The great guys at youthministry360 gave us the first heads up on the latest study from the Barna Group: How Teenagers’ Faith Practices are Changing. It’s well worth the read if you have the time. The researchers spotlighted a disturbing trend.  They concluded that teenagers’ faith is declining, but the spiritual losses have escaped the notice of youth workers and church leaders.  Church/youth group attendance is great–about 60 percent of all teens are engaged in some type of “group spiritual activity” each week. So on the surface, everything’s...

“Golf is a good walk spoiled.” – Mark Twain I play golf. Not well, but I play. It’s a great chance for me to get some exercise, connect with the people (usually guys) I’m playing with, and spend some quiet time reprioritizing. I’ve played since middle school and actually used to hit the links a few times a year with my youth pastor while I was in high school. Usually, we’d walk down the fairways together or ride in a cart on the really hot days. We chatted about youth group, my looming college decision, sports, music, whatever came up. I don’t...

I’m in my late 20s, independent, and haven’t lived with my parents for more than a decade. Yet I still want approval from Mom and Dad. I talk to them before every major life decision: moving, job offers, and yup — marriage proposal. They are the two people who have had the most impact on my life by far. Their love, guidance, and character (even their mistakes) have made me the guy I am today. ( <— That’s Mom on the left.) Our job is to work with youth and help them grow in their faith. Those who are full-time devote their careers to that goal. But when it comes...

As a leading voice in the youth ministry world for years, we’re thrilled to have Mark Oestreicher take some time to answer our questions on discipleship and teens. In this Q&A session, Marko lays out his thoughts on the evolution of teenagers and youth ministry, shares the best piece of discipleship advice he ever received, and discusses the value of missions in youth ministry. Q: What has changed about the way youth workers (yourself and in general) disciple students over your career in youth ministry? There’s been a healthy shift away from a one-size-fits-all mentality.  We...

In his yet-to-be published book, Scandalous Discipleship: A Disciple-Making Primer, Seth Barnes writes about our use of time and what we give precedence in our daily lives: The urgent often masquerades as the important. The tasks of the day are often urgent.  But if we call Jesus Lord, we must affirm daily – by our choices of how to spend time and energy – that discipling others is what is truly important.  It is his mandate to us and our identity must be measured against his last words, to “go and make disciples”. Our commitments must allow time for relationships....

God calls us to live lives of passion, just as Jesus did. He was passionate about righteous living, specific individuals (usually on the fringe of society), and about saving the lost. Seth Barnes, founder of Adventures In Missions, regularly makes the argument that mission trips stimulate, encourage, and grow passionate behavior. Here are the seven ways he says mission trips arouse passion in youth (and leaders, too). 1. Mission trips are themselves bold, passionate acts  They defy spiritual gravity. There is nothing in us that naturally would cause us to want to raise money so that...