"Sometimes when I spin really fast, the kitchen looks like it's going to fall over!" Carly (5 years old) Perhaps you can relate to little Carly’s words. I can. I do. Often. But in reality, it’s your world not the kitchen that appears to be falling over. Ever feel like your world is moving too fast? Sometimes I move so…
Once upon a time there was ONE leader who simply wanted to make a difference in the world. He had no illusion that he could do it alone and wanted to build a team. Guided by biblical principles he practiced biblical discipleship as he ministered to men. He frequently experienced failure and frustration discovering not everyone was willing to “count…
How would you define the irreducible minimums of your student ministry? Can you write them into a sentence, paragraph or a list? What would that look like? I suggest every youth leader do this exercise to establish a baseline for their ministry. Recently my wife and I attended a Poetry Recital for our Granddaughter’s third grade class. Each student chose…
One of my greatest blessings is working with people who are my friends. It is also a blessing when you can say that about a director of your ministry. Dr. George Theis was a former Director of Word of Life Fellowship and he was my friend. On July 2, 2014 he went home to be with the Lord. As I…
The title is a “redneck colloquialism.” A few of you reading this blog instantly “got it,” but for the other 99%, let me explain. Dancing with the one “what brung ya” means sticking with the same dance partner, success story or game plan that got you where you are. For example, if you were one of the teams who advanced…
While the Presidential election dominated the spotlight earlier this month, there was a vote with much greater significance for those of us in Youth Ministry. Colorado and Washington became the first two states to legalize recreational marijuana. There is still some uncertainty about the measures which contradict existing federal laws, but the decision by voters is a sign of things…
“Hi, my name is Mike and I am a Starbucks-aholic.” Yes, I confess, I love Starbucks coffee. I frequent their stores while traveling and when I am home, I grind their coffee fresh every morning. But this post is more than just a commercial or a personal admission of my love for coffee…all coffee. March 30, 2011 Starbucks celebrates its…
Ministry should be dynamic and exciting; it is too important to approach casually or passively. Ministry should always be changing because culture constantly evolves. It is imperative that we be anchored firmly in our Biblical Principles while assessing and changing our methods. I recently read While You Were Micro-Sleeping, Fresh Insights on the Changing Face of North American Missions by…
It’s that time of the year again when students head to warmer climates for Spring Break. We hear headlines like Students Gone Wild or read reports of arrests, sex and alcohol abuse and wonder what can be done to stop the madness of shattered lives. There are a handful of ministries and churches who are deliberately reaching out to these…