Losing Your Faith In Humanity? Good.

I’ve seen various iterations of this “I’ve lost my faith in humanity” “I’m losing my faith in humanity because..” People post this because some, a lot, or all human beings have disappointed them in the moment or all that day. When someone posts, “I’ve lost my faith in humanity”, I’m not surprised because we were…

Why Christianity is Losing Teenagers

“If you want to ride a bike, don’t read a book, don’t watch a video” says Seth Godin in the majority of his podcast episodes, to promote his Akimbo workshops. He believes entrepreneurs can, and should create, in real time an that is what his workshops offer. Seth gives them the tools, the accountability and…

Five Reasons To Use Responsive Readings In Your Youth Ministry

I’ve used responsive readings over the years, in youth meetings, camps, etc. and found them to be powerful tools in helping students interact with God’s word. The back and forth of scripture and response is better than the call and response method such as begging for an amen. Amen is a great word that means…

Keeping Young Adults In Church Depends On What Your Church Values

This is my sixth, and last, reflection on the book Growing With by Kara Powell and Steve Argue. You can read my reflections from the beginning here. Currently, I’m 50 years old and have started attending a new church. After 30 years a youth pastor and associate pastors, this is a new experience for me. I…

If This Is How You’re Measuring Youth Discipleship, You’re Losing

There’s a saying, you measure what’s important or even better. ” if it’s worth doing it’s worth measuring“.  Anything could be a measuring tool. Noah used the tip of his elbow to the tip of his tallest finger to build the ark. I bet he wished he had a tape measure or at least a…

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Ways To “Raise The Bar” In Your Youth Ministry

  Pic source Last night I got on a it of rant on Twitter. Part of it was reflection of my own status in life and part of it was my distaste for mediocrity in general. Here is my rant from Twitter: @paulturnertoo We should stop giving out attendance awards in elementary school because in…

STEPPS 2 To Sharing What Your Youth Ministry Is All About: Spiritual Triggers

In the days of yore, people would tie strings around their fingers to remind themselves to do something. Today we have apps for that but reminding kids about their faith in Christ and their place in our community, called the church is a reminder we cannot afford to forget. Yesterday I shared about the importance…

My 17 Most Popular Posts of 2017

These posts received between 1,000 and 5,500 views each and are not arranged in any particular order. Enjoy. The Wrong Kind of Busy Growing Older In Youth Ministry Sucks The Danger of Study – Preach – Repeat Real Youth Pastor’s Don’t Starve Losing Your Faith In Humanity? Good! Three Reasons I Live Stream Our Youth…

How To Teach Middle School and High School Together

Most youth ministries do not have the luxury of separating their middle and high school students, which is optimum, when it comes to Sunday school, small groups or even in your main meeting. This is mostly because of not enough volunteers or not enough volunteers who want to work with middle school. The challenges with…

Kasey Musgraves is All Grown Up And Seeking Deeper Wells

Kasey Musgraves is a country music star not a Christian musician, In fact, she caught a lot of heat because of her 2014 song Straight Arrow which stuck a finger in the eye of Christian values. You may say, “Why then, Paul, would you want youth to listen to Deeper Wells if Kasey is not…