Youth ministry may be more of a calling than a job, but that doesn’t mean it can’t get somewhat monotonous. When you keep doing your thing, year after year, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. You throw a k...

Just before Christmas, I was leading my sixth grade guys' small group in a conversation about the incarnation. My hope was to remind them this season was about more than presents and a break from school. Pretty...

Advent is the season of waiting, the season of preparation, the season of nearly but not yet. We prepare the manger, but the Baby isn't here yet. The season of Advent, traditionally the four weeks prior to Chr...

Before my seniors leave for college, we spend a good deal of time talking about various campus ministries. Our hope is to encourage students to get involved in them (or in a church on their college campus). As...

Christmas is the time of the year that we celebrate the Newborn King through hot cocoa, ugly sweaters, service projects, and crazy games. Here are 25 ideas that I’ve tested myself that you can use this Christ...

Over the last 25 years of teaching and training thousands of Christian teenagers across the nation, I’ve encountered countless young people who have struggled with sexual shame. For some, it is guilt as a r...

Ok, so I know that Thanksgiving is behind us. Still, there's plenty of things to be thankful for. This year, I'm thankful for... 1. The glimpses God gives you into the lives you've impacted. I love watching so...

Stressed-out high schoolers, hyperactive junior highers, angry parents, a temperamental church van and leadership that wants to “have a talk.” For many ministries, it’s easy to get down in the dumps and, ...

We know that the students in our ministries are trying to answer the "Who am I?" question. We asked four youth workers : "What is the youth pastor’s role in helping students answer that question?" Brooklyn L...

Last week I overheard another youth worker sharing his frustration about students constantly prioritizing their sports commitments over youth ministry events. I could relate. I have often found myself frustra...