The last several years of my live I have been intensely involved with training youth workers. I’ve been involved in developing the training (volunteer & paid) and I’ve been equally involved with delivering training all over North America and throughout parts of the world.
Recently, I have noticed a shift in many youth workers thinking about [...]
Below are nine considerations youth workers might employ to provide a more family-oriented approach to youth ministry.
1. See the bigger picture and start younger. A more family-oriented ministry cannot happen unless we work hard to start when our youth are children. This requires youth workers to have a broader perspective and definition of [...]
I received a call yesterday from a young youth worker in the Midwest who has been wrestling through some leadership struggles in his church. Midway through the conversation this youth worker said, “I don’t understand why people won’t listen to me. I mean, I am the youth pastor!”
As many of you have come to know [...]
I’ve been thinking lately about the best ways to help students engage Scripture. It seems as though each time I speak or facilitate a training seminar or workshop I am asked about the best ways to get students to read their Bible.
I hear comments like, “My students just don’t want to read the Bible. They [...]
The last few months I have had a hard time containing my excitement for a resource that our team has been working on called, A World Unbroken: Hope and Healing for a Shattered World.
We began working on the project for the Church of the Nazarene almost a year ago. What started out as a theme [...]
I hope to see a bunch of you at the conventions this year. Drop me a note if you are planning to be there and want to meet/catch up. You can email me using the contact form HERE.
Taking a cue from my friend Andy Root, I’ve decided to give away some copies of my most recent books entitled, Story, Signs and Sacred Rhythms: A Narrative Approach to Youth Ministry and Clear: 8 Lessons on the Theological Foundations of Faith.
Anyone interested in potentially using these books as a tool in within their ministry [...]
I typically read/purchase two types of books—theology books and business books. It’s just where I am living right now. One day I hope to get back to some fiction.
When I read most theology books, I am impressed by the intricacy, abstractness, and hidden thought and meaning…so I read more of them. I read more of [...]
My friends Steve Argue, Lilly Lewin and Brooklyn Lyndsey have posted some interesting thoughts on consumerism and the church over at Slant33.com. Check it out and enter into the conversation!
I met Andy a few years ago at a National Youth Worker Convention. I had just read his book called, Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry so naturally I had tons of questions that ultimately led to great conversations. Since then Andy has become a friend and a voice in which I gladly tune my ears to.
Since [...]