Youth Ministry Basics is eight pragmatic teachings with informative "how-tos" that have consistently made significant differences in my youth ministries over the years.

Over the last decades of my ministry, I've dedicated my life to raising up leaders. A few of them, I have been honored to walk up close with as a part of my intership program. Like most everything in the Kingdom, leadership training is tremendously unglamorous when you’re in the middle of the process. But if you’re going to be a real leadership trainer, taking a deeper interest in key leaders and pouring your gut into them will make a difference. This Youth Ministry Basics Resource will walk you through my goals for my interns, a sample schedule of a typical week, and more.

Youth Ministry Basics is eight pragmatic teachings with informative "how-tos" that have consistently made significant differences in my youth ministries over the years.

If your youth ministry is larger than five or six, you will need to recruit leaders to help you. Even Jesus only had 12 in His youth group! But the challenge is finding volunteer leaders to come alongside you.

Before I had a single leader, I made a list of five names that I saw as potential leaders. My “big five” weren’t even a part of the youth ministry, nor did they show any interest in getting involved. This Youth Ministry Basics Resource outlines exactly how I have been able to find good leaders, cast vision to them and get them to stick.

Youth Ministry Basics is eight pragmatic teachings with informative "how-tos" that have consistently made significant differences in my youth ministries over the years.

A Point Guard is "the person who finds the holes in the defense to best execute a winning strategy." Is your defensive strategy a little off? Well, I can honestly say that without our Point Guard team, our defense would be a little off. I cannot tell you what a difference this team makes for us each and every ministry night! These kids come expecting more out of our youth ministry, because they now feel a part of the team. They realize through a friendly smile, a handshake, a high-five and a simple “What’s up?” they just might impact the person they are handing a flyer to. Point Guard’s mix is made up of people who are willing to be servants. They sacrifice their time and energy one ministry night a month by being the most amazing serving team anyone could ever ask for. Without their time, energy and their hearts, our ministry would not be the same.

Youth Ministry Basics is eight pragmatic teachings with informative "how-tos" that have consistently made significant differences in my youth ministries over the years.

Lots of times when a teenager tries to give their life to Christ spiritually, it's tough for them to know where to start. This Youth Ministry Basics Resource is designed to give them a road map of how to walk out the Christian life. With both teacher's and student's guides, each week is mapped out in an easy to teach format that provides key Scriptures that all believers need to know, the importance of Christian friendships, and prayer. It describes what "Christian Discipleship" looks like and how to walk it out. There is a class on "finding your Ministry SHAPE" and the last class walks believers through developing their own mission statement. You'll find this is an invaluable tool for taking your students to the next step in their walk with Christ.