As of today, May 3, 2020 we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. Truly, as has already been said, this is an unprecedented time. In fact, it’s been over 100 years since the last time anything like this has ever happened, going all the way back to 1918, when the Spanish Flu […]
[sgmb id=1] I had the opportunity to share this wedding challenge to a young couple who were just married on Saturday, April 23, 2016. It was an absolutely beautiful wedding, held in an opening in a wooded, forest type area. The weather was perfect, the bride was perfect, the groom? Ehhh…he’s okay. ? Actually, with […]
[sgmb id=1] I’ve got about 3 minutes to explain to you what the title, Diversify Your Friendship Portfolio means! Ready! Set! Go! This sounds like it has more financial implications than anything, but hear me out. Most financial advisors recommend investors to diversify their portfolios. In other words, as my grandparents would say, “don’t place […]
A young man I had a hand in mentoring over the last 10 years asked me a few days ago what he could do to be more effective in his ministry of dealing with students. After 15+ years of student ministry, I’m asked this question often. In fact, this question no doubt drives people to […]
I am honored and delighted to share a brief recap of the adventures of one of our students who was able to attend a missions trip this summer. Judith, age 16, shared with me some of the details of her trip to Los Angeles, with the Apostolic Youth Corps. Here’s what she had to say: […]
THE FOLLOWING IS THE LAST PART OF A 3 POST SERIES ON TRANSITIONS IN STUDENT MINISTRY. TRANSITIONING IN TO STUDENT MINISTRY, THE LAND BETWEEN, AND THEN FINALLY TRANSITIONING OUT OF STUDENT MINISTRY. Transitioning Out The Student Where do they stand spiritually? What kind of shape have you left them in? They’ve been in your student […]
THE FOLLOWING IS PART TWO OF A 3 POST SERIES ON TRANSITIONS IN STUDENT MINISTRY. TRANSITIONING IN TO STUDENT MINISTRY, THE LAND BETWEEN, AND THEN FINALLY TRANSITIONING OUT OF STUDENT MINISTRY. The Land Between Maintain an awareness with reality So, here you are, you’ve been in student ministry a few years, the once burning flame […]
The following is one part of a 3 post series on transitions in Student Ministry. Transitioning IN to Student Ministry, the LAND BETWEEN, and then finally transitioning OUT of Student Ministry. Doug Fields (youth ministry legend), authored a book called Your First Two Years In Youth Ministry. In fact, I have that book on my desk, […]
Well, it’s actually rather depressing that I am now submitting round 2 of my student ministry mistakes. Of course, they might not always seem like mistakes at the time, but that’s the beauty of years of experiences, successes and failures, we’re allowed the opportunity to have a little perspective! So this is where you come […]
I occasionally will hear young church leaders, youth workers, volunteers, or a variety of other types of people that work for someone, make this statement: Forgiveness is better than permission. What! I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with that concept. I refuse to live my life like that, furthermore, I refuse to stand idly by while […]