YMJen
Jen Bradbury on Youth Ministry
  • Home
  • Books
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Articles
Jen Bradbury
Feb 11 · 5 min read

Review: Pass It On by Jim Burns & Jeremy Lee

Filed in Book Review

When I was in grad school, author and professor, Steve Gerali, taught me about how important rites of passage are in the faith formation of young people. Since then, I've been a big fan of including these experiences in my youth ministry. I'm also...

Read more

#cognitive development #scripture #Huntington #youth ministry #books #faith formation

Jen Bradbury
Oct 09 · 5 min read

Recent Reads: Youth Ministry in a Post-Christian World by Brock Morgan

Filed in Recent Reads

Youth Ministry Post Christian World

What the book's about: A year into my career in youth ministry, I interviewed at a church. During that interview, I was asked about my feelings about the whole "postmodern thing". It was the early 2000s and at the time, I knew little about...

Read more

#cognitive development #Leaders #Jesus #youth ministry #books

Jen Bradbury
Jun 08 · 5 min read

Recent Reads: Jesus Centered Youth Ministry by Rick Lawrence

Filed in Recent Reads

Jesus Centered Youth Min

What the book's about: Jesus Centered Youth Ministry is about creating youth ministries that are, in every way, rooted in Jesus. This book is a revised edition of the book first published by the same name 8 years ago. 

Why I read this book:...

Read more

#books #Jesus gap #Jesus #research #mentor #cognitive development #discipleship #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Mar 04 · 5 min read

Student Leadership Team Basics: 6 things to look for in student leaders

During my first year in youth ministry, the thing I looked for most in student leaders was spiritual maturity.

Unfortunately, I had a hard time finding teens who you could call spiritually mature.

This makes sense when you realize high school...

Read more

#cognitive development #student leadership #Jesus #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Sep 03 · 5 min read

3 reasons to separate boys & girls

Over the course of the last few weeks, I’ve spent time visiting incoming freshmen and their families in their homes. During these visits, I ask teens to reflect on their experience in our junior high ministry. I also share information about our...

Read more

#small group #confirmation #cognitive development #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Aug 26 · 5 min read

Train leaders together

Tomorrow night, my adult leaders for the coming programming year will meet together for the first time.

My leaders won't be the only one's attending this gathering.

Instead, our confirmation (junior high) leaders will join us as well.

For years,...

Read more

#youth ministry #Leaders #confirmation #small group #cognitive development #Community #culture of welcome

Jen Bradbury
Aug 08 · 5 min read

It's OK to doubt

As is often the case, my students got emotional during the final worship service of our recent mission trip – a meaningful, poignant foot washing service. Tears still streamed down many of their faces as we left the worship space and went to ...

Read more

#cognitive development #scripture #Jesus #Missions #doubt #discipleship #processing #faith formation

Jen Bradbury
Aug 06 · 5 min read

The Problem with the Prodigal Son

Over the last several months, my small group and I have been slowly making our way through Henri Nouwen's The Return of the Prodigal Son , a book that has helped me to better understand and appreciate the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)....

Read more

#grace #cognitive development #scripture #love #Jesus #Missions

Tags

youth ministry books church Jesus parenting Missions scripture student leadership Leaders youth pastor babies Pandemic worship Prayer toddlers

Latest Posts

  • Review: Pass It On by Jim Burns & Jeremy Lee
  • Recent Reads: Youth Ministry in a Post-Christian World by Brock Morgan
  • Recent Reads: Jesus Centered Youth Ministry by Rick Lawrence
  • Student Leadership Team Basics: 6 things to look for in student leaders
  • 3 reasons to separate boys & girls
  • Train leaders together
  • It's OK to doubt
  • The Problem with the Prodigal Son

Copyright © 2025 YMJen