The Extravaganza
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...
Trimming the Fat
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...
To My Extroverted Classmate
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...
Relegating people to tasks
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...
Sharing Kids
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...
Youth to Youth
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...
Separate Identity
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”...
Holidays
Each time I’ve undergone a job search, one of the first compensation questions that I’ve asked is “How much vacation time do I get?”
For my husband & I, in these “pre-family” years, traveling has been a...
The Power of Relationships
Last week, I had lunch with a good friend of mine, Kitty.
Kitty is someone that has had a hugely important role in my life since about 1990, when she came to First UMC Park Ridge as our Associate Pastor. During her tenure at First UMC, part of...
Church Buildings
Adam McLane recently posted this interesting blog. In it, he essentially poses the question, would churches better reach their communities without church buildings?
Since reading this blog, I’ve been contemplating this idea.
For five years...