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.
Many youth pastors assume that if their students aren’t asking tough faith questions, they must not have them. That’s not true. Students are absolutely wrestling with doubt — they just might not feel comfortable bringing it up in church. In fact, even your most “solid” students have doubts that they’re wrestling with. It would almost […]
If you’ve been doing youth ministry for a while, you know that teenagers love big moments. They love camp worship that gives them chills. Teenagers love a sermon that hits home. They value mission trip moments that changes their whole outlook. Part of that is normal developmental stuff. Teenagers crave the thrill of big moments. […]
There’s a common belief floating around church circles: that teenagers can’t handle deep theology. But, actually, they can. And they want to. I think most of us know that as youth pastors. So let’s talk about why theological depth matters in youth ministry curriculum. The problem isn’t student capacity. It’s the assumption that deep theological […]
I know you’re juggling a lot as a youth pastor, because I’ve been there too. You’re not alone, and I hope what you find here encourages you. The summer lull is real. As the new school year approaches, you might notice some students drifting, leaders feeling burnt out, and energy dipping. Getting everyone re‑engaged before […]
I know you’re juggling a lot as a youth pastor, because I’ve been there too. You’re not alone, and I hope what you find here encourages you. Structure can be a gift or a straitjacket. Some leaders love a detailed script that outlines every minute of a program. Others prefer to fly by the seat […]
Students face conflict every day. A friend stabs them in the back. Teammates won’t pass them the ball. A parent doesn’t understand where they’re coming from. A classmate posts something offensive online. And if we’re honest, many students handle conflict poorly. They ghost people instead of resolving issues.Students explode in anger.They hold grudges instead of […]
Let’s be honest—some youth ministry curriculums just don’t connect. Some are dry and lifeless. Others feel more like TED Talks than gospel-centered sermons. Some try to be entertaining but lose depth. And when a curriculum fails to engage, it doesn’t matter how well it’s packaged—students won’t connect with it. So what actually makes a youth […]
FI know you’re juggling a lot as a youth pastor, because I’ve been there too. You’re not alone, and I hope what you find here encourages you. Many teenagers see church as an obligation or a place their parents make them go. They might not understand what the church is or why it matters. I […]
You’ve probably seen it happen. A junior high student who usually hangs back suddenly offers to pray out loud, run the slides, or lead a game. It might seem like a small moment, but it’s a big deal. These early steps toward leadership can have a lasting impact. They help students start to see themselves […]
I know you’re juggling a lot as a youth pastor, because I’ve been there too. You’re not alone, and I hope what you find here encourages you. Fear is one of the most common and crippling emotions teenagers face. Whether it’s fear of failure, fear of missing out, fear of being judged, or fear of […]
