When I began my career as a professional youth worker, I was 22 years old and newly married. Both I, and my first church, viewed my age as an asset that would allow me to better relate to the youth I was ministering to.
Such a belief is neither...
Tomorrow, my youth ministry will hold it’s largest fundraiser of the year, a Silent Auction, designed to raise money for our summer mission trip to Booneville, Arkansas.
In theory, it sounds like a great event – an event with the...
My small group is currently reading the book, “Take This Bread” by Sara Miles. In this book, Miles describes her journey to begin a food pantry at her church in California. She also talks extensively about how she experiences communion...
I’ll admit it… Reluctantly.
When it comes to youth ministry, I’ve gotten a bit arrogant.
So last weekend, when I got to the “Extravaganza,” a conference put on by the ELCA’s Youth Ministry Network, and...
Last week, I met with an adult leader who is stepping down from serving in my youth ministry.
I wholeheartedly believe that it should be difficult for an adult to start serving in youth ministry but easy for him to stop serving. For this reason, I...
Dear Extroverted Classmate -
Last week, I sat in class with you for three days and really enjoyed getting to know you, though I fear you left without really knowing me.
On our second day of class, Professor Gerali talked about how women use seven...
I’m a classic type A personality.
Most of the time this serves me quite well. Take, for example, the last two weeks when, in addition, to the holidays, travel, and working, I’ve also had an article and curriculum due, and I’ve...
Early in my youth ministry career, someone told me, “There’s a Savior and you’re not it.”
To me, this simple yet profound statement served as a reminder that while important, my role in a kid’s life is limited and...
Throughout Scripture, God uses imperfect losers in incredible ways, something that I think He still does today.
In fact, considering that I am in youth ministry and that God has somehow managed to use me despite all my weaknesses and...
For years, my husband & I have joked about how at the National Youth Workers Conventions that we attend he needs to either crash the “Youth Pastor’s Wives” seminar or start a “Youth Pastor’s Husbands”...