People have said that ministry is a lonely place. There are many reasons for this statement, but Brian Vander Ark is someone who believes this does not have to be the case. As he taught the pre-conference workshop, "How to Create a Local Network of Ministry Leaders," he started off with some Questions: What if … Continue reading How to: Create a Local Network of Ministry Leaders (Orange 2011)
Steve’s Blog
How to: Recruit Volunteers (Orange 2011)
If you are unfamiliar with Sue Miller, let me first recommend that you make it a goal to listen to her speak sometime soon. On Wednesday afternoon, I attended her pre-conference workshop on the topic of "How to Recruit Volunteers." While not everything she mentioned was brand new to me, I definitely grabbed a few … Continue reading How to: Recruit Volunteers (Orange 2011)
How to: Build a Successful & Safe Special Needs Ministry (Orange 2011)
Many children are born with special needs, which include a number of issues. One of the most obvious is the growing number of children with various forms of autism. Many churches, however, are still struggling with providing effective ministry for these children. I know that is something our church has talked about for some time, … Continue reading How to: Build a Successful & Safe Special Needs Ministry (Orange 2011)
How to: Mobilize Kids & Youth to Lead (Orange 2011)
Many of us in ministry know the typical way things go. Parents expect to drop their kids off at their respective ministry and go on their way. Going deeper, many churches take this approach. They view the ministers as the only ones in charge of the ministry. While many have tried to change this, which … Continue reading How to: Mobilize Kids & Youth to Lead (Orange 2011)
Orange Bound 2011
Here I am. Another year and another Orange Conference. I say that like I have been many times, but this is really only my second time attending. This will also mark the first time I am going as a blogger, which is really exciting. If you were not able to go this year, be sure to … Continue reading Orange Bound 2011
Thoughts on TIME’s Top 100 of 2011
It is no secret that TIME Magazine puts out a list of the Top 100 People every year, based on influence. The 2011 list consists of several people you would expect, but of course, it contains many that might shock you. Among the Top 100 are Rob Bell, who has endured much controversy as of late, and Geoffrey … Continue reading Thoughts on TIME’s Top 100 of 2011
Baptism from April 3, 2011
Yesterday, I was able to baptize another student in our youth group. He's an awesome kid, and I'm really looking forward to what God is going to do through him. This is just another time when I am reminded of how awesome my job is. Thank you God for this blessing!! For some reason, WordPress.com … Continue reading Baptism from April 3, 2011
Thinking about Busyness
When life gets really busy, what do you do? This is a question I've talked about with several people in my life. It seems everyone has a plan, but they are all different. Some people make to-do lists. Others start delegating. Some will prioritize. Still, others will start taking out things that don't seem to … Continue reading Thinking about Busyness
Trying Something New – Time Out
I've been a reader/follower of Tim Schmoyer's "Life in Student Ministry" blog for quite a while. As a reader, I've often thought Monday's "Time Out" devotional thoughts were great. In fact, they have helped me get focused on many occasions. The other day, they made a request for more writers, and I thought to myself … Continue reading Trying Something New – Time Out
What are Your Hardest Times in Youth Ministry?
When I think back to the past several years in youth ministry (almost 10 years, if you count the years as a volunteer when I started college), there have been many times when I thought, "This is the hardest time." However, it seems that another always comes along. What does this mean? I think people … Continue reading What are Your Hardest Times in Youth Ministry?
Steve Cullum 