JonathanHello! I have all your books and love them!I recently moved churches, from a church in MN to a church of the same denomination in FL due to my husband's job. When I got to the church, a lot of feelings were hurt because the prior, very much loved youth director, had left to go to the mega church down the street. ...
Answers for Tough Questions
Got a tough question? You’re not alone! Chances are good that our team might be going through some of the same issues. Scroll through the topics below and click on the link that best describes your need.
If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, then CLICK HERE TO ASK THE SOURCE any question.
How do I deal with arrogant student leaders?
JonathanHello! I have all your books and love them!I recently moved churches, from a church in MN to a...
How do I help this hurting student who won't open up?
How can I better engage a student that internalizes EVERYTHING? I know she is having issues at home but...
Help with disciplining a special needs student.
Every year we have a new batch of 7th graders enter our ministry. One of them is a special...
Gossipy Girls… How to do I tame the trash talking?
Our youth group is small with 8 to 10 girls, ages 8th thru 10th grade. Several girls are constantly...
I'm looking for fundraising ideas that have a “purpose.”
IÕm looking for fund raising ideas that have a "purpose," not simply candy sales, t-shirt sales, etcetera. Any...
Girls Crushing on Male Youth Leaders
Most of our female students have crushes (say they are in love with) our Youth Pastor & male youth...
How do I lead one teenager in our youth group until we bring in more?
I am starting a youth group from scratch at a new church. At present we have 1 teenager who...
Dress Code for Unchurched Kids at A Dance?
About a year ago we started doing dances for middle school students which I disc jockey at our local...
How do I avoid burnout and still be effective to my high school students?
I have been an adult volunteer in the high school student ministry at my church going on six years....
What do you know about suicide?
What do you know about suicide? One young man just took his life in my area and a...
How do I handle suspected abuse of an 18 year old student in our youth group?
I have a delicate issue within our youth group. For a while now I have suspected that a certain...
Do you have any insight on teen “cutting” from a youth culture perspective?
Dear The Source:ÒI am hearing more and more teens are into cutting themselves as part of the "Emo" fad...
Is it possible to plan the youth calendar a year in advance and does it need to aline with the Sr. Pastor's topics as well?
Being pulled in a million different directions; youth needs, important issues to cover, church agenda, parent agendas, etc... oh...
I need advice about our church's new abuse policies for our ministries.
Our church is initiating abuse policies for our ministries. One of them is that I can have one-on-one...
I'm new to this preaching thang!
Jonathan,I just took a full time youth pastor position a few months ago and this is my first time....
To Tattoo or Not To Tattoo?
I had a question, and was looking for your opinion on - Tattoo's, I had a student ask me...
How do we meet the needs of both outreach kids and growth kids for our weekly youthgroup meetings?
Jonathan,HELP!!! I am the Youth Director at our church and we just had our first youth meeting for...
How can we involve the men's fellowship group in our church with our youth?
The leader of our men's fellowship has asked the youth leaders for some ideas as to how we can...
Do you have any games for 'small' youth groups?
Jonathan,I have a small junior youth group and we always run out of games to play. Can you help?...
Any resources for interview/screening volunteers?
Dear Jonathan,My husband and I attended your advanced staff development seminar at Youth Specialties in Sacramento. We were wondering...
Staff Guy Wants To Be A Ladies' Man
Jonathan,I am a youth director outside of Washington DC. I just finished up my first year at this church....
Looking For Good Theology Teaching Resources
Jonathan,I want to teach doctrine and theology in our Jr / Sr Hi Sunday School; but I'm having trouble...
Where is a good place to get Bibles for students?
Jonathan, I use your site a bunch (thanks!) I'm the youth pastor of a small church.I want to buy...
Kids Won't Shut Their Big Yappers!
Jonathan,I'm a youth pastor in INDIANA. I'm just getting started with this ministry, and I am having a...
Should I be bummed about Harry Potter?
Jonathan,My name is Igor from Pula, Croatia and I am involved in youth ministry. I have one request if...
Where can I get a creative “New Person Form?”
Jonathan,On your youth outreach agendas you talk about new person forms. Where can I find those?StanleyAnswerStanley,No problem. Click on...
How do I kick off a discussion on “Truth?”
Jonathan,I'm one of the youth group leaders at my church. This Friday we'll discussing the topic on "truth". Do...
I don't see events! Where are they?!!
Jonathan,One of my friends told me that you have events like scavenger hunts on your site. I've been on...
Are games and fun activities appropriate teaching tools?
Jonathan,Hi my name is Heidi Fries and I am a new youth leader at a local church in my...
What can I do on an 8 – 10 hour bus ride?
Jonathan,I just wanted to thank you for a great website. All of the information from your website is now...
Do I let kids smoke at my program?
Jonathan,How should I keep a consistent smoking policy for my weekly para-church youth programs when the majority of the...
Fatal Attraction Staff
Dear Jonathan,I have a situation i do not know how to handle. We have a 20year old sponsor for...
We have the opportunity to lead big church!
We have a youth Sunday coming up in April where the youth run the entire service. We have a...
Does the design of our room matter?
Jonathan,Our youth group has just recieved a new youth room that definitely needs a "youthy" feel. Do you have...
Moon Over Louisiana!
On our summer trip, we pulled into the parking lot and right before we got out, a couple boys...
Kids Want To Snuggle During Worship
Dear Jonathan,Thank you again for being there for us youth workers. The Lord has blessed us with growth from...
