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Leveraging Chaos
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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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....
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