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I have to admit that I don’t find Christian leadership books, articles, or conferences all that interesting. They’re rarely the first things I’m drawn to. That’s not because I think leadership is unimportant. Quite the opposite. I’ve worked under poor...

As the summer sun begins to set and the excitement of another school year begins, it’s time for youth pastors to take advantage of the reality that school is back! Take a second and close your eyes to picture a...

I get it. I’ve been there. Some days, you’re trading out one hat for another as you prepare for the events ahead. Whether you’re wearing the pizza party hat for the senior girls, the preaching hat on a Sunday morning...

Youth ministry has an unwritten rule of what every worship service should look like. A game, a few announcements, 3 songs, and a 30-minute sermon. We build it this way, hoping students will find a place to worship God together...

There’s a moment most youth pastors experience, and I guarantee that we don’t talk about it. A student sits across from you. Their shoulders are tense. Their eyes look tired. What they’re sharing feels heavier than normal teenage stress. Anxiety.Depression.Family...

You’re in the middle of it right now. Summer is only half over, and if you’re like most youth pastors I know, you’re starting to feel it. Events, VBS, mission trips, camps, and for a lot of you, you’ve got...

Bi-vocational ministry isn’t for the weak. Bi-vocational student pastors often can feel overwhelmed, overworked, undervalued, and underpaid. How am I going to keep up with my church's expectations? What am I going to speak about this week? What game are...

As youth pastors, summers may be the busiest time of the year. We have camps, connection events, weekly ministry, and mission trips. Oh, and not to mention, our own family vacations…hopefully. If we aren’t careful, we can be so busy...

Stepping into a new ministry setting, whether it’s your first church or your fifth, comes with expectations. Some are spoken, and many are unspoken. And without even realizing it, you may begin trying to match an identity you were never...

“I thought I’d be in a different place in my ministry…” “Am I still able to do this?” “Do I want to be in youth ministry forever?” If you’ve been in ministry for long, you’ve likely thought these questions to...

Students are out of school, the weather is warming up (or downright hot if you’re in the South), and vacations are underway—summer is here! This season presents a unique opportunity for youth ministry to thrive, allowing leaders to break away...