Soul Journaling: The Art of Capturing Time

Nearly 15 years ago, I plunged into the world of youth ministry with great boundaries, strong spiritual disciplines, and a desire to pour into others. I was living the dream of implementing all that I had learn...

Youth Group Devo: Destressified

The BackdropMaybe you've seen the results of a recent survey by the American Psychological Association on stress. The survey's sweeping conclusion: Teens are more stressed than adults. On a 10-point scale,...

The Crying Game: Learning to Grieve

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matt. 5:4).Some years ago, I encountered a widow who refused to grieve her husband's death. It wasn't that this woman didn't love her husband, but she...

Youth Culture Update: iBaby

Two-year-olds can't do much. They can't walk that well. They can't tie their shoes. The potty is, for many of them, still a mysterious and frightening whooshing machine. Yet they're right at home with Mommy and...

Statue, Elephant, Mummy

This game, played the same way as "Rock, Paper, Scissors" in concept, can be played with a large group. One person serves as leader for each round and stands in front of the group. On the count of three, each p...

Out of a Clear Blue Sky

Do you remember the color of the sky behind the burning and smoking twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001? What began as a normal and beautiful day, gorgeous and cloudless blue September skies, changed forever once the...