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Take Notes from the Pavers, Son

By Jarred Boyd | May 25, 2014 | 0 Comments
taking notes from the pavers

I think us new guys on the youth ministry scene tend to treat all those who’ve paved ways before us (the pavers) like Coach Brickma from Rookie of the Year (the coach in that clip, who for some unknown reason was an MLB pitching coach). There’s a fad (which I love to be a part […]

Create A Watchtower Ministry

By Charles Boyd | May 20, 2014 | 0 Comments
SME Pavers 1

  Make your ministry a Watchtower ministry. That can be a scary statement if you have ever had the Jehovah’s Witness pay you a house-call to leave their flagship flier the Watchtower. Of course, I am not talking about a little pamphlet stuffed with well-disguised lies. I am talking about peering into the lives of students […]

Pro Tip: Be Careful with Media

By Charles Boyd | May 6, 2014 | 0 Comments
media

When using video from a movie trailer make sure you watch the WHOLE clip before incorporating it into your lesson. There are few glitches more embarrassing than a surprise on the big screen. Never use media imaging just to appear relevant or cool. On the other hand, don’t hesitate to illustrate a message point using […]

Be Wary of the Silo Effect

By Charles Boyd | May 2, 2014 | 0 Comments
silo

Be careful about what you are constructing at the student ministry construction site. Without deliberate effort, you may accidentally be building a silo rather than a production plant. Some construction looks awesome and spectacular on the outside but turns out to be more of a monument than a manufacturing plant. While all silo building isn’t […]

Avoid Using “Christianese”

By Charles Boyd | April 24, 2014 | 0 Comments
christianese

Ditch the “Christianese” It is a bit comical but mostly sad to hear any minister use abstruse theology or diffuse biblical concepts. They sound smart and well trained as a polymath in Christian living. However, our intent should be to expose people to the Gospel rather than leaving them confused or impressed by our prolix […]

Understanding These Tech-y Times

By Charles Boyd | April 17, 2014 | 0 Comments
technology

The adolescent community and those who lead them in ministry appreciate and celebrate technology. Often times it is the appreciation of new technology that creates a special bond between the music ministry and student ministry. Teen culture championed technology but the life-span of an electronic item seems to get shorter each year. My first ministry […]

Communication With Staff

By Charles Boyd | February 17, 2014 | 0 Comments
communication

  .The number one complaint from pastors regarding their student minister is lack of communication. You think it would be skating off the hand rails in front of the sanctuary or backing the church van into the parking stop at BeefObradys wing house. But no, the top complaint from pastors or supervisors is the lack […]

Seeing Parents As Teammates

By Charles Boyd | February 11, 2014 | 0 Comments
stubborn SME images

Student Ministry is not a game of “us” against “them”. The “us” being the students and their illustrious captain and leader and “them”  being the parents and gray hairs. Younger youth leaders have to fight the urge to view questioning parents as “them”. Sometimes even older leaders tend to overlook them in favor of a more compliant […]

The Importance Of Knowing Names

By Charles Boyd | February 4, 2014 | 0 Comments
stubborn SME images 1

Strive to learn every student’s name as soon as possible, especially in small groups. In larger groups this can be a challenge but doable. In huge groups, this may be impractical or nearly impossible. It should always be someone’s responsibility to KNOW the students’ names. So according to the size of ministry, if it is […]

Admitting Your Imperfections

By Charles Boyd | January 21, 2014 | 0 Comments
Imperfections

Staff, students, and parents will all endear themselves to you much more readily if you can become comfortable with admitting failure and imperfections. Your job does not demand perfection and you can not deliver it. People love to pull a perfectionist down, but they tend to root for the one they can relate to . […]

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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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