Guiding Students Through Life’s Tough Questions Last month, I was in Singapore and was asked to speak at a Christian school for its weekly chapel program. When I accepted, I was warned that the students did not care much for chapel, so their non-attention and minor disruptions should not offend me. This made me even… The post Unasked is Unanswered: appeared first on Student Leadership University ..read more

After the most recent Presidential campaign and election cycle, most Americans had their fill of the tumultuous (and frequently bizarre) escapades of vote-getting. As a youth pastor, did you take some time to mentor your youth through the process? As a youth pastor, teaching teenagers about politics and government involves balancing practical information and biblical… The post Equipping Young Christians to Understand a Biblical View of Politics and Government appeared first on Student Leadership University ..read more

I have been blessed to spend good time with leaders of Christian schools and outstanding youth pastors. Having the chance to talk about their ministries and the impact that their ministry has on the youth is exciting. However, there always seems to be a sad note when I ask about their youth who go to college. Do they… The post Helping Your Youth prepare to succeed in College – and Still Remain a Christian. appeared first on Student Leadership University ..read more

Your relationship with God, your family, and your youth are the three most important relationships defining your ministry. They require constant nourishment to grow deeper, broader, and more spiritually vibrant. This is where you invest most of your time and energy. It is your sweet spot for encouragement, joy, and fulfillment as you serve Christ.… The post Youth Pastoring – it’s all about relationships. appeared first on Student Leadership University ..read more

When I served as a youth pastor, mental health issues were not even on our radar. Today, these issues have risen to the top of concerns for this generation of youth. As a Youth Pastor, you have the opportunity and responsibility to care for the young people entrusted to you. Today’s cultural moment requires not… The post Stepping Stones: Practical Tips for Youth Pastors Addressing Mental Health appeared first on Student Leadership University ..read more

A Challenge and an Opportunity Discouragement: When not If The frenetic pace of a Youth Pastor’s ministry can often numb you into a state of dejected melancholy or, most often, wear you out and leave you listless. The real blow, however, comes when you find yourself discouraged and lack the joy and expectancy that has motivated you. Discouragement is a loss of confidence and enthusiasm, a feeling of dejection, demoralization, depression, and other similar feelings. It happens to everyone. In fact, you should factor in times of discouragement. Don’t let it sneak up on you. It is not a matter of ..read more

The Youth Pastor and Sexual/Social Ethics A family member has invited you to his wedding, where he will marry his true love, who happens to be another man. What do you do? How do you decide? One of the students in your group informs you that she now identifies as non-binary and requests you use “they, them” pronouns when referring to her. Do you have to follow her instructions? How will the other students respond if you do – or don’t? The ascendancy of LGBTQ+ culture confronts Christians with a battery of fresh and novel moral issues – gay weddings and trans identity among them. Let’s examine ..read more

“That’s the one question I dreaded.” A couple years ago, a friend who was a students pastor at the time told me his students had been asking questions about God, Jesus, and the Bible. He started taking time to answer their questions at their weekly meetings and found it helpful to hear what was on their minds and what might be causing them to question their faith. While primarily a positive experience for the students, he found himself unprepared for some questions. For instance, one experience occurred when a student asked how we could know God exists. She had heard an atheist on TikTok descr ..read more

Abortion and the Will of God I recently posted a simple statement on social media affirming a pro-life position and in favor of striking down the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. The outcome of this landmark case granted women the Constitutional, and thus federal, right to have access to abortion. Following the outcome of Roe v. Wade, abortion was henceforth the law of the land.   While I have posted things my followers haven’t always agreed with before, this time seemed different. The comments section became cluttered with insults about my intelligence, the typical “my body, my r ..read more

205 years ago, Joseph Mohr, a young priest from Austria, first penned the now famous song “Silent Night”. He, and those he pastored, had undergone extreme violence because of the Napoleonic wars, and finally they were experiencing peace once again. During one of his evening walks, Mohr found himself wandering through the vast countryside and paused at a spot where he could overlook the very quiet, winter-laden town. As he stared down upon the town, the words to the soon to be famous song came pouring forth. Two years later, on Christmas Eve, the first notes of “Silent Night” filled the air. It ..read more