As a youth worker, nothing was more exciting to me than getting out of the church, out of my office, and reaching students in public schools. I never found much success doing that behind my desk, with the expectation that they would come to me,..
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When it comes to youth ministry, different people volunteer for different reasons. Some volunteer because they want to help you out, and it has nothing to with a specific calling or sweet spot. Others volunteer because they have a heart specifically for teenagers and a calling to youth ministry...
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The funny thing about growing up with a disabled sibling is that you forget to see the disability. Of course you see the wheelchair that helps them get around, or the cane that aids them when they can’t see. However, they are just your sibling,..
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The post Youth Group For Everyone: Including Students With Disabilities appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
Everything Hippy at the 2015 VMA’s An article from Jonathan McKee and David R. Smith at TheSource4YM.com The MTV Video Music Awards (the VMAs) always provide a sobering glimpse into the world of pop culture embraced by the young people of the day. The 2015 VMA’s..
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In the News San Antonio—After tackling a referee last week, two Texas high school football players have been kicked off the team and suspended from school. Pending an investigation, they could also face criminal charges, officials say. Wayne Elliott, secretary of the Austin Football Officials..
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The post Discussion Starter: Players Suspended After Tackling Ref appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
A while ago, Tasha and I attended a large gathering for students. The organizers did a great job planning powerful worship and prayer experiences, and they invited well-known musicians and speakers to lead the meetings. After a few days of meetings, we began to sense..
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The post Humor: Key Element in Youth Ministry? appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
Tolerance is something we all just put up with. (Think about the irony of that.) We often wonder, “Should Christians be tolerant or intolerant?” Perhaps we should ask, “Is tolerance overtaking the next generation in a way we should be intolerant about?” What is our voice into students and adults alike..
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The post Zero Tolerance appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
“If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!” I’m not sure who first coined that infamous saying, but it is somehow simultaneously genius and defeatist. Pragmatically speaking, it makes sense. Why fight against the inevitable? But few things seem as depressing as giving up and giving..
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The post The Hectic Lives of Teenagers: Beat ‘Em or Join ‘Em? appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
I remember purchasing Logos Bible software well over a decade ago while in college. It was so robust and innovative. Their software helped me accumulate resources, study, and complete assignments all from the comfort of my dorm (helping me keep my distance from the school library). Logos was powerful..
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The post Innovative Bible Reading appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
Have you ever built a house? I haven’t, but I’ve been watching one of my friends build a home with her family. I’ve learned by watching my friends navigate this process, that building is not easy. It’s messy, it has unexpected twist and turns, with..
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The post Starting a Youth Ministry From Scratch appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
The fall is here and small groups are upon us. So for the next two shows we will be talking about small groups. This week we answer the question, “What will attract students to join a small group?” Remember, click the button and subscribe to our..
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In the News Irving, Texas—The most talked-about high schooler in America began his week in handcuffs. On Monday, 14-year-old Ahmed Mohamed was arrested for bringing what looked like a homemade bomb to school. Although the freshman insisted it was a clock he’d invented, police officers..
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The post Discussion Starter: Homemade Clock Leads to Teen’s Arrest appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
When it comes to clear faith and big-budget films, we’re in a sweet spot these days. The prayer-centric “War Room” became a #1 top-selling movie in America. The bold, real-life revival story Woodlawn comes out in October. And now there’s Captive (Releases today, September 18!)- a real-life account of..
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It’s easy to see teenagers like caterpillars that are wrestling free from the numbing rhythms of their everyday life and into their butterfly life—where they figure out who they really are and what they really have to give to the world. Life can be ugly,..
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I came across this quote from leadership guru John Maxwell recently… “The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.” It got me thinking there should be an addition to the quote… “Cynics have forgotten what wind..
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The post The Most Jaded Generation? appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
WARNING: What we say will fire some of you up. Great! Share your thoughts in the comments below. We want to learn from your experiences just like we’ve learned from our own! Tasha and I started serving in youth ministry while we were still single. We..
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The post Your Students and Your Children appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
Hey Youth Ministry Nation! It’s freebie time again. We know one of the huge challenges for many students is dealing with bullying from their peers. Whether they are being bullied, watching the bullying happen, or the ones bullying others, it’s important to discuss this prevalent..
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In the News Washington—In a historic speech to a joint session of Congress, Pope Francis challenged U.S. lawmakers to welcome immigrants, respect life, end the death penalty, and protect the environment. He also discussed the importance of tackling poverty and income inequality. Previously, Pope Francis..
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If you want to be in youth ministry for the long haul, you must learn to have fun with students. I get the fact that you have administrative tasks to get done and program stuff to get done, but taking a break to have fun keeps it all..
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The post Sometimes We Take 1 Timothy 4:12 Too Far! appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
It hurts, doesn’t it? A student, family or volunteer leader you’ve poured your life into suddenly disappears out of your ministry… and you have no idea why. Then again, perhaps you do know why – maybe they had a legitimate issue with something you did..
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The post Jesus-Centered Ministry Loss appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
