It's Orange Conference time again! As many of you know, I'm excited to return to the Orange Conference this year! It's been a couple years since I've been there, and I'm itching to get back. As with previous years, I'll be joining an awesome team of bloggers to cover the conference. Our goal is to … Continue reading Meet the Orange Conference 2017 Bloggers
Sermon: We Gather
This past Sunday morning, I had the privilege of starting off a new four-week series at Rockingham Christian Church called, "We Do," where we are looking at four different things the church does: gathering, singing, communion, and baptism. And since I am a youth pastor, after all, I had to bring in a game (one … Continue reading Sermon: We Gather
Don’t Do This Alone
One of the things my wife and I learned in our pre-marital counseling was that we are supposed to support one another in marriage. While we will not fulfill one another, as that is up to God, we can balance each other. For example, I have gifts that she doesn't have, and visa versa. Together, … Continue reading Don’t Do This Alone
Book Review: Good Call by Jase Robertson
Every Christmas, we travel to Illinois to see family. A few years ago, during our time with my wife's family, I was introduced to Duck Dynasty. While I had seen short clips online, I had never watched a full show. After one or two episodes, I was hooked! We have since went on to watch all … Continue reading Book Review: Good Call by Jase Robertson
The Student Ministry Podcast – Ministry for the Long-Haul with Brett Eddy (Episode 15)
In episode 15 of The Student Ministry Podcast, Steve interviews Brett Eddy, who serves as the Pastor of Student Ministries at Port City Community Church in Wilmington, NC. While youth ministry wasn't Brett's first choice as a career, it was obvious God had it in mind all along. He has served at his current church for 16 … Continue reading The Student Ministry Podcast – Ministry for the Long-Haul with Brett Eddy (Episode 15)
Make it Interactive
When it comes to speaking to teenagers, there are many philosophies and strategies out there. You've probably heard many of them. While they all have their place, there is one that I try to utilize as much as possible, especially when speaking to middle schoolers. Make it interactive! I was told early on that it … Continue reading Make it Interactive
3 Reasons I’m Excited about The Orange Conference 2017
It's been a couple years since I've been at The Orange Conference, but this is the year I'm going back! And this year, the conference theme is "For Our Neighbors." There are several things that make me excited about this year's event, but here are the top three: One of the reasons I'm excited to … Continue reading 3 Reasons I’m Excited about The Orange Conference 2017
The Student Ministry Podcast – Ministry Context with Justin Curl (Episode 14)
In episode 14 of The Student Ministry Podcast, I interview Justin Curl, who is currently the Youth Pastor at Twin Oaks Christian Church in Woodhaven, MI. After some rough patches, God grabbed his heart near the end of high school in Oklahoma. Eventually, God also led him to pursue youth ministry in the Detroit area. Justin talks about … Continue reading The Student Ministry Podcast – Ministry Context with Justin Curl (Episode 14)
Handling Money in Youth Ministry
A few years ago, I wrote about counting money as a youth minister, but I felt it was time for a follow-up. Other than the people who handle offerings, it is quite possible that a youth minister handles the most money within a church. Between retreats, mission trips, pizza parties, and much more, students and parents … Continue reading Handling Money in Youth Ministry
Dreaming on the Road
[This is a "guest post" I wrote for the Download Youth Ministry blog.] When was the last time you just sat and dreamed about God? I have a hard time remembering my dreams. In fact, I’m convinced I don’t even have any most nights. I’m not talking about that kind of dreaming, though. I want … Continue reading Dreaming on the Road
