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Jen Bradbury
May 12 · 5 min read

Grateful

5minutefriday

Today, I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker‘s Five Minute Friday. The rules: Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking. 

This week's prompt: Grateful .

Last week, I spent 45 minutes on the phone discussing a...

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#Five Minute Friday #gratitude #hope #affirmation

Jen Bradbury
May 09 · 5 min read

Recent Reads: Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg

Filed in Recent Reads and Recent Reads

Wild Mind

What the book's about: Once again, the subtitle of Wild Mind - Living the Writer's Life - is an accurate description of it. The book blends stories from Natalie's life with practical advice as well as exercises to try in your own...

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#writing

Jen Bradbury
May 07 · 5 min read

10 questions to include on student leadership applications

When I started my job, I inherited a student leadership team that was elected through a popularity contest. As a result, the team was one giant clique, interested far more in what they wanted than in what was best for our youth ministry.

After...

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#cliques #student leadership #introvert #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
May 06 · 5 min read

A beautiful mess

5minutefriday

Today, I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker‘s Five Minute Friday. The rules: Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

This week's prompt: Mess.

I woke up this morning to a mess. The bathtub was filthy. Wet towels...

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#refugee #Five Minute Friday #story #Kiziba #Rwanda

Jen Bradbury
May 02 · 5 min read

Recent Reads: The Godbearing Life by Kenda Creasy Dean & Ron Foster

Filed in Recent Reads and Recent Reads

Godbearing Life

What the book's about: Godbearing Life is a classic book in youth ministry. In it, Kenda Creasy Dean & Ron Foster discuss, as it's subtitle suggests, "the art of soul tending for youth ministry." Published in 1998, it's withstood the...

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#Godbearing Life #identity #Leaders #student leadership #youth ministry #books

Jen Bradbury
May 01 · 5 min read

That's Not Fair!

Every Monday night, my high school students run a program for refugee kids called Kids Club. Each week, what the kids look most forward to is snacks.

When it comes to Kids Club snacks, we have one rule: Everyone gets exactly the same thing.

That's...

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#refugee #Community #justice #student leadership #culture of welcome #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Apr 30 · 5 min read

The why behind the what

Recently, my senior pastor had our staff watch Simon Sinek’s TED Talk, How Great Leaders Inspire Action . The basic gist of Simon’s talk is that if you want people to follow you, you’ve got to tell them why you’re doing what you’re doing. You’ve...

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#refugee #Fundraising #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Apr 28 · 5 min read

Stuff You Can Use: Cut It Off Prayer Station

I am a big believer in the power of experiential learning. To this end, instead of giving a talk about prayer, I'd much rather create a series of prayer stations designed to give students the opportunity to pray in a variety of ways.

Prayer Stations

Over the...

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#Stuff You Can Use #Prayer #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Apr 25 · 5 min read

Mess with their food

As he dipped his fingers into a bowl of rice and beans, one of my students whined, "Why do you always have to mess with our food?"

At the time he made this comment, this student, along with the rest of our mission team, was busy participating in a...

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#Missions #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Apr 24 · 5 min read

Recent Reads: Thin Places by Jon Huckins

Filed in Recent Reads and Recent Reads

Thin Places

What the book's about: Thin Places by Jon Huckins explores six postures for creating and practicing missional community. Here, the word, "posture" is significant as it blends action with contemplative practices that teach dependence on the...

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#Community #church #Jesus #books

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Latest Posts

  • Grateful
  • Recent Reads: Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg
  • 10 questions to include on student leadership applications
  • A beautiful mess
  • Recent Reads: The Godbearing Life by Kenda Creasy Dean & Ron Foster
  • That's Not Fair!
  • The why behind the what
  • Stuff You Can Use: Cut It Off Prayer Station
  • Mess with their food
  • Recent Reads: Thin Places by Jon Huckins

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