I Don’t Feel God: What to Do When the Emotion Is Missing
Recently at the gym, I started talking with a college student. We fell into some theological dialogue, and soon I could tell that his pressing concern was rising to the surface: "Honestly, I don't feel God," he shared.
12 Ways for Your Church to Stay Connected With High School Graduates and College...
Churches too often lose touch with the students they helped raise when they go away to school; here's how to avoid that.
My Youth Ministry Summer Bucket List for Teens
Summer is here, and that means youth ministers have all the time in the world. (Ha!) Although my summers are crazy busy, I love these month. That's why I created a summer bucket list for teens.
There’s Help for Overcoming Teenage Porn Addiction
Despite the damage that porn addiction causes, church workers are often unwilling and/or afraid to talk openly about it. This is especially true regarding teenage porn addiction.
How to Preach to Youth Effectively
It's challenging for a youth minister to preach to teenagers, but doing so is also extremely rewarding. Here are seven tips for how to preach to teens effectively.
Christian Leadership Podcasts Geared Toward Church Workers
Podcasts and their audiences continue to grow rapidly. Christian leadership podcasts are ideal for helping church workers develop, grow and serve their congregations.
Gen Z Lost Touch With Faith Communities During Pandemic But Kept the Faith, Says...
Researchers are warning faith communities, religious leaders, teachers and parents there isn’t going to be a simple “back to normal” approach for young people after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tips and Timelines for Making the Transition From Children’s Ministry to Youth Ministry
When preteens are ready to move from kidmin to youth group, it’s helpful to have a plan in place. Begin the transition from children’s ministry to youth ministry about three months out and focus on events and activities that celebrate the kids.
Youth Discipleship: 5 Essential Reminders for Your Ministry Team
Here’s a few things I’ve challenged our team to keep in mind when discipling.
Summer Outreach Ideas: 8 Ways to Reach Teenagers
Summer's sweet, lazy days are around the corner. But summer is also an ideal time to focus on evangelism. Summer outreach ideas are effective and also loads of fun.
7 Top Christian Movies to Watch and Discuss With Teens
During the past few years, Christian movies have been exploding onto the big screen. Fans of Christian movies have more to watch, more to think about, and more opportunities to deepen our relationship with God.
7 Tips for Youth Small Group Success
Leading a youth small group can be tough! Whether you’re a full-time, part-time or volunteer youth worker, you’ve certainly experienced difficulties in a youth small group.
7 Best Practices From the Best Student Ministries
I have the privilege of working alongside many student ministries across the country. This allows me to learn from the best youth pastors on the planet. The great thing is, I get access to observe what the most impactful student ministries are doing.
Why Purity Rings Don’t Work (and How to Fix That)
Most Christian youth curriculum about sexuality includes some type of purity pledge, often including purity rings. Because this focus has been so widespread for so long, we have ample material for a scientific study on its effectiveness.
10 Christian Journal Prompts to Use During Your Devotional Time
Journaling is probably the most impactful part of my quiet times. I pray throughout my day, but my morning journaling gives me a way to stay more focused, dive a little deeper, and intentionally seek the Lord in my daily life. And using Christian journal prompts is a huge help.
Essential Advice on How to Write a Bible Study
When teenagers get lost or bored during a youth Bible study, it defeats the whole point. If you're wondering how to write a Bible study that's meaningful and keeps young people engaged and interested, you've come to the right place.
What We All Need: A New Kind of Biblical Hero
I think I have a new biblical hero. I just wish I knew his name. He appears in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. He’s the leper whom Jesus touched. And I want to be like him.
7 Examples of Bad Friends Who Are Sure to Ruin Your Life
When it comes to sharing examples of bad friends, I always point to a night I remember so clearly. I was driving down a dark, narrow two-lane road with the gas pedal to the floor. Intoxicated. It was the night my life hit rock bottom.
Teenagers and God: Where Kids Fit
In life's grand equation, teenagers and God are connected in profound ways. That's because the most fundamental question young people in your community will ever wrestle with is “Why am I here?”
What Is Youth Ministry?: A Clear Biblical Community Definition
Scripture attests over and over again that the Christian life isn't meant to be lived or cultivated in solitude. In fact, “incubator for discipleship” is the biblical community definition.
Latest News
‘One of the Greatest Honors’—President Biden Makes Juneteenth a National Holiday
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have signed a bill into law that makes Juneteenth a national holiday.
New Podcasts
Best of ChurchLeaders: Tim Mackie and Jon Collins on Why It’s...
BibleProject's Tim Mackie and Jon Collins say it's not surprising if people find the Bible hard to understand. "Most people," says Tim, "aren’t in the habit of reading ancient texts from across the planet from thousands of years ago, and that’s what the Bible is."
Youth Leaders
Today’s youth leaders face daunting cultural and leadership challenges. More than ever, youth pastors need leadership resources and pastoral resources to enable them to advance the gospel of Jesus in these challenging times for young people. ChurchLeaders.com is dedicated to providing resources and information for every youth pastor. If you serve on a church staff as senior high leader, student minister, next gen leader, junior high minister, or any other pastoral role, you’ll find must-have pastoral resources and connections to a community of youth leaders for greater Kingdom impact worldwide.
Youth leaders from every denomination find ideas, encouragement, inspiration, teaching tips, and support they are looking for here at ChurchLeaders.com. Join millions of youth ministry leaders who look to us for resources and encouragement for youth ministry leadership.
Leading your youth ministry is not only about teaching and building relationships, but it is also about your relationship with Jesus. You will also find inspiration, encouragement, and help to keep your relationship with God strong and vibrant.