Soul Care Archives - YouthMinistry.com https://youthministry.com/soul-care/ Daily Wisdom for Youth Workers. Thu, 23 May 2024 18:46:18 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 4 Ways to Take Time Off: Do You Need a Break? https://youthministry.com/4-ways-to-take-time-off-do-you-need-a-break/ https://youthministry.com/4-ways-to-take-time-off-do-you-need-a-break/#comments Mon, 27 May 2024 10:00:37 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=53725 I’m taking a week off from youth ministry.
It’s not because I’m going on vacation.
It’s not because I have too many things in my schedule.
It’s not because I no longer love students.
I’m just about ready to rip some of their heads off… that’s all.…

The post 4 Ways to Take Time Off: Do You Need a Break? appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.

]]> https://youthministry.com/4-ways-to-take-time-off-do-you-need-a-break/feed/ 8 https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/600-x-300-px-44-270x196.png270196 Gratitude: Preach It Like You Mean It https://youthministry.com/gratitude-preach-like-mean/ https://youthministry.com/gratitude-preach-like-mean/#respond Mon, 14 Nov 2022 11:00:59 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=57955 Gratitude gets wonky when we sit down at our Thanksgiving banquet table and look side to side, doesn’t it?
Look to your right, and there’s your neighbor who went to school for fewer years than you, works fewer hours than you, and makes twice as much money.…

The post Gratitude: Preach It Like You Mean It appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.

]]> https://youthministry.com/gratitude-preach-like-mean/feed/ 0 Gratitude gets wonky when we sit down at our Thanksgiving banquet table and look side to side, doesn’t it?https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/GettyImages-185078044-e1479751906264-270x196.jpg270196 Wisdom for Frustration in Ministry https://youthministry.com/wisdom-frustration-ministry/ https://youthministry.com/wisdom-frustration-ministry/#respond Mon, 07 Mar 2022 11:00:42 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=55520 **Disclaimer: The following has nothing to do with my current employment or my current feelings toward it. This is simply a piece designed to help those who are struggling in their work and ministry contexts as I know there are times we all question why we are doing what we are doing.**…

The post Wisdom for Frustration in Ministry appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.

]]> https://youthministry.com/wisdom-frustration-ministry/feed/ 0 https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/iStock_000020445227_Large-270x196.jpg270196 Moving Past Christmas Distractions https://youthministry.com/christmas-distraction/ https://youthministry.com/christmas-distraction/#respond Fri, 20 Nov 2020 23:47:35 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=59884 It’s almost that time of year again—yep, Christmas. And oh, there are so many distractions to look forward to. The new iPhone is out, and my contract is up. I don’t really need a remote-controlled drone, but man that looks fun.…

The post Moving Past Christmas Distractions appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.

]]> https://youthministry.com/christmas-distraction/feed/ 0 Since you decided to follow Jesus, have you ever experienced a laser-focused Christmas? Even my days in "normal time" are full of distractions.https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/genessa-panainte-179123-270x196.jpg270196 A Post-COVID Priority https://youthministry.com/a-post-covid-priority/ https://youthministry.com/a-post-covid-priority/#respond Thu, 04 Jun 2020 15:00:41 +0000 https://youthministry.com/?p=76895 There’s nothing like a pandemic to make you wonder if anything you’re doing in ministry is effective. I’ve never in my life felt so intelligent about my ignorance.
Our church adapted along the way, like many others, setting up an online student ministry and weekend services.…

The post A Post-COVID Priority appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.

