I’m taking a week off from youth ministry. It’s not because I’m going on vacation. It’s not because I have too many things in my schedule. It’s not because I no longer love students. I’m just about ready to rip some of their heads off… that’s all.… The post 4 Ways to Take Time Off: Do You Need a Break? appeared first on YouthMinistry.com ..read more

I’ve worked with a lot of interns over 30 years. Internships are critical, because they allow people to experience and engage with the environment and responsibilities of the area they are considering vocationally. I handle internships differently than most people I know, but that’s not to say my way is correct.… The post Thoughts on Internships and Interns appeared first on YouthMinistry.com ..read more

A couple of times a year I survey my teen students about our programming. What do we do well? What needs to change? What topics are we missing? There was a time when I recieved an overwhelming response that there was a desire to do more and be more.… The post Are Your Students OWNING Their Ministry? appeared first on YouthMinistry.com ..read more

Three things you’ll never hear me say in the spring: 1)    Everyone’s camp balances are paid in full! 2)    I spent way too much time with my small group leaders this semester. 3)    I wish these 8th graders would hurry up and transition to high school.… The post 3 Things You’ll Never Hear Me Say in the Spring appeared first on YouthMinistry.com ..read more

Check out Episode 3 of Season 8 – “The Exclusionary Jesus” – a continuation of the series “THE WAYS OF JESUS.” Rick and Becky will be exploring themes drawn from his upcoming book (releasing June 4) titled Editing Jesus. In this episode we dive into a hard truth… Yes, Jesus was radically inclusive when he offered marginalized people dignity, or when he elevated women and Gentiles from a place of scorn, or when He chose to hang out with, and even honor, “sinners” like tax collectors and prostitutes.… The post (PODCAST) THE WAYS OF JESUS: The Exclusionary Jesus appeared first on YouthMinistry.co ..read more

Posted by Kurt Johnston 1. Say Yes When They Ask For Your Help. We have all been taught that a key to time management is learning how to say NO. However, I think that when it comes to serving our volunteers we need to say YES whenever we can.… The post 5 Easy Ways To Encourage Your Volunteers appeared first on YouthMinistry.com ..read more

The current generation of students is being considered a group that is marked by a fear of failure and public scrutiny. Of course everyone blames the rise of technology and social media for the pressure this current generation of adolescents is under.… The post A Stressed Out Generation appeared first on YouthMinistry.com ..read more

Once, I had the awesome opportunity to offer some training and speaking in a dear friend’s small town in Kansas. After five days away, I sat on the plane ready for home. Plugging into music, a favorite worship song came on just as the plane engines started to roar.… The post My Students Can’t Pray appeared first on YouthMinistry.com ..read more

Big news! Rick is re-launching his podcast Paying Ridiculous Attention to Jesus after a year-long sabbatical. Even bigger and better news—the Becky-nator will be joining him again to co-host. So check out the Episode 2 of Season 8 “Sitting at the Wrong End of the Table”—a continuation of the series “THE WAYS OF JESUS.”… The post (PODCAST) THE WAYS OF JESUS: Sitting at the Wrong End of the Table appeared first on YouthMinistry.com ..read more

The proverbial “good kid” can come in many shapes and forms. They might be the ones that always show up early to actually help set up, or sit in the front row so they can pay attention and take better notes, or we ask to be on the student leadership team, or are the first to sign up for the missions trip, show up to every fundraiser and actually pay on time.… The post Good Kids are NOT Perfect Kids appeared first on YouthMinistry.com ..read more