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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, Culture

Interview with Walt Mueller

Kurt and Josh Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Today we’re happy to interview Walt Mueller, the president of the Center for Parent and Youth Understanding, an organization committed to helping empower youth workers to care for and empower youth leaders to ministry to students in today’s modern world. You can visit it at CPYU.org. How did you... read more
Leadership, Culture

A Student of the Culture

Kurt and Josh Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Madonna. Walkmans. TV dinners. Land lines. Bowl cuts. MC Hammer. Star Wars. Lady Gaga. iPods. Starbucks. iPhones. The Fade. LMFAO. Hipsters. Hunger Games. When we were in high school, things were a little different—instead of iPads we used wide-margin notebook paper, and our collection of 75... read more
Leadership, Outreach

10 Ways to Make a Rural Church More Welcoming…

Brent Lacy Friday, March 1, 2013
Here are 10 ways you can do much with the little you have… 10. Make the first 10 minutes count. Many church-growth people cite the first 10 minutes that a person is on your property as the deciding factor as to whether a visitor will come back. This includes finding parking, looking at that... read more
Culture

Discussion Starter: Retiring Pope Acknowledges 'Rough Seas'

Steph Martin Friday, March 1, 2013
Vatican City—As he left office for a quiet life of prayer, Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged the difficulties he’s faced during the past eight years. “There were moments of joy and light but also moments that were not easy,” he told a crowd of 150,000 people in St. Peter’s Square. There were moments,... read more
Leadership, Volunteers, Programming

Don't forget the "ASK": A Response

Katie Sutton Thursday, February 28, 2013
What I like most about this week’s articles from Kurt and Josh is the necessity of the “ASK.” Too often, student ministry is the land of “invite and expect.” Send one mass email, do a funny video requesting help, make an appeal from the stage, and we expect people to respond. We’re actually... read more
Leadership, Volunteers, Programming

How to Plan a Ministry Fair

Kurt and Josh Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Not too long ago we did a ministry fair for our students—we had tables that featured each of the ministries in our church that were open to students. After a short talk on serving, we dismissed early for them to snake through the room and sign up for different opportunities to serve inside and... read more
Leadership, Speaking, Programming

Buy, Borrow, Beg (and steal) Ideas

Kurt and Josh Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Where do you get all of your creative ideas for your youth group? Easy! Buy, borrow, beg, or steal. Here’s what we mean. BUY 
If you’re looking for creative ideas for your next sermon series, find one of the many resource providers online that have a good track record of resources that work in... read more
Culture

Discussion Starter: 'Blade Runner' Charged With Murder

Steph Martin Friday, February 22, 2013
Pretoria, South Africa—The double amputee who made history during last summer’s Olympics is now in the headlines for a much different reason. Sprinter Oscar Pistorius, 26, is accused of killing his girlfriend in South Africa on Valentine’s Day. Prosecutors said the murder was premeditated, but... read more
Worship

Don't Miss the Moment Because of the Ministry

Youth Ministry ... Thursday, February 21, 2013
blog by Stephanie Caro Jesus was at the church I worshipped at today; I saw him with my own two eyes. And I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Jesus in any church wherever two or three are gathered in His name?” Yes, of course. That’s what the book says. This was different. As the elements were... read more
Leadership

Do's & Don'ts: A Response

Brian Seidel Thursday, February 21, 2013
I have to be honest, when I saw this week’s topic (Do’s and Don’ts) I wasn’t excited. My first thought was how youth ministry doesn’t need another “Do these five things and get this wonderful result” type of article. I understand practical help is needed, but Christianity isn’t supposed to be a... read more