Youth Ministry

If you're looking for ways to encourage a middle schooler as a spiritual mentor and friend, check out this article. 

Faith is mysterious. No matter what we do in church or at home, we can’t make faith happen. But, like a farmer, there’s much we can do to till the “soil” that faith grows in. 

For a variety of good reasons, youth workers are sometimes hesitant to engage in political issues or stories with their youth. But the gospel of Jesus is thoroughly political, whether we admit it or not. 

My experience in the past 30 years with youth-curriculum has been extremely disappointing. Many materials do not engage the students. But, good news, the “So What” Bible Study is different. 

So you would like for your tween or teen to be a Christian? What are you doing in your church or at your home that will support your child? If you have high expectations, then you need to give high support.

Our generation is so quickly drawn to skepticism and cynicism. Not that taking our time to make good decisions is a bad thing, or that healthy lives is an unhealthy way to live, but maybe it’s not what Jesus had in mind.

I have a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. Her favorite question is “why?” When she first started doing this, it was endearing; however, at this point, I’ll admit, it can be more than a little annoying. And yet on another level, Sophie’s constant questioning is an important reminder about the necessity of repeatedly asking “why”.

We are blessed to have some outstanding resources many of which are available through Faith Alive Christian Resources and written from a Reformed perspective. Here are a few resources to consider.

Most of our work as youth pastors is a challenging work made up of continuous interactions with youth, parents, pastors, council members and our own families. But for the next 15 minutes give yourself permission to let it all loose and just laugh—it's great soul care!

How often do we know what is right, but choose to set our life by the worldly clock that tells us a different truth?

Do you ever have this—parents coming to you first and telling you that you need to fix the problem? What did you do?