]]> https://youthministry.com/a-post-covid-priority/feed/ 0 There's nothing like a pandemic to make you wonder if anything you're doing in ministry is effective. I've never in my life felt so intelligent about my ignorance.https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/ben-white-9O1oQ9SzQZQ-unsplash-270x196.jpg270196 Battling the Fall Doldrums Pt. 2 https://youthministry.com/battling-the-fall-doldrums-pt-2/ https://youthministry.com/battling-the-fall-doldrums-pt-2/#respond Thu, 07 Nov 2019 16:54:45 +0000 https://youthministry.com/?p=76287 In Part 1 of this short series, we followed Julie, a 10-year youth ministry vet, as she spent some of her “fall doldrums” time reinvesting in training and strategic reflection.
With a fresh wind blowing in her ministry sails, Julie left her student-pastor luncheon with Jeff Henderson, author of FOR, already planning a celebration time with her team.…

The post Battling the Fall Doldrums Pt. 2 appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.

]]> https://youthministry.com/battling-the-fall-doldrums-pt-2/feed/ 0 Understanding why you serve is important to know who your ministry is for. Here are three steps of reflection that can help during times of self reflection.https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/Doldrums-Reflection-270x196.jpg270196 5 Ways to Fill Your Tank https://youthministry.com/5-ways-to-fill-your-tank/ https://youthministry.com/5-ways-to-fill-your-tank/#respond Wed, 09 Oct 2019 21:09:05 +0000 https://youthministry.com/?p=76278 The school year is in full swing, our core ministry activities are percolating, and it feels like our leadership team is hitting their stride. It’s tempting to push cruise control.
But early fall is a crucial fuel-the-fire season. So one thing I do to keep the momentum going is search for new things that will fill my tank and the tanks of those around me.…

The post 5 Ways to Fill Your Tank appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.

]]> https://youthministry.com/5-ways-to-fill-your-tank/feed/ 0 Early fall is a crucial fuel-the-fire season. To keep your momentum up, here are five different “fueling options” that can help you.https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/ph-b-1ZmfHz9Tc68-unsplash-1-270x196.jpg270196 Do Small Things With Great Passion https://youthministry.com/do-small-things-with-great-passion/ https://youthministry.com/do-small-things-with-great-passion/#respond Tue, 24 Sep 2019 21:35:12 +0000 https://youthministry.com/?p=76259 “I…Am…Not…a…Loooooserrr!”
It’s one of my favorite lines from Disney’s underrated 2000 movie The Kid, starring a Bruce Willis so young he still has hair. In the film, Willis’ arrogant and successful Russ Duritz has a mystical encounter with his pudgy, awkward 8-year old self.  …

The post Do Small Things With Great Passion appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.

]]> https://youthministry.com/do-small-things-with-great-passion/feed/ 0 Don’t confuse small responsibilities for small contributions. Here are a few ways you can bring your A-game to all small things in your ministry.https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/kelly-sikkema-JRVxgAkzIsM-unsplash-270x196.jpg270196 Planning a Personal Kickoff https://youthministry.com/planning-a-personal-kick-off/ https://youthministry.com/planning-a-personal-kick-off/#respond Thu, 01 Aug 2019 11:50:05 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=49823 I’m going to be honest and say I have not mastered what I’m about to share with you. I’m in the middle of this one-sided wrestling match with you.
The school year will soon begin. Youth groups across the country will soon be having or are planning kickoff events.…

The post Planning a Personal Kickoff appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.

]]> https://youthministry.com/planning-a-personal-kick-off/feed/ 0 As you start prepping teens and volunteers your fall youth ministry schedule, are you taking time to prep yourself? Here are some practical ideas to help.https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/Personal-Kick-Off-270x196.jpg270196 Church Kids: helping teens fall in love with a familiar God. https://youthministry.com/church-kids/ https://youthministry.com/church-kids/#comments Tue, 02 Jul 2019 16:54:27 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=51775 How can you help teens fall in love when they’ve known about God their whole life? Here’s one leader’s experience!
I was born on the front pew of a church during a Sunday night worship service. Before I could say momma, I said Jesus.…

The post Church Kids: helping teens fall in love with a familiar God. appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.

]]> https://youthministry.com/church-kids/feed/ 22 How do you help teens fall in love with a God they've been arranged to believe in from birth? Here’s one leader’s story of experiencing God.https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/church-kids-in-love-with-God-270x196.jpg270196