YMJen
Jen Bradbury on Youth Ministry
  • Home
  • Books
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Articles
Jen Bradbury
Jul 06 · 5 min read

What students need most when they’re stuck spiritually

On the first day of swim lessons, the lifeguard asked my nearly four-year-old daughter, Kendall, to put her head underwater and much to my shock, she did. This immediately advanced her from Level 1 (for anyone who can’t put their head underwater)...

Read more

#apologetics #toddlers #parenting #faith formation #discipleship

Jen Bradbury
Dec 21 · 5 min read

Review: Talking with your kids about God by Natasha Crain

Filed in Book Review

As a youth pastor, I believe apologetics are important – not just in equipping teens to share their faith with others but even more importantly, in helping them understand what they believe and why.

As a parent, I also want my daughter to know...

Read more

#apologetics #parenting #books #faith formation

Jen Bradbury
Sep 26 · 5 min read

A chance to preach

Marcy Preaching

On Sunday, I watched one of my former students, Marcy, preach in my congregation – the congregation where she grew up.  She stood at the pulpit, full of grace, and gave a beautiful message on Exodus 16:2-15.

Among other things, what...

Read more

#apologetics #Youth Sunday #scripture #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Mar 27 · 5 min read

Do you skip Jesus?

Last week, my high school youth ministry finished it's discussion of Gospel Journey Maui by wrestling with the question, “Who is Jesus?” Because I've used this curriculum before, I searched my computer for our “Who is Jesus?” discussion from five...

Read more

#Jesus gap #apologetics #Teaching #church #scripture #Jesus #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Dec 23 · 5 min read

Why I won't be using "God's Not Dead"

God's Not Dead

Although I failed to see the movie, God's Not Dead, when it was in theaters last spring, knowing the basic plot - A Christian kid decides to defend the idea that “God's Not Dead” to an atheist philosophy professor – I made a note to myself to...

Read more

#youth ministry #movies #apologetics #evangelism #Jesus gap #Jesus #hope #tragedy #art

Jen Bradbury
Jul 09 · 5 min read

Permission to be you

During a recent mission trip, I asked various leaders to share their faith stories with everyone.

The first night, our youngest adult leader, who graduated from college just a few short weeks ago, shared hers. Without a doubt, it was powerful –...

Read more

#apologetics #testimonies #student leadership #Missions #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Nov 14 · 5 min read

What's on my bookshelves

One of the greatest gifts my Mom gave me is a love of reading. I grew up in a house that was loaded with books and I loved reading, even as a small child. 

Today, my house is the same way. We have books everywhere: Three dedicated shelves as...

Read more

#apologetics #Teaching #student leadership #Missions #books

Jen Bradbury
Oct 14 · 5 min read

Apologetics are good for us

During the wee hours of our summer mission trip, I realized one of my student leaders was in the midst of a spiritual crisis.

Just before the trip, her atheist friend asked her, “Why do you believe in God?” In that moment, she realized she didn't...

Read more

#crisis #apologetics #Sticky faith #evangelism #Missions #faith formation

Tags

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

Latest Posts

  • What students need most when they’re stuck spiritually
  • Review: Talking with your kids about God by Natasha Crain
  • A chance to preach
  • Do you skip Jesus?
  • Why I won't be using "God's Not Dead"
  • Permission to be you
  • What's on my bookshelves
  • Apologetics are good for us

Copyright © 2025 YMJen