Articles
Adolescent Development
What Went Wrong With MTV?
by Adam McLane Posted in Adolescent Development
By Adam McLane All through my adolescence no organization was cooler than MTV. They literally defined what was cool for my generation, as Frontline documented in The Merchants of Cool, MTV wasn't just lucky to hit a specific trend at a specific time for 20 plus years. My jaw dropped as I learned that MTV's programming hits were the results of intense and prolonged ethnographic study of their target audience.
Mary Christmas: Reaching Out To Teen Moms
by Ginger Sinsabaugh MacDonald Posted in Adolescent Development
By Ginger Sinsbaugh MacDonald Okay. We’ve heard the story a zillion times. Even those of us who are Chreasters (those who only show up for church on Christmas and Easter) know the story about the pregnant teen named Mary. She and her fiancé Joe didn’t have reservations at the Red Roof Inn so they spent the night in a stable, where Mary’s water broke and she ultimately gave birth to the reason for the season, and all those balls of holly, Butterball turkeys, Chia pets, TV specials and Christmas plays, but…Read More
Advice
Bad Judgment, Detached Retinas, and a Lot of Stupid
by Brock Morgan Posted in Advice
I remember when I was 18-years-old and it first dawned upon me, “If I become a youth pastor, I’ll get to play dodge-ball for the rest of my life!” That was twenty years ago and I’m still in youth ministry and loving it. The past few summers we’ve had students visit us who were a part of our ministry over those twenty-some years, and each time, inevitably, the stories start coming. The stories of God working are my favorite, but the students seem to like telling and retelling…Read More
Forgot My Bag
by Hank Hilliard Posted in Advice
In my 15 years of youth ministry I have earned a reputation among parents and other staff for being organized and prepared. I take pride in this because these things are important to me and I put a lot of effort into them. I make extensive lists. I color code everything. I communicate more than is probably necessary. I confirm and reconfirm reservations and plans. Some call it type-A or even obsessive. I call it an important part of youth ministry. Several years ago I was leading a group…Read More
Free Resources
WALL-E Movie Study
by Steven Case Posted in Free Resources
Seven hundred years in the future the earth has been abandoned by all humans and left in the care of a Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class (WALL-E). After all this time of doing exactly what he was MADE to do, WALL-E discovers what he was MEANT to do.
Speed Racer Movie Guide
by Steven Case Posted in Free Resources
A complete discussion guide for the movie Speed Racer.
High School
Boys Will Be Boys
by Andrew Burden Posted in High School
From the sandbox to the construction site, being male is often associated with a natural spirit of trouble-making. You don’t have to be on John Eldridge’s mailing list to recognize that there is an untamed energy that is uniquely masculine. Middle school boys at church camp are no exception. After 19 years of volunteering, I’ve got plenty of stories to tell. But I’ve come to the point where I’ve said “enough is enough” when it comes to pranks and roughhousing. Early on, I tended to participate in or even…Read More
Growing by God’s Nudge
by Kim Messinger Posted in High School
When my youth group comes up in a conversation, I know the question will follow, “How do you get your kids?” It’s a longer story than they may want to hear. But I never tire of telling it. The story begins with a nudge from God to give one message to a group of skateboarders that had recently lost their youth pastor. I was in my forties and had hung up 20 years worth of all-nighters and retreats. One cold December night, an “up for a challenge” church elder…Read More
Middle School
Middle School Leadership: An Untapped Resource
by Cliff Olson Posted in Middle School
This year marks our seventh year of middle school leadership. Many students from that first class are now seniors in high school. It's awesome to have incoming freshmen each year with two years of leadership and missions under their belt, as well as a heart to continue to learn and develop. It has allowed us to take students even further in their walk with God and allow them to serve the Lord in some very dynamic ways.
What Lurks Behind Those Fish, Toilet Paper, and Pantyhose Games?
by Kara Eckmann Powell Posted in Middle School
Wild and crazy junior high ministry activities... and the developmental and theological reasons why they make sense.
Movie Study Guides
WALL-E Movie Study
by Steven Case Posted in Movie Study Guides
Seven hundred years in the future the earth has been abandoned by all humans and left in the care of a Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class (WALL-E). After all this time of doing exactly what he was MADE to do, WALL-E discovers what he was MEANT to do.
Speed Racer Movie Guide
by Steven Case Posted in Movie Study Guides
A complete discussion guide for the movie Speed Racer.
