Blog
5 Challenges That Keep Students From Sharing Their Faith
The older I get, the more I understand how fast I can get out of touch with youth—their culture, their concerns, and their struggles. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with a few high school students hoping to get some fresh insight. We spoke on several topics, but our conversation continued to swing back to the issue of...
Three Ways to Make Youth Group a Thriving Community
In my early days of ministry, I was all for the big event. After all, go big or go home. Right? So, while teaching in a Christian school, I had this idea for a large youth event. I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to see, but I did know that I wanted several great local worship bands and some great speakers. I found all the right...
3 Reasons High School Students Should Mentor Middle School Students
Can high school ministry and middle school ministry work together? Is it possible that students straight out of elementary school could work alongside college-bound seniors? Not only is this possible, but incredibly beneficial to your ministry. In fact, I would even argue that for a successful ministry, it is a must. It is a benefit not...
5 Simple Ways Youth Leaders Can Connect With Parents
Connecting with parents. Getting them in your corner. Getting them to volunteer and be involved in your ministry. We all know we need them, but how in the world do we successfully connect with them and create strong partnerships? The answer oddly enough is found in an unlikely place, that I would bet many of you had not thought of...
Raising Funds for Ministries and Projects
Out of our comfort zones for good reasons When it's time to stand up front and start special fundraising projects in the church, most of us would rather stay in bed. This is not what we signed up for. But we all reap the benefits of what other people have done to make ministries, buildings, and systems possible; we must recognize the...
Plan for Lasting Impact After This Summer’s Big Event
Summer retreat and camp season is just around the corner. As you prepare and plan for the big event, don’t forget to plan for what happens after. Throughout my entire ministry career, retreats have been a vital part of making disciples. At some I have served as the speaker, some I have organized, and others I have enjoyed as an...
3 Things You Must Do To Raise Up Student Leaders
As a youth leader, you pray for those moments; moments when students surprise you, when they take ownership, when they lead others—when they take leaps and bounds in their spiritual growth. Witnessing it is like a shot of adrenaline. Once you experience it, you want more of it. A new standard has been set, the bar raised, and the...
Celebrating History This Easter – ON MISSION Insights
I love history. Specifically the Civil War. I remember in high school reading countless books about the Civil War for more than two years. I took tests, wrote papers, but it wasn’t until I saw the battlefield that it became real to me. We took a class trip to Washington D.C., visited Gettysburg and the surrounding areas, stood on the...
When You Pray For and With Your Youth Ministry, Remember These Three Things
Prayer is a powerful tool in your ministry. Wait. You knew that. After all, Jesus prayed. The apostles prayed. Scripture tells us of some crazy things that happened when people prayed. Cool. My guess is that you already pray for all your students, leaders, and volunteers. Beautiful. What else? Could greater intentionality of prayer take...
3 Disturbing Cultural Trends Youth Pastors Need to Address: Part 2 – What Now?
Whether it is the most recent school shooting, the lyrics of the latest Drake album, the newest Netflix series that raises concern over explicit content marketed to teens, or even the drama surrounding the Covington students; make no mistake, culture is warring with itself. As I mentioned in my last article, the church is literally...
