Fortnite, 13 Reasons Why, Snapchat… The shifting currents of culture all play a role in shaping the teenagers you serve, and give you unique opportunities to connect the Gospel to what’s actively forming their identity.
What You’ll Find
Our Media and Culture section will give you a window into the world of teenage culture. From gaming and movies to TV and technology, we’ll provide expert advice and perspective that will help you to engage with them on a cultural level. We’ll also review the latest gadgets, tools, and tech that can help make your job a bit easier.
#ScreenFreeWeek There was one time I was sitting at a coffee shop enjoying a café Americano with one of my favorite friends. We were catching up, being stupid, making each other laugh, and absolutely we were people watching, when all of the sudden she hit me over the head with this doozy: “My school is doing screen-free week,” she said with ease.…
I just sent a quick message to my small group leaders thanking them for leading and offering a quick tip on caring for their students. I hope this is helpful for you, and if you really like it feel free to send it to your leaders.…
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.…
“Your face is why filters were invented.” “Are you Jabba the gutt?” “I never date sluts like you.” Ahh, just another day spent strolling through the mean streets of the comments section. But the craziest part about these comments is, if new research is correct, some of these jabs were posted by teens…about themselves.…
The online adventure game Fortnite is exploding in popularity among adolescents—no surprise there. But its popularity is even more stunning with adults—it’s the favorite addiction of celebrities, professional athletes, and cultural influencers of all stripes. Ninja, a famous Fortnite player and Twitch gamer (Twitch is a website dedicated to all things gaming, a YouTube-like service for streaming and viewing video games), reportedly makes $500,000 a month playing Fortnite.…
Sponsored content from our friends at Dare 2 Share Today, the teenagers in your youth group interact with their friends more through social media than face-to-face conversations—constantly snapping pictures and sharing funny “memes” with each other. While social media provides a lot of fun, it also comes with dangers and temptations that can make any parent or youth pastor nervous.…
“Ma’am, this is Officer Peterson. We have your son, Adam, at the station. We’re investigating him for soliciting and distribution of child pornography with his cell phone. We need you here.” The frantic mother grabs her keys and sends a panicky text to her husband.…
Putting cameras on cell phones has been as world-changing as putting a man on the moon. After all, millions of young people have sabotaged themselves by sharing nude photos. Fortunately, a new app helps combat this problem. So parents and youth workers can relax, right?…
Brandon Early talks about helpful tech gadgets he purchased in 2016. It is not the best gear of 2016, just the top 10 things he purchased and found helpful for life and for youth ministry. Links to learn more about each gadget are listed below: 0:20 – Rokform iPhone case and mounting accessories 1:30 – Blockhead from Ten 1 Design, Mac power adapter alter adapter 2:12 – BookBook from Twelvesouth 2:50 – SmartOmi Boots, truly wireless earbuds 3:36 – HooToo Wireless Travel Router 5:08 – McDonalds FREE for a year 5:55 – Fidget Toy 6:49 – Amazon Echo Dot 7:23 – Olloclip camera lens for iPhone 8:00 – Tile bluetooth tracker Hope you found this helpful!…
I’ll admit it. I don’t like to talk about marketing in the context of ministry. In an ideal world, students and parents are paying attention to my clever announcements and sharing this information with other students and parents. The problem is there’s nothing ideal about our world!…
