The following is a list of warning signs that a student may be getting bullied.  Please make a copy, edit it, be creative, add artwork or whatever, but place it publicly where your students can see it.  Consider making a copy and editing it for your parent’s newsletter/email. – Shows an abrupt lack of interest…

I am horrible at directions.  You know the old joke, “She couldn’t find her way out of a paper bag?”  Yep, that’s me.  My husband, on the other hand, can go somewhere ONCE in HIS WHOLE life and find his way  back to the exact location without looking at a map.   I can know you…

“Don’t judge a book by its cover book.” This amazing curriculum is written for both leaders and their students. “Talks Your Dad Never Had With You” by Dr. Harold Davis. It walks through topics that are at the core of growing a student. Everything from how to follow Christ, to life skills, to avoiding joining…

Each of us have at least one of “these” students in our youth program.  The one who shows up a little hungry,  a little tattered and a lot proud.  We pull them aside to “talk,”  and assess the need.  How can we help?  The more we probe, the tighter lipped they seem to become.  Do…

Red Brook Baptist church sits right outside of Atlanta, and resembles many churches across the American landscape. The church hit its peak back in the 1970’s, according to its Chairmen of the Deacons. In 1970 they were running well above 3,000 in worship and in student ministry attendance running 400 or more. They were also…

The reality is that many times in the urban context we are looking for materials that are “easily translatable.” So many times it feels like curriculum for youth may be written from either a “churched” perspective (assuming that there is a Biblical Foundation for our students) or from what feel like a world view that…

Ministry workers spend a lot of time reaching out to people they are called to serve — through mercy ministries, bible studies, teaching, youth groups, church service and the like.  We all enjoy seeing the fruit of our labor and feel fulfilled when people are drawn to Christ through our work.  But sometimes in our…

Her eyes were low and her countenance nervous. Tones were hushed as she pulled me aside to talk. “Today, remember when we were talking about our family? I live with my Grandma. She loves me and all. But, I wanted to tell you that I have been abandoned.” No tears…simply resolve, as this gorgeous 15-year-old…

Reach somewhere into the back of your throat and make a coughing sound. Add this sound to “AZOWN,” and you have the Hebrew word for dream, vision or revelation. If you are anything like me you look at this funny title, add the “ch” sound to the front of the word and think it might…

The faith of teenagers is a picture of contrasts. Teenagers are consistently among the most religiously active Americans, with nearly six out of every 10 teens engaged in some type of group spiritual activity in a typical week. Yet, the spirituality of teenagers is also remarkably diverse and fluid. A new research study from the Barna Group…