Biblical Training? Relationships? or Something Else? As we all know, discipleship is a term that has been used in the church and ministry for a really long time now, but I have discovered during my time in ministry that it comes in all shapes and sizes. One of these moments happened last night for me when we were getting ready for our evening youth activities. Most of our students had already arrived… read more
Brent Aiken
May 26, 2015
Brent Aiken
It always seems like a common set of questions within the Youthmin.org Facebook group. “Does your youth group meet over the Summer?” “What do you do over the Summer with your group?” “How often does your youth group meet over the Summer?” These questions always get the same answers from me. Yes, my group meets over the summer. We meet at the exact same times and places (for the most part) that… read more
April 28, 2015
Brent Aiken
For some time now, I have heard the expression, “I will stay in youth ministry as long as I can relate with the students.” After taking some time to think through this statement, I’m not sure it’s valid. What is Relatable? This is probably something that needs no explanation, but I am sure that there are many different definitions of a seemingly straightforward definition. Oxford dictionary defines relatable as two things,… read more
November 11, 2014
Brent Aiken
I don’t think I have ever spoken to a Youth Pastor before without somehow or another moving the conversation to curriculum and event planning. I, for one, absolutely love writing my own curriculum. I love the freedom it gives me to cover the topic that I choose and address it in the manner that I like. Writing curriculum challenges me to push myself and my understanding of God even when I feel farthest… read more
October 2, 2014
Brent Aiken
For most people in ministry that I have met, vacations and time away from the ministry are often left on the back burner. This is something that, over the past year, I have found to be EXTREMELY hazardous to your spirit as well as your body. We need to have some time to get out and do things that get us out of the 24-hour-a-day mindset that is required in Youth Ministry…. read more
September 23, 2014
Brent Aiken
Volunteers… We don’t always have them but we need them. I have been in Youth Ministry for a little over 4 years now and for about the first 3 years I thought that everything was my responsibility. I did three lessons a week, scheduled a meal sign up sheet and made contact with whoever was signed up for the current week, spent as much time as I could with the students (which… read more