Words on the Word
Youth Ministry
Read Your Bible: But How? (Lectio Divina)
“Read your Bible.” But how? I’ve benefitted from reading large portions of Scripture–whole narratives, books, and multiple chapters–in one sitting. I’ve also benefitted immensely from slowing down and meditatively just reading a few verses at a time. Lectio Divina is a way of reading Scripture that encourages that. It’s reading, as many have said, for transformation and … Continue reading
More than 125 youth workers at Open Boston
More than 125 youth workers gathered at Gordon College on Saturday, February 2 for Open Boston. An initiative of The Youth Cartel, Open Boston brought together more than 20 speakers to lead sessions on topics ranging from student leadership and youth ministry innovation, to soul care and strategic relationship building. Interactive sessions enabled mutual collaboration throughout the day, … Continue reading
A Few Thoughts on Leading without Authority
Ron Heifetz, in his Leadership Without Easy Answers, says, “The scarcity of leadership from people in authority, however, makes it all the more critical to the adaptive successes of a polity that leadership be exercised by people without authority” (183). In other words, even though leaders should expect good leadership from those above them, they should … Continue reading
I’m Speaking at Open Boston in February on Student Worship Leaders
In a couple of weeks I’ll be one of a group of speakers at a youth ministry event called Open Boston. It’s February 2 and takes place at Gordon College. From Open’s What to Expect page: The content of sessions is firmly focused on ideas, concepts, and best practices for developing a youth ministry for … Continue reading
Free youth ministry consulting at National Youth Workers’ Convention
Check this out: Youth Ministry Architects is the official consulting service for the 2012 National Youth Worker Conventions in Dallas. We’d love to connect with our friends and clients who will be attending the conventions. You can sign up to meet one-on-one with one of the consultants. We’ll listen carefully and do some creative problem-solving … Continue reading
Free PDF sample of Sustainable Youth Ministry Study Guide
Youth Ministry Architects has posted a sample .pdf of Sustainable Youth Ministry: The Study Guide, which I wrote as a resource for using Mark Devries’s Sustainable Youth Ministry. I’ve posted in more detail about the study guide here. Click here (PDF) or on the image above for a sample of the study guide.
I guest post on Robbie Pruitt’s blog about “null curriculum”
See it here. Not a full book review, but I share some food for thought from a book I’m reading for a class. Robbie Pruitt is an amazing youth minister, teacher, poet, reader, writer, and friend. Check out his blog, My Two Mites, here.
Verses of Scripture to Pray for Youth
I’m convinced that one of the best things youth ministers can do is to pray for their youth. In fact, in my 10 years of church-based youth ministry, when people asked me how they could help the youth ministry, the first answer I always gave was: please pray for our young people. God has given … Continue reading
Sustainable Youth Ministry: The Study Guide
Probably the best youth ministry book I’ve read is Sustainable Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries. I liked it so much that I created a study guide to help youth ministers and other church leaders take teams of people through the book. The ideas Mark presents on how to build a sustainable youth ministry have the potential … Continue reading
