Maina Mwara, Author at YouthMinistry.com

What Students Are Learning In the Apocalypse

Maina Mwara — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 17:26:12 +0000

Now that we’re approaching four months into the pandemic apocalypse, we know the shaping impact of this crisis goes deep and broad.
But to understand exactly how these extraordinary challenges are impacting teenagers today, we must dig a little. And that’s what our contributor Maina Mwara—a youth ministry veteran, writer, and journalist—has done.…

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Leading Through Distractions

Maina Mwara — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 21:15:59 +0000

Distractions define youth ministry because it’s a relational calling, and relationships are an engine for distraction.
And if you’re like me, distractions are like catnip—three years ago a test for ADHD came back positive, though my friends could’ve told you that without a test.…

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Battling the Fall Doldrums Pt. 2

Maina Mwara — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 16:54:45 +0000

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.…

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Battling the Fall Doldrums Pt.1

Maina Mwara — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 15:53:53 +0000

Julie’s a 10-year youth ministry vet. That means she’s sailed her ministry ship into the doldrums over and over.
The doldrums, as it turns out, is a real thing—it’s the name sailors have given to the Intertropical Convergence Zone, where the northeast and southeast trade winds converge into a stifling calm.…

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Back-to-School: 4 Priorities for Responding to Parent Concerns

Maina Mwara — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 14:00:32 +0000

Kendra’s parents are waiting for longtime youth pastor Ralph Paige in his office—when he walks in the door, his church admin gives Ralph that “buckle up” look… It’s not going to be an easy conversation.
Ralph welcomes “drop-in” conversations, but when most parents have a concern to bring up, they catch him in the hallway or call for an appointment.…

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Back-to-School: Teaching-Prep Best Practices

Maina Mwara — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 14:00:21 +0000

Socrates said: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Likewise, our unexamined study-prep rituals can lead to teaching that isn’t worth delivering.
The back-to-school season gives us a good excuse to revisit them. That’s what Ralph Paige, a veteran youth pastor, does every year.…

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Back-to-School: The 7 First Steps

Maina Mwara — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 14:00:36 +0000

In an extended pick-your-brain session with longtime youth pastor Ralph Paige, I sat with a group of young youth workers eager to learn from Ralph’s veteran wisdom as another school year rockets off the launching pad.
In Part 1 of this series, Ralph focused on the foundational importance of prayer.…

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Back-to-School: Using Your ‘Secret Weapon’

Maina Mwara — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 22:23:42 +0000

We all want to make the most of new beginnings, and longtime youth pastor Ralph Paige has helped point the way for me.
Though he’s been a ministry leader for more than 20 years, he treats every start of a new school year as a blank page.…

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