Evelyn Rodriguez was the outspoken mother of a daughter killed by alleged MS-13 gang members
Book: she 'broke free' of Evangelical 'purity' movement
“I want to draw attention to the dangers of sexual shaming and purity teachings.”
Seniors Sport Costumes For Hilarious ID Photos
Dressing up as famous cinematic characters and celebrities for their student ID photos, in a series of images that have since gone viral online.
Teens Are Over Face-To-Face Communication
Teens now say their favorite mode of communication is texting (35%), surpassing face-to-face communication (32%).
FDA Gets Tough On Juul, Other E-Cigarette Makers
Calling the use of electronic cigarettes a burgeoning epidemic among teens, the U.S Food and Drug Administration announced a crackdown on the sale of Juuls and other flavored e-cigarette devices to minors.
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 much fruit to having such a connection with Christ. Take a moment and consider your connection with Christ…how much fruit is your life bearing?
Upon further reflection in John 15:1-11 it is easy to see some of…
Where Do Millennials And Gen Z Want To Work
23,000 Millennial and Gen Z workers listed their dream employers and there’s 1 key difference
Lil Wayne Tried To Commit Suicide At 12-Years-Old
In a new cover story with Billboard, Weezy talks more about the forthcoming album
Video Game Loss Caused Boy To Commit Suicide
Boy, 15, beheaded himself with chainsaw after losing computer game
Why Americans Go (And Don’t Go) To Religious Services
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. Don’t be lazy or slack in your training; for your everyday life is full of opportunities to not only learn but serve. It’s easy to think that just because we are not “at church” that what…
Movie: ‘Eighth Grade’ And The Horror Of Being Unknown
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 Their Data
How Game Apps That Captivate Kids Have Been Collecting Their Data
How To Talk To Teens About Online Predators
Use this script to kick off a conversation with your kid
Internet Safety: Should I Spy On My Kids?
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's Google Activity
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 Life
Teens with low social emotional well being experience more of the negative effects of social media and kids with high social emotional well-being
In Teen Friendships, Misery Does Love Company
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 School
Lastly, look to the church for friendships. Sometimes, we think that with entering school, that’s where we need to find all of our friends
How To Engage Culture With Your Kids”
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 Preaching Shifts
In the past, people brought themselves to the message. Today, you bring the message to people
Flashback: 7 Disruptive Church Trends That Will Rule 2018
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 share
Can Your Soul Really Survive Social Media?
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 the church who humbly offers resources and care
Why I Wouldn't Go To Your Parent Meeting
Remember, if you want parents involved in your ministry, focus on their needs. Make parent meetings about the parents
8 Steps To Planning A Good Parent Meeting
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 a special trip
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 This School Year
5 surprisingly simple ways to have a great big spiritual impact on your teens this school year
Flashback: 3 Reminders For Our College Bound Kids
By God’s grace, knowing the true condition of their hearts and the reality of the world around them will help point them live in greater dependence on Jesus.
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 pushed aside or even forgotten that our primary calling as Christian parents is not to serve our kids, but to serve our Lord by making the spiritual nurture of our kids our first priority.
5 Books Every Youth Worker Should Read
I REALLY believe they will be a help to every Youth Pastor and Youth Worker.
5 Forgotten Skills Kids Should Learn From Grandparents
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 they spend too much time on their cellphones
Teens Too Busy Texting And Online To Read Books
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 And Smartphones
Feelings of pressure to respond immediately to notifications, to a sense of being overwhelmed by the flow of messages and information they receive.
Transition From Children’s Ministry To Youth Group
Make sure the rising tweens have seen your face, know your name, and know details about your youth ministry
4 Ways To Keep Up With Student Culture
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 Before They Believe
In this episode, Eric Bryant, author of Not Like Me, talks about how we can help kids and students belong before they believe
5 Fall Events Student Ministries Can Do
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 community of faith
When Youth Pastors Leave Too Often
Many times Youth Pastors leave too often. The damage left behind as a result can be devastating
20 Youth Pastor Expectations On Day 1
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 Ministry
3 Reasons You Should Stay in Your Current Youth Ministry Position
"The Rock" Sends Video To Teen Who Lost His Mom
The other driver who was also killed. Was a YouTube star known online by his nickname, McSkillet.
How Do You Read the Bible? Infographic
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 … Now What?
A step-by-step plan for getting the most out of your parental controls, from installation to the day your kids can reliably manage themselves.
Helping Relieve The Stress Of Back To School For Students
So how can we help relieve the (back to school) stress students and families might be experiencing?
Back To School Prep For Youth Workers
Here is a quick look at some of the things that you should consider as you get ready to start your fall programming and ministry.
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 fall
Belong: Parents’ Religious Beliefs Affects Kids’ Suicide Risk
Teens, especially girls, whose parents are religious may be less likely to die by suicide, no matter how they feel about religion themselves
Beloit College Mindset List For The Class Of 2022
For this year’s entering college class of 2022, human beings have…
Dickies Are On Top of the World....Again
How the brand worn by generations of construction workers, coal miners, soldiers, and skaters became the coolest pants you can own
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 creates
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 Special Needs Kids
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 pews as well.
VMAs: Ariana Grande 'The Last Supper' Performance
‘The Last Supper’ For Epic Performance Of ‘God Is a Woman’
Flashback Study: Don’t Forget The Families
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
Flashback: Working With Parents In Your Youth Ministry
Parents have the strongest influence over a child all through all aspects and seasons of a child’s life, including adolescence
Even Walt Failed
As we create environments and experiences for students, may we hold to the truth that we’re never done
The Storms Of Teenage Social Media Never Ends It's 24/7
A moment of peace takes intentionality-something teenagers often lack.
More than 70 people overdose on K2
‘It is taking people out’: More than 70 people overdose on K2 in a single day in New Haven
Prosecutor: Priests 'Weaponized' The Taith To Abuse Kids
“Predators in every diocese weaponized the Catholic faith and used it as a tool of their abuse,”
Teen Found Safe 5 Years After Disappearing
The teen’s mother, Pam Massimiani, said last month that she had recently received a letter and, based on the contents
11 Books Every Christian In College Should Read
Outside of the Bible, of course, below are the eleven books every Christian in college should read (and why)
Back-to-School Shopping More Expensive This Year
According to a recent survey by RetailMeNot, parents are planning to spend more money for this year’s back-to-school shopping necessities compared to spending in 2017.
Apps Stirring Up Trouble In Schools
This year’s hottest social media can fill the school day with drama and distraction
Relational Capacity And Ministry Burnout
5 Practices that Cultivate Relational Health and Longevity in Ministry
The Newest On Teens, Social Media & Technology
Only 31% of young people said social media had “a mostly positive effect” on people their age