At our CYMT staff meeting this week, we shared our favorite part of the biblical Christmas story. As youth workers, we love the fact that Mary and Joseph were teenagers. Mary was probably around 13 years old and Joseph just a few years older. Gabriel was a youth minister. He invited Mary and Joseph’s participation in […]
by Taylor Young Editor’s Note: This post is a product of the Communicating the Gospel to Youth class, taught by Dr. Andrew Zirschky as part of CYMT’s Master of Arts in Youth Ministry degree program through Memphis Theological Seminary. When I began the journey of youth ministry, one of the first things I recall being […]
Rebecca Bibee never really wanted to or planned to go into youth ministry. She wanted to be a music teacher, which makes her path to CYMT unique. God had other plans for Becca, and her youth minister Tony Akers, now a CYMT coach, knew that. Tony and Becca’s stories have crossed paths many times moving […]
by Deech Kirk Our church does not have enough parking, so we have a shuttle that runs from a nearby parking lot. Recently, I was sitting in front of Addie, a sixth grader who I know well. She was sitting by herself until Patti and her husband got on the bus. Most of the seats […]
by Hank Hilliard In Building Your Volunteer Team: A 30-Day Change Project for Youth Ministry, Mark DeVries and Nate Stratman get right at the heart of one of the most prominent challenges in youth ministry – building a volunteer team. Drawing from their combined 40-plus years of experience, Mark and Nate offer practical tools to […]
After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Auburn University, Tina Boyd moved home to Roswell, Ga. to begin her job search. She networked and interviewed with churches and non-profit organizations but was told repeatedly that she didn’t have enough education or experience. One particular church application asked her opinion […]
Pictured above L to R are CYMT graduate residents Derek Walker, Leigh DeVries (alumna), Dwight Johnson, and Connor McCracken. Connor McCracken, CYMT graduate resident from Northern Ireland, is completing his second year in the CYMT program. We sat down with him to talk about his experience so far. How did you learn about CYMT? I […]
Heather Kauffmann, seated, fourth from right, with her youth group members at Dyersburg FUMC. Heather Kauffman had always wanted to live in the South. Being from Glenn Mills, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia, Heather had dreams of new adventures and of experiencing a different area of the country. Little did she know that God had […]
Editor’s Note: This article was inspired by John Nixdor’s article on youthspecialties.com, “Ministering to Teenagers with Disabilities: Part 1 and Part 2.” by Rev. Phil Rogers In our deinstitutionalized society, we find that more and more people with disabilities are taking active roles in our communities, including teens in both school and church settings. In […]
Editor’s Note: This article was inspired by John Nixdor’s article on youthspecialties.com, “Ministering to Teenagers with Disabilities: Part 1 and Part 2.” by Rev. Phil Rogers Click here to read Honoring Their Unique Gifts and Talents: Ministering to Teens with Disabilities, Part 1. Inclusion Isn’t Just an Option; It’s Everything! Nixdor says that “while you […]
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