Youth Ministry Philosophy Archives - Jonathan's Blog From The Source

Going Deeper

Posted on: 01/31/19 3:22 AM | by Jonathan McKee

I’ve always been a fan of using questions to open the doors of dialogue. But sometimes I forget how powerful they can be.

Last week I was in a corner booth at a local pizza place with four 8^thgrade boys. The conversation was typical middle school boys—all over the place.

“Hey man, look at my new phone case!”

“I got one too, see?”

“I got it for Christmas.”

“Do you know what I got for Christmas? Your mom!”

Continue reading “Going Deeper”

Posted in Personal, Youth Ministry Philosophy | Tags: ice breaker questions, youth ministry | Leave A Comment

Resisting the Urge to Talk Teen

Posted on: 01/24/19 9:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

It’s funny how often I see “old people” like me trying so hard to be current with “young people.”

Today I was on a middle school campus hanging out with young people and I noticed something. They don’t care whether I’m wearing the newest Vans (you know, the kind that looks like a checkerboard), or if I use the current teen talk (“Man, that’s sus!”) … they just care that I’m there to listen.

And that’s the secret to talking teen: just shut up and listen Continue reading “Resisting the Urge to Talk Teen”

Posted in Parenting, Youth Culture, Youth Ministry Philosophy | Tags: parent, slang, talking with teenagers, youth pastor | Leave A Comment

please pray for us

Posted on: 11/2/18 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

It’s been an interesting week, with my new bullying book releasing yesterday, and doing a two day show about bullying with Focus on the Family…

But honestly, my mind is on tonight.

Tonight and tomorrow my friends Sean McDowell, Greg Stier and Caleb Kaltenbach are joining together with me to speak to church leaders about reaching LGBTQ youth at our Anchored Leadership Conference.

We are excited, yet nervous, about this event because we know Continue reading “please pray for us”

Posted in Speaking/Training, Youth Ministry Philosophy | Tags: Anchored Leadership Conference, reaching LGBTQ youth, sean McDowell | Leave A Comment

Are games actually effective in youth ministry?

Posted on: 09/25/18 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

It’s an interesting question, coming from a guy who has over 1000 free game ideas for youth workers on the brand new TheSource4YM.com

But honestly… that’s why I asked the question. Because our GAMES & ICEBREAKERS page is our most hit page on the website, and I want to make sure that youth ministries aren’t “just playing games”… I’m hoping that games serve as a springboard to meaningful conversation.

That’s why on our newly revamped website (have you seen it… it’s literally only been up a few days now), I put our newest FREE TRAINING VIDEO, a YouTube video titled, “Are Games Effective in Youth Ministry” right there on the side bar in hopes that visitors to our page will click and be challenged by what I ask them: Continue reading “Are games actually effective in youth ministry?”

Posted in Youth Ministry Philosophy | Tags: DYM, TheSource4YM.com, youth ministry games | Leave A Comment

If Dr. Seuss was in youth ministry

Posted on: 08/30/18 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

Earlier this week I was looking through the archives of the articles I wrote to youth workers back in the days… really fun looking through it all. I found this little gem from April of 2005 (I had totally forgotten about this). It gives you a glimpse of the type of kids I worked with… NOT very politically correct, mind you (apparently the filter was completely off back then).

WHAT IF DR. SEUSS HAD CHAPERONED ONE OF YOUR
YOUTH MINISTRY EVENTS?

One kid, two kid,
old kid, new kid.
Flabby kid, toned kid,
clean kid, stoned kid Continue reading “If Dr. Seuss was in youth ministry”

Posted in Humor, Youth Ministry Philosophy | Tags: Dr. Seuss, Jonathan McKee, youth ministry | Leave A Comment

Confessions of an Overweight Youth Pastor

Posted on: 03/12/18 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

“I was 100 pounds overweight,” he admitted. “It was effecting my ministry, my marriage… everything! So I finally decided to do something about it.”

Overweight. It’s not a word we use much on Sunday mornings, but it’s all too common. Maybe even more common in the world of youth ministry. (How many French fry conversations and pizza nights can one person have?)

That’s probably why Josh’s story moved me. So I asked him to share it with us. It’s a success story and I think it will be an inspiration to all of you Continue reading “Confessions of an Overweight Youth Pastor”

Posted in Faith, Leadership, Youth Ministry Philosophy | Tags: fat youth pastor, gluttony, overweight, weight loss | Leave A Comment

the three vital practices of today’s youth pastor

Posted on: 01/23/18 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

“How can I become the best youth pastor possible?”

Wow! Talk about your huge questions! I just received that exact question in an email. Well, actually, he asked…

Can you please give me your best advice on how to become the best youth pastor possible? The students deserve the best and so I want to give it to them. Even if you just want to give me a Top 10 list of books that would help me, that would be helpful.
~Trent

MY RESPONSE:

Trent, Wow, how to summarize youth ministry… in one email. That’s a big question. I’ll simplify it to three vital practices and then link a bunch of helpful reading as requested Continue reading “the three vital practices of today’s youth pastor”

Posted in Youth Ministry Philosophy, Youth Ministry Planning | Tags: best youth pastor, full time youth ministry, youth ministry basics, youth pastor, youth pastor job description | Leave A Comment

Back to School Conversations

Posted on: 08/23/17 3:03 PM | by Jonathan McKee

If your kids aren’t already back to school, they’re headed there. Sure that means new classes, homework, and all that goes along with the academic aspects of school… but that also means navigating new and old friendships, trying to fit in, and wondering if everyone likes you, not just at school, but also on every app with a like button.

This is where you come in. The typical response from caring adults like parents, grandparents, coaches and youth pastors is to ask about school Continue reading “Back to School Conversations”

Posted in Discussion Ideas, Parenting, Youth Ministry Philosophy | Tags: back to school, conersations, dialogue, get your teenager talking, parenting, teenagers | Leave A Comment

Top 30 Youth Ministry Blogs

Posted on: 03/21/16 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

This month YouthMinistry.com posted the Top 30 Youth Ministry blogs and thanks to readers like you, we made the list… twice!

They listed THE SOURCE FOR YOUTH MINISTRY in slot No. 5, and then my personal blog JonathanMcKeeWrites.com in slot No. 12.

Take a peek at the whole list Continue reading “Top 30 Youth Ministry Blogs”

Posted in Personal, Youth Ministry Philosophy, Youth Ministry Planning | | Leave A Comment

Category: Youth Ministry Philosophy

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