Adam McLane

Category: youth ministry

  • You need to get out more

    “Leaders are learners.” We’ve all heard this. And most people I know in youth ministry are very well read. They read a lot of books and attend a lot of training stuff. But I also think one reason people can’t think outside of the box to solve problems is that their context is so tiny.…

  • Teenagers are Desperate for Good News

    One reason youth ministry is flatlining is crappy theology. Kara Powell, executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute, was recently interviewed by Relevant Magazine about the present reality that youth ministry presents a faith students easily walk away from in college. She was asked, “Do you think there are any misunderstandings or misconceptions that contribute to young adults leaving the…

  • Stay Crazy

    I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched this video over the years. Maybe hundreds. It inspires me every time.  In youth ministry, Mike Yaconelli is our Steve Jobs. As I wrote earlier this week, we live at a time when youth ministry has flat-lined. The way we do youth ministry has failed to…

  • Youth Ministry is Flatlining

    If I were to plot out the average youth ministry attendance in a local church this is probably what it would look like. So when I say, “The way you are doing ministry is failing to reach students. It’s not you, it’s your strategy.” Youth workers look at me and say, “No, that’s not true.…

  • High schoolers passing in the night

    I volunteer with the high school ministry at my church. Each Wednesday night I help to lead a small group of high school guys. And each Sunday morning I am one of the adults trying to engage our students in some sort of meaningful conversation. Journey is of the size where you can successfully go for ages…

  • Kick off the new year with CBEmini

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zBFsfSHA_w I’m kind of tired of hearing how biblically illiterate teenagers are today.  Ultimately, as spiritual leaders and parents dedicated to investing in those students, biblical illiteracy is on us. Our students don’t know the Bible because we’ve failed to teach them. (Guilty as charged) Worse yet, if students don’t have a love for God’s…

  • Sometimes You Have to Cheat the Church to do Ministry

    Let’s start with this reality. If you think ministering to teenagers is easy, simple, turnkey, low commitment, or something you can package into a program you are sunk.  That’s why I’d rather teach youth workers transferable principles than give them prescriptive solutions to the things that I talk about. Question: Adam, I just read your…

  • Social media interaction with minors – Where do you draw the line?

    I have a column this week on Slant 33 about this very topic. Here’s some sound bytes. Youth ministry is dangerous. It will bring you into temptation. It’ll bring you face to face with your deepest fears and greatest annoyances. It’ll cause you to create policies and break them at the same time. Chances are,…

  • Love is an Orientation DVD

    I’m proud to be a part of the youth ministry session of this project with Ginny Olson. Together we talk about ministering to LGBT students in your youth group, creating a safe environment, and bullying. You can pre-order the DVD curriculum from Amazon here.

  • POLL: Do you have to be paid to be considered a youth worker?

    Context: My last paycheck from a church as a full-time youth pastor came in May 2008. Since that time I’ve worked full-time at a youth ministry organization and volunteered through a local church youth ministry. (Technically, two organizations and two churches.) Every so often I hear from a youth worker, usually at a church, who…