YMJen
Jen Bradbury on Youth Ministry
  • Home
  • Books
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Articles
Jen Bradbury
May 19 · 5 min read

Review: Youth Ministry in a Multifaith Society by Len Kageler

Filed in Book Review and Book Review

If you pick up my copy of Youth Ministry in a Multifaith Society by Len Kageler, you'll notice that nearly every page in the last three chapters is dog-eared. It's that good.

In this book, youth ministry researcher, professor, and practitioner,...

Read more

#Jesus gap #ecumenical #research #Jesus #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
May 15 · 5 min read

Mighty to Save

Earlier this week, my youth ministry was asked to deliver a Welcome Pack to a newly arriving refugee family of three from Bhutan.

Even though I consider myself to be a refugee champion and even though we had the supplies on hand to do this...

Read more

#refugee #Youth Sunday #justice #youth ministry #worship

Jen Bradbury
May 14 · 5 min read

How to conduct a student leadership team interview

In recent weeks, student leadership team interviews have taken over my life. These one-on-one meetings are follow-up conversations to the written application filled out by each applicant. They typically take about an hour each.

I know that's a LOT...

Read more

#student leadership #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
May 13 · 5 min read

What to do at 8th Grade Orientation

Ever since my congregation stopped kidnapping people, we've had to find new, better ways to transition our kids from one ministry to the next.

One of the best things we've done is institute an 8th grade orientation. Truthfully, we borrowed this...

Read more

#culture of welcome #youth ministry #Youth Room #student leadership #Prayer #t-shirts #extracurriculars

Jen Bradbury
May 12 · 5 min read

Grateful

5minutefriday

Today, I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker‘s Five Minute Friday. The rules: Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking. 

This week's prompt: Grateful .

Last week, I spent 45 minutes on the phone discussing a...

Read more

#Five Minute Friday #gratitude #hope #affirmation

Jen Bradbury
May 09 · 5 min read

Recent Reads: Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg

Filed in Recent Reads and Recent Reads

Wild Mind

What the book's about: Once again, the subtitle of Wild Mind - Living the Writer's Life - is an accurate description of it. The book blends stories from Natalie's life with practical advice as well as exercises to try in your own...

Read more

#writing

Jen Bradbury
May 07 · 5 min read

10 questions to include on student leadership applications

When I started my job, I inherited a student leadership team that was elected through a popularity contest. As a result, the team was one giant clique, interested far more in what they wanted than in what was best for our youth ministry.

After...

Read more

#cliques #student leadership #introvert #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
May 06 · 5 min read

A beautiful mess

5minutefriday

Today, I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker‘s Five Minute Friday. The rules: Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

This week's prompt: Mess.

I woke up this morning to a mess. The bathtub was filthy. Wet towels...

Read more

#refugee #Five Minute Friday #story #Kiziba #Rwanda

Jen Bradbury
May 02 · 5 min read

Recent Reads: The Godbearing Life by Kenda Creasy Dean & Ron Foster

Filed in Recent Reads and Recent Reads

Godbearing Life

What the book's about: Godbearing Life is a classic book in youth ministry. In it, Kenda Creasy Dean & Ron Foster discuss, as it's subtitle suggests, "the art of soul tending for youth ministry." Published in 1998, it's withstood the...

Read more

#Godbearing Life #identity #Leaders #student leadership #youth ministry #books

Jen Bradbury
May 01 · 5 min read

That's Not Fair!

Every Monday night, my high school students run a program for refugee kids called Kids Club. Each week, what the kids look most forward to is snacks.

When it comes to Kids Club snacks, we have one rule: Everyone gets exactly the same thing.

That's...

Read more

#refugee #Community #justice #student leadership #culture of welcome #youth ministry

« 1 2 … 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 … 92 93 »

Tags

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

Latest Posts

  • Review: Youth Ministry in a Multifaith Society by Len Kageler
  • Mighty to Save
  • How to conduct a student leadership team interview
  • What to do at 8th Grade Orientation
  • Grateful
  • Recent Reads: Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg
  • 10 questions to include on student leadership applications
  • A beautiful mess
  • Recent Reads: The Godbearing Life by Kenda Creasy Dean & Ron Foster
  • That's Not Fair!

Copyright © 2026 YMJen