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Jen Bradbury
Jan 22 · 5 min read

Concerns about "Where I Belong"

It's January. That means that once again, it's time for K-Love's 30-Day Challenge – something I have some concerns about. In response to my concerns, today I'm continuing to critically evaluate some of the songs that...

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#music #culture of welcome #doubt #environment #justice #Jesus #Prayer #service projects #grief #hope

Jen Bradbury
Jan 08 · 5 min read

Keep It Going

I’ve often heard people moan about the ineffectiveness of big youth ministry events like the 30 Hour Famine or summer mission trips. Such rants usually go something like this:

You spend a lot of time, energy, and money on X. And sure, teens are...

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#30 Hour Famine #money #justice #Missions #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Dec 08 · 5 min read

5 things youth ministries can learn about mission trips from WestJet

Until last year, I'd never heard of WestJet. Then, on a vacation to Canada, we had an enjoyable experience flying WestJet. Six months later, I, along with millions of others, was captivated by WestJet's Christmas miracle video. This video featured...

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#justice #travel #Missions #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Oct 28 · 5 min read

Teens know who Noah is, right?

This year, our junior high Sunday School class is learning about each of the five promises they'll be making at their confirmation:

- To live among God's faithful people.
- To hear the word of God and share in the Lord's Supper.
- To share the...

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#confirmation #youth ministry #Community #evangelism #justice #research #Jesus gap #identity #faith formation

Jen Bradbury
Sep 24 · 5 min read

How much should we invest in those who don't come?

My first year in ministry, I was haunted by a girl I never met.

Her name was Laura and she never attended anything.

She didn't come to our weekly youth ministry gatherings.

She didn't come to our special events – regardless of whether they were ...

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#justice #church #social events #evangelism #Missions #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Sep 23 · 5 min read

The Mother Of All Injustices

Over the weekend, I watched an episode of one of my favorite TV shows, The West Wing. In it, two Native Americans show up at the White House and refuse to leave until they get an answer on an application their tribe submitted… fifteen years ago.

...

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#refugee #30 Hour Famine #justice #racism #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Sep 15 · 5 min read

Solid food

“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the...

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#Teaching #justice #movies #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Aug 21 · 5 min read

Shifting attitudes

We in the church often spend a lot of time debating (or even fighting) one another over a variety of different issues. Among them?

Whether or not short-term mission trips are worth it.

Trust me, I know short-term trips are expensive. I just...

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#Rwanda #justice #Missions #processing #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Aug 08 · 5 min read

Review: Overrated by Eugene Cho

Filed in Book Review and Book Review

Overrated

Eugene Cho is a pastor and founder of One Day's Wages, an organization that he sacrificed a year of his own salary for in order to begin. To say the least, he's an intriguing character in today's evangelical landscape.

The fact that he believes...

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#grace #justice #books

Jen Bradbury
Aug 05 · 5 min read

Money Matters

I just returned from a two-week mission trip to Rwanda with my high school youth ministry. Twice now we've been privileged to partner with International Teams Rwanda for the international leg of our three-year mission trip cycle.

The trip was, in...

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#vocation #Kiziba #justice #Missions #youth ministry

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Latest Posts

  • Concerns about "Where I Belong"
  • Keep It Going
  • 5 things youth ministries can learn about mission trips from WestJet
  • Teens know who Noah is, right?
  • How much should we invest in those who don't come?
  • The Mother Of All Injustices
  • Solid food
  • Shifting attitudes
  • Review: Overrated by Eugene Cho
  • Money Matters

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