YMJen
Jen Bradbury on Youth Ministry
  • Home
  • Books
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Articles
Jen Bradbury
Jan 09 · 5 min read

4 reasons why bigger isn't always better

Filed in Missions

A mission trip adult leader recently mentioned that my predecessor believed that every student (and their friends) should participate in a mission trip. As a result, for years, my church has filled a coach bus with 40-50 students and headed out...

Read more

#Rwanda #cross-cultural #Leaders #A Mission That Matters #Missions #discipleship

Jen Bradbury
Jan 11 · 5 min read

Review: Out of Sorts by Sarah Bessey

Filed in Book Review

Sarah Bessey is a writer's writer. Her words are beautiful; Her language, poetry. She's someone I read when I need inspiration. 

Out Of Sorts

Needless to say, my expectations about her second book, Out of Sorts, were incredibly high, so much so that I...

Read more

#refugee #vocation #cross-cultural #church #grief #Jesus #books

Jen Bradbury
Aug 18 · 5 min read

Recent Reads: Cross-Cultural Connections by Duane Elmer

Filed in Recent Reads and Recent Reads

Cross Cultural Connections

What the book's about: Cross-Cultural Connections by Duane Elmer is a book designed to prepare people for cross-cultural experiences, and more specifically, for cross-cultural mission trips. While the book is really oriented to long-term...

Read more

#cross-cultural #Missions #youth ministry #books

Jen Bradbury
May 29 · 5 min read

Cold Food

2014 Congo Remembrance

About a year ago, my husband and I attended a ceremony to remember the atrocities occurring in the Congo. While there, we learned what courage looks like.

We also experienced African hospitality. We were served a bounty of traditional African...

Read more

#refugee #Congo #brave #cross-cultural

Jen Bradbury
Dec 16 · 5 min read

Yes, They Know It's Christmas

I'm currently knee-deep in mission trip preparations for my team's 2014 trip to Rwanda. As part of this mission trip preparation, I'm working hard to shatter any Messiah complexes my team members might have.

That Messiah complexes exist in teens...

Read more

#Kiziba #Rwanda #cross-cultural #privilege #Missions

Jen Bradbury
Dec 13 · 5 min read

Review: Disunity in Christ by Christena Cleveland

Filed in Book Review

I spent five years working at a multi-ethnic, multi-site congregation.

There was much I loved about this church and my role there. During my time there, I discovered who I was as a youth worker. More importantly, though, serving in a context...

Read more

#research #cross-cultural #multi-site #multi-ethnic #diversity #books

Jen Bradbury
Jul 24 · 5 min read

Correcting History through Short-Term Missions

History is written by the victors.

Though true, as a person of faith, this idea has always bothered me. If history is written by the victors, then how will the stories of those who are oppressed be told? How can we fight oppression and injustices...

Read more

#ethnicity #war #cross-cultural #justice #race #Missions

Jen Bradbury
Jul 22 · 5 min read

Stand Against Racism

Where were you on March 21, 2005?

I'm guessing you may not remember. After all, unlike September 11, this is not a date etched in our collective national memory. It is, however, a date on which another tragedy occurred.

On March 21, 2005, a...

Read more

#race #faith formation #justice #Missions #Transformation #cross-cultural #processing

Jen Bradbury
Jul 17 · 5 min read

Trayvon Martin & Native Americans: Acknowledging and Addressing Racism

When I opened my blog reader Monday morning after a week away, I found blog after blog featuring reactions to the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting of 17-year old Trayvon Martin, an unarmed African-American teenager.

Not surprisingly,...

Read more

#Missions #cross-cultural #tragedy #processing #race #justice #Youth Gathering

Jen Bradbury
Apr 29 · 5 min read

10 reasons why I love refugee ministry

Almost a decade ago, I was flipping through a youth worker magazine and came across an ad for a Welcome Pack. Unlike most ads, this one wasn't selling something. Instead, it was trying to convince youth workers to have their students complete a ...

Read more

#refugee #hope #cross-cultural #service projects

Tags

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

Latest Posts

  • 4 reasons why bigger isn't always better
  • Review: Out of Sorts by Sarah Bessey
  • Recent Reads: Cross-Cultural Connections by Duane Elmer
  • Cold Food
  • Yes, They Know It's Christmas
  • Review: Disunity in Christ by Christena Cleveland
  • Correcting History through Short-Term Missions
  • Stand Against Racism
  • Trayvon Martin & Native Americans: Acknowledging and Addressing Racism
  • 10 reasons why I love refugee ministry

Copyright © 2025 YMJen