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“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Unless you are in ministry. Then just go non-stop because Jesus died on the cross for the world; what’s your excuse?”  Matthew 11:28* Okay,...

Youth ministry doesn’t work without people. You can have the best curriculum, the biggest room, the coolest stage, and the strongest vision in the world, but if you don’t have volunteers, you don’t have a ministry. You have a dream...

Today, I shut my computer at church with plenty of work still unfinished. There were texts I hadn't answered, emails still sitting in my inbox, an upcoming retreat to plan, and students I needed to follow up with. I could...

You’ve seen the moment before: a student lingers after the youth group, the room is louder than usual, or something’s on their mind. You can feel it, but what do you do with it, and where do you start? Do...

“Hey, thanks for visiting our church. We’re so glad you’re here.” This is a phrase we all hope to hear at our churches. Having first-timers in our student ministries is a really big deal because there are a million and...

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you think the ministry or the church should go in one direction, and a fellow staff member, a pastor, or your supervisor thinks something completely different should happen? Or maybe you’ve...

Developing student leaders can seem daunting to many student pastors, and many of us don’t feel prepared to take it on. Many of us are good at engaging in conversation with our students to encourage them to step into leadership...

As a Youth Pastor, you have the potential to influence many people’s lives throughout your ministry. If you’re intentional about making interpersonal connections with the parents, students, and staff, your ministry can tremendously impact future generations. However, if you are...

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...