There are sometimes that a full laptop is not really needed, but you need a little more than maybe a tablet can offer…. That is the niche that Google shoots for with their “ChromeBook” products. I have watched the technology and how they have improved the products and marketing for […]
About that word “No”…
My wife has lost 75 pounds. I’m very proud of her. Her journey has required time, sweat and sacrifice. It’s not easy to shed pounds. It takes carefully planning out meals and calories. I was reminded of that this weekend when we attended a child’s birthday party. Inside the house […]
Owning the Numbers Debate
I remember my first youth ministry evaluation. I sat there nervously as the personnel committee reviewed my self-analysis. Overall, they had positive things to say. Then came the question all youth ministers fear: “How’s your numbers?” My stomach sank. Sweat filled my palms. I looked at the chairman and swallowed […]
RYM Video Podcast:”Adopt A Neighborhood” Video…
While this is not an “official” episode of the The RYM Video Podcast, It’s a topic we will be going into soon… I have been asked for a little more information on the “Adopt A Neighborhood” project our student ministry is doing this year. Here is the video I shot. […]
Parent Ministry in a Rural Setting Pt #1…
This guest post is from Kevin Patterson. Kevin is the Youth Pastor at FBC Dawson Springs, Kentucky. He blogs at Life in The Youth Ministry Fishbowl One of my passions is Parent Ministry. I believe that parents of students shouldn’t be treated like the enemy, like a leper, or like something […]
Enjoy Labor Day
It’s Labor Day weekend. As a rural youth pastor, I enjoy this weekend perhaps more than any other. The summer, and all the busyness of camps, mission trips, and VBS, is over. Students are back in school, so your routine is returning to normal. Home is a place you get […]
Dealing with isolation
Recently, my brother, a city boy most of his life, moved in with my family out “in the country.” For the past 12 years of my life, I’ve lived and worked in rural environments. So, it’s been amazing to see rural life through the eyes of an urban dweller. Culture […]
Acceptance…
The following is from an upcoming resource at MinistryPlace.net called Letters to a Teenager. As I was writing this, I strongly felt that this was something that youth leaders need to hear right now, as students start their school year. If you have a resource or idea to share with […]
Not Invincible….
While in Denver for Lead the Cause University, We used our free time and went hiking at Red Rocks Ampitheatre and Park just west of Denver. I had an experience there I will not soon forget. Our group chose to take a trail called the “traders point loop”, a […]
Youth Ministry tech: The Kindle Fire
I wanted to try something a little different. Since this is a tech site and a ministry site, I thought I’d delve into the tech side for a post. Now, I’ve established in earlier posts that I’m not your typical trendy youth pastor. As such, I do not own an […]
Pilot Project: Adopt a Neighborhood…
This school year, our students have decided to try something new. They are adopting a neighborhood to “Gospelize”. This is a “multiple-touch” evangelism project that is designed around building relationships in the community. We will be doing multiple service project days, where we serve the people of the neighborhood for […]
Ground Your Ministry in God’s Word
Every work day starts the same for me. I get into the office, shut my door, grab my Bible and read. I used to struggle with that. I thought Bible and prayer time should be spent at home and I should be “working” while I was in the office. I […]