Turning a New Annual Page: Calendaring for a New Year

Turning a New Annual Page: Calendaring for a New Year

Introduction Christmas is approaching fast. You’ve just completed your annual, well-loved Youth Christmas Progressive Dinner. You’re thinking about that last Christmas present that is yet to be bought, when a concerned parent walks up to you and asks, “Hey, when are registration materials for the February retreat going to be available?”.All of a sudden it…

Stages in Discipleship Development: A Well-Established Concept

Stages in Discipleship Development: A Well-Established Concept

Introduction Which of us has not finished our training and entered the workforce of the Church with great dreams of helping young people “find Jesus” and move on to become giants of the faith, filling their personal pews for years on end, serving God’s children from a purity of heart, and raising themselves a whole…

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Busy Holidays Are Not the Time to Lose Sight of Sabbath

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Busy Holidays Are Not the Time to Lose Sight of Sabbath

Introduction Last night my neighborhood sponsored a hayride for our neighborhood trick-or-treaters who, like children all over the country, raked in the treats, sorted and traded, then ate themselves sick and bounced off the ceiling all night on a Halloween-induced sugar high that unofficially proclaimed the beginning of an annual holiday season packed to the…

AFTER GRADUATION: Stay Connected for Long-term Impact

AFTER GRADUATION: Stay Connected for Long-term Impact

I remember that I was shocked, absolutely SHOCKED, when I first heard statistics about the long-term impact of local church youth ministries… or actually the lack of it. According to the leader of a seminar I took at the National Youth Workers’ Convention, in his denomination only 6% of youth ministry participants were later engaged…

MASTER PLANNING: Use a Blueprint Model to Build a Solid Youth Ministry

MASTER PLANNING: Use a Blueprint Model to Build a Solid Youth Ministry

Introduction Have you ever been part of a BIG building project – one that required real blueprints? Or have you ever been involved in site development for a multi-building plan for a park or camp? I’ve always loved building things, and along the way I’ve learned that every really good result starts with a really…