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Jen Bradbury
Sep 04 · 5 min read

Notes from the pandemic: The plight of young (unvaccinated) children & their parents

Last Tuesday, exactly one week after the girls started school, we got the dreaded call that 6-year old Hope had been in close contact with someone at school who tested positive for COVID.

Because of the close contact, Hope had to quarantine for...

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#toddlers #children #education #grief #Pandemic #privilege #parenting

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
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
Feb 23 · 5 min read

Notes from the Pandemic: Pandemic Babies

NBC news has recently been airing a series of reports about the mental health toll of the pandemic on young people. As a youth pastor, I’m well aware of these. I’ve seen the toll this pandemic has taken on the young people in my ministry. I’ve...

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#youth pastor #children #Pandemic #marriage #parenting #books

Jen Bradbury
Feb 22 · 5 min read

3 educational priorities

It’s school enrollment season and as the parent of a kindergartener, I’ve been thinking about education a lot.

A few weeks ago, I listened to a podcast by The Mom Hour in which they reflected on their school priorities. That got me thinking about...

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#Teaching #youth pastor #children #diversity #education #parenting #books

Jen Bradbury
Feb 11 · 5 min read

How the Bible Ruined the Berenstain Bears'

I have fond memories from my childhood of curling up in my mom’s lap, in her big (ugly) green recliner and reading the Berenstain Bears’ books. They were classics that every kid my age loved.

I’ve loved introducing these books to my own girls,...

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#Community #scripture #children #diversity #Jesus #books

Jen Bradbury
Feb 08 · 5 min read

Review: How to Listen So Your Kids Will Talk

Filed in Book Review

I’m an introverted youth pastor who has, for years, considered myself to be a pretty good listener. Sadly, I fear that I sometimes listen BETTER to other people’s kids than I do my own. Having recognized this in myself, I was excited to read Becky...

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#books #introvert #youth pastor #parenting #children's ministry #children #Pandemic #conflict

Jen Bradbury
Dec 28 · 5 min read

God with us

In the doctor’s office, when Hope writhed in pain,
God was with us.

Through Hope’s pediatrician, who called ahead to the ER to pave the way,
God was with us.

In the emergency room, when we waited for answers,
God was with us.

Through the Linus...

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#children #grief #breastfeeding #motherhood #parenting

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
Aug 10 · 5 min read

Notes from the pandemic: The difficulty of watching church with kids

As a children and youth minister, I’m often sought as the “expert” on parenting. I lead the classes, refer parents to other professionals in times of crisis, and share parenting stories in my sermons. As much as I try to share parenting failures,...

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#grace #church #children #parenting #children's ministry

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Tags

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Latest Posts

  • Notes from the pandemic: The plight of young (unvaccinated) children & their parents
  • On finding a new church home
  • The problem with Bible Bucks
  • Notes from the Pandemic: Pandemic Babies
  • 3 educational priorities
  • How the Bible Ruined the Berenstain Bears'
  • Review: How to Listen So Your Kids Will Talk
  • God with us
  • The outsourcing of faith formation
  • Notes from the pandemic: The difficulty of watching church with kids

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