Music Reviews and Interviews
Thoughts on The Other Guys and a Theology of Humor
by Joel Mayward Posted in Music Reviews and Interviews
The Other Guys (2010): If I've learned anything from having an infant son, it is that laughter doesn't need to be taught. Laughing comes naturally, spontaneously, in fits and spurts, but always with an innate sense of joy. That we can somehow find a moment of respite in our chaotic world through chortles and chuckles is, I believe, clear evidence of God's presence in our lives. Humor is grace. That being said, not all humor is created equal. The grace of laughter, if distorted by sin, can result in finding…Read More
What Juno Didn’t Tell You
by Ginger Sinsabaugh MacDonald Posted in Music Reviews and Interviews
By Ginger Sinsabaugh MacDonald I’ve owned a lot of weird stuff over the years. A life-size sumo wrestler made out of foam rubber. A Malibu Barbie that my kid sister beheaded. A lizard, a lava lamp, a collection of snow globes, even an electronic whoopee cushion. But there is one thing that has never been in my possession. I never owned a diaper bag. My Barbie didn’t even own a diaper bag.
Parents
La Familia 101: Partnering with Parents to Minister to Hispanic Youth
by Jose Nieves Posted in Parents
Believe me; you owe it to the Juans and Marias to take a crash course in La Familia 101.
Programming
Know Your Audiences
by Jillianne Myers Davis Posted in Programming
When I think about a time when something didn’t go according to plan, four words come to mind: ski trip epic fail. Four months into my tenure as a director of student ministries at a new church, I booked a slope-side cabin that slept 40 for the annual ski trip. I’d had the privilege of leading and organizing about 6 or 7 other ski trips at the past two churches where I had served, and I’d been told the ski trip was a tradition at this church as well.
The Little Generator That Could
by Andy Harrington Posted in Programming
Ever thought you had everything under control, that the plans were laid, that nothing could possibly go wrong? Now I know you would never make that mistake! (But then, I’m not as smart as some people.) A few years ago, our team in the UK planned a truly awesome youth event. As part of a larger festival, we brought in a Circus Big Top tent for four days and put together a program that would blow the minds of the two thousand-plus young people that would be camping onsite.…Read More
Resource and Book Reviews
Review: Helping our Children Grow in Faith
by Sara Evanchick Posted in Resource and Book Reviews
Helping our Children Grow in Faith addresses an issue with which many of us in the church struggle: How can we nurture a faith in our children that they won’t outgrow? In this book, author Robert J. Keeley writes about making sure children develop a ‘three dimensional faith’. He addresses our tendency to oversimplify the things of God, our need to always have the answers to children’s questions and our reliance on programs. At first, I got the impression he was making the point that children’s programs are unnecessary…Read More
Movie Review: Despicable Me
by Joel Mayward Posted in Resource and Book Reviews
It's a hard life being a villain in this economy. The banks won't give you loans for your evil plans to steal famous works of art or national monuments. There are pesky international laws that prevent the theft and usage of shrink rays. And there's the responsibility of taking care of all of your semi-evil minions you've employed for your diabolical bidding. Such is the life for Gru, the world's former top supervillain. Former, because there's a new guy in town: Vector. Gru is older, more nefarious, hardened by…Read More
Training
I Knew Better
by Len Evans Posted in Training
By Len Evans Our textbook leadership retreat involved planning, training, worship, playing and eating. (We are Baptist after all.) We were wrapping up our last training session when I remembered that I hadn't mentioned appropriate boundaries between students and adult staff. At my previous church I had some college students on my volunteer staff and it was always discussed and demanded that volunteer staff can never, under any circumstances, date, like or be attracted to a student.
The Seven Deadly Sins Of Student Ministry: Pride
by Charlie Harper Posted in Training
The Sin “My students” and “my ministry” are expressions of sincere ownership youth workers use. But to whom do your students really belong? Who called you to ministry in the first place? Who truly makes life change possible? It really is tough to be called by God to minister to students and not feel a sense of pride and ownership. However, pride is one of the “seven deadly sins” that can destroy your ministry.
Youth Worker Development
Know Your Audiences
by Jillianne Myers Davis Posted in Youth Worker Development
When I think about a time when something didn’t go according to plan, four words come to mind: ski trip epic fail. Four months into my tenure as a director of student ministries at a new church, I booked a slope-side cabin that slept 40 for the annual ski trip. I’d had the privilege of leading and organizing about 6 or 7 other ski trips at the past two churches where I had served, and I’d been told the ski trip was a tradition at this church as well.
