Everyone has off days. It’s part of life. Maybe a student bombed a test in school, got into it with one of their friends, got some bad news or straight up just woke up on the wrong side of the bed (we’ve all been there). They may not even know why they’re in a mood, Read more about What to Do When Someone in Your Youth Group Down in the Dumps[…]
Fall has officially entered the chat! The weather is getting cooler, pumpkin spice is flowing through everyone’s veins and your youth group is ready for some serious fall fun. Whether you’re planning a retreat, heading to the pumpkin patch or getting the church ready for a fall festival, there are plenty of ways to make Read more about Fall into Fun: 6 Ways to Spend the Pumpkin Spice Season With Your Youth Group[…]
Planning a youth group retreat, whether it’s a summer, winter or fall retreat, is always exciting. You’ve got the schedule, the activities, the meals and the devotional time all nailed down. Now it’s time to make sure everyone brings what they need, including you. Here are a few things to make sure are on your Read more about Retreat Ready: Things to Make Sure are on Your Group’s Packing List[…]
Fall is calling! That means it’s time for the cool breeze, crunching leaves, worship, team-building, unforgettable moments and, of course, the iconic group photo where everyone is wearing matching fall tees. 📸 A great youth group fall retreat shirt does more than just make sure everybody matches, although that is an important job. It also Read more about Getting a Jump Start on Your Group’s Fall Retreat Shirts[…]
Too many youth group t-shirts are worn once before disappearing into the dark corners of a closet or dresser drawer (RIP, forgotten tees). But the really good ones? They become beloved everyday pieces of students’ wardrobes. You know, the shirts they wear to school, throw on to hang out with friends or even sleep in Read more about Things to Keep in Mind When Designing Your Next Youth Group T-Shirt[…]
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[…]
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[…]
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)[…]
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[…]
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[…]