People don't plan to fail, they fail to plan!As I was previewing Jim Burns new edition of THE YOUTH BUILDER, I underlined this statement, "Vision usually isn't the thing that hinders most youth ministries: it's a lack of administration that sinks many of them ... in reality, a well administered ministry will provide more valuable time to spend with...
The Seven No No's - Do these seven things and your games will stink! 1. Tell the crowd that you're going to play a game! Best way to ruin a game is tell kids that you're going to play a game! Youth groups across the nation consistently use this pathetic transition: "okay, we're going...
Millions of teenagers are apathetic about their faith, and their indifference greatly reveals itself each year when many teenagers graduate high school... and exit their faith altogether. It's a problem that every youth worker in every denomination acknowledges. In the last decade I've seen a growing trend to try to change this phenomena with new curriculum...
His motives seemed pure. "I just want to see kids reached with the Gospel." Who can argue with that? Well... he spent his entire youth ministry budget by January 17th. I first met "Chris" about six months prior to that ominous January. He contacted me about speaking at his community outreach event. The event sounded...
A Closer Look at What Small Groups Can DoLet's cut to the chase. Do you want a ministry tool that can provide the following? A great way for students to get to know each other better A way for staff to build strong relationships with students A stepping stone to accountability and mentor relationships An environment in which individuals...
Last month a student from the high school just down the street from me excused himself from class about 10:15 a.m., walked into a restroom, and shot himself.It was his 17th birthday.My heart sank as I read the entire story in our local Sacramento paper. That's the third article this week I've seen about teenage anxiety, depression, violence, and...
Recently I've spoken at several events that were very well planned... until the altar call. Think about this for a second. A kid hears the Gospel and even has the guts to stand up out of their seat with the desire to make some life-changing decisions. They walk forward to the front of the room... and... Freeze. Stop...