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Education: The Road Less Traveled

By Charles Boyd | January 6, 2015 | 0 Comments
SME Education Blog

According to Ken Kaegler’s study of Youth Leaders who were fired or burned, out 85% are graduates of a college or University. Of those who hold a degree, 49% have sought education in Youth Ministry. This means 15 of 100 youth ministers have no college-level training and of those who do hold a college degree […]

Cruise Control and Leadership

By Charles Boyd | October 26, 2014 | 0 Comments
SME Cruise Control

According to the US Patient Office, cruise control (also called speedostat #2519859) was developed in 1948 by inventor and mechanical engineer Ralph Teetor. With the oil crisis of 1973 cruise control became a popular option for saving gas and soon offered as standard equipment by the mid-1970s. Of course, the beauty of this technological marvel […]

Small Groups are Never out of Style

By Charles Boyd | October 18, 2014 | 0 Comments
Teens at Small Group

How important are small groups in student ministry – well, I think they are so important that I’m not sure it can be articulated in a short while? Whether you are the youth pastor, small group leader or potential volunteer candidate, I want to share with you a dozen benefits teenagers receive from the ministry […]

Three Types of Lies

By Charles Boyd | September 10, 2014 | 0 Comments
types of lies

  When it comes to being truthful, we naturally check the box that says “Always.” Why is it so important to always be truthful? Is it as simple as because it is the right thing to do? If so, then why is it so easy to tell lies? Consider four reasons to be an automatic […]

Communicating with Your Supervisor

By Charles Boyd | August 20, 2014 | 0 Comments
SME Blog Images 1

Keeping your supervisor abreast of your vision and plans can save you a lot of time and frustration. Think of the time you spend Informing and sharing as an investment account that grows over time. It may be only duty in the beginning but eventually, it grows into something worth a great deal. You not […]

Floodlights and Spotlights

By Charles Boyd | July 31, 2014 | 0 Comments
Floodlights and Spotlights

Some students naturally shine when they walk through the door of your student room. Their personality, appearance or verbal skills make them stand out from the crowd. Others will shine through athletic or academic achievements at school or travel competition. Many students, however, will only shine when they have the opportunity to use their gifts […]

Why So Serious

By Charles Boyd | July 16, 2014 | 0 Comments
serious

While the work of student ministry is serious business, you don’t want to take yourself or your circumstances too seriously for too long. Three reasons: First, things never stay the same for very long so why get too accustomed to it or spend too much time lamenting it. Learn from it, take a minute to study […]

Ministry by the Numbers

By Charles Boyd | June 17, 2014 | 0 Comments
by the numbers

Every ministry must give attention to numbers. Why? Because data gives you a snapshot of where your successes and challenges are developing. You don’t have to be numbers-driven to be affected by numerical data. If your numbers go up, you feel confident. If numbers go down you start questioning the game plan. Very few ministries […]

Curriculum: Choose Wisely

By Charles Boyd | June 10, 2014 | 0 Comments
SME Curriculum

Who’s job is it to research, evaluate and select bible curriculum for your student ministry? In most student ministries the youth pastor is responsible for recruiting, training and nurturing small group leaders who teach biblical truth and exhibit a Christian lifestyle. The tools you select to assist your volunteers and yourself matter a great deal. […]

Personality and Student Ministry

By Charles Boyd | June 3, 2014 | 0 Comments
Personality Shadow

Every church and every student ministry has its own personality. Some are known for their friendly disposition while others are known for their generosity and big heart towards missions. Some are community-minded while others appear more separated. In large ministries, even grades can have a distinct personality. I once had an extraordinarily large eighth-grade boys […]

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Testimonials

Testimonials

Poker Boyd’s love for teens came through loud and clear with our students.  His life and ministry reflect his passion for youth ministry and we were the beneficiaries of his experience and expertise while he was with us. Poker is a man of deep conviction and focus; yet his message was clear and also easy for our students to grasp. Poker is the kind of youth ministry leader we want our students to meet.”   Roger Glidewell Founder, Executive Director Global Youth Ministry (formerly Sr. Student Pastor of FBC Orlando, FL)

We especially want to thank Charles Boyd for helping us through his Student Ministry Essentials consulting organization. What a blessing Poker has been to us during this season! He is a true, experienced professional who loves God and this church. We are grateful for his vision in creating this unique ministry and for being such a strategic help in preparing us for a greater future in student ministry. Student Ministry Essential truely was a consulting, empowering, encouraging, and equipping ministry for our students and student leadership.

Dr. Jay Dennis, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church at the Mall

Dr. Charles (Poker) Boyd is both an academician and practitioner in Student Ministry. As an adjunct professor for The Baptist College of Florida, he has excelled in both facets of the work. I recommend him to you for biblical, Godly, and practical leadership of students and student leaders.

Robin Jumper Ph.D. The Baptist College of Florida

Poker Boyd came and brought ALL of his resources with him: a servant’s heart, love for our students, encouragement for our parents, personal integrity, unbridled enthusiasm, and a contagious love for Jesus.

Dr. Phillip Hanes, Idlewild Baptist Church, Tampa, Florida

I have used SME for many youth ministry needs. But my favorite resource is the leadership training (Essential Seminars) designed for youth leaders. Poker uses his many years of experience, along with his knowledge of current youth trends, to effectively communicate to youth leaders how to reach teenagers in our world today.  Our youth leaders look forward to our yearly training weekend; to quote one of our leaders, “It’s more than a reminder, it’s like drinking a Red Bull full of youth instruction.”

Obrien Satcher, Student Pastor, First Baptist Church of Henderson TX

Blog Archive

Raising and Releasing Your Children as Disciples
By Charles Boyd | November 2, 2023 | 0 Comments

While my title sounds like a promotion for student ministry in the local church, it isn’t. Do we need student ministry excellence in our local churches? Absolutely, and I have given my entire career to that endeavor. In reality, student ministry and parenting are the sole and the laces of the same shoe. I am […]

Fifty Shades of Truth
By Charles Boyd | February 12, 2020 | 0 Comments

I ran across a Gallup Poll recently that has nagged me into blogging my thoughts. According to News.Gallop.com, nurses, medical doctors and pharmacists earn the highest ratings from Americans for their honesty and ethical standards. What is wrong with this? After all, we want to trust those who advise, treat, prescribe, and care for our […]

Missing In Action: The Increasingly Elusive Youth Pastor
By Charles Boyd | January 1, 2020 | 0 Comments

Nearly every week there are churches asking for leads, recommendations, or assistance in securing a student pastor for their church. The most common lament I hear is: “We have been diligently searching, but it seems the good ones (code for young, well trained, and experienced) are few and far between. Can you help us?” Sure, […]

Lessons From Pee Wee Football
By Charles Boyd | December 1, 2018 | 0 Comments

When my sons were young and playing peewee city league football, I noticed how much time coaches spent trying to teach these little dreamers their individual assignments. Getting an eight-year-old to move on the snap to the right place on the field was quite an accomplishment. My youngest son was on a football team with […]

Cotton Candy Ministry and Plate Spinning
By Charles Boyd | March 6, 2018 | 0 Comments

You might not think that you could learn much about Youth Ministry from going to the circus. I was a young boy when the circus visited our small town. Our family loaded up the Fleetwood station wagon and went to the big show. From food carts and clowns to endless contest booths, I have two […]

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