ym360blog

I’m encouraged by the growth and popularity of small groups in student ministries among churches today. Apart from the teaching of God’s Word, small groups seem to me to be the catalyst for students growing in their faith. A student pastor can stand before a group of students week after week and...read more

Hiking wasn’t my favorite activity when I was younger. Why? I often found the destination wasn’t worth the work it took to get there! Of course, I was missing something. Hiking isn’t only about where we go, but about how we get there. I was so focused on the destination that I never consid...read more

I’ve been designing, writing, and producing Bible Study curriculum for teenagers in some form for close to 15 years. It’s been my passion since day 1, but since 2003 it’s also been my full-time occupation. I’ve also taught curriculum weekly (to adults and teenagers) for about the same amount of time. If you have a second, ta...read more

I believe Big Fun is still in style. Here’s what I mean . . . In many of the youth ministry circles I travel in there seems to be a growing wave of opinion that the days of big, fun, programmed youth ministry are over. To take students and run them around a gym, coaxing them into embarrassing, gross, silly, and most of all fun games is ...read more

Ever since I got started in youth ministry, I’ve been told that you can lead the best Bible studies in the world, but what students will remember the most is the relationship you built with them. As I have grown in my experience, I believe this to be some of the most solid advice I’ve received. ...read more

If I said to you “It’s important to find things you have in common with your students,” you’d agree with me on some level. While there’s something to be said for what makes us different than the students we minister to, the interests or experiences we have in common with students are a core part of our re...read more

Starting off in youth ministry can be a daunting task. And let’s be honest: Those of us who have been doing it a while still need to re-focus every now and then! So, here are my 5 areas of focus for new (and not-so-new) youth ministers. ...read more

“I don’t like my small group leader.” It’s a comment I get from freshmen from time to time. However, this was coming from a teenager whom I considered a leader in middle school. As usual I responded, “Why?” “We can’t connect. She’s not what I expected.” I asked her what she exp...read more

From December 21 right up until today, we’ve been looking back on the most-read blog posts from 2011. It’s been an awesome collection of outstanding Training and Bible Stuff post...read more