Amy Jacober

At a time when cultural shifts are moving the goalposts for young people who are making the journey to adulthood, a community of caring adults can help teens grow and thrive.

It is fair to say that most youth ministers desire to not only personally live a Christian life, but lead others to do so, as well. They want to honor God, share Christ and minister to adolescents and their families.

This past summer, I watched a young man with muscular dystrophy fly down a zip-line into a lake. A group of guys had carried him up four stories of narrow, winding stairs to get him to the top. Once he reached the bottom, his leader lifted him from the water anxiously asking if he liked it. “You bet!”...

I was raised in a conservative home, worshiped in a conservative youth ministry at church, and attended a conservative seminary. I’m thankful for my conservative roots. They are part of what shapes me. Interestingly, I’ve discovered that those conservative roots did not claim to be the sole possessors...