We’ve all been there. We planned something for months and the day finally comes--and only 3 people show up. We had a significant conversation with someone in our collegiate or young adult ministry about a life decision--and a few days later, they're making choices as if that conversation never happened. Disappointment is a regular factor of ministry, but it's a topic we rarely discuss. We often treat it like a forbidden topic to talk about as leaders. So how do we deal with disappointment in ministry? I’ll be honest: … [Read more...]
3 Ways To Help Young Adults Manage Time Wisely
Time. No matter where you live, the language you speak, or your occupation, we all have a set number of hours every day to use at our discretion. And that’s where the problem arises: The discretion for how we utilize our time is in our hands. I continually hear friends, acquaintances, and complete strangers indicate that they “never have enough time.” To be honest, I've said those exact words myself recently. With all of life's responsibilities, people are stressed out, exhausted, and constantly on the go, trying to make use of … [Read more...]
One Action Step If You’re Struggling to Know God’s Will for Your Life
Surely most of us have looked up into the sky and asked the question, “What is God’s will for my life?” Generally, that question comes at the crossroad of some important decision. Maybe it’s about choosing what to study in college. Perhaps it’s about choosing between this job or that one in this city or that one. Maybe it’s about whether to marry the person you are currently dating. It could even be about whether or not to retire. So we have this crossroad before us, and we want to know if God’s will is for us to choose to the … [Read more...]
Why Your Time At the Polls Really Does Matter
It was senior superlative time at my high school. We had borrowed the county's voting machines for our oh-so-important elections and were preparing for the influx of students to come through the gym. As we were setting up the machines, a volunteering mother mentioned that she never had used one before. As she put it, "I'm not political." I'll never forget how those words rang in my ears. My 18th birthday and voting eligibility were just weeks away. Standing at the bulky contraption, I pondered my own "political" future. MILLENNIALS … [Read more...]
Four Ways to Help Overwhelmed College Students
One of the most common words I hear from my college students these days is "anxiety." Generally, they tell me this while checking their phone every 6 seconds so they can respond to or check for notifications from a thousand apps competing for their attention. I watch this happen and wonder if they can see the correlation. In his book “Marching Off the Map,” Tim Elmore shares this statistic: “The average high schooler experiences the same anxiety level as a 1950s psychiatric patient.” When I shared this statistic with some of my … [Read more...]
Try the 21-Day Experiment
Disciples of Jesus know they’re commanded to share their faith. Countless resources exist for evangelism—including tracts of all shapes and sizes. I like some of them and find them to be beneficial in certain circumstances; but they’re not my favorite way to share the gospel. Here are just a couple of reasons why: One, it is difficult to summarize the cost of following Jesus and what responding to the gospel entails in a small booklet. Two, we live in a culture that increasingly does not possess a biblical worldview. Therefore, … [Read more...]
Friday Links
Here are some articles, blogs, and podcasts from this past week that you may find helpful as you work with young adults in your church and community. “Millennials Face Life After College, Finding ‘Quarter-Life Crisis’ Instead of Dream Jobs” by Linda Ha There may be some young adults in your group that have graduated from college, but have had difficulty in finding a job that fits their training and passion. This article discusses some of the aspects of a “quarter-life crisis” that many of today’s millennials face. “Leadership … [Read more...]
9 Scriptural Prayers I’m Praying for My Campus
If you’re a campus minister, or a church seeking to influence students on campus, you know it’s imperative to pray for that campus and the students who study there. But, where do you start? How do you know specifically what to pray for? Some of the best prayers we can pray in any occasion are found in (or based on) Scripture. Here are 9 prayers directly from the Bible I’m praying for my campus and students this summer… Jesus said, No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him (John 6:44). Father, draw students … [Read more...]
College Student, Don’t Waste Your Summer!
photo: lisa runnels, released to public domain. https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=96461&picture=relaxing Another school year has come and gone. If you’re a student, you’ve either finished exams week or about to begin it. You’re anticipating the break the summer promises to bring: vacations, recreation, sleep. Or, at least a slower pace. But, what about the slowing of spiritual momentum? For some, this school year proved to be a time of deep discipleship and growth. Others may find themselves … [Read more...]
Embrace the Urgency
There are some things that call for an urgent response. When the water pipe bursts in your kitchen and water is spewing all over the place, the best response is an urgent dash to shut the water off. If you happen upon a vehicle accident with injuries, the best response is an urgent phone call to 911. When I read the book of Acts and observe the early church’s response to Jesus’ promise that He is coming back, there's an urgency among the followers of Christ. They're intent on making sure others know the message and hope of the … [Read more...]
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