“Can I talk to you in private?” is a question that always gets my mind racing. At first I wonder if everything is ok, or if I did something wrong, but my mind usually ends up in the same place. Whether a ...

Why do our youth group students so often abandon the church as young adults? When The Barna Group asked young church dropouts why they left, one frequent answer was that "young Christians' church experiences re...

The little boy kept looking behind him as he walked into the library. Although he'd been dropped off at the library at night, he walked confidently until he realized someone else was going into the library righ...

Last week I overheard another youth worker sharing his frustration about students constantly prioritizing their sports commitments over youth ministry events. I could relate. I have often found myself frustra...

  Should youth ministers consider themselves teachers?  The short answer is 'Yes'.  Spiritual Education is exactly that – education.  I have yet to meet a youth worker in which some form of spiritu...

What do we do with the stuff we don't want to do? Everyone—whether grade school student, college student, first-time mom, mailman, telemarketer, professional athlete, CEO or youth pastor—from time to time ...

This game only requires space, and no equipment or prep is necessary. Begin by inviting every person in the group to find a partner and form a two-person cell. Explain that you, as leader, will clap your hands...

John was the first to arrive for the lock-in. I asked how he was, and he said he was fine. However, I could tell he wasn't OK. In the previous couple of weeks, he had received some very painful news re...

Chloe* was one of the pillars of youth group USA; the kind of girl who draws you in and makes you actually glad to work more hours for less pay than 99 percent of your co-workers. Chloe rarely missed Wednes...

Grab a couple of six foot tables and set them up length ways (this will be your "net") and have teams of 3 or four. The kids are only allowed to hit the balloon with their heads. Typical Volleyball rules apply,...