Articles
Recent Articles
Setting Up for the Long Haul: Establishing Boundaries and Self-Care
by Rhett Smith Posted in AdviceYouth Worker DevelopmentIn January of 2008, after almost 7 years on staff in the college ministry at Bel Air Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, I grudgingly tendered my resignation. I would finish out my duties as the college director in June of that year, but the culprit of that resignation began its insidious work early on in my ministry.
Bad Judgment, Detached Retinas, and a Lot of Stupid
by Brock Morgan Posted in AdviceYouth 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
Leadership is Lonely - Are You?
by Brian Berry Posted in AdviceYouth 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 soundstogoodtobetrue@mychurch.com. If you have ever felt like you could have posted that ad, then I feel your pain.
Forgot My Bag
by Hank Hilliard Posted in AdviceIn 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
Do You Need a Digital Sabbath?
by Andrew Burden Posted in AdviceYouth Worker DevelopmentI am old enough to technically be called a digital immigrant, though I have been strongly Internet-connected since the mid-1990s. I cannot imagine being born into a world that has always had widely-available Internet, always had some form of instant messaging, and where the average consumer has a mobile phone, as all of the students in our ministries have been.
The Spirituality of Physical Health
by Matthew McNutt Posted in AdviceYouth Worker DevelopmentIt’s strange to me to realize that one of the most intensely spiritual times of my life was the eight months I was competing for the big prize on season three of NBC’s the Biggest Loser. Honestly, I went into the experience with no connection in my mind between the spiritual and the physical. I thought taking care of myself as a pastor meant regular time in the Word, quiet times, keeping my spiritual walk on track, but I came out of those months with an entirely different outlook.
Adding Creativity to Your Ministry
by Mike Kupferer Posted in AdviceProgrammingBeing part of a creative youth ministry is what most new youth workers desire. Creative youth ministries (and congregations in general) are glamorized by magazines, websites, conventions and the youth ministry world. Being creative is the goal, or at least that is how it is portrayed when the pedestal of…Read More
How Do You Respond When Someone Has Offended You?
by Brian Ford Posted in AdviceHow do you respond when someone has offended you? I was hurt deeply once as I was accused falsely and faced harsh insults. To this day I have not shared with anyone other then my wife what took place. Bottom line I was offended and became angry and bitter as…Read More
I Knew Better
by Len Evans Posted in AdviceOur 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.
Making Sense Of Suicide
by Jeff Greathouse Posted in AdviceSuicide is an issue that as youth workers and church members tend to put on the back burner. There’s this notion that if we do not talk suicide, it will simply disappear. Unfortunately, it’s not done enough and students that are struggling and carrying a burden that is too heavy…Read More
Sticky Faith Teen Curriculum with DVD
10 Lessons to Nurture Faith Beyond High School
