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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

Jen Bradbury
Jun 18 · 5 min read

Is this the end of short-term missions?

Filed in Missions

I was supposed to be on a mission trip last week.

With the exception of the two summers I was on maternity leave, this is the first time since 2003 that I haven’t spent my summers leading mission trips.

Mission trips are – for so many junior...

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#grace #hope #justice #A Mission That Matters #pregnancy #Pandemic #Missions

Jen Bradbury
May 01 · 5 min read

The goal of politics

As I’ve scrolled Facebook in the days of the Pandemic, I’ve been increasingly struck by my desire to engage with people who share my beliefs and disengage from those who don’t.

I’m continually frustrated by one friend in particular and their...

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#politics #grace #Pandemic #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Apr 19 · 5 min read

Notes from the Pandemic: Anger & Grace

Emotions are an interesting thing during quarantine.

It seems like on any given day, I feel ALL the emotions...STRONGLY. Sometimes I can process WHY I’m feeling what I’m feeling. Other times, I simply can’t.

Naturally, through no fault of their...

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#grace #children #Pandemic #parenting

Jen Bradbury
Jan 20 · 5 min read

8 tips for transitioning older kids into their big sibling role

In the days leading up to the birth of our second daughter, Kendall, our oldest daughter, Hope, would often curl up in my shrinking lap and fearfully ask, “Will you still love me after the baby comes, Mama?”

Of course, I reassured her that I...

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#grace #sisters #children #babies #breastfeeding #motherhood #parenting

Jen Bradbury
Jul 26 · 5 min read

Review: Glorious Weakness by Alia Joy

Filed in Book Review

After finishing Alia Joy’s Glorious Weakness, I Instagramed a photo of the book with the caption, “Hands down the best Christian book I’ve read in a long time.”

Glorious Weakness

That’s not a statement I make lightly.

I read a lot of Christian books – some for...

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#identity #grace #youth pastor #Jesus #books #faith formation

Jen Bradbury
Apr 09 · 5 min read

4 reasons why rules are important

A student recently told me, “We used to like going on the mission trip because it was relaxed. There were no rules.”

She was referring to a mission trip I inherited.

Truth be told, I’d suspected this was the case for a while but never had someone...

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#grace #Rwanda #A Mission That Matters #Missions #culture of welcome #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Jan 31 · 5 min read

In defense of games

I still begin most of our youth ministry’s gatherings with a game. 

Even though some youth ministries have moved away from games, I haven’t. When chosen well, unusual games are not only fun, but they also help move teens out of their comfort...

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#grace #crucifixion #genocide #games #justice #Leaders #Jesus

Jen Bradbury
Oct 18 · 5 min read

Review: Learning to Speak God from Scratch by Jonathan Merritt

Filed in Book Review

How and what we say affects what we believe. I saw this in my research for The Jesus Gap, which found that 73% of the language used by high school students to answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” was creedal in origin. I was further convinced of...

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#grace #Jesus gap #justice #books

Jen Bradbury
Sep 14 · 5 min read

Review: Grace Like Scarlett by Adriel Booker

Filed in Book Review

In the days following my miscarriage, several friends sent me links to people they’d found online who were writing about miscarriage. Adriel Booker was one of those people. Her words were like a lifeline to me. Not surprisingly, her book, Grace...

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#grace #hope #miscarriage #grief #Jesus #books

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Latest Posts

  • Notes from the pandemic: The difficulty of watching church with kids
  • Is this the end of short-term missions?
  • The goal of politics
  • Notes from the Pandemic: Anger & Grace
  • 8 tips for transitioning older kids into their big sibling role
  • Review: Glorious Weakness by Alia Joy
  • 4 reasons why rules are important
  • In defense of games
  • Review: Learning to Speak God from Scratch by Jonathan Merritt
  • Review: Grace Like Scarlett by Adriel Booker

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