I’m an evangelist at heart. I like planting seeds. And while I’m not the guy who is eagerly looking for an opportunity to share the Romans Road with my barista or hang out at the skate parking looking for the chance to drop a spiritual..
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The post Why We Quit Doing Big Events And You Should Too appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
He stared right through me. I said his name over and over, but he just didn’t’ have the strength to look me in the eye or respond. If he stopped staring at the wall or dared to break the silence, then time would begin to..
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The post The unspeakable pain, hope, failures, and victories of youth ministry appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
In the News Lahore, Pakistan—Accused of blasphemy after mishearing a question at a mosque, 15-year-old Mohammad Anwar went home to cut off his own hand. Since then, he’s become a local hero. During a celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birth, a cleric had worked worshippers..
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The post Discussion Starter: Muslim Teen Cuts off Hand to Prove Faith appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
Sexpectations “The Talk” Our Kids Hear Every Day An article from Jonathan McKee at TheSource4YM.com WARNING: The following article references elicit sexual imagery from today’s youth culture and might be offensive. If you are offended…good! You should be. Because our kids are exposed to this..
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The reality of bomb testing. The mystery of Donald Trump. The threat of ISIS. The ambiguity of sexuality. Students, families and even random adults in your church have no shortage of hot topics to throw your way. Whether you’re taken aback from a recent zinger or..
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The post From Controversies to Jesus-Centered Conversation appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
Stop Believing These Lies About Leadership There seems to be this notions that if a leader needs help, they shouldn’t be leading. I think that’s just dumb thinking. I believe that type of thinking is a huge contributor to pastors (and especially youth pastors) being overtaken by..
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The post Stop Believing These Lies About Leadership appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
15 Free Valentine’s Backgrounds In honor of the launch of the all-new LIVE Holiday curriculum, we put together 15 sweet Valentine-themed backgrounds just in time for your message or game at your next youth group gathering! CLICK HERE or the image below to instantly download..
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The post FREEBIE: Valentine’s Backgrounds appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
Valentine’s Day Do’s and Don’ts We will soon be celebrating the most beloved and hated holiday in all of tween and teen-dom: Valentine’s Day. During adolescence it seems to become THE DAY when your friends, crushes and relationships prove their love for you via candy gram or..
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The BIG game is almost here! Are you looking for something fun and Super Bowl®-related for your next youth gathering or to do during halftime? Take this Super Bowl® trivia game, and use it as a handout for students to fill out and turn in. Or, take..
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The post FREEBIE: Super Bowl® Trivia Game appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
Football season is about to end, and we are going out with a bang! My favorite resource for group games (Crowd Control Games) just dropped a crazy awesome game that will be perfect for any Sunday morning gathering, your pre-game or halftime activity, or anytime you..
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The post ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
UPDATE: Submissions from 15-year-olds now also accepted! Group, a non-denominational Christian publisher, is partnering with Biblica to produce a New Testament Bible for youth. What will make this Bible unique is the editorial and visual elements featured in this Bible will be created by teenagers...
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The post {UPDATE} Call for Art Submissions: 15-year-olds Now Included appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
In the News Santa Clara, Calif.—As soon as the Super Bowl 50 matchup was set, sportswriters embraced a “good vs. evil” storyline. Old-school quarterback Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos could have a fairytale ending to his career Sunday, while newcomer Cam Newton of the..
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The post Discussion Starter: Quarterback Cast as Villain for Celebrating appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
Imagine that one of your volunteers smells a little funny sometimes. He tries hiding it under other scents he’s sprayed on or is chewing, but the odor remains and even makes you a bit spacey being around him. Do you weed him out, or take the “don’t..
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The post Weeding Out Youth Worker Marijuana appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
I love overly salted, cured meats but that is not the SPAM we are talking about. In 2014, we realized we were spamming the parents in our ministry. The open rate of our student ministry emails were crazy low. We were working hard to be..
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The post Communicate with Parents, Don’t Spam Them appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
Peyton Manning, at thirty-nine years of age, walked off the field Sunday night as a champion. And in doing so, he forever ensured his name is mentioned in the conversation of “all time greatest” NFL quarterbacks. Must have had the game of his life. Not..
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The post It’s a Team Effort appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
It’s hard not to think about the leaders when we get questions about small groups. How you think about and treat your leaders really shapes your small group program. So we thought we’d talk about a few gifts your leaders can’t go without. I feel..
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The post LTYM: 4 Gifts to Give Your Small Group Leaders appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
Sara came to youth group committed to three things: 1) Never make eye contact with any adult no matter how hard they try to connect with you. 2) Never leave without professing your undying hatred for youth group. 3) Complain, about anyone or anything. I’m sure you’re..
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The post Transformation: From Hating Youth Group to Experiencing Jesus appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
Youth leaders, we need your help! Here at Group’s Simply Youth Ministry, we are constantly trying to create new resources that you will find useful and accessible. We greatly value your input as this will help us cater our resources to meet your specific ministry needs. Please take..
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The post Youth Ministry Survey! appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
In the News Concord, N.H.—As primary season heats up, enthusiastic young voters are supporting the race’s oldest candidate: 74-year-old Senator Bernie Sanders. The democratic socialist defeated fellow candidate Hillary Clinton in this week’s New Hampshire primary. Many young people say Sanders seems genuine and has..
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The post Discussion Starter: Young People Drawn to Bernie Sanders appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
As a former military member, I learned the value of a ‘go-bag’ long ago. Here’s the idea: You keep a bag ready to go at a moment’s notice. In this bag you put everything you will need for a specific operation, or in the case of..
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The post Youth Ministry ‘Go-Bag’ appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
