The Importance of Event Planning

by Jason Sansbury Events are an integral part of any youth ministry. At their best, they can help create momentum and accomplish great things in the lives of our youth groups and the students involved. At their worst, they can become huge time drainers that don’t accomplish much at all. Planning is one of the […]

5 Keys to Volunteer Recruitment

Great youth ministry volunteers who passionately care for students, help plan events, teach, and disciple are the common thread among every good youth ministry. If you struggle to find these amazing people, then take some comfort knowing that many other youth ministers also struggle to recruit volunteers. It’s time to learn how to recruit them to your […]

Book Review: A Theological Journey through Youth Ministry

Andrew Root’s A Theological Journey through Youth Ministry book series is one of the most exciting things to come off a youth ministry press in years. Thank you to Youth Specialties for turning an off-handed conversation into vibrant, essential theological conversation for youth ministry. I believe this book series is a theological journey worth taking. A […]

Serving in Lake Wobegon

I live in Lake Wobegon, where all the men are good-looking, the women are strong, and the children above average. Or at least, that’s what you’d think if you just glanced in on a given Sunday morning. To the common eye First Presbyterian Church Nashville may look like the perfect church. I grew up at […]

Surviving the Groaning, the Sighing, the Smirking

Editor’s Note: This letter is excerpted from CYMT’s book Letters to a Youth Worker, edited by Mark DeVries. Dear Youthworker, Sometimes I’ve wondered, “Which am I? Youth Leader? Mother? Hmmm…Youth Leader? Mother? I’m both. And when I really dig deep, I begin to realize that the only difference between the two is the fact that […]

Step Away from the Panic Button: Crafting Your Preaching and Teaching Process

Editor’s Note: The following article is a summary of material presented at the Center for Youth Ministry Training’s conference From Txt2Speech: Proclaiming scripture to youth in a digital age, held Nov. 30 – Dec. 2, 2012 in Nashville, Tenn. by Travis Garner “It’s 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. The youth will be at the church […]

A Counterintuitive Pedagogy

Editor’s Note: The following article is a summary of material presented at the Center for Youth Ministry Training’s conference From Txt2Speech: Proclaiming scripture to youth in a digital age, held Nov. 30 – Dec. 2, 2012 in Nashville, Tenn. by Stephen Ingram The days of up front proclamation, assumed authority, and prescribed theological fences are […]

Innovative Curriculum

by Andrew Zirschky The careful balance and integration of coaching, church experience, cohort interaction, and the academic study of youth ministry are at the heart of the Center for Youth Ministry Training‘s (CYMT) mission to educate and equip youth ministers as practical theologians. By bringing together expert-guided congregational practice and theological reflection within a cohort […]

Making Your Ski Trip a Spiritual Experience

by Peter Carlson Youth group ski trips are often a highlight of the year to both students and adult leaders (especially if your church covers the cost of your leaders’ lift tickets). However, when planning these trips it’s easy to focus on the logistics of this event and place any spiritual element as an afterthought. […]

Dealing with Conflict in Youth Ministry

by Jason Sansbury When you’ve been in ministry long enough (and sometimes when you’re just starting out), there are certain “moments” that you’ll experience. One of those moments is when the “haters” come for you. I wish I could tell you that being in the church world and in ministry meant that you wouldn’t have […]

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