Wrap It Up
For this game you will need various-sized empty cardboard boxes, wrapping paper, scissors and tape. Divide the group into two teams for this relay-style game.Give each team a small-, medium- and large-size...
Some Advice Before You Hire
Have you ever wondered why a church would hire you? If you have served in a paid capacity in the church, you may have felt this way at some point. I can say that on more than one occasion I have asked...
Pop Icons: How the Beatles Changed Music and the World (1960s)
It's impossible to give an account of Western life in the 1960s without somewhere referencing the Beatles. Not only were they the most popular group of the decade with their music permeating every area of life,...
I Think I’m Gay: The Deeper Meaning Behind Same-Sex Attraction
"I think I might be gay."
After 20 years in youth and college ministry, these words don't surprise me anymore. I believe that today, few teens go from childhood to adulthood without questioning their sexual...
From Guilt to Growth: Helping Students Develop a Godly Sexual Identity
When you ask young people to describe how a Christian looks, they probably will describe a nice, caring individual who helps others and talks about Jesus—in short, their grandmas.If you were to ask those ...
Exploration and Commitment: Helping Youth Develop a Spiritual Identity
The average person encounters more than 60,000 words of new information every day. That's about the length of a novel, says Businessweek. The depth and breadth of information available, especially through the I...
The Search for Identity: Understanding and Applying Theories on Identity and Faith Development
I can still see the faces of the youth who got away. Their faces are different, but after 13 years of youth ministry in four different churches, their stories sound the same. There was Jonathan*, who grew up in...
Who Am I? The YWJ Roundtable on Identity
"Who am I?" is one of the most basic and difficult questions humans must answer. Dozens of factors influence how we answer this question, and our answers impact every aspect of our lives, including faith, vocat...
Stirring It Up: From Activities to Identity: Helping Students See Who They Are in Christ
When asked to describe themselves, students typically tell you what they do."I'm an athlete.""I'm editor-in-chief of the yearbook.""I'm a straight-A student."The problem is when students define who they are bas...
Tufts University’s InterVarsity Group Loses Official Status
In the most recent chapter in a developing saga, the student leadership of Tufts University revoked IVCF's status as an officially recognized student organization due to a conflict regarding sexuality issues. M...