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How Do I See Myself After High School?: A Sticky Faith Free Download Lesson
by Youth Specialties Posted in Adolescent DevelopmentArticlesFree ResourcesHigh SchoolMiddle SchoolParentsProgrammingMany of the statistics you read about teenagers and faith can be alarming. Recent studies show that 40-50 percent of kids who are connected to a youth group throughout their senior year will fail to stick with their faith in college. As youth workers are pouring their time and energy into the students in their ministries, they are often left wondering if they've done enough to equip their students to carry their faith into adulthood.
The 3 Foundations to Small Groups You Must Know
by Laurie Polich Posted in Adolescent DevelopmentArticlesAdviceFeatured ArticleFeatured ReviewHigh SchoolMiddle SchoolParentsProgrammingResource and Book ReviewsTrainingYouth Worker DevelopmentSmall groups are not the end of ministry; they are the beginning. Many youth workers believe that if they can get kids into small groups, their job is done. But the real job has just begun. Ministry is about life change, and for this to happen, there needs to be an intentional ap- proach to HOW small groups will nurture and shape students’ lives. Exerpt from "Small Group Strategies" by Laurie Polich
Waking Up From The American Dream
by Jonathan McKee Posted in Adolescent DevelopmentArticlesAdviceFeatured ArticleFree ResourcesHigh SchoolMiddle SchoolMovie Study GuidesParentsProgrammingResource and Book ReviewsTrainingYouth Worker DevelopmentIt was over a decade ago. The kids were young. Ashley was still in diapers. We attended a wealthy church where most of our friends had loads of spending money in their pockets. We didn’t.
Do Your Teenagers Know How to Pray?
by Kara Powell and Brad Griffin Posted in Adolescent DevelopmentFeatured ArticleHigh SchoolMiddle SchoolParentsProgrammingResource and Book ReviewsTrainingYouth Worker DevelopmentIn a recent gathering of youth workers, we asked everyone (ourselves included) to take thirty minutes in solitude to consider the following about what prayer was like as a teenager: What helped you come alive to God? What disciplines sustained your faith? What do you remember about the content, frequency, and rhythms of your prayers?
After the Altar Call
by David R Smith Posted in Adolescent DevelopmentArticlesAdviceFeatured ArticleFree ResourcesHigh SchoolMiddle SchoolParentsProgrammingTrainingYouth Worker DevelopmentThere are many potential mistakes that can ruin an altar call and negatively affect a teenager’s decision to follow Christ. And though all of us have made these errors from time to time, the good news is, we don’t have to ever again! Here are the seven biggest mistakes youth ministry leaders make during altar calls…and a few simple ways to correct them.
La Familia 101: Partnering with Parents to Minister to Hispanic Youth
by Jose Nieves Posted in ParentsBelieve me; you owe it to the Juans and Marias to take a crash course in La Familia 101.
How I Cured My Parent-Noia
by Paul Borthwick Posted in ParentsTo find out what most youth workers feel about the parents of the teenagers in their ministries takes some observation and probing. If we could enter the minds of many youth workers, we would often find negative feelings toward parents. I know. I have some of these feelings myself, and…Read More
