Category: Youth Ministry
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Unlocking the Future: The Urgent Call to Disciple the Least Reached Generations
It is often said that the Church’s future rests on the shoulders of the younger generations. Yet, in a rapidly changing world, we face a sobering reality – the least-reached generations are slipping through the cracks. As church ministry leaders, we must confront this challenge head-on, recognizing the urgency of intentionally discipling our congregations’ children,…
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Should Your Church Continue to Use the Orange Curriculum?
Over the years I’ve known of many churches who have used the Orange curriculum. Friends of mine have attended the Orange Conference that promotes the curriculum and equips people to use it. Right now, I hope that most are questioning the wisdom of continuing with Orange and are doing their research to make the best…
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Five Foundational Principles for Student Ministry
I had the opportunity to teach this a few years back at a conference… A quick illustration to start… A university professor in a lecture hall stood behind a table with a giant clear jar before him. He reached under the table, pulled up a bucket of large stones, and poured them into the jar.…
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How “Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry: A Practical Guide” Came to Be
I have been giving away copies of this book to the Youth Ministers in the Diocese of South Carolina at our monthly Fusion meetings. Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry: A Practical Guide (a book authored and inspired predominantly by Rooted writers) was actually born in Café Osceola at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Oh yes,…
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Reaching The Unreached
Are you aware that the largest unreached people group on earth consists of preteens, teens, and twenties? We are used to thinking about unreached people groups in geographic terms, but now that half the world’s population is under the age of 25, we are faced with a demographic as the largest mission field. This group…
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3 Things to Look for in a Youth Minister
I ran across this article by a young clergyman (I can say young since I have more gray hair than he does) who really articulates well what all churches should look for in a youth minister. It also speaks volumes to current youth ministers about what should be most important to us. I am close…
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3 Ways You Can Serve Teenagers in Your Church
This article from The Gospel Coalition blog is worth sharing around your church! Some think teenagers are precious works in progress, and others are overwhelmed by their messiness. Many church members think serving teenagers is a lot like serving babies: there are those who have the “gift” of youth ministry, and those who simply don’t. And…
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How To Survive And Thrive In Your First Youth Ministry Job
Update: A more refined version of this article can be found at: http://rootedministry.com/articles/how-survive-and-thrive-your-first-youth-ministry-job There is nothing quite like being young, idealistic, and naive. Let’s face it, this is a fair way to describe most people in their first full time job out of college (or at least when it’s in their intended career path). Despite…
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Convention Presentation
Most years I get the opportunity to speak to all delegates and clergy from all the churches in our diocese. This year was no different. Here was my message to the diocese: We read in Judges chapter 2 about the death of Joshua and subsequently the passing of those who served under his leadership. We…
