There can be many different models for school groups. One example, which has been going for 13 years, run by a church in Napier, is called Food4Thought. It's beginnings Invited by a school to engage more intentionally with their youth - to give them positive thoughts about faith and hope as support in the [...]
Details around health and safety can feel overwhelming for a young youth leader. Thankfully - the Presbyterians have made it easy - and MANY can benefit. What's the resource called? Called the 'Safety WOF' (Warrant of Fitness), Matt Chamberlin (Presbyterian Youth Ministries facilitator) confirms this really is available for all! While it has a [...]
We congratulate Micah and Miriam from the Catalyst Movement for their amazing new outreach training resource for youth. What does the training include? Fronted by Micah and Miriam, its three sessions cover: 1. How to share testimony and start conversations about Jesus - 13 minutes 2. How to share the gospel - 18 minutes [...]
Intentionality in goals is a key to increasing results Leadership habits not only teach something to our youth; they reinforce it - shifting it to long-term memory and application. One of the habits I identified numerous years ago related to the FIRST gathering of any church small group or youth group, at the start of [...]
This is a summary of a survey conducted by Dare2Share, including youth groups in 47 nations, with an average group size of 153. (Bigger than NZ youth groups.) The report can be found HERE Everything below is from the survey – just a lot shorter. All comments are likewise summaries of things said in the [...]
This article will be brief - and added to as a summary page. Why intermediate-aged youth ministry? Barna research used to say worldview was essentially shaped by age 14. They now say age 13. While there are exceptions, the 'presets' created by this age essentially set what they will consider later. It's very difficult [...]
There are number of points very-concisely stated in this article. For an opening statement: If we claim to be making disciples, while failing to equip them for their mission, our claim is false at a fundamental level. Here is why - and the easy solution! A cycle that needs breaking Consider the repeating cycle [...]
The future of Christian youth ministry in NZ Christian youth ministry in NZ is in trouble. What is below is very simple to read and digest. But what is then needed is proactive effort - by key youth leaders - to see Christian youth ministry becoming nationally networked - with clear vision and very [...]
Yesterday I met with Dave Gow, who heads up 'Word of Life' ministries - who serve any youth ministry interested in their help. It's an amazing offer - so here is a summary of what they do and can offer. If you want your group to grow, sometimes you will need help. In this instance, [...]
Family First just interviewed an expert on the effects of digital media on the mental health of youth - you can view this HERE. Here is our summary - with comment for youth leaders / parents / pastors: "Teen mental illness - an affirmation of the need for Christian youth ministry" We've lived through a significant [...]
