I can remember wanting to be a youth pastor so bad, I would have taken any job, and I did. They were my fever dream decisions. If I had read the job description better and put on my thinking hat instead of my heart hat, I could have avoided a few things like working too much…
Suicides by entrepreneur Kate Spade and chef/tv star Anthony Bordaine, remind me that if money, power, influence, tons friends and excitement can’t hold back depression and suicidal thoughts, what’s keeping a kid in my youth group from ending his or her life? With the passing of author and pastor Jarrid Wilson, the subject of suicide,…
I recently came back from the country of Panama. This is my 4th trip to a South or Central American country and every time I get back I feel so many weird feelings. Here are my top ten weirdest feelings after coming back from a mission trip. Walking past kids and feeling you should make…
I love telling kids I miss them. Now, I don’t necessarily like that kids were missing from the event or meeting but I love to tell them that I missed them. I know how it makes me feel when someone misses me. They are saying, “You are valuable. You presence is important and we know…
This is part four in my series 9 Dynamic Ways To Revive A Dying Youth Ministry. If you’re behind, you can start HERE Sometimes, as a youth pastor, you will inherit a hot mess or a dumpster fire. The previous youth pastor did their best or maybe not. Or maybe the youth ministry you have just went…
Hey all, thought I’d try something new. I post a lot about youth ministry and related stuff, and I thought I’d list some of the cool articles, gadgets, books, etc, that you might be interested in. Technology I bought a new camera and if you are looking for a new camera, I recommend the Panasonic…
Think about this youth pastor. His name is Brad, he’s 25 and thinks he could be the next Steven Furtick? Delusional, right? Maybe. What if he listens to every Furtick message, dresses like Furtick, uses social like Furtick and baptizes a 1,000 people a day? Is he Furtick? Nope. Is he closer to being being…
This is the last post in my series on my secrets to a successful youth ministry, but it is one of the most critical for me. I am a driven individual. It’s hard for me to relax and I am my harshest critic. Over the years I’ve had to make myself slow down and enjoy…
It is so easy to get caught up in our job of youth ministry and all but forget why we do what we do. I recently read an article by Lisa Earle Mcleod called Why Purpose Matter: Four Business Reasons and One Emotional One, and one quote, which deals with a biotech company and it’s…
When I was in youth group (a very long time ago), I remember my youth pastor doing a contest called L.I.F.E.. He broke down the youth group into four teams and we would have weekly contests between team members, etc. and at the end the winning team received X. This is still a viable tool…
