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You’re So Creative!!!
Albert Einstein once said: “Our imagination is our preview of coming attractions.” Creativity. Some say you either have it or you don’t. I am convinced that you have it. The gift of creativity is not the possession of a few people. The ability to be creative belongs to everyone, including you. Proverbs 8:12 says, “I…
Read MoreEnough – Part 1
This is Part 1 of a 3-Part Series by Maina Mwaura Recently, my niece Maiya and I went to her favorite store, The American Doll Store. Maiya is a huge fan of this store and likes everything, which is always a problem when you live on a youth pastors salary. I promised Maiya that she…
Read MoreFollow the Leader: Recruiting the Best Leadership for Your Youth Ministry
“He who thinks he’s a leader and has no one following is only taking a walk.” John Maxwell For many years, this quote has been a benchmark for me as a leader. I have learned that leadership is not based on a title or denomination. Simply put, leadership is the ability to inspire others to…
Read MoreFive Ways to Appreciate Schools this Thanksgiving
It’s so easy to get caught up in busyness. Overcommitted, highly passionate youth workers fall into this trap everyday. Considering cluttered calendars, cause the calendar to work for you this month. In ten days, you’ll likely gather with those you love most to overeat and be merry. But the occasion isn’t really about feasting, football,…
Read MoreStarting a Movement: Influencing Students – Part 3
This is part 3 in a series from Maina Mwaura. Read Part 1 and Part 2 here. When Jesus approached the 12 disciples in John chapter 1, many of them probably had no idea that they would be following God’s son. I think the same should be true for the students that you and I get…
Read MoreTo Develop a Movement, Start With Yourself – Part 2
This is Part 2 of 3 in a series by Maina Mwaura. Read Part 1 here. Sometimes the hardest movement to start and lead is the movement within us. It has been very well quoted that you can’t lead people where you haven’t been. As we begin our time together, how are you at leading…
Read MoreDeal with Me: Reaching Unchurched Teenagers
At 14, growing up in the inner city of Houston, TX, I was labeled as a troubled teenager. That all changed when a local church began to come to my apartment complex. They understood what most troubled teens like me needed – personal attention. That’s exactly what they gave me. I will never forget the…
Read MoreYouth Proclaim that God Occupies Wall Street Too
On Saturday, October 29, 2,000+ young people will prayer walk the streets of Manhattan with t-shirts that proclaim: “God Belongs in My City.” At the same time, thousands of other young people will be entering their seventh week encamped at Liberty Square in Manhattan’s Financial District under the banner Occupy Wall Street. Their cry for economic…
Read MoreAre you an indispensable youth worker?
Seth Godin is one of those provocateurs that youth workers should read. His blog is the most widely read business blog for a reason, mostly because it rejects the impulse to preserve the status quo. He operates under the assumption that everyone is — or at least can be — a leader, artist, marketer, and…
Read MoreStart and Develop A Movement, Not a Youth Ministry – Part 1
This is part 1 of 3 in a series from Maina Mwaura. John 1:38: Jesus looked around and saw them following, “What do you want?” he asked them. Usually when one thinks of the term “movement” they probably think of some of the great movements in history: the Civil Rights Movement, Women’s Suffrage Movement…
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