I love the 2002 movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, where a Greek woman named Toula Portokalos falls in love with a non-Greek man. Gus, Toula’s proud father, struggles to give away his daughter to someone from another culture. The romantic comedy also emphasizes Gus’ love for the Greek language.…
For more than a decade, I’ve been involved in youth ministry in the United Methodist Church. During this time, I’ve participated in hundreds of confirmations, both as a youth director and as a volunteer. Confirmation literally means “to make firm.” The journey involves guiding young people toward publicly affirming their faith in front of family members, friends, and the congregation.…
In 2005, a 14-year-old in Florida named Lindsay discovered that it wasn’t God’s will for local teenagers to be treated as outcasts because they couldn’t afford to replace their worn-out shoes. It couldn’t possibly be his plan for kids to be threatened by bullies because of their hand-me-downs and thrift-shop attire.…
In Sunday school, I remember singing at the top of my lungs, “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see.” Such songs allowed my imagination to take me into Scripture.…
For the culturally blended generation of Jesus-followers we’re leading, boundaries have become increasingly blurred. So it’s essential for us to set positive examples as we embrace who we are as individuals, people of faith, and inhabitants of Western civilization. We must guide teenagers toward wise decisions in all these settings without stripping away their identity, relevance, or influence as global citizens.…
Youth ministry is a race we never have to run alone. Every week in thousands of youth groups across the country, small-group leaders partner with youth workers like members of a relay team. These volunteers invest their time to prepare meaningful lessons, investing in teenagers both inside and outside the group.…
I want to follow Jesus. Don’t you? When we roll out of bed every morning, our relationship with Jesus is the reason our feet hit the floor. In Jesus we find immeasurable peace and unspeakable joy. He is making us whole.…
Every January, many of us make resolutions we don’t keep. This year, try a new approach: youth ministry mantras instead of resolutions. These simple yet profound sayings will encourage, refuel, and focus you. Use them as reminders of what’s most important and least important in youth ministry.…
When it comes to purchasing property, location is everything. And when it comes to communicating effectively in youth ministry, method is everything. Ultimately, we want to ensure that each person in our ministry is engaged, including students, parents, volunteers, and fellow staffers.…
It was a crazy night in the mosh pit. Fists and limbs swinging through the air—kids colliding, shoving, and rolling off each other. And, like Moses standing before the Red Sea, I needed these roiling waters to part so I could get through to the other side.…
