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…

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…

Youth Ministry With Formal Training

A few years ago I shared with our church my desire to enroll in a doctoral program and was immediately met with a few responses. Some thought it was great that I was going back to school. Some…

Essentials in Youth Ministry: Church

When I was a kid I remember staying with some relatives who were very devout Christians, and while we were with them we had to go to church one Sunday. I was asking my aunt about the day…

Essentials in Youth Ministry: Others

We want to feel necessary.  We want to feel important.  An easy way to fill these desires as a youth worker is to make our youth ministries about us.  We even do what I just did — call…