I spend my days writing for and training youth workers JUST LIKE YOU.
The Youth Ministry Cycle of Stupid: What Is It and How To Break It
You are not stupid, but the cycle of planning and programming we get stuck in sure feels that way. The cycle of stupid is when we sow an idea, hoping to produce great results only to wind up reaping a harvest of frustration. I have been...
Preaching Revolution From The Inside Out
The Hunger Games newest movie Mockingjay Pat 1 will be out in November and I have been on board from the books and the first movie. The first movie's dark side is easily revealed in the brutal battles between teenagers. Because this movie is...
5 Ways To Bring Back Wow! To The Movie Going Experience
This is completely off topic and a personal rant of sorts but, if you are a youth worker, you might be able to glean a few things to bring back WOW to your youth ministry. I was listening to the news this morning at how the movie industry ate it...
The Youth Workers Cure For “But I Don’t Have Time To Read”
If you are a youth worker and have ever felt like you were falling behind in your reading because you didn't have time, Jeff Crosby has fixed that for you, I received an e-mail from Jeff a few weeks ago about his new service creating book...
Youth Group Lesson On Judging Others: Is Hannah Drunk?
If you're a tired of your youth group kids judging each other, may be its time to do a lesson on it. You could do this as a message or bible study and I have included some ideas for resources below on how to trick out the lesson. Here's are my...
What If I Told You I Had 500 Students?
Let me clear, I do no have 500 students. But what if I did? Would it change your perception of me? Would you read my blog more? E-mail me for success tips? Try to be my best friend? Buy me coffee? Call me to chat? Hate my guts? I...
Youth Ministry Reality: Our Public Life and Private Struggles
With so many stories lately of famous people committing suicide (Chris Cornell from Soundgarden, Chester Bennington from Linkin Park) and hundreds more with no fame at all, I thought it was important to share some of my journey with depression...
Do You Fear The Scale? Weighing In On Your Youth Ministry
I just read a quote by Seth Godin that reminded me of how angry my wife makes me. Ok, let me clarify, my wife does not make me mad, I make myself mad because I ask her opinion and when her opinion does not jibe with mine I get mad. She will...
My 5 Principles For Leaving A Legacy
Youth Ministry is not just something we do in a church setting, it's something we do everywhere there are young people. You can be legacy builders and never be full time youth pastors. Parents, teachers, plumbers, camp counselors, whoever loves...
Legacy Building In Student Ministry
I recently spoke at Life For Youth Camp, the camp I received Christ at when I was 13 years old, and my mind was blown. Here's the first mind-blower, I had five girls attending camp this summer who were aging out, they would not be able to come...
Life For Youth Camp Wrap Up
What a fantastic Week! Thank you all so much for all you campers who chose my week, I am truly honored. This week we talk about being sold out and not letting anyone stealing the seat of the one we are saving it for, Jesus. Our theme verse for the...
What It Takes To Be Generous
Generosity is a gift and a skill. It's something we all have the ability to do and get better at. Giving our praise, c comment, a thumbs up, a retweet, a share, a shout out, a pin, etc. are all things we can do if we want to. So, how come...
Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Things I Learned On My Mission Trip To Alaska
Good morning all. I just got back from Alaska (Saturday) with a fantastic group of people from our church. We had mom's and daughters, mom;s and sons, and a scattering of youth and young adults and myself and today I want to...
Rethinking Your Youth Ministry Team
I can remember attending Youth Specialties NYWC and feeling like a failure. I looked around and saw these youth pastors who had large teams of people with them. I had normally gone to YS alone because my volunteers couldn't afford it or didn't ...
The 5 Excuses For Not Creating A Next Level Team
I am calling this Volunteer Week. If you work with a group of volunteers or are a volunteer yourself, this week is for you. Teams are better than loners. With teams, more work get's done, more kids are reached, and we have a greater peace in...
The Disciple Project OUTREACH MANUAL
HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR DECAYING YOUTH MEETING INTO A FLOURISHING CITY-WIDE MOVEMENT