Category: Student Ministry

Presence Over Perfection: How Youth Ministers Can Show Up and Stand Out Without Burning Out

Posted on by UthStuph

Youth ministry during any season feels kind of like a roller coaster. It’s equal parts exciting, exhausting, and somehow fueled almost entirely by caffeine and prayer. Between camps, retreats, mission trips, VBS, DNow, outreach events and trying to remember where you put the registration forms, it’s easy to go from “Let’s do this!” to “Let’s Read more about Presence Over Perfection: How Youth Ministers Can Show Up and Stand Out Without Burning Out[…]

Top 5 Flicks for an Unforgettable Movie Night With Your Group

Posted on by UthStuph

When it comes to youth group movie nights, the goal is simple: pick something clean and appropriate that everyone will enjoy. You need laughs, quotable moments and no awkward scenes you forgot were in there. With summer coming up (and the 20th anniversary of a certain youth group classic right around the corner 👀), here Read more about Top 5 Flicks for an Unforgettable Movie Night With Your Group[…]

What Makes Youth Ministry Students Invite Their Friends to the Group (and What Doesn’t)

Posted on by UthStuph

Like us, teens don’t invite their friends to everything. No one’s probably texting the group chat like, “Hey, you HAVE to come to this thing I go to where I have an okay time.” Instead, it’s probably more like, “OMG! We have SO much fun. You HAVE to come!”  When it comes to youth group Read more about What Makes Youth Ministry Students Invite Their Friends to the Group (and What Doesn’t)[…]

Let’s Talk About It: Creating Space for the Tough Stuff in Youth Ministry

Posted on by UthStuph

Youth ministry is known for a few things, like games that get a little competitive (but always stay friendly, of course), snacks that disappear way too fast and inside jokes that make zero sense to anyone outside the group. And all of that is super important. But underneath the fun, your students are facing real-life Read more about Let’s Talk About It: Creating Space for the Tough Stuff in Youth Ministry[…]

New Kids, No Problem: Helping Everyone Feel Welcome at VBS

Posted on by UthStuph

Being the new kid is always a struggle for children and teens entering an already-established group environment. At VBS, it feels a little like showing up to a party where you don’t know anyone. There’s energy and inside jokes already happening, and new students can sometimes find themselves trying to figure out where to stand Read more about New Kids, No Problem: Helping Everyone Feel Welcome at VBS[…]

Youth Group Spring Retreat Games and Activities That Bring the Hype

Posted on by UthStuph

A youth group spring retreat isn’t just a weekend away; it’s a memory-making moment. It’s inside jokes waiting to happen, late-night talks that go on a little longer than planned (but that’s okay because there’s nothing more satisfying for a youth pastor than students reflecting together), and those unexpected worship moments that hit in the Read more about Youth Group Spring Retreat Games and Activities That Bring the Hype[…]

5 Ways to Make Student Leaders Feel Like the Rockstars They Are

Posted on by UthStuph

Student leaders are showing up, stepping out of their comfort zones and actively choosing to lead when they could easily sit back. That’s definitely something to celebrate! Beyond a quick “good job,” student leaders deserve encouragement and recognition from their super amazing, awe-inspiring youth ministers (that’s you!). When they feel seen and supported, their faith Read more about 5 Ways to Make Student Leaders Feel Like the Rockstars They Are[…]

Small Group Icebreakers That Don’t Make Students Cringe

Posted on by UthStuph

Okay, so we know that when youth ministers say “it’s time for some icebreakers,” it can immediately strike fear in the hearts of the students (if not fear, then definitely a feeling of awkwardness). Suddenly, everyone forgets how to speak, eye contact becomes illegal and at least one person considers faking a bathroom emergency to Read more about Small Group Icebreakers That Don’t Make Students Cringe[…]

Getting Back in Sync: Preparing Your Youth Ministry for the New Year

Posted on by UthStuph

The holidays are always a blast, but they can also throw everyone’s schedules straight into chaos. Once the cookies are all gone (wipes tear) and the tinsel is packed away, it’s time to help your group settle back into a normal rhythm. The start of a new year is an opportunity to set the tone, Read more about Getting Back in Sync: Preparing Your Youth Ministry for the New Year[…]

New Year, New Apparel for Your Youth Group: Trends We Expect in 2026

Posted on by UthStuph

A new year means fresh starts, new inside jokes and a great excuse to level up your youth ministry’s t-shirt game! Not only are they stylish, but custom tees also bring everyone together and make your group feel like a real squad. We have some design trends we see shaping up in 2026 that we Read more about New Year, New Apparel for Your Youth Group: Trends We Expect in 2026[…]