Retreats

Normally I would open with some cheesy line about ‘retreat season’ or something like that, but considering the abundance of summer, fall, winter, spring, late-spring, early-winter, mid-fall and everything-in-between retreats… it’s always retreat season. I haven’t...

The Space We Gather In

Space, the final frontier… Sorry, couldn’t help myself. But seriously, space is an important component of your ministry – it’s a partner that can help or hinder how you and your team interact with your students as well as how they interact with each other. If you’re...

Books and Faith

(By: Andrew Shaffer – Features Writer) BOOKS! We know and love/hate them. There are lots of good ones, and way more bad ones. Much like movies (many of which came from books before they were all inspired by comics) they’re chock-full of theology.   I can’t...

Youth Minister Job Data Survey

Data from 30 Respondents (more added as they roll in) Over the last several months, we have been collecting data on current youth minister’s salary packages with benefits included. We currently have 30 collected responses, but are hoping to continue updating this. If...

5 Ideas for Intergenerational fun!

One of the trends we are seeing in church life today is church fall out by young people after they graduate from high school. When young people discontinue their connection to church it often goes unnoticed. This is a great tragedy for all churches and especially...

10 Games That Require Only 1 Item

Air Mattress Stand-Off Object: An Air Mattress This game can be used in varying venues. If you don’t have access to a pool, then use a large open space. Inflate an air mattress and see how many kids can stand up straight on it without falling over. For more fun, do...

Graduation Feature

Graduation comes every year. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut of what to say, what to give, or what to do. Here is a collection of ideas that we hope you find useful in the coming months and years as you send youth out in to the world.   Gift Ideas: Once upon a...

Creating Engaging Youth Spaces

Youth Room, Youth Building, Youth Suite, Youth Lounge, Youth Space….Whatever you call it, it seems that most churches have a place that is specifically geared towards teenagers. I am always looking at ideas of how to make the youth space at my church more engaging for...

10 Games to Play in the Car

Camp, retreats, and mission trips… oh my! Youth ministry is full of time on the road. Love them or spend them wishfully counting down the hours until you will not be trapped in a small space with screaming teenagers – road trips are a part of the fun! Here are 10...

Helpful resources for Youth Ministry

This month’s article is about great resources for youth ministry. Things like books, online sources, technology, and helpful people to add to your network can enhance and strengthen a ministry. This is by no means an exhaustive list. I would encourage you to share...

Questions to ask while interviewing

At some time or another we all have to interview for a job. Coming up with questions in the interview to ask about your potential job is nerve racking and doesn’t always get us the information we want. The next time you are beginning the process of looking for a new...