Blog
Nothing Like Thank You from a Former Student
This morning I had a pleasant surprise when my FaceBook newsfeed included this Note from a former student. Community Pledge I remember being 15 years old when I first recited this pledge to the instructors at Xcel. Today, this community pledge still remains part of the foundation of who I am and the values I strive…
Read MoreStart With “Why?” Before “How Do I?”
Maina Mwaura serves as the Student Pastor at Greenforest Community Baptist Church in Decatur, GA. He is a graduate of Liberty University and New Orleans Baptist Theological seminary. When Maina is not hanging out with his students you can find him spending time with his wife Tiffiney. It seems like there is a manual for…
Read MoreWebinar Sept 27: Larry Acosta / Leading Beyond Fumes
Our new premium resources program, THE WELL has launched, and we’re kicking it off with a live webinar with Larry Acosta. Leading Beyond Fumes: You – Better, Healthier, Stronger Tue, Sept 27, 2011. 11am Pacific / 2pm Eastern Why do I feel so overwhelmed, depleted and ineffective at balancing family, life and ministry? Your…
Read MoreHow to View the Urban Culture – Part 2
by Maina Mwaura This is Part 2 of a series started here. According to George Barna’s latest book Futurecast, there are three types of people when it comes to the future: those who will watch what happens, those who will make it happen, and those who will wonder what happened. Which will you be? I…
Read MoreUYWI Remembers 9/11: A Place of Hope at Ground Zero
As our nation revisits the horrors and hope of September 11 during this tenth anniversary week, UYWI joins our friends in New York City, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC, in remembering a God who’s present with us in our suffering. The video below is of Jeremy Del Rio at the 2005 UYWI National Conference, reflecting on…
Read MoreThe Culture Around Us – Part 1
Maina Mwaura is from the great state of Georgia. He serves as the student pastor at Greenforest Community Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga. When Maina is not hanging out with his students you can find him spending time with his wife Tiffiney. Maina is a graduate of Liberty University and New Orleans Baptist Theological seminary.…
Read More3 Keys to Reaching Urban Teens with the Gospel
By Greg Stier, President & CEO of Dare 2 Share Ministries I don’t come from a suburban, church going, Bible reading, hymn singing family. I come from an urban family filled with body building, beer drinking, tobacco chewing thugs (and that’s just the women!) Seriously, it was a tough family growing up. The local mafia…
Read MoreLeading In Isolation
When I reflect on various settings I’ve experienced, there are so many moments when the leader shows up alone. As a little boy, no matter the type of support, Mom showed up; as a student in the classroom, the teacher showed up; as a player on the team, the coach showed up; and even as…
Read MoreThe Lost Art of the Thank You…
Some days life can seem so… thankless. We wake up, do what we do, and then we crash into bed. It can feel like the never ending cycle of simply meeting the needs of those around us. This is especially true of working with youth. Add the reality of ministering to kids who come from…
Read MoreYouth and Pain
Everyone experiences pain, be it emotional, physical, spiritual or mental pain. We Recent events have shown how detrimental unresolved pain can be, especially the emotional pain caused by bullying and other forms of abuse, both in and outside the home. Pain can lead to suicide, homicide, or have other long-term detrimental affects on further development…
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