Better Youth Ministry
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Helping youth pastors reach their goals by thinking strategically about their ministry.
Better Youth Ministry
9M ago
One of the most bizarre moments in sports history happened one night at Caesar’s Palace. Boxing fans were gathered there to see the rematch of an epic fight between Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe. A year earlier, in their first matchup, Bowe had beaten Holyfield to become the new Heavyweight champion of boxing. This time, they were meeting again for an outdoor fight, under the stars in Las Vegas.
Bowe got off to a solid start, winning the first three rounds. Then Holyfield settled in and won the next three rounds. The fight was tied, and then it happened. It was the moment that no one c ..read more
Better Youth Ministry
9M ago
If you were asked to name the most important activity for small group leaders, I wonder what you might say.
When I started thinking about that question, my mind went to the five activities listed by the team at Orange:
• Be present
• Create a safe place
• Partner with parents
• Make it personal
• Move them out
Of those five, I would say that making it personal is the most important. Why? It’s simple: “In order to inspire authentic faith in your few, you must first practice and prioritize authentic faith in your own life” (Lead Small, p. 125). You can’t give them what you don’t have.
Somethin ..read more
Better Youth Ministry
9M ago
A few years ago, fire departments across the United States responded to more than 36 million calls and put out over 1 million fires (nfpa.org). But that’s what they signed up for. That’s why they exist.
When a fireman goes to work, he knows that he’ll spend most of his shift being called upon to put out fires.
But you’re not a firefighter. You’re a youth pastor.
And yet, several times every week you find yourself putting out fires (figuratively speaking, of course). Sometimes those fires happen in church members’ lives. Other times they happen in your own family. Either way, they’re unexpect ..read more
Better Youth Ministry
9M ago
What’s your title?
You know, the little by-line beneath your name when you send an email.
Over the last few years, I’ve noticed a trend. I’m seeing fewer ministry leaders being called pastors and more of them being called directors.
For example, a pastor who oversees a student ministry is now called a “Student Ministry Director.” A Small Group pastor is now a “Small Group Director.” This trend seems to be especially prevalent in larger churches that have many people on their staff.
Have you noticed this trend?
On the surface, it doesn’t seem like a very big deal. I’ve actually had both of t ..read more
Better Youth Ministry
9M ago
Every fall, a new group of recent high school graduates leaves home and arrives on college campuses. It’s a moment that many of them have looked forward to for many months, if not years. And yet, few of them are aware of how complicated the transition can be.
While many students spent a lot of time thinking and strategizing about how to get into college, few of them spent enough time thinking about how to make the most of their time after they had gotten onto campus. In a sense, they get lost in transition.
A college student at the University of New Hampshire admitted, “Moving on to college ..read more
Better Youth Ministry
9M ago
There are so many times that I’ve been asked about the t-shirts I’m wearing. People aren’t saying negative things about my shirts. Just the opposite, in fact.
They’re asking about what they mean. That’s a good thing, especially when you’re trying to design a t-shirt for your ministry that students (or adult volunteers) will actually wear.
So, there are three essentials to keep in mind when you’re designing your next youth ministry t-shirt. That’s what I share in this video…
If want to skip the video altogether, here’s a quick summary of the 3 essentials:
1. Clean Design
You want the design ..read more
Better Youth Ministry
9M ago
I was talking with a missionary who spends his days having conversations about Jesus with college students. “I keep running into a roadblock,” he told me. “Students bring up Critical Theory to debunk Christianity, and I don’t know how to respond. What can I say?”
If you don’t already know, Critical Theory is a social theory that aims to critique, challenge, and change the norms of a society. It is heavily influenced by Marxist thought, blends sociology with philosophy, and attempts to deconstruct systems of (so-called) domination that contribute to the status quo (Source: thoughtco.com).
I’m ..read more
Better Youth Ministry
9M ago
Using social media can grow your ministry. But it can also cost you your job. In the last few years, several high-profile people have been fired because of things they’ve posted on social media.
As a youth pastor, you’re a professional. When you post something on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, or TikTok, it’s perceived as a reflection of your church (whether you intended it to or not).
That’s why you need to be more careful about what you post (and repost) on social media. Or, as I say in this video: Pause before you post.
Specifically, pause and do three things:
1. THINK (Is this t ..read more
Better Youth Ministry
3y ago
One of the most bizarre moments in sports history happened one night at Caesar’s Palace. Boxing fans were gathered there to see the rematch of an epic fight between Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe. A year earlier, in their first matchup, Bowe had beaten Holyfield to become the new Heavyweight champion of boxing. This time, they were meeting again for an outdoor fight, under the stars in Las Vegas.
Bowe got off to a solid start, winning the first three rounds. Then Holyfield settled in and won the next three rounds. The fight was tied, and then it happened. It was the moment that no one c ..read more
Better Youth Ministry
3y ago
I was frustrated. It had been a year since I became a youth pastor and I felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere with the students. I doubted myself and wondered if I was making any difference at all.
Maybe you know the feeling. If you don’t, that’s great! Just know that it can sneak up on you. Youth pastors across the country can attest to that.
It was around that time that I started reading The Seven Laws of the Learner by Bruce Wilkinson. In the book, Wilkinson identifies the Law of Expectation, which he summarizes as, “Expect the best” (p. 105). However, he also cautions that we should adjus ..read more