I spend my days writing for and training youth workers JUST LIKE YOU.
18 Reasons Christians Should Tip 18%
Full disclosure, I was a waiter in a swanky restaurant and I have feelings about this. I saw this article on Huffpost. A Pastor wrote this smug note on his receipt about giving God 10% "why should I give you 18?" I'd like to answer his question...
A Message To My Creative Self
I love you. I hate you. Two weeks ago you and I had a discussion about killing this blog. Since that time you poked me every day to write something. Anything. And I love you for it. I hate you. You move around like someone in the witness protection...
Interview With Author Clay Morgan
I conducted my first Google + interview today. I started a new playlist on my channel called off The Shelf. This is where I talk about cool books, resources, etc. for youth pastors and otherwise. Clay was my first interview and he was a super guy....
Turning Our Youth Meetings Into Art Classes
art /ärt/ Noun The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture,...: "the art of the Renaissance" Works produced by such skill and imagination. I have always had...
Faith As Performance Art
If we believe we have a youth group full of artist then displaying their faith is a form of performance art. I know we are put off by the word performance, but don't be. When we preach we perform. We use props, music, all the things that can be...
What If We Saw Our Students As Artists?
I took this picture last night and posted on FB later on with this caption "These are not band members they are artists and hey are not having a band practice, they are artists collaborating on how to best honor God with their gifts and...
Customizing The Discipleship Process
Youth discipleship is a slippery beast, but not ungraspable if we are willing to work a little harder at customizing the discipleship experience. Isn't it funny how we make a big deal when someone "get's saved" but say nothing after that? Why don't...
Blogging Your Questions
I sit in front of my screen this morning wondering what to write about. I got nothing. So, when faced with this dilemma, which is not often, I think it best to go to the readership, all 2 of you. But I jest. With that said, what are your questions?...
Youth Ministry Is A Package Deal
I am torn between two loves: The preparation for the event and the event itself. There are times I love the preparation but dread the execution because the prep is the fun part. For me, preparing for camp like getting kids signed up, figuring out a...
Real Time Training: New Get Healthy Resource
I have started making more training videos because I think they add value. We hear from speakers but rarely do we get to see to the inner workings or a visual "how to's" of a ministry. I hope that the videos will be helpful, insightful, sometimes...
Truth In Evangelizing: What Are We Promoting?
What is the difference in these two promos? Did you figure it out? Simple: One piece invites kids to fun and contests and the other to life change. I almost made the mistake again today as I was making the promo piece above and I felt a...
Bless The Leavers
We had a great night at youth last night. We have amazing students. One of these amazing students asked if she could talk to me. This young lady wanted to tell me she was leaving our group. She described her situation, her parents attend a church...
What Do You Believe About Teenagers?
What did Jesus believe about his disciples? Look at the tasks He gave them. Look at what He trusted them with. Look at how He spoke to them. Look at the authority He gave them. Jesus did what he believed, even when it led to betrayal, hurt, and...
When Your Momentum Takes A Hit
Some of us started out the year with high hopes and have had a few meetings under our belt; things are going great and WHAM! something messes with our Mojo. Here are a few things that mess with our momentum Key leaders jump ship Personal Sabotage...
Why I May Or May Not Kill My Blog
I learn so much when I listen to Seth Godin. I recently heard him on Rise to the Top. I believe in his phrase "Do work that matters.". I would like to think that is what I do with my blog. Every post is a teaching or thoughts about youth ministry...
The Disciple Project OUTREACH MANUAL
HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR DECAYING YOUTH MEETING INTO A FLOURISHING CITY-WIDE MOVEMENT