Talking About Las Vegas

las vegas

How do you talk with your teens about what happened in Las Vegas? Gwen has great advice for having a hope-filled discussion when talking about tragedies and events like the mass shooting in Las Vegas.

Be Confident and Courageous

Be Confident and Courageous

Fear 15,000 years ago when you went out into the wild and you got nervous, you turned the other way. Journeying into the uncomfortable or unknown could be fatal. Today that same instinct exists. When you meet someone new or find yourself facing an uncomfortable situation, your mind and body often tell you to run. […]

Toilet Paper Solutions

toilet paper solutions

Sometimes there are unexpected solutions to the obstacles in your ministry. And sometimes God uses you in a way that seems counter-intuitive. But trust in His plan and invite Him into your problems

Spiritual Advisory

advisory, spiritual

Do you take precautions and protect yourself and your ministry spiritually? Gwen talks about the importance of always looking forward and remembering the battle is already won.

How to Succeed in a Youth Ministry Interview

succeed in a youth ministry interview

Summer is almost over. For the field of youth ministry, summer is a hiring season. I know of a number of parishes that are hiring here in my diocese. This process can seem difficult and intimidating. Submitting a resume and preparing for an interview can give you butterflies that remind you of asking someone on […]

Small Things with Great Love

My primary goal is to lead others closer to Christ through building Christocentric relationships and loving them as Christ loved us.  I strive to do this with my family, friends, coworkers, and in my ministry.  I’d love to say that this can be seen in the big and small ways of each of my interactions […]

Don’t Clear the Backlog Just Yet

taking a break, backlog, summer

Coming Up For Air I sat down with a friend the other day. And, as we indulged in a hipster lunch in some gourmet coffee shop, he shared his plans to take a month off this summer. He is an excellent youth minister who has not come up for air in years. I was fascinated […]

Refilling Your Cup in Busy Times

busy

Busy Summer can be (and most of the time, is) a busy time for youth ministers. Between camps, mission trips and conferences, it’s easy to finish the summer more exhausted than you began.  It is vital to take care of yourself, allow the Lord pour into you, and take some time to rejuvenate. Whether you only have a […]

How A Mud Run Transformed My View of Christianity

Obstacles I recently completed my 6th Tough Mudder in as many years.  A Tough Mudder is a 10-12 mile obstacles course with 20-25 obstacles and plenty of mud.  They intentionally implement several obstacles that cannot be completed without the help of others. The first year I ran was on the anniversary of the Columbine shooting.  […]

13 Reasons Why: A Youth Ministry Perspective

  13 Reasons Why…or Why Not? You’ve seen the various posts on social media. Netflix made a show and teens are watching it. What to Know It’s not a show about suicide, it’s a show about manipulating people through suicide. It’s not a show for teenagers, its rated MA for Mature Adults, I’ve never met […]