Student ministry is interesting in that our ministry is not just to the teenagers. It is also to the parents. And one thing I've learned over the years is that parents really want to be informed. The more they are informed about the ministry, what is going on, and how we want to partner with … Continue reading 3 Tips to Keep Parents Informed
5 Steps to Keep Teens from Graduating from Their Faith
Graduation season is almost here! All across America, high school seniors are getting excited to finish their education and graduate. Many churches, however, are not too excited, because they fear these students will also graduate from their faith in God. And I'm sure many of you are familiar with the unfortunate statistics for those who … Continue reading 5 Steps to Keep Teens from Graduating from Their Faith
20 Church Super Bowl Party Ideas
The NFL's "big game" is right around the corner, which can be a great chance for you to host a party for your church or youth group. And while it can be really fun to get together with a bunch of Christians, events like this could be great opportunities to invite non-churched friends! But what … Continue reading 20 Church Super Bowl Party Ideas
Using Email Templates
Ever since I learned about the concept of efficiency in my college sociology class, I’ve been intrigued. While it can definitely be overdone at times, there is also a positive side of pursuing efficiency. For instance, in ministry, the more efficient we can become at certain aspects of ministry, the more we can spend time … Continue reading Using Email Templates
Celebrate the Wins
What has God done in your ministry lately? What are some wins? Whose life has He been changing? What hurdle has He helped you overcome? Where has He shown up in a leader's life? What as He said through someone that was just what someone needed to hear? Where has He supplied exactly what was … Continue reading Celebrate the Wins
We Need Each Other
A few years ago, I heard a speaker talk about how God is inherently in community because of the Trinity. And then he created us to be in community with Him and with each other. While I could probably write an entire chapter or two on the significance of that concept, today I want to … Continue reading We Need Each Other
Facing the Past in Obi-Wan Kenobi – Episode 5
Below is an excerpt of an article I wrote for LoveThyNerd. Click the link at the bottom to read the entire piece. SPOILER WARNING: This post contains spoilers for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series. Do not read if you have not seen this episode and do not want it to be spoiled for you! Can we really … Continue reading Facing the Past in Obi-Wan Kenobi – Episode 5
Would You Go to Your Church if You Weren’t Employed There?
If you've been working in ministry for a while, you've probably heard the following question when it comes to evaluating your church: Would you go to your church if you weren't employed there? I think I understand the reasoning behind the question. It's important for us to create environments that are exciting and engaging. And … Continue reading Would You Go to Your Church if You Weren’t Employed There?
5 Reasons to Take Holiday Breaks in Student Ministry
Should we take a break from our student ministry for holidays, cancelling our program(s) that week? I regularly see questions like this from other youth pastors. And my answer: Yes! Before I share why, I do want to acknowledge that some of you might meet on Sunday morning during church services. If that is the … Continue reading 5 Reasons to Take Holiday Breaks in Student Ministry
5 More Youth Ministry Fixtures that Need to Die
Back in 2020, I wrote an piece for Youth Specialties on 5 youth ministry fixtures that need to die. Click here to read that article. Now it's time to kill 5 more fixtures! Youth ministry is still a fairly modern development within the church. Based on my research, we have had specialized ministry to teenagers … Continue reading 5 More Youth Ministry Fixtures that Need to Die
Steve Cullum 