Investing In Your Youth Ministry

“It’s free?!” “Really? That’s awesome!!!” Twenty four years ago this month, we moved from New Jersey to Orlando, Florida to join the staff of Student Venture, the High School Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. The Student Venture team here in Orlando was a fun bunch who had developed strong partnerships with the local church …

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The Forgotten Disciple-Making Ally

At a recent Youth Pastor Summit, pastor, speaker and illusionist Drew Worsham shared the story of a Chinese pastor who had visited the US for the first time. At the conclusion of his visit, he was asked for his impressions on the American church. His response reflected amazement, but it was also a subtle rebuke. …

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A Hidden Key for Creating a Disciple-Making Culture

Years ago, I heard Pastor Juan Carlos Ortiz tell this story. He was preparing to preach on Love. He had studied all week, examining various passages. He had looked at the words for love in Greek and Hebrew. He, of course, had taught on love many times before. He wanted this message to be impactful. …

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An Avoidable Leadership Crisis

I’ll soon be in Turkiye with 270 disciple-making leaders from approximately 120 nations for Concentric’s Global Disciple-Making Leadership Summit. Eight years ago in Israel, while at Concentric’s last Global Summit in 2015, Sonlife’s disciple-making leadership pathway was born. It was then that our leadership team wrestled through a simple, clear paradigm shift. Our pathway with …

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Discipleship Is Not Enough

Over the weekend, Jennifer and I went to see Jesus Revolution, a new movie based on Greg Laurie’s personal journey with the birth of the Calvary Chapel movement of the late 60’s and early 70’s. As we sat in our seats at the movie’s conclusion, Jennifer and I both found ourselves saying the same thing. …

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Are we programming for failure?

7% of the next generation globally identify themselves as Christ-followers. This Barna Group statistic was the focal point of a three day conversation among leaders recently gathered in Orlando from various youth ministry organizations. Are we, the church, losing the next generation? Are we really satisfied with the results we’re seeing? We can’t stick our …

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7 REASONS WHY WE’RE FAILING

Earlier this year, about thirty of us from varying youth ministry organizations gathered in Orlando with one singular focus. Reaching the next generation. At the outset, a statistic was shared that became our rallying point. Recent research by the Barna Group provided sobering clarity. 7% of the next generation globally identify themselves as Christ-followers. Are …

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Basic Training… for Effective Disciple-Making!

In two weeks, our youngest will return home from Basic Training. Back in the Spring, she enlisted in the Army Reserves, and her Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri began in late Summer. After three and a half months away, she will return home a different person. She will return home a soldier. …

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Jesus Is A Deep Well

This Summer, I decided to journal through the Gospels, a chapter a day, for 90 days. The four Gospels have 89 chapters, and if you throw in Acts 1 with Jesus’ Ascension, you have an even 90 chapters to journal through in June, July and August. Here’s one of my recent journal entries from Matthew …

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Building Relationships with Nathan Glover

Subscribe on: Apple | Spotify | Google | Stitcher | Pocketcast This week we’re talking about building relationships with Nathan Glover of Urban Impact. We discuss the win, build, equip, multiply model that they have used and the importance of training others to make disciples. Nathan is the director of training center with Urban Impact. He has been either in or leading Urban Impact …

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