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“What time is the bus leaving?”  “What should they bring?” “I didn’t know anything about this!” If you’ve been in youth ministry for any amount of time, you have most likely heard these questions and frustrations from parents by now....

STUDENTS INFLUENCE STUDENTS Getting students involved in the ministry is always a plus. No matter the size of your youth group, getting them to buy into the youth group can cause a massive shift in the culture of your ministry....

Ever sat through a band at your local school? I recently did. The set opened with two songs from our 6th graders, then three songs from our 7th graders, eventually building to the finale by our 12th graders. As you...

Back in October, we talked about 5 common myths of youth ministry—things like: youth ministry is all fun and games youth ministry is only about students bigger is always better students can’t swim deep ministry is only exhausting and overwhelming...

In the classic political TV series The West Wing, after a long day of drama dealing with world leaders and even petty problems, President Bartlett often quips to his team, "What's next?" That phrase has become a hallmark of Bartlett's relentless,...

I stared at a room of blank faces until one student finally asked, “Um…can you repeat the question?” Anyone who has been in youth ministry has felt the awkwardness of this situation. You wonder why your small group is quieter...

People forget stuff. You are probably forgetting something right now. The students you lead also forget. They forget to bring money for lunch, they forget their deodorant for a week-long mission trip to the desert, they forget to tell their...

There’s a leadership tension that every youth pastor feels. It doesn’t matter if you’re brand new or decades in. This tension doesn’t care about your passion, budget, work ethic, philosophy, preaching, casting vision, communication, or planning. More often than not,...

There have been plenty of times when I’m in my church lobby, greeting new students, catching up with leaders, or finalizing a game setup, when suddenly, two students walk in holding hands. In that moment, I feel like I’ve got...

Time. We all need more of it, yet there is only a certain amount allotted to each of us in a day, week, month, year, and lifetime. Time is both a friend and a foe, and let’s face it, most...

THE NUMBERS GAME “How many students showed up last night?” Have you ever heard that before and wondered if that’s all people really care to ask when it comes to your ministry? No doubt, numbers have long been a big...

Picture with me: You walk into your youth room for the first time. There’s an old couch placed in the center of the room that’s got a few rips and stains, but it’s not too bad. You’ve got a few...