Exult Christ in the City: Youth Ministry with a Mission

“We exist to exalt Christ in the city, through gospel-centered worship, discipleship, community, and mission.”   Strategy This mission statement isn’t our student ministry’s — it’s our church’s. I believe the mission of “big church” should find its…

The Stars of Our Future

A few years ago one of my youth leaders remarked that working with middle and high school students is a lot like being Alan Shepard. Intrigued, I asked him to explain, and he said, “Shepard was the first…

Connect with Youth Ministers at Rooted 2014

Rooted’s 2014 conference is still a few months away, but attendees are already signed up from 13 different states and two countries.  The New York City conference Oct. 9-11 is an opportunity to meet fellow youth ministers of…

The Most Intimate Youth Conference You’ll Attend

If you’ve attended a youth ministry conference before where your only really meaningful conversation was with your roommate, that’s not Rooted.  Rooted’s conferences are structured to give youth pastors opportunities to engage with dozens of other participants.  Because…

How the Gospel Cuts Through the Clutter

Rooted’s 2014 conference will tackle the topic: truth in a world of mixed messages.  With today’s technological access to information and ideas, we all swim in a torrent of messages every day, particularly youth: messages about acceptance, hope,…

Youth Ministry In Spite of Formal Training

I, for one, am convinced of the necessity of formal training for children’s and youth ministry, and Oak Hill College is committed to the rigorous theological education of men and women to equip them for a lifetime of…

Youth Ministry Without Formal Training

“Youth Ministry” without “Formal Training.”  Sounds daunting, right?  Heart surgeons spend countless years in school before they pick up a scalpel to mend the body.  Yet we aim to mend the soul, something infinitely more valuable, by ministering the Word of God that…

7 Reasons to Attend Rooted 2014

In case you’re not already convinced, here are seven reasons to attend Rooted’s 2014 conference, Oct. 9-11: 7.) New York City in the fall 6.) The most intimate youth conference you’ll attend 5.) Message over method, substance over…