How do I confront a sexually active kid?
Jonathan,This past week it was drawn to my attention that two teens had taken a pregnancy test. What...
Help me not kill this kid!
Jonathan,I have a youth that has challenged me in every way possible. He is a good kid deep inside,...
Where do I find good clipart?
Jonathan,Where can we find GOOD, FREE Christian clipart on the internet?SandyAnswerSandy,Thanks for the email.Clip art- yes- I used to...
My Kids Ignore New Kids
Jonathan,We have problem with cliques and excluding new students in our group- what would you do to address this-...
Pizza Outreach…just feed 'em?
I wonder if you have an input for us regarding a ministry we have called Pizza and Discussion. Another...
Fundraising Idea for Lazy Kids
I need fundraising ideas bad, but our kids aren't into selling stuff, gotany fun fundraising ideas? HELP!Megan, Parkland, WAAnswerMegan,You're...
Bad Movies At Church…At Home…
Dear Jonathan,I'm in the youth ministry as a care-group leader to teenage girls ranging from 13 - 17yrs. Last...
The Kid Who Used To Be Nice
Dear Jonathan,My husband and I just took over a youth group about 6 months ago. So, this is...
So do you tell the “mooner's” parents or what?
Dear Jonathan,I do not have a question. Just wanted to voice my concern on how you responded to the...
I don't have any money for a staff retreat!
Jonathan,I am a youth minister in FL. I am wanting to have a weekend with my leaders where we...
What if my student leaders don't keep their commitments?
Jonathan,We've just started forming our core group of students this year. Some of these students who signed up are...
How do I start a college ministry?
Dear Jonathan,I am a 19 year old female and the pastor's oldest daughter. I'm a junior at Delaware State...
How do I lead a large group?
Dear Jonathan,I am a youth director at a rural church with 65-75 senior highers on a monday night in...
Whiny Parent Meeting
Dear Jonathan - I'm just over a year into my first youth ministry position. I've tried a few parents...
How do I use chaperones on a trip?
Jonathan,Man you are awesome and even though I don't know you personally, I Love You Man! Thanks for this...
Should I PUSH my flakey staff?
Jonathan,First of all I just want to say thank you so much for giving your ideas for free and...
Mad Parents Don't Like My Dating Advice
Jonathan,Oh man you would have thought that the end of the world had come this past weekend... during a...
Should our church sponsor a prom or a dance?
Dear Jonathan,First, let me say thank you for your web site. It has been invaluable to me during my...
Parents Mad About A “Breach of Confidentiality”
Jonathan,Do you have any suggestions on handling a student leader who has admitted to a cycle of porn use?...
How do I get on-campus to do ministry?
Jonathan,My husband and I are youth pastors at Harvest in Roseville, and we really want to do more on-campus...
I'm A Youth Worker Who's Not Being Fed At My Own Church
Jonathan,I'm a new youth director and my wife and I are not getting fed at our church. I don't...
Do you have any biblical games?
Jonathan,I have been given the exciting task of doing one Scripture Based game at our youth group meetings on...
My Staff Won't Play With Kids!
Jonathon,I am one of the two head leaders of a group of five leaders in a junior youth group....
Parents Won't Let Them Go To Church
Jonathan,I am a youth leader of a small group and I have a couple teens that haven't come to...
Did I really do all I could for this kid?
Hi Jonathan,I feel guilty about a mistake I feel that I made. I will never forget, and the consequences...
Tough kids are destroying my games
Jonathan,I'm working with an inner-city youth group that is a real difficult group to work with. One of the...
The 12 year old drug dealer
Jonathan,I have a ministry that involves mentoring urban kids. They range in age from 9-19. Basically I try to...
Does the word “students” annoy you?
Jonathan,I am listening to Doug Fields at the moment about hurts and he keeps referring to young people as...
Does my wife have to be hands on in my ministry?
Jonathan,I was wondering about the importance of having your wife actively involved in your ministry. I am in college...
Indecent swimsuits
Jonathan,I thought that I was following what the Bible says but all the complaints I got from parents was...
How can I plan a school club?
Jonathan,I have been planning to start a Christian Youth Fellowship club at my public school. I have a friend...
They run when they see you coming with the Bible!
Dear Jonathan,I am a very young youth just getting into evangelizing. I go to a secondary school and I...
How do we tell them we're leaving?
Jonathan,How do you have closure for a youth group when there is a change in leadership? My wife and...
Forget the kids, what do I do with my stupid leaders?
Jonathan,I have leaders that act as bad or worst than the youth. I don't like to be hard, but...
kid too scared/homesick to stay overnight anywhere
Dear Jonathan,I have a problem that I just don't know what to do about.. I have a teen in...
Can you share insight on how to deal with homeschooled students in your youth ministry?
I was wondering if you had some insight on homeschoolers? Not just that they are dorks, but how...
How do you get kids to pray?
Jonathan, How do you get a group of older churchy teenagers to get into praying and really see how...
What do I do with 5th and 6th graders?
I'm 18 and teaching grades 5 and 6 class in Sunday school, and am so excited for what's in...
Is it okay for females to be youth workers?
For the past couple of years of high school I have really been interested in youth ministry or counseling....
Can a pastor date one of his leaders?
Is it ok for single youth pastors to date one of their single leaders?Dusty, Hobbs, NMAnswerDusty,Thanks for the question.But...