Author Posts Archive
In defense of structure
My new youth ministry met for the first time last week
“Traditional vows don’t mention...
Geraldine used to tell us, “Don’t fight the feeling!” Well, perhaps there are times when we should.
New York Fashion Week Spring Trends...
Shop our fall picks from the best affordable fashion brands so you can get a head-start on the looks we love.
Navigating Screen Time And Device...
54% of U.S. teens say they spend too much time on their cellphones, and two-thirds of parents express concern over their teen’s…
How winning friends may influence...
While risky behaviors were examined in this study, McMillan said that friendship networks may also shape positive behaviors
college student mental health...
World Health Organization finds that one in three college students worldwide have a mental health condition
Value: Teens with religious...
Study: teens raised in a religious or spiritual environment may be less likely to do drugs and engage in risky sexual behaviors.
Sleep-deprived teen
Fifty-six percent of parents of teens who have sleep troubles believe the use of electronics is hurting their child’s shut-eye.
4 Reasons Every Church Needs Older...
Sometimes senior saints question their usefulness in the church as they age. ….they’re an essential part of the body of Christ
Blind High School Football Player...
Says he relies on instinct and guts — as well as his ears, to hear defenders coming
Raising Kids With Religion Protects...
Kids and teens who are raised with religious or spiritual practices tend to have better health and mental health as they age.
Divorce Is Hard Enough On Children
Why are our courts making it worse?
A Guide For Teachers On Helping...
This resource covers four key elements which drive a successful family-school relationship
Mother Of MS-13 Victim Killed At...
Evelyn Rodriguez was the outspoken mother of a daughter killed by alleged MS-13 gang members
Book: she ‘broke free’...
“I want to draw attention to the dangers of sexual shaming and purity teachings.”
Seniors Sport Costumes For...
Dressing up as famous cinematic characters and celebrities for their student ID photos, in a series of images that have since gone…
Teens Are Over Face-To-Face...
Teens now say their favorite mode of communication is texting (35%), surpassing face-to-face communication (32%).
FDA Gets Tough On Juul, Other E...
Calling the use of electronic cigarettes a burgeoning epidemic among teens, the U.S Food and Drug Administration announced a crackdown on the…
What’s Hot?
A weekly listing of hot cultural items from the Internet, music, television and movies
Family As A Picture Of The Gospel
Scariness that comes with being part of a family in a fallen world?
Generation Atheism?
How parents act on their religious beliefs linked to the onset of atheism in their children
Fruit Connection
Fruit Connection
George Lockhart
A Christian is meant to stay connected to Christ just as a branch is connected to the vine. There is…
Where Do Millennials And Gen Z...
23,000 Millennial and Gen Z workers listed their dream employers and there’s 1 key difference
Lil Wayne Tried To Commit Suicide...
In a new cover story with Billboard, Weezy talks more about the forthcoming album
Video Game Loss Caused Boy To ...
Boy, 15, beheaded himself with chainsaw after losing computer game
Why Americans Go (And Don’t Go)...
SECOND HIGHEST reason US adults attend church is because they want their children to have a moral foundation
Everyday Worship
Everyday Worship
By George Lockhart
God sees us all the time and everywhere we are is training ground for the work of The Lord….
Movie: ‘Eighth Grade’ And The...
For anyone seeking to understand and disciple today’s youth, Eighth Grade provides an insightful glimpse into their world
Kids Game Apps Have Been Collecting...
How Game Apps That Captivate Kids Have Been Collecting Their Data
How To Talk To Teens About Online...
Use this script to kick off a conversation with your kid
Internet Safety: Should I Spy On My...
but I’ve noticed these filters and monitoring software solutions also tend to build an “over-confidence” with parents who use them
Internet Safety: Manage Your Kid&...
Sign in to review and manage your activity, including things you’ve searched for, websites you’ve visited, and videos you’ve watched.
Infographic: Teens Social Media...
Teens with low social emotional well being experience more of the negative effects of social media and kids with high social emotional…
What’s Hot?
A weekly listing of hot cultural items from the Internet, music, television and movies
In Teen Friendships, Misery Does...
A new study finds teens with similar levels of anxiety and depression are more likely to remain friends.
Religious Folks And Happiness
New research suggests that people who are religious gain happiness from believing there is a deeper meaning to everyday events
Advice For Teens Starting High...
Lastly, look to the church for friendships. Sometimes, we think that with entering school, that’s where we need to find all of…
How To Engage Culture With Your...
When Jesus saw our earthly culture he neither rubber stamped nor kept his distance. He entered our culture to challenge it
Declining Attendance And 7...
In the past, people brought themselves to the message. Today, you bring the message to people
Flashback: 7 Disruptive Church...
Churches who only think Sunday and who only think building will continue to shrink.
When A Gay Girl Meets A Good God
Perry’s journey of faith isn’t your typical teenage coming-of-age story. Instead, hers is one that requires courage and conviction to speak and…
Can Your Soul Really Survive Social...
Those who fall repeatedly for self-evidently absurd concepts on the internet are looking for a place to belong, and that’s the price
Truly Partnering With Parents
Raising kids isn’t easy today. Most parents realize they can’t do it alone. And most will welcome help from caring people in…
Why I Wouldn’t Go To Your...
