Five Ways To Pitch XP3 To Your Leadership
You’re ready to use XP3 in your youth ministry, but you have to convince your leadership first. We got you! Here are 5 tips for pitching XP3 curriculum.
Bridging the Gap from Elementary to Middle School Transition
When moving from elementary to middle school, the transition can be tough. Here are a few things to consider to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Getting Phase-Specific in a Combined Middle & High School Environment
Want your combined youth ministry to thrive? Let’s get phase-specific! Here are some tips to make your ministry effective for both MS and HS students.
Dos and Don’ts of Engaging Middle Schoolers in Large Group
It can be tricky to engage middle schoolers in large group settings. Here are some dos and don’ts for keeping middle schoolers attentive & engaged.
Break it Down: Categorize Questions for Middle Schoolers
Middle schoolers are still developing the ability to think in layers. That’s why we must learn to break it down! That is, break down the way we ask questions.
8 Questions to Help Build Your Teaching Team
When it comes to building a teaching team for your youth ministry, you want to select just the right people! Ask these questions when building your team.
Planning the Right Content for Combined Middle & High School Environment
It’s not easy to select the right content for a combined middle & high school environment. Here are a few tips on planning content that suits both phases!
Communicating To Middle Schoolers In A Digital Environment
Communicating to middle schoolers isn’t easy. But communicating to middle schoolers in a digital environment? Well, that’s a totally different ballgame—one we’ve all had to get familiar with in a new way since 2020. So, how do we make the most out of our digital teaching? How do we communicate successfully to middle schoolers in […]
What To Do When Only One Student Shows Up to Small Group
We have all been there. We show up to small group, and we’re the only person who showed up to small group. Confession: I have led middle school small groups where zero students show up. I have also led small groups where sometimes it’s just one student. I’d love to say that every student in […]
Three Ingredients to Help Students Recover Following a Pandemic
Today’s kids were already facing mental health problems. Now they feel delayed by the pandemic, and it’s added to their anxiety levels. According to Barna research, 82 percent of Generation Z members believe they’ve been traumatized. While it sounds extreme, many of them feel: Postponed. Pushed aside. Penalized. This group of teens believe part […]
3 Things to Remember When Talking About Freedom to Middle and High Schoolers
If you have spent any time with middle or high school students you know one thing is true. Freedom matters to them. Often, they want more freedom or become overwhelmed with the freedom they do have. The truth is that many middle and high school students can be motivated by freedom. That’s why we believe […]
How to Grow Your Faith Outside of Programming
As much as I wish students would clear their calendars and see weekly youth ministry programming as a not-to-be-missed part of their week, it just isn’t. And that’s okay, because attendance is one thing. But it isn’t EVERYTHING. (Can someone please tell that person who always asks “good turn out last night?”) The reality […]