Greetings Awesome Person,
ABC's of Youth Ministry
S is for Sanctuary
Where is your safe place?
For me, it used to be church. As an only child, going to youth group was like visiting play cousins.
Working at a church feels less like sanctuary and more like community theatre. Everyone trying to give the audience the best King Lear but with midwest accents.
“In jest, there is truth.”― William Shakespeare, King Lear
With eyes on students and hearts set on serving, Sunday mornings are busy. Of course we worship God in midst of it all because He is worthy no matter where we are, but, and I'm just speaking for me, it never reaches the depth I desire.
The truth is, the church sanctuary/service should not be our hiding place, that spot is reserved for God alone and is available anytime we desire it.
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalms 32:7-10 NIV
To me, a hiding space is like a pocket dimension I crawl into where no one can reach me. It's the place in the house you hid as a kid, whether it was because you were in trouble or just playing hide and seek, where no one could find you.
God longs for you to hide with Him.
Accept no substitutes.
Have an awesome week.
Paul
TRENDS AND CULTURE
Why online child exploitation is so hard to fight
How to stop students from making deepfakes of each other
Catholic Answers shelves AI priest
YOUTH MINISTRY ARTICLES (Podcasts)
5 Easy Ways To Encourage Your Volunteers
Talking Care Of Your Volunteers
Crash Test Youth Ministry
YOUTH PASTOR ARTICLES
How Not to Care When People Don’t Like You
Just Because You Have A Vision Does Not Mean You're Entitled To It
The Shadow of Rest
It's Mental Health Awareness Month and I have prepared a pdf that includes some videos and articles about burnout and soul care as well as a self care checklist just for youth pastors.
Please take care of yourself. Your family loves you. Your friends love you. Your students love you. God loves you.
Youth Pastor Self Care .pdf
Meanwhile, over on YMRU+
You get the newsletter a day early
You get double the articles
The Youth Pastors Guide To A Successful Summer Camp
VIDEOS
Russell Brand Get's Baptized
I'm losing, but is it worth it?
Graduation Gifts, Beyond Bible (download your Guide To Graduation here)
YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCES
Youth Pastors Guide To Graduation
Youth Pastor's Guide To Summer Camp
My Youth Ministry Playbook 2024
My Youth Meeting Playbook 2.0
My Monthly Mentor
YMRU+
The Disciple Project Outreach Manual
Youth Ministry Store (over 100 resources)
30 Free Youth Ministry Lessons and Resources (pay what you want)
Youth Pastor Advice Playlist (150 Videos)
Youth Ministry Games (Over 100 Games)