Boys Will Be Boys
by Andrew Burden Posted in Youth Worker Development
From the sandbox to the construction site, being male is often associated with a natural spirit of trouble-making. You don’t have to be on John Eldridge’s mailing list to recognize that there is an untamed energy that is uniquely masculine. Middle school boys at church camp are no exception. After 19 years of volunteering, I’ve got plenty of stories to tell. But I’ve come to the point where I’ve said “enough is enough” when it comes to pranks and roughhousing. Early on, I tended to participate in or even…Read More
Recent Articles
Know Your Audiences
by Jillianne Myers Davis Posted in Featured ArticleProgrammingYouth Worker DevelopmentWhen I think about a time when something didn’t go according to plan, four words come to mind: ski trip epic fail. Four months into my tenure as a director of student ministries at a new church, I booked a slope-side cabin that slept 40 for the annual ski trip. I’d had the privilege of leading and organizing about 6 or 7 other ski trips at the past two churches where I had served, and I’d been told the ski trip was a tradition at this church as well.
Boys Will Be Boys
by Andrew Burden Posted in Featured ArticleHigh SchoolYouth Worker DevelopmentFrom the sandbox to the construction site, being male is often associated with a natural spirit of trouble-making. You don’t have to be on John Eldridge’s mailing list to recognize that there is an untamed energy that is uniquely masculine. Middle school boys at church camp are no exception. After…Read More
Thoughts on The Other Guys and a Theology of Humor
by Joel Mayward Posted in Featured ReviewMusic Reviews and InterviewsThe Other Guys (2010): If I've learned anything from having an infant son, it is that laughter doesn't need to be taught. Laughing comes naturally, spontaneously, in fits and spurts, but always with an innate sense of joy. That we can somehow find a moment of respite in our chaotic…Read More
Bad Judgment, Detached Retinas, and a Lot of Stupid
by Brock Morgan Posted in AdviceFeatured ArticleYouth Worker DevelopmentI remember when I was 18-years-old and it first dawned upon me, “If I become a youth pastor, I’ll get to play dodge-ball for the rest of my life!” That was twenty years ago and I’m still in youth ministry and loving it. The past few summers we’ve had…Read More
How Many Turns?
by Russ Cantu Posted in Featured ArticleYouth Worker DevelopmentAfter a long and grueling week serving the great sunny city of Ensenada, Mexico, our misson team packed up the vans and headed for the border. Oh how I love the border; it’s one of my favorite places. There’s such a beautiful clash of culture that just stares back at…Read More
Leadership is Lonely - Are You?
by Brian Berry Posted in Featured ArticleYouth Worker DevelopmentWANTED: a friend in ministry who won’t get angry at my church and leave me in the wake of their angst, won’t gossip my dirt to the masses, and isn’t impressed with my job title. Must be my gender, about my age (bonus if our families are similar), authentically seeking Jesus, and in need of a good friend. For more info, please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). If you have ever felt like you could have posted that ad, then I feel your pain.
Review: Helping our Children Grow in Faith
by Sara Evanchick Posted in Featured ReviewResource and Book ReviewsHelping our Children Grow in Faith addresses an issue with which many of us in the church struggle: How can we nurture a faith in our children that they won’t outgrow? In this book, author Robert J. Keeley writes about making sure children develop a ‘three dimensional faith’. He addresses…Read More
Movie Review: Despicable Me
by Joel Mayward Posted in Featured ReviewResource and Book ReviewsIt's a hard life being a villain in this economy. The banks won't give you loans for your evil plans to steal famous works of art or national monuments. There are pesky international laws that prevent the theft and usage of shrink rays. And there's the responsibility of taking care…Read More
The Little Generator That Could
by Andy Harrington Posted in Featured ArticleProgrammingEver thought you had everything under control, that the plans were laid, that nothing could possibly go wrong? Now I know you would never make that mistake! (But then, I’m not as smart as some people.) A few years ago, our team in the UK planned a truly awesome youth…Read More
Forgot My Bag
by Hank Hilliard Posted in AdviceFeatured ArticleIn my 15 years of youth ministry I have earned a reputation among parents and other staff for being organized and prepared. I take pride in this because these things are important to me and I put a lot of effort into them. I make extensive lists. I color code…Read More
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The Me I Want to Be, Curriculum Kit
Becoming God's Best Version of You, Five Sessions
