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Instagram Will Kill Your Youth Ministry

Daniel Beckworth Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Social media has swept across this great nation like wildfire. Facebook is on its way out. If you still use Myspace you’re most likely a stalker—or very lonely. Twitter is still rocking along quite steadily and has yet to be completely infiltrated by preteens...
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Families, Leadership, Discipleship, Culture, Middle School, Volunteers, Programming

Leading Through Transition: Caring for Students

Tim Heist Monday, December 3, 2012
This past year the churches in my community have gone through a lot of turnover. Pastors have left or been terminated, directors have resigned, and leaders have changed their focus of ministry. I have seen times of extreme pressure placed on leaders, and other staff have to have hard talks with... read more
Culture

Review: Sufjan Stevens—Silver & Gold

Scott Firestone Tuesday, November 20, 2012
There are very few artists who can make me break my (mostly) solid rule of not listening to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. Turns out Sufjan Stevens is one of those artists. He’s already come out with one enormous Christmas album—2006’s 42-track Songs For Christmas. Now he’s back with... read more
Leadership, Culture

Thoughts on Being in the World but Not Of the World…

Youth Ministry ... Thursday, November 15, 2012
Blog by Stephen Ingram,  YMA Lead Consultant In Paul’s letter to the Roman church, in the 12th chapter, we come across this idea of “be not conformed to the world”; others have translated it as being in the world but not of the world. This is a passage that has always bothered me a little.... read more
Leadership

Good Thing It Didn’t End When…

Josh Roberie Sunday, November 11, 2012
What if any of the Rocky movies would have ended in the middle of one of his fights? He would be bloodied, bruised, battered, and defeated. It wasn’t that Rocky never got touched in the ring, like Ali, that makes his story so inspiring, but that he finds a way to go back in the ring when it seems... read more
Families, Discipleship

Sabbatical Prep

Neal Benson Thursday, November 8, 2012
I totally understand that you may read this title and think: “I will never get a sabbatical.” When I was preparing for my sabbatical I had some great friends in ministry tell me the exact same thing. They thought my church was crazy for giving me one and couldn’t believe that I was actually getting... read more
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Leadership

#FAIL: A Response

Jeremiah Thursday, November 8, 2012
The past couple days we’ve had a chance to peek inside of the ministries of Josh and Kurt, and look at a few failures and what was learned from them. Fortunately for me, as I sit and write to you today, I’ve never experienced the embarrassment, guilt, and paralyzing terror of making a mistake in... read more
Leadership, Discipleship, Programming, Outreach

Big Picture Ministry

Kurt and Josh Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Youth workers need to have a holistic view of ministry—stay too focused on today and it can be hard to remember where you were headed. But if you’re always looking ahead, you risk not handling today well. Here are a few thoughts that may help you tackle today AND tomorrow effectively. Right In... read more
Families, Leadership, Volunteers

In Good Hands

Clayton Imoo Wednesday, October 24, 2012
One morning, a few weeks ago, I sat in the dentist’s chair as he scraped, drilled, and picked...among other things. I knew what the end result was to be, but I had no clue how he was going to get there. I tried my best to just relax and trust him. In essence, I placed the fate of my teeth in his... read more
Leadership, Discipleship, Culture, Middle School, Small Groups, Programming, Outreach

Don’t Peel Your Apple

Theresa Mazza Tuesday, October 23, 2012
By Theresa Mazza My honeymoon phase in youth ministry was exactly what I imagined it would be. A giddy newlywed, I was absolutely head-over-heels in love with my new life as a youth pastor, and enjoyed an early blissful marriage to my youth group. I felt fulfillment and purpose. And I had no doubt... read more
Leadership, Discipleship

Guarded Heart: Four Keys to Keeping Focus

Bob Krulish Tuesday, October 23, 2012
By Bob Krulish That’s a wise and wonderful piece of biblical advice, but howdo you guard your heart? Being in vocational ministry and maintaining devotion to Christ is tricky. The lines often bleed over between the two. It’s easy to presume our service IS relationship with Christ. Oswald Chambers... read more