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Jen Bradbury
Apr 26 · 5 min read

10 QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE WHETHER TO STAY OR GO

Note: I wrote this piece a while ago, in connection with my new book, Called. In the days since when it live, however, I have accepted a new job with Fuller Youth Institute and so am now (ironically) in the process of transitioning out of my role...

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#vocation #conflict #parents #church #youth pastor #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Feb 02 · 5 min read

7 things that are working well in virtual Sunday School

We woke up to about 9 inches of snow on Sunday morning and all I could think was, “I’m so glad Sunday School is virtual this morning!” Had we been in person, we would NOT have had any kids. Instead, we had a lively and robust morning of virtual...

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#small group #parents #Teaching #Godly Play #Pandemic #children's ministry

Jen Bradbury
Dec 30 · 5 min read

5 Realities to Keep in Mind as you Plan for Summer 2021

As news of the vaccine began to spread and more and more people began taking it, like so many other youth workers, I began wondering what implications this would have for my summer ministry, which until now, has largely been on hold.

While my...

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#parents #student leadership #Pandemic #Missions #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Dec 14 · 5 min read

The outsourcing of faith formation

I am extraordinarily thankful for the work I get to do with young people.

Even so, I wholeheartedly believe that the primary spiritual influencer in a young person’s life is their parents. As Kenda Creasy Dean says in Almost Christian, “When it...

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#Missions #faith formation #youth ministry #parents #parenting #communication #marriage #children

Jen Bradbury
Sep 01 · 5 min read

Social distancing, masks, & caring for one another

If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. – 1 Corinthians 12:26

I’ve been thinking about these words of Paul a lot lately, as COVID continues to spread throughout our country...

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#parents #student leadership #Pandemic #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Jul 14 · 5 min read

6 things I learned from virtual VBS

My congregation held virtual VBS a couple of weeks ago. As I’ve continued to reflect on the experience, I keep returning to these six things I learned from virtual VBS:

1. The problem isn’t Zoom. Four months into this pandemic, you’ve no doubt...

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#children's ministry #Pandemic #discussion #Teaching #student leadership #discipleship #faith formation #children #Leaders #scripture #parents

Jen Bradbury
May 07 · 5 min read

Church homes

In every church I’ve ever been on staff at, we've inevitably wrestled with the question, “Who belongs?”

Oh, we never say it like that.

Instead, we raise questions like, “Who is active here? Who worships here? Or who gives an offering here?”

We...

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#church #discipleship #worship #Jesus #hospitality #Youth Sunday #graduating seniors #confirmation #parents

Jen Bradbury
Apr 12 · 5 min read

Review: Parenting Beyond the Rules by Connie Albers

Since taking a new call, my responsibilities have expanded to include youth and family ministry. As such, I’ve become much more intentional about ministering to parents than I ever have been before. I’ve also become much more aware of resources...

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#vocation #brave #parents #toddlers #parenting #books

Jen Bradbury
Aug 03 · 5 min read

The responsibility for a shared past and future

In the movie, Stepmom, a mom, Jackie (Susan Serandon) is dying of cancer, leaving her young children behind in the care of her ex-husband (Ed Harris) and his new wife, Isabel (Julia Roberts). In a poignant scene near the end of the movie, Jackie...

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#youth ministry #transitions #youth pastor #discipleship #leadership #parents #Leaders #Prayer #grief

Jen Bradbury
Oct 12 · 5 min read

Why you should follow up

The event’s due date passed and my numbers were bleak.

Worse, I simply hadn’t heard from the majority of people in my youth ministry.

Were they not interested?

Did they have plans?

Had they simply forgotten to turn in the forms?

That night, I...

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#parents #youth ministry management #youth ministry

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Latest Posts

  • 10 QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE WHETHER TO STAY OR GO
  • 7 things that are working well in virtual Sunday School
  • 5 Realities to Keep in Mind as you Plan for Summer 2021
  • The outsourcing of faith formation
  • Social distancing, masks, & caring for one another
  • 6 things I learned from virtual VBS
  • Church homes
  • Review: Parenting Beyond the Rules by Connie Albers
  • The responsibility for a shared past and future
  • Why you should follow up

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