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Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you think the ministry or the church should go in one direction, and a fellow staff member, a pastor, or your supervisor thinks something completely different should happen? Or maybe you’ve...

Developing student leaders can seem daunting to many student pastors, and many of us don’t feel prepared to take it on. Many of us are good at engaging in conversation with our students to encourage them to step into leadership...

As a Youth Pastor, you have the potential to influence many people’s lives throughout your ministry. If you’re intentional about making interpersonal connections with the parents, students, and staff, your ministry can tremendously impact future generations. However, if you are...

I have to admit that I don’t find Christian leadership books, articles, or conferences all that interesting. They’re rarely the first things I’m drawn to. That’s not because I think leadership is unimportant. Quite the opposite. I’ve worked under poor...

As the summer sun begins to set and the excitement of another school year begins, it’s time for youth pastors to take advantage of the reality that school is back! Take a second and close your eyes to picture a...

I get it. I’ve been there. Some days, you’re trading out one hat for another as you prepare for the events ahead. Whether you’re wearing the pizza party hat for the senior girls, the preaching hat on a Sunday morning...

Youth ministry has an unwritten rule of what every worship service should look like. A game, a few announcements, 3 songs, and a 30-minute sermon. We build it this way, hoping students will find a place to worship God together...

There’s a moment most youth pastors experience, and I guarantee that we don’t talk about it. A student sits across from you. Their shoulders are tense. Their eyes look tired. What they’re sharing feels heavier than normal teenage stress. Anxiety.Depression.Family...

You’re in the middle of it right now. Summer is only half over, and if you’re like most youth pastors I know, you’re starting to feel it. Events, VBS, mission trips, camps, and for a lot of you, you’ve got...

Bi-vocational ministry isn’t for the weak. Bi-vocational student pastors often can feel overwhelmed, overworked, undervalued, and underpaid. How am I going to keep up with my church's expectations? What am I going to speak about this week? What game are...

As youth pastors, summers may be the busiest time of the year. We have camps, connection events, weekly ministry, and mission trips. Oh, and not to mention, our own family vacations…hopefully. If we aren’t careful, we can be so busy...

Stepping into a new ministry setting, whether it’s your first church or your fifth, comes with expectations. Some are spoken, and many are unspoken. And without even realizing it, you may begin trying to match an identity you were never...