All youth pastors have done it. And if you haven’t, you will. You’ll play the game that goes sideways and a kid get’s hurt. You’ll tell parents you’ll be back at this time and show up at that time. You’ll get...
I spend my days writing for and training youth workers JUST LIKE YOU.
The Youth Pastor’s Guide To Apologies
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The 9 Risks of Becoming A Youth Pastor
I have been working in youth ministry in the local church, camps and campus ministry for over 30 years, but when I started, no one told me about the risks involved with working with youth. The risks I am about share with you, I discovered on my...
Youth Bible Study On Social Media
I just watched the new video/song from 90’s band Disturbed. They’re not a Christian band or even a religious one but they are spiritual. The lead singer David Draiman grew up an Orthodox Jew but pushed back against its strict...
Protected: Youth Ministry Round Up #102
Why New Youth Pastor’s Burn Out So Soon
Welcome to part five of my series The Five Plans Every New Youth Pastor Should Have. You can check out the beginning of the series here. Can I tell you when I most often felt the burn of burn out? It was was when the wheels in my head started to...
How To Plan A Youth Meeting For Maximum Impact
Welcome to part four of my series on The 5 Plans Every New Youth Pastor Needs. You can read about the first plan I think is important here. Every new youth pastor needs a meeting plan. When I first started planning youth meetings I was pretty...
The Number One Thing New Youth Pastor’s Overlook In Starting A Youth Ministry
Welcome to part three of my series 5 Resources Every New Youth Pastor Needs. If you’re new here, welcome! Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to get updates on new articles, videos and resources. New youth pastor’s needs discipleship...
How New Youth Pastors Can Find Their Voice
Welcome to part two of my series The Five Plans Every New Youth Pastor Needs To Have. You can start at the first post here, If you like. I started youth ministry by just reading my bible, praying about it and then teaching on what God showed me....
5 Plans Every New Youth Pastor Needs
When I first started youth pastoring in 1995, youth ministry resources were just hitting their stride. The local Christian Book store was where I’d go to see what was new. As a new youth pastor, I was in the weeds and I found myself jumping...
5 Mistakes New Youth Pastors Make At Camp
I’ve been involved on camp ministry since I was 13 years old. I’ve held every job from camp dish washer to camp pastor. I know mistakes when I see one because I’ve made plenty of them as well as witnessing many others. If...
Protected: Youth Ministry Round Up #101
Discussing Hot Topics In Youth Ministry
Remember when, as the youth pastor, you could have a discussion with your youth ministry around hot topics and have the majority of the group agree with you or echo similar sentiments? Yep, those days are long gone to the point where many youth...
Make These Three Words A Part Of Your Vocabulary To Be Successful
I did’t like the last meeting I was in charge of. I didn’t like my disposition during the meeting and I did not like my response to certain aspects of our discussion time. I could have, and initially did, blame other factors for my...
Four Truths About Youth Ministry And Sports
When I was a younger youth pastor, I believed sports was the enemy of youth ministry. Sports took athletic students away from my youth meetings, outreaches, retreats, etc. Didn’t those coaches know I needed the numbers!? It’s easy to...
Youth Ministry Round Up #96
IG Youth Ministry Pic of the Week Inspiration for your next event. Articles Student Leadership: Three Approaches You Produce What You Program Ministry and Family: Five Things To Remember Turning Youth Ministry Outsiders Into Insiders Barna...
The Disciple Project OUTREACH MANUAL
HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR DECAYING YOUTH MEETING INTO A FLOURISHING CITY-WIDE MOVEMENT