by Stephanie Dodge and Lauren Gilliland Rule #1 Avoid lock-ins. Don’t put one on the yearly schedule. Wait for someone to bring it up, then try to work it in. Depending on your ministry setting, plan around community events when possible. If football/cheerleading/band competitions/soccer games are big in your town, scheduling a lock-in in the […]
Dear ?????, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time to write a reference for ???? to the Center for Youth Ministry Training. ???? has started their graduate residency and is working at ????? as the youth director. As a part of the graduate residency program, ???? started the Master […]
by Chris and Joanna Cummings Hi there, we are the Cummingses and we are both in church ministry. Yes, you read that right. We were asked to share how we get the bills paid and live off of little income, and did we mention we both work in the local church? We are certainly not […]
In Dyersburg, Tenn., high school football games are the place to be on Friday nights. But what happens after the game is over and kids still want to be together and have something to do? Answer: Fifth Quarter. The idea for Fifth Quarter came from community members searching for a safe place for teens to […]
I stood on a front porch with my two friends, all three of us, 12 years old. It was a Sunday afternoon and I had been at church that morning. The lesson was from Matthew 5:38-42. You know this one . . . where we teach good little girls and boys that an eye for […]
IT’S NOT A MISSION TRIP. IT’S NOT A CAMP. IT’S UNCHARTED. History is filled with stories of those who have gone off-the-grid and beyond the map to discover what others have never known. This summer, join us in exploring faith in uncharted territory as we ask together some of the big questions: THIS SUMMER TAKE YOUR FAITH […]
by Cory Martin Lorde, the 16 year old pop star (or should I say anti-pop star?) from New Zealand has shot to super stardom by grabbing the number one spot on the alternative charts for several weeks with “Royals.” This is no small feat: the last woman to obtain that prize was Alanis Morissette and […]
When I think about my ministry, one of my goals is to leave a legacy of youth ministry. In addition to seeking to teach youth that they are beloved Children of God, redeemed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and called to serve God by the power of the Holy Spirit in this world, […]
Great music can really enhance your youth event, retreat, or camp, but before you book Chris Tomlin to be your worship leader, here are some things to consider: Make sure you get someone who is actually a worship leader. Just because he is a Christian musician does not mean he knows the current Top 10 […]
by Carlisle Jones What does it mean for the church to really care about or DO youth ministry? How important is it for the whole church to be involved in the youth ministry? During the fall semester of 2013, second year graduate residents at the Center for Youth Ministry Training took the Theological Foundations for […]
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