Remember, if you want parents involved in your ministry, focus on their needs. Make parent meetings about the parents
10 Must Haves For Your Parent...
Are you really taking advantage of your Parent Meetings?
8 Steps To Planning A Good Parent...
How do we connect, engage and release parents to be the primary disciplers of their teenagers
Parent Meeting Agenda
We typically do these short meetings after church in our youth area, which allows families to stay after church instead of making…
Keep Reading
Here are some great books to help you in your leadership development
Questions To Ask Yourself
How are you preparing yourself for the upcoming year? Take some time to ask questions of yourself
Spiritually Impacting Your Teens...
5 surprisingly simple ways to have a great big spiritual impact on your teens this school year
Flashback: 3 Reminders For Our...
By God’s grace, knowing the true condition of their hearts and the reality of the world around them will help point them…
Impacting Middle Schoolers Faith
3 Easy Ways to Impact a Middle Schooler’s Identity and Faith
Kickstarting Student Leadership
“When starting student leadership it’s important to get the right students and avoid the wrong ones.”
Helping Parents Prioritize Faith
If we’re not careful, the school year will come and go so fast that we might get to June and realize we’ve…
5 Books Every Youth Worker Should...
I REALLY believe they will be a help to every Youth Pastor and Youth Worker.
5 Forgotten Skills Kids Should...
With today’s technology overload, kids may benefit from embracing a few old ways
Navigating Screen Time
Amid roiling debates about the impact of screen time on teenagers, roughly half of those ages 13 to 17 are themselves worried…
Teens Too Busy Texting And Online...
One of every three American teens has not read a book just for the fun of it in a year
A Love-Hate Relationship Teenagers...
Feelings of pressure to respond immediately to notifications, to a sense of being overwhelmed by the flow of messages and information they…
Transition From Children’s...
Make sure the rising tweens have seen your face, know your name, and know details about your youth ministry
Before They Leave
Our youth ministry is not the students’ church for the rest of their lives
4 Ways To Keep Up With Student...
In other words, a teenager’s beliefs and values will be shaped by who or what they’re listening to
Helping Kids And Students Belong...
In this episode, Eric Bryant, author of Not Like Me, talks about how we can help kids and students belong before they…
5 Fall Events Student Ministries...
Not only engage the students you have but also reach new students and introduce them to what your ministry is all about
Teen Xanax Abuse Is Surging
Melissa started using Xanax when she was in high school. they’re seeing a surge among adolescents and young adults
Orange Tour: A Huge Gift To Parents
Orange Tour is a one-day event in 17 cities…Parent Cue Live is a two-hour experience help parents become more connected to your…
When Youth Pastors Leave Too Often
Many times Youth Pastors leave too often. The damage left behind as a result can be devastating
10 Slang Terms Teens Use That...
Why Do Students Invent and Use Different Terms?
20 Youth Pastor Expectations On Day...
Youth Pastors tend to burn out so quickly are the expectations that are present from day one
Why Youth Pastors Leave
Planning a lot of events and playing a lot of games is not the same as intentionally building relationships
Beyond The Honeymoon In Youth...
3 Reasons You Should Stay in Your Current Youth Ministry Position
“The Rock” Sends Video...
The other driver who was also killed. Was a YouTube star known online by his nickname, McSkillet.
How Do You Read the Bible? ...
We recently surveyed over 6,000 people to learn about Bible study habits. In some cases, the results were quite convicting
So You Got A Parental Control …...
A step-by-step plan for getting the most out of your parental controls, from installation to the day your kids can reliably manage…
Helping Relieve The Stress Of Back...
So how can we help relieve the (back to school) stress students and families might be experiencing?
Back To School Prep For Youth...
Here is a quick look at some of the things that you should consider as you get ready to start your fall…
Better Planning For A Better Fall
Here are a few enhancements that you can make to your planning that will help your group to do better in the…
Belong: Parents’ Religious...
Teens, especially girls, whose parents are religious may be less likely to die by suicide, no matter how they feel about religion…
Beloit College Mindset List For The...
For this year’s entering college class of 2022, human beings have…
Dickies Are On Top of the World&...
How the brand worn by generations of construction workers, coal miners, soldiers, and skaters became the coolest pants you can own
5 Ways To Follow Up After Camp
Use camp to push students to regular programming
Hope And Healing For Kids Who Cut
Learning to Understand and Help Those Who Self-Injure by Marv Penner
Youth Ministry On A Prayer
We will fail to teach with the kind of passion that comes when our own discovery of the riches of God’s Word…
Post Summer Camp Follow Up
Summer camp the most important things we think about but not only the camp itself, but what happens after the camp.
Leading A Special Needs Ministry
Special needs ministry is no longer a niche topic, but at the heart of serving communities
How To Embrace Families With...
In theory, everyone is welcome at church. In practice, that’s not always true for some children
Few Churches Are Autism Friendly
Children with autism are almost twice as likely to never attend church. And children with other disabilities are often missing from the…
VMAs: Ariana Grande ‘The Last...
‘The Last Supper’ For Epic Performance Of ‘God Is a Woman’
Flashback Study: Don’t Forget The...
Family Relationships are Key to Kids’ Character Strengths
Engaging Parents
The reality is that families wield influence over a child all through adolescence—in nearly every realm of their lives
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