Mike Haynes is a youth ministry veteran and the creator of G Shades. A vibrant contributor to the youth ministry landscape, Mike’s passion is to help students and youth pastors alike see life through the lens of the gospel. He and his wife Anna have five kids spanning elementary, middle, and high school, and he serves as the high school pastor at Christian Fellowship Church in Ashburn, Virginia.
Every youth pastor has been there—it’s Tuesday, and you have no idea what you’re preaching on Wednesday. Maybe you’ve been too busy to plan ahead. Maybe you like the freedom of picking topics week to week. It’s possible your students ask great questions, and you just want to follow their lead. But here’s the thing: […]
Ask ten youth pastors how much time they spend on lesson prep, and you’ll get ten completely different answers. Youth pastor lesson prep take wildly differing amounts of time depending on gifting, capacity, and (if we’re honest) time management skills. Some agonize over every word and spend hours crafting the perfect message. Others scramble last-minute, […]
Anxiety is no longer just a personal struggle—it’s a generational crisis. And they’re bringing those anxieties into your youth group. As youth pastors, we can’t just tell students to “pray more” or “stop worrying”—we need to give them biblical tools and real hope to navigate their anxiety. Here’s how to teach teenagers about anxiety in […]
One of the beautiful things about the Church is its diversity. We serve different groups of people with different needs. That’s especially true when it comes to serving teenagers. That’s part of why we created the Small G Plan, because small churches need a plan built just for you. But even within small youth groups, […]
Choosing a youth ministry curriculum isn’t just about finding something that fills time on Wednesday nights—it’s about choosing a tool that shapes students’ faith. But with so many options, how do you know which curriculum is actually worth investing in? The reality is, not all curriculum is created equal. Some are engaging but shallow. Others […]
One of the biggest debates in youth ministry is how structured teaching should be. Some leaders prefer a laid-back, discussion-based approach, while others believe in following a structured teaching plan. But here’s the reality: Students thrive when there’s a plan.Faith grows deeper with intentional teaching.A structured approach doesn’t kill flexibility—it enhances it. So what does […]
If there’s one topic that never stops dominating your students’ thoughts, conversations, and social media feeds—it’s love and relationships. But here’s the challenge: Culture bombards students with messages about love that are shallow, selfish, and disconnected from biblical truth. Most students are already forming their views on relationships long before they ever talk to a […]
Youth ministry looks different in a small church. You probably don’t have a big production budget. That’s probably an understatement.You might have students spread across multiple grades. Some of them might not even be in middle school yet.You likely have a small (or even volunteer-only) leadership team. Nobody’s getting paid to do this. So why […]
Small groups should be one of the most powerful environments in youth ministry. They’re where students go beyond listening to sermons and start wrestling with faith, building relationships, and applying truth to their daily lives. But here’s the challenge: Some students dominate the conversation.Others barely say a word.Discussions can feel forced, awkward, or disconnected from […]
Peer pressure isn’t a new problem—it’s been shaping the decisions of teenagers for generations. But in today’s world, it’s louder, more persistent, and harder to escape than ever before. If we want to help students stand firm, we can’t just tell them to “be strong” or “make good choices.” They need something deeper than willpower—they […]
