Well, vacation is over. After not taking one in so long, I’m so glad my family and I got away from church, work and responsibility for a little while. For those wondering, we saved up money to go to Disney World this year. It was my four-year-old daughter’s first time […]
Christian Leadership , Ministry , Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
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Time for some R and R
Forgive me Father for I have sinned. This is not a confession, but more of an admission. I guess really, it’s an omission. You see, for the past nine years, I have omitted to take a vacation. At least, not in the traditional sense. When I was part-time, we spent […]
Christian Leadership , Ministry , Resources , Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
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Honoring YOUR Graduates
Ah, graduation recognition Sunday. That’s the day I honor a bunch of students I have never met. What? Yes, if your church is like most of the ones I’ve served in the past, graduate recognition Sunday brings students out of the woodwork. So often I’m handing a Bible and/or a […]
Christian Leadership , Ministry , Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
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The One-Year Rule
A few years ago, I faced a dilemma. Debbie, one of my graduating seniors, wanted to stick around in the fall and help out with our youth program. She had no plans to attend college and desired to stay involved in a program that meant so much to her teenage […]
Christian Leadership , Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
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Flat tires and flexible schedules
It’s 6:30 in the morning and my cell phone is ringing. As a youth pastor, that’s usually not a good sign. “Hello,” I answer. “You’re never going to believe this, but I’m on the side of the interstate,” my wife replies. “I blew a tire.” I told you it usually […]
Christian Leadership , Ministry , Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
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Dress for success
I am not your typical youth pastor. For one, I detest coffee. I don’t touch the stuff. I also don’t dress like the “typical” youth minister does. I hate flip flops. I’ve never worn them, and I don’t plan on it. My jeans have no holes. I’ve also never worn […]
Ministry , Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
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You need time boundaries in ministry
I had just sat down to a dinner out with my family. We had only been in the community a couple of months as I started my new ministry at the church. Between hosting families for dinners, youth events and ball games, a night out was rare for my family. […]
Ministry , Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
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Ministry at a moment’s notice
It was 4 a.m. when my cell phone rang one morning. Sheepishly, I picked up the phone and answered it. “Hello,” I groggily replied. “Wayne, they’ve taken my dad away. He wasn’t breathing. I’m so scared.” I immediately shot out of bed. I found out he was on his way […]
Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
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Contextualizing Tragedy
This post may just be cathartic. I’m a writer. When I’m upset, aggravated, frustrated or out of answers, I write. It’s what I do. It’s how I best communicate with the world and with Jesus. So these words may just be a therapeutic discussion among rural youth ministers. If so, […]
Christian Leadership , Ministry , Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
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You are an expert
In my first ministry, I had the dreaded conversation many youth ministers fear. As I was gently talking to a parent about their child’s behavior, the father placed his hand on my shoulder and said, “You don’t even have kids. Just wait until you have teenagers, and then you’ll understand.” […]
Christian Leadership , Ministry , Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
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Take Advange of Light Weeks
If your office is like mine, it stays perpetually busy (a polite way of saying messy). I always have stacks of papers, books, folders and mail that I will get to later. It’s stuff I intend to work on, but it’s never a pressing issue at the time. It could […]
Christian Leadership , Ministry , Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
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There Are Slow Periods in Ministry
Ah, Spring Break. This week is different than most weeks. With no school in session, many of my normal youth ministry activities are cancelled for the week. There are no ball games to watch, no school functions to attend and even my weekly youth minister’s breakfast is off this week. […]