In the Tom Hanks movie Cast Away, he is marooned on a deserted island. When he first explores the island he yells, “anybody?!” And the viewer realizes this is indeed a desolate place without any people. Hanks will be alone. As a student pastor I have had this feeling on many Sunday mornings. I look ...
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The New Kid – Part 1: Creating a Welcoming Environment
Being the new kid is tough. Visiting a church for the first time can be intimidating. The problem is that we as leaders seldom feel this experience and so it is difficult to create a truly welcoming environment. When the new kid comes to your student ministry for the first time you want him to walk ...
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Married to the Ministry
Proverbs 31:11-12
“Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.”
I have found through 12 years of marriage and full time ministry that being a minister’s wife is a profound honor and privilege! Just the reality that ...
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Punching Burnout in the Face
Burnout is a real thing. Its job is to knock you out, and it happens all the time. Burnout frequently causes student ministry leaders to prematurely change churches or quit ministry altogether. It doesn’t have to happen to you, and the first key to punching burnout in the face is knowing where it ...
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Hot Summer – Part 3: Power of Prayer
I don’t pray enough. I believe prayer matters. I believe it’s powerful and essential. Yet, there are times in my life when I find myself severely lacking in this area. This is especially true when you consider the way that scripture speaks about prayer: pray continually (1 Thess. 5:17), pray about ...
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Hot Summer – Part 2: Power of the Smile
I once served under a pastor that smiled ALL of the time! It didn’t seem to matter what was going on, whether challenges were presenting themselves, or victories were abounding, he was smiling. Many would accuse someone like this of being disingenuous and it is likely that people getting to know ...
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1 Month Down, 2 To Go!
You are one month into your summer. If you are anything like I was then right now you feel like you’re running on a mixture of energy drinks and excitement for what God is doing in the lives of your students. There’s no doubt that summer is tough, but it can also be the most fruitful season of your ...
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Brock Gill: Ministry Potential
If you joined us on the blog yesterday, you are in for a treat because our friend Brock Gill is back today with another Vlog (“Video Blog” - see what just happened there?!). Today’s blog is all about drawing out the potential in your students. As a primer to Brock’s message I’ll offer you one ...
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Making Mondays Awesome
We’ve all had that Sunday. You know, it was raining. Attendance was down. The big event you had was a flop. A leader quit, a parent laced into you, your pastor dropped in at precisely the wrong moment. That kind of Sunday. But then we have all had the great Sunday. Everything clicked. Students were ...
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Re-Centering Easter
During this season of egg hunts, peeps and chocolate rabbits, prize incentives, and food giveaways, the message of the gospel is often overtaken by the church’s pursuit to capitalize on a season of strong attendance. In an effort to re-center our focus, I want to dive into the events leading up to ...
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