. Having been on both sides as a volunteer and recruiter I am more convinced than ever that there are some key ways […]![]()
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Track Who’s Missing and Who’s Attending This Fall
Hey Simply Insiders! Hope this back-to-school season means an influx of new students and the return of regulars for your youth ministry! It can be tough to keep track of who’s attending and who’s missing. So to help you through this busy time, we are doing a special FREE extended 45-day trial of the EVENTS […]![]()
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3 Perspective Shifts in Discipleship
In my last post I discussed three relational shifts needed if we are to actually disciple younger generations. Here, I want to discuss some bigger picture perspective shifts that are necessary. Now, to be clear, these are shifts from what might be known as a “traditional” understanding of discipleship. In other words, here are three shifts of how we think about […]![]()
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When to Kill and Release the Creativity Of Others
Do you identify more with Lorne Michaels… or Rick Warren? The former is the long-tenured producer and mind behind Saturday Night Live. For forty years, Lorne Michaels has not just kept his up-and-down-in-the-ratings variety show on the air, but has more recently found much of the creative talent for late night TV. Clearly, he knows […]![]()
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Discuss the Future of Evangelism
Forty years ago, when GROUP Magazine was an infant, the “rules of evangelism” were well-known and commonly accepted. Today, the cultural landscape is a harsh ecosystem for conventional ideas about evangelism. In youth ministry, it’s still high on the “to-do” list, but very few actually model or train students in how to do it. We […]![]()
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My Sister’s Faith Community is called “Mr. Jim’s”
Yep, its a bar. Not a fancy bar; just a typical East Texas place where the locals hang out. Actually, its name is now Southland due to an owner change…but the older locals still call it Mr. Jim’s. Get a picture in your mind: inside is the sit-at bar, games, a karaoke setup, a wall […]![]()
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Your Issues Aren’t My Issues.
I’ve never bought a pair of Toms shoes. I didn’t wear a Kony 2012 T-shirt. I declined offers to take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. I don’t have a strong opinion about immigration reform. I’m not actively fighting against the oppression of women within certain evangelical circles. I’ve never sponsored a child through World Vision […]![]()
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The Truth About Women In Youth Ministry
Recently I found myself in the middle of a strange debate with a well meaning guy in youth ministry. He told me the “real” job of women in this type of ministry is to support their husbands who hold paid positions. “What if a woman never gets married?” I asked. His answer was, “As long as […]![]()
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4 MISCONCEPTIONS I MADE ABOUT PARENTS
One thing that I get to do in pastoral care is meet with parents. It is super great when the conversations are awesome, but it’s the worst when tough conversations have to happen. So I thought I would list a few mistakes I’ve made concerning dealing with parents and my learnings. Assuming They Know. - I had […]![]()
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How are you Feeling?
Some days, I could care less. Other days, I couldn’t care more. It doesn’t matter what the topic is… there are days when my feelings get bullied by my logic, and other days when my emotions want to rule my life. How are you feeling? It’s the question that you are either ask too much […]![]()
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Harvest Season
Starting out in ministry in camps was a joy. The kids came, spent a week with me and left clinging to the cross. Even the most hardened student seemed to walk away changed. Transitioning into rural and then suburban youth ministry I felt like I made a difference. Then I walked into a world where […]![]()
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BRAND NEW! LIVE: Journey to Freedom
Hey Simply Insiders! Start fresh this fall with a brand new LIVE Curriculum! Introducing LIVE Journey to Freedom, 36 weeks of inquiry-based lessons designed to boldly examine some of the toughest issues youth face today. Respond to your teenagers who have hit a wall in dealing with their hurts and bad habits and don’t know […]![]()
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Anonymous Depression
Ladies… gentlemen… this Twitter account exists. https://twitter.com/scarred_wristsx Because that student exists. Not just online… but likely right under our noses. It’s not always anonymous depression. There is probably someone in your contact list who when they call you know it’s going to be a long conversation. You may even find yourself wondering if you can […]![]()
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S Truett Cathy, and Your Legacy
“The one thing I take more joy in than anything else in the world is seeing young people develop.” – S Truett Cathy Chick-Fil-A fans and the Cathy family are taking note of the legacy left behind by the founder of America’s top chicken restaurant chain. Fifty years after he created the recipe for his famous sandwich, […]![]()
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IKEA Taking a Swing at Apple?
With all the attention Apple is getting about their big announcement tomorrow, it is not surprise that other companies are trying to cash in by riding coat tails and spinning off Apple parodies. Check out the latest from IKEA. (Maybe I should make a parody video promoting our small group ministry).![]()
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Pros & Cons to Choosing a Youth Group Name
Yesterday I had a conversation with a new youth worker who just got a lead youth ministry position. The conversation was on when should they change the name and thought I’d share a few of my thoughts. To be honest, I believe there is a strong case to have or not to have one, so I […]![]()
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More Pages to Explore .....
