As youth ministers, we often serve as change agents. We begin ministry young, idealistic, eager, and often arrogant. We work in churches that have become disconnected with the culture in which they live and we know that they need to change to survive, much less fulfill their missions. We are on the front line of […]
by Stephen Ingram I love to read. I love to read about all sorts of things, but I especially love to read about ministry and how we have the ability to shape it for the future. Some of the most influential books that have shaped my practice and understanding of ministry were not even written […]
Editor’s Note: This synopsis was written as part of a Lilly Foundation grant to the Center for Youth Ministry Training. The Research in a Nutshell What contributes to consequential faith—the kind of faith that makes a difference to a teenager’s way of life? That’s the question that Kenda Creasy Dean explores and attempts to answer in Almost […]
Editor’s Note: On August 27, 2010 Kenda Creasy Dean and her book Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church were featured in a news piece by CNN. Five years prior, the National Study of Youth and Religion was published in Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers, by […]
“Liberté, égalité, fraternité!” was the cry of the French Revolutionists. They wanted liberty, equality, and brotherhood for all people. (Do you hear the people sing?) I’ve seen many youth ministers try to start their own revolutions under banners like: Out with the Old; In with the New Contemporary Worship is the Answer for the World Today—Above It […]
Ministry implications from the Youth Ministry and Spirituality Project Editor’s Note: This synopsis was written as part of a Lilly Foundation grant to the Center for Youth Ministry Training. The Research in a Nutshell What does it look like to do youth ministry within a culture where the anxious voice of society is often listened to over […]
A summary of research on religious change in emerging adulthood Editor’s Note: This synopsis was written as part of a Lilly Foundation grant to the Center for Youth Ministry Training. The Research in a Nutshell What happens in the midst of transitioning from one phase of life to another? What happens to religious faith and practices? How […]
by Hank Hilliard These quotes can open the door to deep reflection and discussion about the state of youth ministry at your church. Some of the quotes challenge us to move deeper in ministry. Some serve as encouragement and inspiration. Use the quotes to move your ministry team into deeper discussion about where you are […]
by Will Penner Approximate length: 35 minute The story of the prodigal son is most often told from the viewpoint of the prodigal himself. Through the eyes of the prodigal, we are given a sense of God’s love and mercy. But, of course, there’s some back-story, and another important story-line than just the bad-boy returned […]
by Mike Kupferer It’s time for many youth ministries to turn in their budgets for the next year. The economy is tough, and churches are feeling the crunch, too. The most important thing to remember when working on your youth ministry budget is that the money is not your own personal spending money. It is […]
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