When you take a look at a typical youth group gathering, what is the general age range of those present? The obvious might be that the participants’ are in their teens because they are youth. At the risk of insulting your intelligence, let me ask you: When you consider the activities, studies and topics...

Volunteer, sponsor, leader, humble slave to the youth ministry pastor—whatever you call your lay leaders (or whatever you're called, if you happen to be a lay leader)—it means the same thing: no pay.

It does not matter if you are a full-time youth worker, part-time youth worker, a volunteer, a bus driver or an "extra" adult. If you have a relationship with a student, then he or she will talk and share with you willingly. Most students do not talk to an adult based on the titles or job descriptions;...

During my first week on the job as youth pastor, an associate pastor on staff told me his theory on teenagers. He said they’re like children in adult bodies. I hadn’t worked with them long enough to know exactly what he was talking about, but I quickly came to experience it firsthand.

Adult volunteers are vital to successful youth ministry as countless articles, books, DVDs and podcasts attest. What happens when volunteers let you down? Here are some suggestions for addressing this important challenge.

It’s almost Go time. Your cast begins to assemble. On cue, the theme music blares as Gary the Game Guy enters with gadgets and gear to take on the fiercest junior high student. Striding behind him is Emily Empathy; she is the master of relationships and can make the new kid feel welcomed and the regulars...

Many times when intergenerational youth ministry is considered, what we really are asking is, Where can I get some adults to run small groups, teach a particular class, etc? We need to make this as relatively easy as possible. Not everyone is cut out for teaching, though they can be trained. The teaching/mentoring/discipleship...

OK. “Intergenerational youth ministry” may sound like an oxymoron, but think about it. What can be more normal than other generations being a part of ministry to young people / teenagers / students / adolescents / whatever? I’m not trying to return to back-in-the-day days, nor am I trying to sound culturally...

We all know friends, pets and even houseplants need care, but what about volunteers? Here, a veteran youth ministry worker provides a short list of ways you can express your care for your volunteers. Commandment #1: Challenge me spiritually, not only as a leader.

Not too long ago, I was flipping through the cable channel guide and found two movies playing on different channels. One was 50 First Dates and the other, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. It struck me funny that movies about the beginning and end of dating relationships were playing concurrently. It seems...