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We're All Born This Way

Rick Lawrence Tuesday, April 16, 2013
The other day I had breakfast with an old friend—we’ve met, off and on, two Saturday mornings a month for 10 years or so. I hadn’t seen him in a few months, so we had some catching up to do. I asked about his family. He paused, glanced down for a moment, then...
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Families, Culture

Youth Ministry Minute: It's Not Personal

Rick Lawrence Tuesday, April 10, 2012
  A few months ago I was minding my own business, looking for the sports section in my local paper, when the headline on an “Ask Amy” column stopped me in my tracks: “Teen Churchgoer Finds Faith Faltering.” Hmm… What would a mainstream advice columnist say to a 16-year-old teenager who was... read more
Culture

Orcs Must Die! Review

Scott Firestone Tuesday, April 10, 2012
The title of this PC and Xbox Live Arcade game tells you everything you need to know: Orcs are busting in and you have to kill them. It’s a tower defense game—similar to the smash Plants Vs. Zombies—where bad guys are invading your house/castle/base/whatever. In this case you're an apprectice... read more
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Families, Leadership, Outreach

Order in the Court

Matthew McNutt Wednesday, April 4, 2012
It probably happens more often than you realize. A student you are connected to is arrested for some offense—or multiple offenses—and faces a court appearance. The odds are, they and their family are trying to keep it quiet.  Maybe you hear through the grapevine, maybe they actually tell you.... read more
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Culture

The New Face of Marriage and Family

Jonathan McKee Wednesday, April 4, 2012
And Its Effect on Future Generations An article from Jonathan McKee and David R. Smith at TheSource4YM.com Boy meets girl, gets married at 22, moves into a house with a white picket fence and has 2.6 kids...and a Labrador. Sound familiar? Maybe back when my parents got married! Now “living... read more
Culture

Tebow and Lin and Dixon - Oh Yeah!

Lane Palmer Wednesday, April 4, 2012
By Lane Palmer at Dare 2 Share. Aslan is on the move… You know this reference - yes? It’s from The Chronicles of Narnia when the first signs of spring are returning to the eternally frozen landscape where it was always winter and never Christmas. The budding flowers and warmth meant that the Christ... read more
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Leadership

The Importance of Intergenerational Church

Kurt and Josh Tuesday, April 3, 2012
There’s been a growing trend in youth ministry circles about the need to develop a more intergenerational approach in ministering to teenagers. And while some of the conversation has pointed an unfair finger at youth ministry, and has been a bit extreme in tone, the idea of intergenerational... read more
Culture, Missions

The 10/30 Window: A Newer Way to Describe Global Youth Ministry

YouthHOPE Friday, March 30, 2012
Youth ministry has evolved over the years in so many different ways. We have developed different methodologies and philosophies, seen different organizations emerge, and created different specialty focus areas. One of those specialty areas that has emerged over the lasts 20 years is the area of... read more
Leadership, Missions, Programming, Outreach

A Response: Hitting the Bunny Slopes Before the Double Black Diamond

Melissa Rau Thursday, March 29, 2012
I'll never forget the time I was skiing with a friend and his dad, Norm. I loved Norm. At the time, he was over 50 and had never been skiing. After an hour or so, he decided he wanted to ride up the ski-lift with me. He would go down the rather tame, intermediate run (as opposed to the bunny slope... read more
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Leadership, Drama, Discipleship, Worship, Middle School, Speaking, Programming

Youth Ministry FAQ: Volume 5

Kurt and Josh Wednesday, March 28, 2012
For years, youth workers have come to Saddleback to check out our weekend youth services. We absolutely love hosting folks, but have come to realize that most of what people hope to discover can be easily answered without a costly trip. Here are answers to a few of the most common questions asked... read more
Discipleship, Middle School, Small Groups

Fruit Snacks

Tim Heist Monday, March 26, 2012
The past few years in ministry have changed the way I disciple students. If you would have asked me just a few weeks ago how discipleship works I would have told you that once a student comes to Christ, spend time with them, eat meals together, ask the hard questions, support their sports teams,... read more