Ronald Long and Andrea Miller talk middle school parent meetings: what they could be and why you should have them! Questions to consider: How do you communicate to your parents? Why is it good to keep parents in the loop ..read more

The school year is half over in December. Is it a time when you need new leaders to come and help bring in the new calendar year? Andrea Miller comes back for a second episode to talk training new leaders! Questions to consider: Can you make a specific ask for leaders in your group? Can you encourage your leaders today? How can you get everyone trained in the same way? What jobs need to be done in your ministry? How can a new leader help ..read more

Andrea Miller and Ronald Long talk about what it would be like to start helping students share what God is doing in their lives. Whether small groups or main stage, middle school students can have something to offer! Questions to consider: Do you have space for students to share? During small groups? During main stage time? In prayer? If not, what would it take to start letting them have the spotlight ..read more

Katie Edwards and Ronald Long talk about what a weekly sabbath looks like in the midst of a busy season. Questions to consider: How can you prepare for a Sabbath throughout the week? What things/people fill your cup? What things/people drain the life out of you? Why is a Sabbath such a big deal ..read more

This week I got to have a great conversation with Katie Edwards, Junior High Pastor at Saddleback Church, about how she uses fun to help foster community and trust with her middle school students! Questions to consider: How can you add community fun to your weekly program? In what ways can you help build relationships in your group? What can you do to get students to trust each other and move to deeper relationships ..read more

This Sunday I watched as a now 8th grader who, let’s be real, used to be a big turd, invite a sixth grade student up on stage with her to sing for worship band. It was the most encouraging thing I’ve seen in a long time and it made my heart so happy to see! And of course, it got me thinking: How can we encourage students to be more welcoming and inviting? That’s what we break down today! Questions to consider: Is your group insider focused, or outsider focused? Do you have a place for a new student to fit in? Are there places for current students to step up ..read more

You’ve just moved up a group of students. Why in the world would you be thinking about promoting the ones you just got!? In this episode, Ronald talks about how he’s trying to plan for the student leadership vacuum that occurs every year by preparing right now! •Who are your leaders now that your leaders have moved up? •Who could be developed? •How can you identify new students to take on new roles? •How can you encourage students who have stepped into the vacuum? Talked about on the episode: https://trainmyvolunteers.com Get a glimpse at the type and quality of content that will be availa ..read more

This was the week! Ronald finally got his own kid in student ministry. And it was heartwarming and hilarious. This week Ronald talks about how to create a safe space for your middle school students to really share their thoughts, doubts, and opinions. •How do you respond when a contrary opinion is shared? Do you judge it or roll with it? •Do students share their doubts in youth group or do they hold back? •How can you encourage students to share if they think they don’t hold the same opinion or story as others? Talked about on the episode: https://trainmyvolunteers.com Get a glimpse at the ..read more

This is the year. Tim, our high school pastor, is getting his daughter in the high school ministry, and Ronald, the middle school pastor, is getting his daughter (and another one of Tim’s) in the middle school ministry. Insert generalized anxiety here. Are your kids in your youth ministry? •You’re not just your kid’s pastor. You’re your kid’s FRIENDS pastor! •How are you going to treat your student? •How are you going to treat your student’s friends? •Treat them all the same. Even if it’s a little strange at first. Talked about on the episode: Follow Tim Nowell on Social! Instagram - @tim ..read more

Tim Nowell, the high school pastor I get to work with every week, sits down with me to talk about moving up 8th grade students to the high school ministry. He’s a thirteen-year veteran at Wayside Chapel and we have a strategy. Mostly. •We have a conversation about each student by talking through a list. •We highlight who will show up, who was involved, and who we’ve never seen. •Leaders loving students for years. •Welcoming incoming students into the high school ministry the week before promotion with a “Fish Fry” (Grilling freshman with questions and addressing their fears). Talked about on ..read more