It seems that other than figuring out how One Direction is still so popular, few things weigh as heavily on the mind of the youth worker than volunteer leaders. The specifics vary from ministry to ministry, but the themes seem to be the same: “How do I find more leaders to join our team?”…
High-maintenance parents. Early in my youth ministry career, I would have rather juggled chainsaws while blindfolded than deal with the parents in my ministry who were impossible to please. You know the type: – “Summer camp is too expensive.” – “My daughter didn’t get in the small group she requested.”…
I’m thankful for my “home” church in Whittier, California. In addition to giving a 21-year old his first shot at full-time ministry, it’s where I gave my life to Jesus in high school and where I met my wife, Rachel. But it’s also where I was taught not to doubt.…
I’ve been set free. For far too many years I was consumed with the desire (mostly because I felt it was expected) to be highly organized, to be extremely efficient as a ministry leader, to set margins and boundaries and let those help me live a well-balanced life and ministry.…
Several years ago a friend of mine was fighting cancer, and getting her butt kicked. One day as we were talking and she was sharing the details of a particularly tough round of treatments, setbacks and the reality that things were getting worse instead of better, she made a little, obvious to her but profound to me, comment.…
While in college, on of my professors said to a room full of future youth pastors something that still echoes in my mind. “Make every decision as if you need to defend it in a court of law, because you just might.”…
When making a little list of some of the scary stuff youth workers deal with, self harm, a struggle more than a small number of teenagers wrestle with, was one I was hesitant to discuss; mostly because I’m no expert, and have limited first-hand experience walking alongside students who are on this scary path.…
“I didn’t get in this for the money.” You’ve said that to a few people over the years, and you’ve said it to yourself more than few times too! And while you didn’t get into youth ministry for the money, it would be nice to make a little bit more of it along the way.…
In honor of the scary stuff that happens at the end of October, I’m dedicating the next several articles to some of the scarier things youth workers deal with. For example, coming face-to-face with an angry parent can be one of the scarier things you encounter as a youth worker.…
Saddleback Church is about 7 years into our multi-site journey, and I’ve learned a ton along the way…mostly through the school of hard knocks. So I’ll wrap up this little series by sharing a few tips, tricks, and tidbits that may be worth considering on your journey as a multi-site maze runner.…
