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Jen Bradbury
Nov 07 · 5 min read

A blessing for youth leaders nurturing faith beyond youth group

This is for the teenagers in your community.
The ones whose families have been hurt by churches so much that they won’t (or can’t) go back.
The ones whose very identities make them afraid they'll be reduced to an “issue” that needs to be solved.
...

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#church #youth ministry #discipleship

Jen Bradbury
Aug 03 · 5 min read

The fantasy youth ministry candidate

Popular youth ministry author and speaker, Doug Franklin, who I greatly respect, recently posted this on social media:

I often get calls from churches seeking great youth ministry candidates for their open positions. They are all looking for the...

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#breastfeeding #marriage #motherhood #parenting #Missions #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Apr 11 · 5 min read

The tearing of the curtain

Several years ago during an overnight event at the church I served, my high school youth ministry filed into our sanctuary and participated in a prayer ritual around the altar that involved lit candles. Unbeknownst to me, the wax from the candles...

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#Prayer #church #communion #worship #culture of welcome #discipleship #faith formation #scripture #Holy Week #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Feb 22 · 5 min read

Messy Ashes

It’s Ash Wednesday. I was supposed to be serving at church today, imposing ashes on people for an hour this afternoon.

Strangely, I was looking forward to it. While Ash Wednesday is morbid, there’s also a sacredness to it that I appreciate.

...

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#church #Pandemic #Jesus #youth ministry #liturgy #justice #Community #Lent

Jen Bradbury
Jul 17 · 5 min read

On not being welcomed at church

Last Sunday during worship, I sat in the comfort room with my two-year old, Kendall, in tears.

To be clear, I was the one in tears, not her.

We’d gone into the cry room to nurse. When we returned to the sanctuary, she started chattering. A LOT...

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#toddlers #parenting #church #worship #breastfeeding #baptism #books #youth ministry #Community #student leadership #culture of welcome #Pandemic

Jen Bradbury
Jun 22 · 5 min read

On finding a new church home

“You guys are making me not even want to go to church anymore!” shouted Hope, my six-year old daughter, from the backseat of our van as we headed home from our first day of church shopping.

We began church shopping at a local church that’s part...

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#church #worship #children #children's ministry #youth ministry #Pandemic #discipleship #faith formation #Community

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
Mar 29 · 5 min read

The problem with Bible Bucks

I’ve seen several recent posts in various online youth ministry discussion forums about how we can get kids and tweens to read Scripture.

Several people have suggested instituting a “Bible Bucks” program. The idea is that when young people read ...

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#Easter #Teaching #scripture #children #Jesus #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Jan 29 · 5 min read

4 ways to utilize leaders in virtual ministry

Recently, I’ve seen an increasing number of posts in various children and youth pastor’s forums about how to rebuild an adult leadership team that’s been decimated by the pandemic. It seems that as many people switched to virtual ministry, their...

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#small group #Leaders #Pandemic #youth ministry #children's ministry

Jen Bradbury
Jan 15 · 5 min read

The story behind CALLED

Two and a half years ago, I transitioned out of a 10-year call that I loved.

The decision to leave was NOT an easy one. It’s one I struggled with a lot… And along the way, I did what I always do: I turned to books for guidance.

I dutifully read...

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#transitions #vocation #youth ministry #Called #books #The Youth Cartel #breastfeeding #maternity leave #Pandemic #death #baptism #church #marriage

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Latest Posts

  • A blessing for youth leaders nurturing faith beyond youth group
  • The fantasy youth ministry candidate
  • The tearing of the curtain
  • Messy Ashes
  • On not being welcomed at church
  • On finding a new church home
  • 10 QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE WHETHER TO STAY OR GO
  • The problem with Bible Bucks
  • 4 ways to utilize leaders in virtual ministry
  • The story behind CALLED

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