Adolescence: The Last Step Before Becoming An Adult All children will journey through several developmental stages on their road to adulthood. Sometimes these stages look more like steps that must be completed before continuing on. For most (there are always rare exceptions) there are four or five such stages of growth where kids learn and […]
MEDIA MATTERS Managing your kid’s summertime access to technology. The availability of technology in today’s culture forces us to choose who is allowed access to our home and our children and with what parameters that access is granted. During the summer when school is out and kids have more free time, the decisions regarding media […]
Dictator, Winger or Equipper? In ministry, you are of course called upon to lead, manage, mentor and guide. It is interesting to observe the variety of leadership styles that exist among ministers.Most student leaders will readily claim they are Equippers, but my observation suggest that it is a mixed bag of nuts. Often I see […]
The following is a reprint of notes sent to me from my youngest son JarredI like it . . . a lot (Dad check out these excerpts from the book I’m reading, “The Holiness of God”, by RC Sproul- I HIGHLY recommend the book!)__________________________________________________________________Hans Kung, the controversial Roman Catholic theologian, writing about the seemingly harsh […]
A few years ago I began to take the opportunity to survey pastor, staff, volunteers, interns and others connected to Student Ministry. The dialogue became an eye opener for me. Not really a shock but the consistency of feelings and target of much frustration began to show with clarity.Below I have highlighted the basic form […]
OK, so if you are not a FACEBOOK kind of person, you are going to feel a bit antiquated in the world of adolescents. Since I saw this coming many years back (ok, so Walt Mueller told me about it), I joined Facebook just to see what others were doing. It felt like I was […]
What expectations do teens have about attending church? 45% Worship or make a connection with God.42% Better understand what I believe34% Spend time with friends34% Get encouraged or inspired30% Volunteer to help others. What do teens learn from their experiences in church? (top four answers) 65% Moral and ethical standards62% Relationships55% Faith traditions50% Personal evangelism
“A man may study because his brain is hungry for knowledge, even Bible knowledge. But he prays because his soul is hungry for God.” – Leonard Ravenhill My oldest son is part of a prayer group of men. I thought I would share with you an adapted version of his encouragement to them, to me […]
Recently the expert culture watcher, Walt Mueller was conducting a Q&A session with parents. One of the parents from the audience asked Walt what he felt was the single most impacting cultural change that those who live with and serve youth should be most concerned about. His answer is no surprise but a sober reminder […]
At some point all of us have been annoyed by a persistent little pest. I am not talking about the overprotective, high maintenance parent that likes to bend your ear before and after every ministry event. I am talking about Genus Anopheles, the most common mosquito found in North America. These little blood suckers are […]
