We've all been there at one time or another. The scenario might go something like this:Waking up late, we remember we're supposed to meet a friend for coffee. So we pick something up off the floor, cover our "b...

For 25 years, YouthWorker Journal has promoted professionalism in youth ministry. To find out how things are progressing, we spoke with four pros.Mark DeVries is founder of Youth Ministry Architects, a consulti...

If you Google the words "define professional" you'll get nearly 30 million matches. So much for finding a definitive meaning!Youth workers have mixed reactions to the concept of professionalism. For some, it's ...

I believe God is raising up a new generation of innovators and risk takers who are creating important new expressions of church, community and mission. These young leaders demonstrate a remarkable level of imag...

For three years, my wife and I have been fighting her recurrent breast cancer. We have a funny moment every October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month. We catch each other's eye and say: "We're aware�...

During my first week on the job as youth pastor, an associate pastor on staff told me his theory on teenagers. He said they're like children in adult bodies. I hadn't worked with them long enough to know exactl...

Do you ever get tired of that comatose-like state your junior highers slip into as soon as you start your lesson time? We thought so, which is why we created these active Bible studies. Each lesson is based on ...

From A Beautiful Mess:People are increasingly disconnected from the pain of life and the patience and hard work it takes to just sit in the dirt. We don't understand the joy at seeing the tiniest speck of gre...

Make Their Day: 101 Simple to Supreme Affirmations for TeensPatty SmithGroup, 2009, 16 pp., $12.99group.comThere is no doubt that many students today are starved for attention and affirmation. What if we ...

In September 2009, more people used debit cards than credit cards, which are popular with young people; but hidden monthly fees make some debit cards a bad deal.Ten years ago, few people used debit cards. Now, ...