Week after week, students gather in youth ministry spaces to see their friends, sing, play games, and hear the Word. They funnel into the space to catch up with their friends and enjoy the night ahead of them. Each week, students come to these services and our hope is that they catch a glimpse of what it’s like to be a part of the body of Christ and to faithfully love and serve Him in His church. What if we could be more intentional with making that happen? Students may have

It’s amazing to consider the impact we can have on others when we least mean to. I can think back on the people who have had an impact on my life, and though a few of them happened in Bible studies or church services, most of them happened when I was living life alongside a spiritual mentor. When I was in college, I was involved in my university's Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM). One of the major emphases of this ministry was missions and getting students to serve in missio

Last year was a difficult one for those of us at Calvary Baptist Church of Fayetteville. We had two deacons, their wives, and our sound man all pass away. More than the roles they played at our church, we will miss the joy and life they brought to our congregation. I’m sure that you have had similar times at your church. If you are leading in ministry, it can be difficult to say goodbye to some of the most faithful people in your church. However, we know that is part of what

“Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9, CSB Some weeks in ministry feel alive. Students are engaged. Volunteers are taking ownership. The message lands, the room responds, and you drive home believing all the work is worth it. Other weeks are different. You plan, teach, text, pray, clean up, and show up again, but nothing seems to move. A student you poured into walks away. A parent is frustrated with you.

Carl, the youth pastor of River City Church, rushed from his office to the youth building where parents were already sitting down. He was only a few minutes late, but he knew they would understand. He didn’t have time to say hi to the other adults as he rushed up to the front of the room. “Thanks for coming tonight, let’s get started!” A few new parents wondered who this strange man in the t-shirt was in front of the group. About halfway through, Carl realized he never gave

It’s Wednesday night. The room is filling up. Snacks are flying off the counter. The music is loud. You can hear teenagers laughing, giggling, playing games, catching up. Each week is an adventure filled with excitement as you weave through the room, catching up with students you love so deeply. The game begins and you watch them start to let their guard down. The teenager you barely saw crack a smile this year is now raising their fists in victory as they just defeated a le

Growing up, I loved to go camping. My family went tent camping for years until we got a pop-up camper. In college, I became friends with a few guys who were also outdoorsy, and together we hiked some of the Appalachian Trail. As I spent time with these friends, I learned a lot about camping and survival, lessons they learned through their parents, Boy Scouts, or the military. After graduating from college, I served as the leader of my church’s college ministry, and we decided

One of the things that most of us in student ministry aren’t ready for is having our own children make the transition to the youth group. We don’t think about it, and BOOM, there it is. Suddenly, your son or daughter is staring back at you when you are speaking to the students in your ministry about sexual holiness and other issues we need to address as youth pastors. There wasn’t a class in Bible college that covered that type of awkwardness, and avoiding eye contact with yo

I recently watched my mom open a toy for my oldest son. It was a Bluey stamp kit, which sounds simple enough, but like every toy nowadays, it had batteries, lights, and an instruction manual thicker than my first car warranty. She put the batteries in and immediately started trying to figure it out. I asked if there was a manual, as if I would've read it either, and she said, “You know me. I’ll figure it out.” Several hours later, my wife and I came back home, and my mom was

Imagine this scenario: You’re starting as the student pastor at a new church. You’re excited, but also nervous, and looking forward to getting started. You also know there will be some challenges ahead. Maybe you’ve been in some of these situations… The senior pastor’s teenage son/daughter is in the youth group, and had a close relationship to the previous student pastor. You find out the former youth pastor will be staying on at the church as member. Some of the key voluntee

What goes through your mind when a student who used to lead worship suddenly stops showing up? Or the outgoing girl who always stayed late after youth group now slips out the back door before anyone can talk to her. A high-achieving sophomore begins failing assignments and asks her parents to homeschool her because school feels overwhelming. For many youth workers, these stories are no longer rare. They are becoming normal. Teenagers today are growing up in a world of constan

God calls all kinds of people to be serve in student ministry; from student pastors, adult volunteers, and student leaders. Some have a knack for building relationships. Others are able to zero in on the cultural issue affecting students at that very moment. Some thrive in big crowds and still make people feel seen, while another may excel at one-on-one discipleship conversations. God calls athletes, mathletes, number crunchers, and public speakers. God calls extroverts and i

Recently, I had the privilege of attending the wedding of one of my former students. When I came to my current church as their new Family Pastor, she was an eighth grader who was full of life and faith; her name was Georgia. She was the type of girl you could build a youth group around. She could and would talk your ears off if you let her. It was easy to be her youth pastor. She faithfully dug into God’s Word and truly wanted to know what it had to say about life. Time passe

Ethan was a regular at youth group. He knew the right answers, showed up most Wednesdays, and could talk about faith pretty easily. But over the course of one school day, three little phrases revealed what was really going on in his heart. That morning, Ethan sat in class thinking about a conversation he needed to have. He and his best friend hadn’t spoken in days after a stupid argument, and deep down he knew he needed to make it right. He even felt that quiet conviction in

“…We’re all temporary”. “At the end of the day, we’re all temporary.” Those were the words I was reminded of by one of my favorite pastors I listen to, during a time I desperately needed to hear it. He was speaking to a group of other pastors at a conference, and he reminded the group that, as ministers, we’re called to our church for only a season. The thing about seasons is that they have a beginning... and an end. Mine had just ended that week. With a heavy heart, I ann

Every student pastor eventually faces it: some sheep bite. People resist, criticize, and even lash out. Healthy leadership is not about avoiding conflict but about leading with grace when it comes. This article offers five biblical and practical steps to shepherd difficult sheep without losing your soul. Keeping emotions in check, apologizing humbly, refusing the mud, standing in truth, and leading with calm curiosity.

We know community is critical in the Kingdom of God, but too often leaders neglect it themselves. Student pastors cannot do ministry without community and remain healthy, and their people cannot be healthy if they are not. Drawing from David’s cave of Adullam, this article reminds us that leadership is not about standing alone but embracing vulnerability, leaning into others, and walking together toward God’s mission.

Student ministry methods change, but the principles that matter most remain the same. In Matthew 9, Jesus models what it means to truly see, engage, and connect with people. This blog unpacks how student pastors can find overlooked students, engage them with compassion, and build lasting connections that point them to Christ. These timeless steps are the foundation of every healthy, effective student ministry.

Families are the primary influence in the spiritual growth of students. While student pastors play an important role, Deuteronomy 6 reminds us that discipleship begins at home. Dan Carson shares four practical ways churches can encourage families to grow together in Christ: serving, playing, talking, and engaging God’s Word. When we invest in the family system, we expand our reach and help students build a faith that lasts a lifetime.

Self deceptive leadership rarely begins with bad motives. It creeps in quietly as pastors feel pressure to perform or exhaustion from ministry demands. Instead of honesty, leaders celebrate appearances that feel like success but leave them empty. From chasing quick wins to silencing truth, self-deception blinds us to what God is really doing. Real fruit comes through honesty, patience, and faithful action.