THE MIDDLE YEARS (5th-9th grade, Ages 10-14) ARE A HUGE TIME OF LIFE TRANSITION. IT MIGHT EVEN BE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TIMES IN A PERSON’S LIFE! Do youth pastors/workers know and understand the transition that is happening in the lives of their students? Do we appreciate the power and the potential for doing effective […]
Helping Students Return to School… Ten Quick Hints and Ideas. 10. Offer Sharing Times, During Regular Meeting Times/Small Groups to Talk, Before and After Their First Week. 9. Be Available Virtually and In-Person After-School for Students That Need to Talk. 8. Support Parents in the Back to School Process. 7. Teach “Back to School” Lesson […]
Discipleship is and Is Not… Some Quick Reflections On What IS and IS NOT Discipleship in our ministries. Discipleship IS Small Groups. It is NOT Cliques. Discipleship IS faith involvement. It is NOT faith information. Discipleship IS a guide on the side. It is NOT a sage on the stage. Discipleship IS an invitation to […]
The Closer: Finishing with Intentionality? How do you finish your message, sermon, and lesson? Do you end well or stumble toward the finish with no real plan? Nationally known speaker Chad Poe offers up some expert advice in his latest guest post! You see parents easing into your space in the back of the room. […]
Youth Ministry, It Is Not About You!
Ten Youth Ministry Mistakes… People always ask me what I would tell my younger self, starting out in youth ministry. What are the mistakes that you made that you wish someone would have told you about during your first year in youth ministry? The other question I get is what I observe as the big […]
Play is still something that is allowed and socially acceptable. Your students still can enjoy playing games and using their energy in a positive way. The problem is when youth workers don’t understand how to create engaging, energetic, and effective gameplay…
Short Term Mission Success… From Guest Writer Shane Thacker7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the […]
Mel Walker was a youth ministry legend, having served actively for over 45 years in youth ministry. He was the author of many excellent youth ministry books, and he was also a curriculum writer. He was a regular trainer and speaker all over the world. He was a youth ministry leader and teacher to so […]
A Note About Mel Walker, One of My Youth Ministry Heroes: On Thursday, December 2, my personal youth ministry hero past away. Mel Walker was a mentor, friend, and surrogate uncle to me. He was always willing to talk, pray, and guide me through the path of personal and ministry life. We talked often about […]
