The Complaint Letter
We were on the way back from a junior high retreat when it happened.
We began complaining about everything we disliked about our church.
Of course, our view was unique.
We were, after all, only in 6th - 8th grade; I was an...
Recent Reads: Wonderstruck by Margaret Feinberg
What the book's about: Wonderstruck by Margaret Feinberg is about cultivating wonder in your life through creation, rest, prayer, friendships, forgiveness, and gratitude.
Why I read this book: I have been a fan of Margaret Feinberg ever...
Recent Reads: Speak by Nish Weiseth
What the book's about: Speak by Nish Weiseth is about embracing, telling, and using your story to change the world.
Why I read this book: I'm a big fan of Deeper Story, the online storytelling community founded by Nish Weiseth....
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 ...
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.
...
Ask About the Worst
A few weeks ago, I sat down next to an eighth grade boy. Wanting to engage him in conversation, I asked, “How's school?”
I got a typical junior high boy answer: “Good.”
So I asked him a follow-up question. “What's been good about it?”
To which...
Two for One
Throughout my career in youth ministry, people have occasionally asked me if my husband would be willing to do something.
I used to answer these questions on his behalf, (always saying "yes"), sometimes without first even checking with him.
You...
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...
5 reasons to debrief
Recently, my congregation participated in a church-wide, intergenerational day of service. As part of this, we launched people into their service experiences straight from worship. People then served in three areas for two hours each before...
When your vision becomes theirs
Two years ago, during our Youth Room makeover, we set aside an area of the room to use as a dedicated prayer space. To differentiate it as such, students painted several verses about prayer on the wall in that section of the room.
For two years,...