I have often wondered what it would be like to go back 13 years, to my former self in my first years of youth ministry. What I would say to myself might go something like this… Dude… (long…
What Parents, Pastors and students can learn from the story of Jesus and Nicodemus The story of Jesus’ nightly meeting with Nicodemus is a paradigm for Christian conversion. Though different than, say, Paul’s dramatic conversion on the Damascus road, the…
“And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV) I was just recently introduced to the Death Clock, a…
I was recently counseling a new student in my office and after we closed out our time together, as he was looking around my office, he said, “Why do you have so many books?” After explaining to him…
Etched on the wall of the temple of Delphi is the summation of Greek wisdom, “Know thyself.” Our youth are constantly in the process of this self-discovery, seeking to make sense out of themselves in order to make…
In Part 1 and Part 2 of this three part series, “Facebook and Fellowship,” Mel Lacey examined the value and the idolatry of Facebook. In this concluding section, she discusses the insufficiency of Facebook to provide true, satisfying…
Growing up, my parents made sure I wore my “Sunday best” to church—coat, tie, slacks, and on special occasions, suspenders! After all, we were going to meet with the living God. A whole generation (or two) regularly used…
In my eight years as a small group leader to students (and their leaders), I’ve learned much about what to do and what not to do. About what works, and what doesn’t. So what makes small groups successful?…
Every week, I receive another postcard for a new youth ministry conference pledging to have the magic bullet for today’s youth. Nearly all of these ministries and conferences have much value; I wish I could go to a…
