Although spiritual warfare is real, we must be careful not to role play Christian living like children playing pretend games. When I was a boy (admittedly multiple decades ago), my friends and I would make pretend guns, run across pretend battlefields, fly pretend planes and take pretend casualties. We were children playing a serious game, totally oblivious to the fact…
Meeting people with a passion for student ministry energizes me. Knowing they understand the struggles while maintaining a long-range vision for the rewards of their investment in students is refreshing. I enjoy late night talks, Starbucks coffee breaks, and passionate discussions after a conference, seminar or anywhere else I can connect with student leaders. I always come away challenged to…
Okay, let’s just say it…teaching Middle School students can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. They are not intentionally trying to be difficult, there is just a lot going on in their world. Consider a few or the battles they face: Fluctuating hormones Living in a constant state of “partial attention”Being wired for fun and activity Vacillating between childhood…
One of the first rules of communication is understanding your audience. Unfortunately, we have all heard sermons, speeches or lectures that were off topic - or missed their target audience by a decade. Being conscientious in the preparation of our content is vital, but it is also imperative we understand the people we intend to address. Over the years I…
WANTED: Stereotypical Student Leader: must be 21-25 years of age, have an engaging personality (but be submissive to elder/deacon board), possess the ability to attract lots of students (and keep them from annoying the senior saints), play games (like the ones we played when we were teens), plan activities (but nothing that conflicts with the church calendar), play the guitar…
Do you understand the power of culture? Culture is more than a grocery list of distinctives or a demographic study. We must recognize the sheer force a people group can have on a society, and ultimately history, by virtue of their choices or preferences. We must be careful not to fall into the trap of assuming students’ cultural influence is…
You do not know me - but I know you. Word spreads fast when a new Youth Pastor is coming to town. I heard this is your first church but from what others are saying, you appear to be very qualified for the position. I know the Pastor and leadership are expecting a lot from you. I really wish I…
How do we keep students from “falling through the cracks” in our youth ministries? Every student is important but not every student is impressive, so they may not stand out. Every student needs a mentor/discipler but not every student is going to ask for one. Every student is looking for love but not every student is looking for it in…
The average tenure for teachers of the eighth-grade boys Sunday School class was two to four months. I don’t think the boys actually conspired together, contriving evil plots for the teacher’s demise. They did however possess a ‘pack instinct’ when they smelled the fresh blood of a rookie. I learned this information after I agreed to take the class. I…
The challenge is preventing summer camp from being a one-week “adrenaline rush” experience. How do we take one of the best tools in our ministry toolbox to the next level? We need a plan for building on the decisions and the experiences to extend the benefits? Summer camp plays a vital role in the overall strategy of any student ministry.…