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Connecting with Students
by Jonathan McKee Posted in ArticlesFeatured ArticleHigh SchoolProgrammingTrainingYouth Worker DevelopmentLast month a student from the high school just down the street from me excused himself from class about 10:15 a.m., walked into a restroom, and shot himself. It was his 17th birthday.
How Do I See Myself After High School?: A Sticky Faith Free Download Lesson
by Youth Specialties Posted in Adolescent DevelopmentArticlesFree ResourcesHigh SchoolMiddle SchoolParentsProgrammingMany of the statistics you read about teenagers and faith can be alarming. Recent studies show that 40-50 percent of kids who are connected to a youth group throughout their senior year will fail to stick with their faith in college. As youth workers are pouring their time and energy into the students in their ministries, they are often left wondering if they've done enough to equip their students to carry their faith into adulthood.
The 3 Foundations to Small Groups You Must Know
by Laurie Polich Posted in Adolescent DevelopmentArticlesAdviceFeatured ArticleFeatured ReviewHigh SchoolMiddle SchoolParentsProgrammingResource and Book ReviewsTrainingYouth Worker DevelopmentSmall groups are not the end of ministry; they are the beginning. Many youth workers believe that if they can get kids into small groups, their job is done. But the real job has just begun. Ministry is about life change, and for this to happen, there needs to be an intentional ap- proach to HOW small groups will nurture and shape students’ lives. Exerpt from "Small Group Strategies" by Laurie Polich
Helping Teenagers in Crisis
by Youth Specialties Posted in Adolescent DevelopmentArticlesAdviceFree ResourcesProgrammingTrainingYouth Worker DevelopmentWhen teens hurt, youth workers are often the first to know. When parents panic or worry about their children, they are the first to be called, and when tragedy strikes a community, they are the pillars many look to communicate how students should process and confront challenging and life-changing situations.
Waking Up From The American Dream
by Jonathan McKee Posted in Adolescent DevelopmentArticlesAdviceFeatured ArticleFree ResourcesHigh SchoolMiddle SchoolMovie Study GuidesParentsProgrammingResource and Book ReviewsTrainingYouth Worker DevelopmentIt was over a decade ago. The kids were young. Ashley was still in diapers. We attended a wealthy church where most of our friends had loads of spending money in their pockets. We didn’t.
Do Your Teenagers Know How to Pray?
by Kara Powell and Brad Griffin Posted in Adolescent DevelopmentFeatured ArticleHigh SchoolMiddle SchoolParentsProgrammingResource and Book ReviewsTrainingYouth Worker DevelopmentIn a recent gathering of youth workers, we asked everyone (ourselves included) to take thirty minutes in solitude to consider the following about what prayer was like as a teenager: What helped you come alive to God? What disciplines sustained your faith? What do you remember about the content, frequency, and rhythms of your prayers?
After the Altar Call
by David R Smith Posted in Adolescent DevelopmentArticlesAdviceFeatured ArticleFree ResourcesHigh SchoolMiddle SchoolParentsProgrammingTrainingYouth Worker DevelopmentThere are many potential mistakes that can ruin an altar call and negatively affect a teenager’s decision to follow Christ. And though all of us have made these errors from time to time, the good news is, we don’t have to ever again! Here are the seven biggest mistakes youth ministry leaders make during altar calls…and a few simple ways to correct them.
5 Ways to Value a Youth Ministry Volunteer’s Time
by Aaron Helman Posted in ColumnsArticlesAdviceFeatured ArticleHigh SchoolMiddle SchoolProgrammingTrainingYouth Worker DevelopmentYour volunteers are busy people just like you. They have families and jobs and their own relationships with God. After juggling all of those things, they still manage to help you lead a thriving ministry. My guess is you want them to continue to do that for quite some time. The fastest way to drive away good volunteers is to waste their time. That's why you need to be intentional about making sure you don't.
YS Listens - What Did We Hear?
Posted in Adolescent DevelopmentArticlesAdviceFeatured ArticleFree ResourcesProgrammingTrainingYouth Worker DevelopmentWe encourage you to talk about some of the things we discovered--either in your own ministry, your own community, or with the youth ministry community across the country. Check out the YS Network to learn more about how you can connect with youth workers from all over the U.S.
5 Essential Elements to A Successful Training Strategy
Posted in Free ResourcesTrainingI was stuck, new in my position as a student ministry pastor in my home church. We had just completed a very successful church-wide volunteer ministry fair. Sitting in my office I stared at the 10 sign-up cards for about 20 minutes, hoping for inspiration.
