Archive for Leadership
Volunteers vs. Team Members
Probably the number one issue for youth pastors is volunteers. How do you get them? How do you keep them? Here are some simple things I do and don’t do. Things I Don’t Do: Make announcements (they almost never work) Put inserts in the bulletin (see above) Take anyone who want’s to help Ask people [...]
Heroes Never Die!
My Grandpa and spiritual mentor passed away a couple of hours ago(as I write this). My eyes are dried up, but occasionally they well up and spill a little more. I have been going through one of his old Bibles that I am privileged to have. I know it is weird, but I am actually [...]
Honestly Evaluating your ministry
Have you ever watched a video of yourself presenting a message? How about listening to yourself sing? I have, and I don’t particularily enjoy either of them. I am critical and can’t believe the mistakes I make. Sometimes the truth is painful, but helpful. Every person who follows Jesus has been given gifts and abilities [...]
Understanding Your Context
A lot is made of understanding our cultural context. There are magazines like Relevant and people like Walt Mueller who help us in that area. There are web sites about how to use movies, music, Facebook and other cultural phenomenons to further God’s kingdom. To all of them I am thankful, and I have learned [...]
Learning to Use Ministry Models
My Freshman year at Oak Hills Bible College in Bemidji (otherwise known as Buuurrrmidji), MN I began my paid youth ministry career. I was hired (along with the woman who is now my wife) to do youth ministry in a small town. At the age of 17 I began a quest to change the world [...]
Learning to be a General Contractor
I love students, I love God, and I love to teach and preach. I am not an organizer, or a detail oriented person. My guess is you may fall into this category or one similar. If you are like me you would like to have a large ministry, not for the sake of being large, [...]
Retreat Mussings
This weekend I was in Ohio speaking at a retreat. I was at some old school that is being turned into a youth center(www.soncenter.org). My phone didn’t work, there was no way to check my email, and it was freezing cold even inside the building. I am not complaining, it was great. Actually it was [...]
Understanding Adolesence
Adolescence as it is understood today is relatively new. Of course the word “understand” may be a little presumptuous. Adolescence has changed over the centuries, especially in North America. It is not only confusing for those who are going through it, but their parents, their friends, and for youth leaders. Over the past 150 years [...]
Is There a Place for Students in Your Church?
Mark Yaconelli in his book Youth Ministry: A Contemplative Approach said, “If we are to keep young people involved in the church and if we are to renew our congregations, we first must acknowledge that many of our current forms of youth ministry are destructive” There are many difficulties when it comes to church ministry, [...]
