Like so many church kids, I associate the word light with songs.
First, it was “This Little Light of Mine”. Thanks to this song, even as a young child I knew I was supposed to let my light shine rather than hide it under a bushel or let Satan...
Millennials love social justice.
Give today's high school students an opportunity to serve, and most will take it. They'll readily fork over their money in support of companies, such as Toms, that benefit others. They'll also wield a hammer, make...
As is often the case, my students got emotional during the final worship service of our recent mission trip – a meaningful, poignant foot washing service. Tears still streamed down many of their faces as we left the worship space and went to ...
In recent months, I've felt an inexplicable longing to immerse myself in Scripture.
I first noticed this several months ago, at the start of lent, when Margaret Feinberg challenged her readers to join her in being “Wonderstruck by Scripture” by...
Over the last several months, my small group and I have been slowly making our way through Henri Nouwen's The Return of the Prodigal Son , a book that has helped me to better understand and appreciate the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)....
While on a mission trip to the Quad Cities with Youth Works Missions, another trip leader said, “I love Youth Works but do you ever feel like they're just really missing the evangelism piece?”
He went on to explain that while he loved the...
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...
I just returned from leading my first of two trips with Youth Works Missions this summer.
While on our trip in Red Lake, I frequently heard Youth Works staff describe the purpose of their summer ministry using the phrase, “We get to love on this...
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...
This summer, my student leaders and I are reading and discussing Help! I'm a Student Leader by Doug Fields.
The week before our summer mission trip, we discussed Ch. 3 of this book, entitled “Student Leaders Deepen Their Faith.” As part of our...