Research Findings Drive Innovation Lab Forward Since the Innovation Lab launched in 2018, we’ve seen God transform individual faith journeys, ministries, and entire churches. We’ve hosted numerous training events with leaders around the country; created resources and curriculum on theological innovation; and walked alongside three cohorts of churches as they developed innovative ministries in […]
If you have attended one of the Center for Youth Ministry Training’s graduate residency intensive retreats in the past three years, you know the importance of comradery to this group. Eating and studying together is not just eating and studying with them, but community and connection. The connections formed through CYMT’s Graduate Residency program […]
Setting Aside Assumptions to Listen to Your Context Throughout my years in ministry, I have seen faith communities (churches and religious non-profit organizations) create and implement well-intentioned and well-informed ministries that met the needs of their wider communities and positively transformed people’s lives. These ministries span from mobile shower units for people experiencing homelessness […]
By Andrew Davis Years ago I served at a small church and I’ll never forget when Madi and Mckenzie joined that youth group. Their presence brought a season of excitement and refreshment to a group that, if I am being honest, was getting a little stale! The students had been together for a while. Trips […]
Finishing Well: Wrapping Up Your Time In a Youth Ministry Position By Christian Hesling, CYMT Alumni Most all of us, at one time or another, will leave a church job. No matter the manner of our ending and no matter the feelings associated with the conclusion of our tenure, we ought to finish well in […]
Imperfect Churches By Dietrich “Deech” Kirk Every church is a work in progress. That realization has led me to believe that working at the church might just be harder than working anywhere else. Why? Because we expect it to be different and for folks to treat us differently. When they don’t, we question why any sane […]
Stress & Anxiety Case Study Teenagers are stressed out and over-scheduled more than ever before, creating students who often want to come to youth group but can’t figure out how to “fit it in” amongst a host of other extra-curricular and other activities in their lives. What do you do? Guilt is never the answer. Attractional […]
It Happens: When Youth Talks Go Wrong By Matt Laidlaw In order to generate some enthusiasm around teaching the Prophets of the Old Testament to our high school students, we began our Wednesday evening together with a game we titled “Jonah’s Revenge.” One student from each grade was invited to join us on stage, […]
Whose needs is your Back-to-School Sunday really meeting? By Meghan Hatcher, Innovation Lab Director When I began a new ministry role as Community Engagement Pastor midway through the summer, my first major project was to plan and lead Back-to-School Sunday. Like many churches, the congregation I was now serving had a tradition of providing […]
Snow Plow Parenting By Rev. Regina Girten I remember the first time my daughter fell while learning to walk. Our house was not carpeted and as I watched her tiny body topple over my heart skipped several beats. My instinct was to plunge forward, scoop her up and ensure she was ‘booboo’ free. But as […]
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