Leaving and Starting Well in Your Next Ministry
I just bought two boxes of Little Debbies Christmas Tree cupcakes last week (if you know, you know). Promptly after getting home, I put them in the cookbook cabinet where I hide food I don’t want my kids to see (don’t judge).… Read More
A Safe Place for Every Race
Deep inside every person is a desire to be welcomed and wanted. Many communities across the United States are rapidly diversifying and youth pastors need tools to create spaces where youth of all races are welcomed and wanted. This may seem daunting,… Read More
Young People and Faith: Springtide Research
About one year ago, I was scrolling through the ol’ Twitter feed (which is an eclectic mix of ministry, theology, golf, baseball, music, and 90s wrestling) when I came across a post promoting a report called “The State of Religion & Young… Read More
Activating the Power of Curriculum in Your Small Church
My absolute favorite line in a youth pastor job description is the line that sounds something like . . . “and other duties as assigned.” If you are serving in a smaller church, I know you started making a mental list when… Read More
7 Trends in Youth Ministry Seen By Orange Specialists
As Orange Specialists, Charlie, Brett and I have had the privilege of connecting with Youth Leaders all over the world—literally. One of the cool parts about that is noticing the trends in youth ministries based on size, location, region and even race.… Read More
How to Use XP3 Curriculum in a Combined Environment
In student ministry, one of the most important filters that everything can be run through is, “What is most helpful for the faith development of the students I’m working with?” Think about it. Everything from strategy, teaching, programming structure, or small group… Read More
Engaging Every Parent Everywhere
We as youth ministry leaders care about the faith and future of the next generation. To properly invest in our students, we know we must engage all parents everywhere. That includes not just the parents in our ministry, but the ones in… Read More
Understanding Empathy and Its Importance in Youth Ministry
A few months ago, I witnessed an exchange between a student and one of our leaders. The student was evidently angry, and the leader was trying to figure out what was happening. As I walked up, I paid attention to the student’s… Read More
A Student Ministry Guide to Orange Membership
If you’ve been leading a student ministry for more than a week, you’ve likely been hit with the sobering reality that if you don’t become a master recruiter, delegator & multiplier, your chances of burn-out will probably triple. You have a job… Read More