For many of us, summer ministry has ended. You may have led an incredible VBS, inspiring mission trip, or even had life-changing experiences at summer camp. Now is the time we move from the hustle of summer into the more rhythmic school year. So how do we help teens, children, families, our teams, and the... Continue Reading →
Strategic Decisions For Summer Ministry
Ministry in the summer can fly by. Summer can feel like a whirlwind from ending the school year, celebrating graduations, jumping into camps or mission trips, assisting VBS, and family vacations. And before we know it, we’ve lost a golden opportunity. So I wonder, have you thought through how you are using summer? I believe... Continue Reading →
5 Ways To Stay Hopeful, Fruitful, And Productive In Social Distancing Ministry
Whether you are serving in youth ministry, children’s ministry, or family ministry, you are now doing ministry differently. The challenges are the same that we face, but each of us is experiencing this time a little differently. Some of us are excited about the opportunity to experiment. There are those of us who are overwhelmed... Continue Reading →
7 Ways to Minister in Times of Social Distancing
You are in social distancing, so should ministry stop? Absolutely not! Here are 7 ways to minister in times of social distancing. SHARE JOY The air is heavy, and people are feeling many emotions. Share joy with them during this time! Find videos, photos, memes, or other things that can bring laughter, joy, and smiles... Continue Reading →
5 Ways to Hurt Your Ministry in Times of Social Distancing
It feels that the Covid-19 situation has rapidly escalated, leaving us in ministry unsure about our roles. To help you figure out what you should do, let’s look at what not to do. Here are 5 ways to hurt your ministry in times of social distancing. PRETEND NOTHING IS HAPPENING The worst mistake we could... Continue Reading →
Stop The Download – For Now
Stop the download - for now! Are you tired of always looking for a lesson or sermon series to download? Determining what you teach in youth ministry can be more than just finding the next easy and budget-friendly lesson to download. For instance, let's consider this scenario. Determining what you teach in youth ministry can... Continue Reading →
3 Ways To Grow Your Youth Ministry in 2020
It is probably safe to assume that you would like to see your youth ministry grow. No matter who you are, I believe these 3 ways to grow your youth ministry will help. If you are new to youth ministry, you may not know where to begin. Do you buy the massive unicorn float at... Continue Reading →
THE BEST WAY TO COUNTER A TOXIC GROUP CULTURE
Toxic people create toxic groups and quickly derail your mission. What do I mean? A new student shows up to your group but never returns. A longtime student leaves. Both students say your group has too many cliques. There may be a lack of participation in games, activities, discussions, or events. Or no matter how... Continue Reading →
WHY AND HOW TO BEGIN A YOUTH PASTOR NETWORK
You are a rare breed. Not many people would give up their Saturday to spend it with middle school students, especially when a student tries to give you a muddy hug after they have whizzed down the giant slip-n-slide! You see, youth ministry seems a little off. Most people lack an understanding of what we... Continue Reading →