Several years ago during my first year as a student pastor, I met a man for coffee who would later become a mentor. As I anxiously awaited our first meeting, I played out several different scenarios of how…
Joyful, joyful, we adore You, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flowers before You, Opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal…
Several months ago, I had one of the most encouraging yet challenging conversations I’ve had in a long time. I wish you could have been with me that afternoon! Before leaving my car to enter their house, I…
Barb is a nice enough girl, but she feels like she doesn’t have any “real” friends – friends who she can share her deepest and darkest with. Friends who give to her as much as she puts in…
To be clear, I’m not talking about crushing the dreams of every 8-year old. Or my current dreams…don’t do that. But after my freshman year of college, one of the graduating seniors whom I looked up to most…
I was recently thrown into the 30,000-person mission field that is a state-school university. After graduating high school, I felt like I had wasted countless opportunities to make an impact, so I was so excited about the chance…
In the year 1968, Presbyterian minister Fred Rogers decided to forgo traditional ministry work to start a venture into the emerging world of television. He wanted to help address the age-old struggle for value and identity. By combining…
So you’re relatively new to youth ministry, what are the first things you do? Plan the Bible studies, check Recruit youth volunteers, check Try to keep the youth from destroying the furniture in the fellowship hall, check Take…
Dear Youth Pastors, We are entering a new phase in our home with a freshman in high school. When I discuss this transition with other parents, we share a common urgency to evaluate what we have taught, shown,…
