Category: youth ministry
-
Doug Fields joins us at YS
Here’s the press release. FACT: When I added the press release category to the design of the YS site I never thought we’d actually use it. But that area has gotten a workout!
-
Three Ways to Reach More Teenagers Starting this Fall
In your community less than 10% of 6-12th graders are a part of a youth ministry. In most communities 2%-3% of eligible teenagers are involved on a good week. Ouch. Here’s a strategic reality check for you: Tweaking your mid-week program or plugging in a new communications tool or even working harder isn’t going to…
-
20 Types of Youth Ministry Volunteers
I’ve been involved in youth ministry in one form or another since I was in high school. One thing I love about being involved with youth group is the cast of characters that each ministry seems to have. If I were to write a novel and wanted to include all of the types of youth workers…
-
Immigration, Dreamers, and Youth Ministry
Immigration reform is a political football. Unfortunately, it has become one of those things that you don’t talk about in polite company. And while I don’t claim to know enough to know how to fix the massive influx of people coming to our country illegally, I do know that we need a pathway to legal…
-
Sleep deprivation and the American teenager
To meet all of these demands, surveys show, high schoolers usually stay up close to midnight on school nights. And then they have to get up early the next morning, typically around 6 or 6:30 a.m., to get to school on time, as most high schools start classes around 7:30 a.m. — “Most studies show…
-
I play for keeps
I keeps it real. And I play for keeps. It’s easy to be in ministry and lose sight of the big and obvious stuff. Such as, “Why the heck do I even do all of this anyway?” So much of the actual task in youth ministry feels like that of a cruise director. When you…
-
Love God, Cheat on Tests
If you believe in a loving, compassionate God you are more likely to cheat than people who believe in an angry, punitive God. This is according to a new study released called, “Mean Gods Make Good People: Different Views of God Predict Cheating Behavior” and covered in the April 30th edition of the L.A. Times.…
-
College isn’t for everyone
The cost of college has gotten out of control When I tell people that I have never had a student loan and paid for my undergraduate (and the 50% of my graduate) studies out-of-pocket, their jaws drop. It’s true. Kristen and I both earned our bachelors degrees and walked across the stage at graduation debt-free.…
-
Thank you, Mr. Long
“Well, I’m in if you’re in.” That was the phrase that began my next season at Youth Specialties. Back in December 2009 I’d been offered the opportunity to stay on with YS after the purchase by YouthWorks. Tic and I exchanged a couple phone calls and texts… and I remember saying to him playfully, “Well,…
-
Why do I do this?
A few months back we had some meetings at work. And by “some meetings” I mean we were in meetings from Monday – Thursday more than 8 hours per day. All throughout the week, one member of our team asked us, “Why do we do what we do?” I wasn’t sure what this person meant…