I spend my days writing for and training youth workers JUST LIKE YOU.
What I’m Reading: 10 Books That Are Reviving My Soul and Making Me Smarter
I love books, all kinds of books. You'll see books on this list from across varied interests. I learned early on in ministry to be well read in multiple areas and not just in youth ministry, and that principle has enriched my life greatly. Here's...
11 Important Youth Pastor Job Interview Questions You Should Be Able To Answer
I had the pleasure of sitting on a panel today to play the part of a board member grilling a potential youth pastor. I hate to admit it but I had way too much fun. I asked hard questions based on my own experiences and questions I wished pastors...
Is Your Mind A Storage Unit Or A Workshop?
If it's ok with you, I'm taking a break from writing about youth ministry and I'm going to share what I have been reading and what I am learning from it. The knowledge is bursting in my mind like fireworks. Read on and feel free to...
Developing A Heart of Worship In Our Student Ministry
photo credit I have heard many youth workers say, and I myself have said, "I can't get my students to sing during worship time". Singing is certainly a part of worship and one aspect of worship, but singing in and of itself is not worship....
10 Worship Songs I’d Like To Send Into The Void…Forever
There are those who think the only worship songs that are "anointed" by God are from a different century and there are those who think songs they heard on their local Christian radio yesterday are the "new thing" God is doing. They are both...
Harnessing The Power Of Consistency
Photo Credit: Welcome to my 200th post!! I never thought I would get here. I was lazy, uninspired, and, well, lazy. But, since January, I made the commitment to write five days a week. Five days straight, Monday through Friday. To celebrate this...
The Real Enemies of Youth Ministry
Did you hear about the guy who cut off both his arms at a Home Depot in L.A..? Police arrived on the scene but did not unholster their weapons. Why not? The man was unarmed. Ok, that's my first bad joke of the day but certainly will not be...
The Most Interesting Youth Group In The World
I recently had a student text me who had not been in youth for a while. It was a random text. he said, "I am bringing a few friends to church Wednesday. They feel judged at their other church." This random text reminds me of the the Dos...
Four Warning Signs A Storm Is Coming To Your Youth Ministry
Photo credit I have lived in Florida and faced Hurricanes that were devastating, but the warning system is early and gives us a chance, usually days, to board up windows and such. I now live in Alabama, and it's tornado season. You do not have days...
You Have Permission To Create The Imperfect Youth Ministry
I watched the documentary Indie Game on Netflix (warning, it has potty words) this weekend and walked away with a cool quote, in three parts, about creating something personal, It comes from Jonathan Blow, a game designer, "Part of it (game...
The Disciple Project Store Is Now Open For Your Shopping Pleasure, No Pushing Please
It has always been my desire to share what I create with others. Disciple Project Ministries is an equipping ministry. Yes, I am a youth pastor but i do not stop there. There are ideas that God gives me that I think are worth sharing. For three...
Would You, Could You, Call Yourself A Christian?
You'll have to pardon me this morning if my words seem incoherent, last night at youth there were rubber chickens, a water fight between a leader and a student, a message including Dragon Ball Z, and I think there was prayer, it's all a bit blurry...
5 Crowdsourcing Ideas For Your Youth Ministry Using Social Media
I tried an experiment a few days ago. I texted a bunch of my kids, maybe 12-15, and asked them to take a picture of something that they are struggling with. They could have taken a picture of their homework, a bully, a teacher, their...
Upping Student Engagement In Your Youth Ministry Through Crowd Sourcing
Yesterday I framed the idea of crowdsourcing with our youth ministry to mark our meetings with their fingerprints and to challenge them to think deeper about their faith. Today I'd like to break it down with a few ideas I am experimenting with...
Engaging Your Students and Building Your Youth Meeting Using Crowdsourcing
I hope every one had a fantastic Easter weekend. powerful Easter drama on Friday and Saturday, I participated in World Table Top Day, playing board games with my youngest son on Saturday, and then Easter dinner at the in-laws. It was a full...
The Disciple Project OUTREACH MANUAL
HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR DECAYING YOUTH MEETING INTO A FLOURISHING CITY-WIDE MOVEMENT