Category: Ministry
-
More Thoughts on The Future of Rural Youth Ministry…
In my book, Rural Youth Ministry, I spend some time talking about the future of youth ministry in rural communities. Almost three years out from the publishing of the book, I have seen some things transpire that show where I was right, where I was wrong, and what I didn’t see coming. No one knows…
-
Four Social Media Tools I Use…
Every once in a while, I get asked the question “who has time for social media?”. The answer to that is “nearly everyone”, you just have to use the right tools and manage your time . There are some great tools you can use to both get the information you’re looking for without all the…
-
Four Things Cryptomining Can Teach You About Ministry
—
by
The people who have not heard of Cryptomining are in the majority, so lets begin here. To give a very simple definition, Cryptomining is using the processing power of your video card and/or CPU to solve complex algorithms in the attempt to uncover parts of digital currency. The algorithms both identify and protect the authenticity…
-
You’re Tracking The Wrong Metrics in Rural Ministry…
I know, I used a buzzword. Whether you are in Church Growth, Business, Marketing, SEO, or Fantasy Sports, the word “Metrics” carrries a heavy connotation. Its one of measuring and evaluting everything for the sake of making things better. In a lot of rural churches, this would be a large change. Many have “done what…
-
The Blogging Congregation…
I attend a small church in a rural community. I’m talking less than 150 on Sunday morning small. Yet, I see two trends in our church that I hope speak to the future of growing churches. The first is that the fastest growing and most engaged group is shifting from those in their 50’s amd…
-
Is This A Lesson on Grace?
http://www.androidauthority.com/thief-returns-stolen-phone-to-owner-but-does-that-really-make-things-right-644171/ How would you respond? Demand justice or give mercy? Are you more like the phone owner or the Police? Share your thoughts in the comments below…
-
Don’t be a “Bath and Body Works” Youthworker…
Note to our female readers: This post is written by a male. We see things a little differently, and that’s ok. Hang with me, this satire makes a point… When I hear the words “Bath and Body Works” as a guy, two things come to mind. 1) The migraine-inducing mix of all the strong smells…
-
One?
Youthworker, I’m going to ask a single question that I was never asked at the last church where I served, or the church before that, or even the one before that. However, it is vitally important to your ministry. Its a difficult question that should be asked after every event, every game night, even every…
-
Ramblings from the Desert….
I’m almost a year into a journey that has included time away from being on a church staff. It has been strange to experience (in some ways) a “normal” church member experience. The disorientation of this journey has been a desert of sorts. It has removed me from most of the normal ministry circles, the “Christian…
-
How to truly #DefundPlannedParenthood …
Unless you have been living under a rock the last few months, you know there is an ongoing battle to defund Planned Parenthood on the state and national level in the legislatures. As the lawmakers return from their month of recess, the rhetoric on both sides will undoubtedly escalate. I am generally an optimistic person,…
-
Five Ways to Show Appreciation For Youthworkers…
Youth ministry has changed in the last 15-20 years. For the most part, the days where the youthworkers mainly managed pizza parties and all night video game marathons are behind us. Instead we have youthworkers reaching out to overstimulated, overscheduled teens that are being bombarded with negative messages from society, messages like “you’re not ______…
-
Which Kingdom?…
A few weeks ago, I preached a message on 1 Kings 12. This passage covers the breaking of Israel into the Northern and southern Kingdom, following the death of King Solomon. In the message, I posed the question, “Which kingdom are you in?”. The North had much more in material resources, population, and armed…