Theresa Mazza, Author at YouthMinistry.com https://youthministry.com/author/tmazza/ Daily Wisdom for Youth Workers. Fri, 15 Mar 2024 18:58:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 Easter: It’s Not Just for the Students https://youthministry.com/easter-its-not-just-for-the-students/ https://youthministry.com/easter-its-not-just-for-the-students/#respond Mon, 18 Mar 2024 10:00:22 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=55875 The death and resurrection of Jesus was and is for every student and every parent. During Holy Week, we remind our students that Jesus was a living sacrifice with a vision and a plan for each of us. To be loved and to love.…

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]]> https://youthministry.com/easter-its-not-just-for-the-students/feed/ 0 What if Easter, isn't so simple for everyone? What if living out the gospel is difficult for some of our students' parents?https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/armswideopen-270x196.jpg270196 It’s Time for More Presence https://youthministry.com/its-time-for-more-presence/ https://youthministry.com/its-time-for-more-presence/#respond Mon, 08 Jan 2024 11:00:13 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=51553 Kevin: “So, do you remember who I am?”
My brain: Crap Theresa, come on. Think, you know this kid. What’s his name?
Me: “Dude, I totally remember you. (Awkward side hug) You look so different. How are you?”
Kevin: “Remember, I was at the skate park all the time.…

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]]> https://youthministry.com/its-time-for-more-presence/feed/ 0 https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/knowmyname-270x196.jpg270196 How to Build a Lasting Legacy in Ministry https://youthministry.com/build-lasting-legacy-ministry/ https://youthministry.com/build-lasting-legacy-ministry/#comments Mon, 02 Oct 2023 10:00:01 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=56931 For better or for worse, we are all currently building a legacy.
When we move on to whatever comes next in our life journey, the next generation of leaders will inherit the foundations that have been laid in our youth ministries as well as everything we’ve left unfinished. …

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]]> https://youthministry.com/build-lasting-legacy-ministry/feed/ 2 For better or for worse, we are all currently building a legacy. Focus on these three areas to leave a lasting legacy in youth ministry.https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/alex-blajan-223771-270x196.jpg270196 Road Warriors: What will we learn from summer youth trips? https://youthministry.com/road-warriors-what-will-we-learn-from-summer-youth-trips/ https://youthministry.com/road-warriors-what-will-we-learn-from-summer-youth-trips/#comments Mon, 29 May 2023 10:00:17 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=53782 We are about to record hours and hours in the church van. Summer is here and we are ready to take our relationship with GPS to a new level. Cheers, my fellow road warriors! You deserve all the pay-off that is sure to come with the investment of time you’ll be making in youth ministry this summer.…

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]]> https://youthministry.com/road-warriors-what-will-we-learn-from-summer-youth-trips/feed/ 1 https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/26-270x196.png270196 5 Ways to Say “I Love You” in Youth Ministry https://youthministry.com/5-ways-to-say-i-love-you-in-youth-ministry/ https://youthministry.com/5-ways-to-say-i-love-you-in-youth-ministry/#comments Mon, 01 May 2023 10:00:05 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=53746 Our number one mission in youth ministry is to share the love of Jesus with our students. We can talk about the love of Jesus or we can demonstrate the love of Jesus. We can tell them they are loved but unless we demonstrate love to them our words really are just words.…

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]]> https://youthministry.com/5-ways-to-say-i-love-you-in-youth-ministry/feed/ 2 https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/iloveyout-270x196.png270196 Challenging Digital Dependency https://youthministry.com/challenging-digital-dependency/ https://youthministry.com/challenging-digital-dependency/#respond Mon, 03 Apr 2023 10:00:30 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=56065 #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.…

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]]> https://youthministry.com/challenging-digital-dependency/feed/ 0 https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/screenfree2-270x196.jpg270196 Haters Gonna Hate: what to do when a student doesn’t love you. https://youthministry.com/haters-gonna-hate-what-to-do-when-a-student-doesnt-love-you/ https://youthministry.com/haters-gonna-hate-what-to-do-when-a-student-doesnt-love-you/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2023 11:00:14 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=51705 Have you ever worked with a student who just couldn’t stand you? I have. You know the deal – the rolling eyes, snarky comments, being completely ignored, blatant efforts to be disruptive, and the heaps of sarcasm. Having a hater is totally awesome.…

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]]> https://youthministry.com/haters-gonna-hate-what-to-do-when-a-student-doesnt-love-you/feed/ 2 No one likes to be hated, and it’s not awesome at all. We want all of our students to love us, but the reality is, they don’t. Once in a blue moon, a hater dwells among them.https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/7-270x196.png270196 4 Pillars of Transformational Relationships https://youthministry.com/four-pillars-transformational-relationships/ https://youthministry.com/four-pillars-transformational-relationships/#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2022 10:00:16 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=59517 You know that teenager who never misses youth group and shows up for every retreat, no matter what else is going on? I was that kid. I’d skip my basketball games and school dances to avoid missing a youth rally or even a Wednesday night meeting.…

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]]> https://youthministry.com/four-pillars-transformational-relationships/feed/ 1 https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/Pumpkin-Pancake-Party-Email-1-270x196.png270196 The Question Box https://youthministry.com/the-question-box/ https://youthministry.com/the-question-box/#respond Mon, 21 Feb 2022 11:15:23 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=60311 Every week, Sidney and I talk about the things a mentor talks to a mentee about. Sometimes it’s via text, sometimes it’s over a salted caramel macchiato—either way, we’re committed to spending time checking in. I ask her questions about school, family, and friendships.…

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]]> https://youthministry.com/the-question-box/feed/ 0 https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/kate-trysh-485779-270x196.jpg270196 People Count, So Count Your People https://youthministry.com/people-count-count-people/ https://youthministry.com/people-count-count-people/#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2022 11:00:31 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=58609 “We count people because people count.” That mantra was our church’s lifeline. Nothing happened without counting, and without a count, something might as well not have happened. During my seven years as youth director there, that statement echoed at every Thursday-morning staff meeting.…

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]]> https://youthministry.com/people-count-count-people/feed/ 1 “We count people because people count.” That mantra was our church's lifeline. Nothing happened without counting, and without a count, something might...https://youthministry.com/wp-content/upload/ymprod/GettyImages-476670242-e1487701078953-270x196.jpg270196