It’s that time again. It’s December, which means we have to plan for the year. I don’t know about you, but that is always an overwhelming task for me as a youth pastor. What events should we keep? Which events should we re-invent? What series were their favorite? Which game should we play more often […]
A new year always brings new faces, fresh energy, and—let’s be honest—a little bit of chaos in youth ministry. New students show up. New series need writing. Not only that, but new questions start stirring in your heart about how to lead this thing well. And if you’re not careful, January can feel less like […]
Oh man, this is so real and so painful. The students in our youth group really become our kids. I tell people I have one child, but really, I have 60–and they’re all between the ages of 11-14. As youth leaders, we invest time, build relationships, offer support, and speak life into the teenagers at our youth […]
Everyone loves games. Games can start connections with your group. As youth pastors, we want to make the time to do games in our programming, but sometimes we don’t have the budget to keep buying new, shiny things for a game. I asked three students recently what their favorite part of our youth group was, […]
Most of us don’t get into youth ministry for the overwhelmingly generous paycheck. We love Jesus, we love the next generation, and for one reason or another, we feel that this is what God has called us to. Depending on your church culture, you might work long and uneven hours. It’s hard, sometimes. And that’s […]
If you’ve been in youth ministry for more than five minutes, you’ve likely bumped into a version of this debate: “Shouldn’t youth group be fun? Students won’t come back if they’re bored,” versus, “We’re here to make disciples, not just play games.” And the truth is, both sides have a point. Some ministries lean so […]
The new year is approaching fast. And if you’re like most youth pastors, you’re already thinking ahead about what you’ll teach. You want to walk into January with more than a guess. What you really want is a plan. But how do you map out an entire year of teaching that’s more than just busywork? […]
As youth pastors, we want our students to like our youth group and what we do for our ministry—because if they don’t like it, they most likely won’t come back. The biggest shift that adds buy-in from your students—and leads to more openness—is reiterating to your students that “this youth group isn’t just your ministry; it’s our ministry. This […]
The fall semester is one of the most strategic seasons in youth ministry. New students are stepping into your group for the first time. Returning students are reestablishing rhythms and figuring out who they are, where they belong, and how faith fits into their daily life. And let’s be honest—by the second or third week […]
T windows of ines, building friendships, and deciding what they’ll commit to. Whether they realize it or not, they’re also forming patterns that can shape their spiritual lives for the rest of the year.Source New students are looking for a place to belong. Returning students are figuring out how committed they’ll be. Schedules are shifting, […]
