(NOTE: I’ve been working on my upcoming webinar and a new writing project on encouraging young people toward career ministry. Here are some observations and thoughts that I wanted to share.) God expects and has gifted every believer to serve Him. Every church must develop a culture of ministry and outreach. Pastors should preach on… Keep Reading
There may be a ministry “seismic shift” headed toward the American church! A seismic shift can be defined as sudden or dramatic change that happens in a very short period of time. Pastors and other church leaders need to realize that due to the cultural influence of the members of Generation Z,… Keep Reading
Dear Friends, I need your help – and I need your support. I believe that God is directing me to invest the next 3 years of my life in a strategic ministry to young people and youth workers. Over 35 years ago, I co-founded a youth ministry organization entitled, Vision For Youth (for the purpose… Keep Reading
I always feel badly when I overhear some of the oldest people in the church complain to others about the style of music, the length of the sermon, or the fashion styles of the younger generations. I wonder why this once active and vibrant demographic age group feels the need to express their frustration so… Keep Reading
Remember the familiar narrative in Acts 17 when the Apostle Paul used his personal observations of the city of Athens as a springboard for an opportunity to share the Gospel with the philosophers that were gathered at the Areopagus? Youth workers – let’s apply this same action step as we make our final preparations for… Keep Reading
The ideal scenario for any youth pastor, of course, would be to have committed Christian parents as active, supportive, and true partners in the church’s youth ministry. Christian parents are the ones most accountable for the spiritual growth and development of their kids. The Scriptures are clear that parents, especially fathers, are to bring their… Keep Reading
It happened again. The “it” was the phone call I received telling me that a friend of mine just lost his ministry due to moral failure. It seems as if person after person is losing his ministry. The stories are hard to grasp. The circumstances vary, of course, but the result is the same–another person… Keep Reading
I have known some amazing volunteer youth workers over the years. Some were crazy and enthusiastic extroverts – and others were quiet and thoughtful introverts. I thank God for all of the Godly, faithful “lay” youth workers who willingly share their time and their lives with kids. These people are the true heroes of youth… Keep Reading
New Generations Change Things Most of today’s youth workers are probably Millennials[1] – the generation we were told would change everything. With the recent surge of immigration, this age group became America’s largest generation[2] – and has certainly emerged as the most influential population segment in this country’s history. In generational sequence, the Millennials were… Keep Reading