After speaking a week at camp, and asking a question of the day, every day, I asked the teenagers, “Why should a church or youth group want to have Paul Turner as a speaker?” Watch the video to see what kids said and then read the list below. Regardless if you choose me as your…
I read on Facebook the other day of a youth pastor sharing why he didn’t like their camp speaker this year. This YP had a good case as he described the speaker as unengaged, boring, and disconnected from the kids. It broke my heart. I’m sure these kids still have a good time at camp…
For very one victory you hear me share about our youth ministry on Instagram, or any other social media platform, there were 10 hours of work, prayer , relationship building, humbling, planning, designing and more. Ten hours, by the way, is not a magic number, its just my number and I am trying to shorten…
I was always taught Summer Jump not Summer Slump. This means that while other churches shut down/wind down for summer, our church was going to grow. I just had to figure out how to make that happen. For the past ten year and two churches I have used the TRIBES outreach program. The 10 week…
I was reading a post from YM360 called Are You Drawing a Crowd? Ask Yourself Why. The last phrase of Andy’s blog sparked something, “Do you have an audience? If your answer is “yes,” today would be a GREAT time to think about your message and why you’re drawing an audience” I like the term…
Yes, only four words holding back your youth ministry or nay ministry. Ready for them? Here ya go “It’s too much work” Now, there are others like, “That costs too much” “I don’t have time” and “I’m not good enough” I don’t want to ever phone in my work. I want every post, every message…
As youth pastors we are faced with handing problems from time to time (ok, all the time). The questions we have to ask are 1. Who’s problem is it? 2. Who should handle it? I was recently dealing with a situation where it was suggested we ask out Pastor to get involved in situation. I…
Updated 11/23/2022 Many youth ministries are in decline and dying. Yes, there are cycles, ups and downs and seasons, but there are some youth ministries that are just plain dying. If you’re one of these youth pastors whose youth group is in decline, I feel for you. I’ve been there. A declining youth ministry is…
Welcome! If you’re new here and are not a subscriber, subscribe here and get the Youth Ministry Round Up in your inbox. This is the forgotten newsletter. It seems I had in draft and left it there, never to be mailed out. I’m such a smartie. Enjoy the missing, and unfinished because I can’t remember…
Excuses are assassins. They are sneaky, well trained, well armed assailants whose sole job is to kill your hopes and dreams. Now, what are you going to do about it? Let me be clear, these are excuses you make, not your students and not their parents. These are excuses you use and try to convince…
