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
Posted on:
#RuralYouthMinistry is out there….
Rural Youth Ministry is out there. It is on the “fringe” of what many are planning for and talking about in youth ministry today. It’s not glamourous. You are more likely to feed livestock than homeless people. The only time you get a lightshow during worship is when Fred plugs […]
Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
Posted on:
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, […]
Ministry , Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
Posted on:
Things Heard in the Car on the way back from CIY Believe…
In Rural Ministry, it’s not often that you get a chance to take a weekend and focus on “just” middle school or high school students. However, CIY Believe is one of those weekends. I get to take a group of 6th-8th Grade students to a conference designed just for them. […]
Christian Leadership , Featured , Guest Posts , Ministry , Resources , Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
Posted on:
A Day at DOFO with Michael Brown
When we get groups to come and visit our home one of the questions they always ask is what does an average day at DOFO look like? So here is my attempt… The day starts at 5:00 am as all the kids are waking up and getting dressed in the […]
Christian Leadership , Ministry , Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
Posted on:
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
Posted on:
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
Posted on:
4 Years…
A lot can change in four years. Two weeks ago, my youngest child turned four. She was the child that the doctors said would not make it. God had other plans. After a near miscarriage and hard pregnancy, She was born a month early with no complications and excellent health. […]
Christian Leadership , Ministry , Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
Posted on:
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. […]
Christian Leadership , Ministry , Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
Posted on:
Take Time to be Relevant
What a great week to do ministry. Right now, in our country, debate is raging about marriage equality. My Facebook and Twitter timelines are filling up with articles, messages, icons and new profile pictures that proclaim a student’s or adult’s stance on the issue. No matter what side you fall […]
Christian Leadership , Ministry , Rural Ministry , Student Ministry
Posted on:
Sunrise service is perfect place for youth pastor
This week, I’m preparing to preach our Easter sunrise worship service. It’s the fifth consecutive year I’ve had that privilege. That spans two churches, two pastors and an interim period. I enjoy preaching that service. I get to speak on the first service of our most holy day in front of […]
Ministry , Rural Ministry , RYM Video Podcast , Student Ministry
Posted on:
RYM Podcast Episode 3 – Finance Policies and Fundraising…
In Rural Ministry, resources can be hard to come by, whether its money, facilities or volunteers. IN this episode, I discuss working with the fundraising policies of your church and share a couple ideas for getting the funding you need. What are fundraising ideas that have worked in your ministry? […]