After spending ten years in youth ministry, I’ve now spent almost another ten years teaching about it at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. I write a regular column for the The Sower, a quarterly catechetical journal sponsored by Franciscan University and Maryvale Institute. Here’s everything I’ve written for them so far.
“Youth Ministers: Working With Your Pastor”, April 2011 In youth ministry, there is no more important relationship than the one between the Pastor and the Youth Minister. Here are some ideas to help that relationship grow stronger.
“Sharing the Gospel Message with Adolescents”, October 2010 and January 2011 What is the heart of the Gospel Message? This two-part article takes a look at how using the four reasons for the Incarnation can be a great way to explain the Gospel Message to Teenagers.
“An Organic and Comprehensive Ministry to Youth”, July 2010 The eight components of youth ministry shouldn’t be understood (or implemented) as if they are free-standing or have equal weight. To be effective, we have to understand the organic unity that comprehensive youth ministry strives for.
“Avoiding Burnout In Youth Ministry”, June 2010 We are all called to be on fire with the Holy Spirit. But if we’re not careful, we can burn with a worldly fire that only causes us to burn out. Here’s some clues on how to know the difference. (Written for “Formed Magazine”, no longer in print.)
“Ministering to Youth in a Media-Saturated Culture”, April 2010 New surveys say that teens spend more time with media than adults do at work, and they don’t take weekends off. Kids are not consuming media, media is consuming them.
“From Education to Transformation”, January 2010 St. John Bosco new the difference between teaching youth and leading youth into holiness. Do we?
“The Importance of Studying Youth Culture”, January 2010 The culture changes to constantly to ever feel we know it all. Here are some ways to stay on top of it. (Written for “Formed Magazine”, no longer in print.)
“Unfair Advantage”, July 2009 Sometimes we get so concerned with being “fair” that we spread ourselves out too thin and nothing gets done. We should do what Jesus did.
“Soul Searching for Youth Ministers”, April 2009 What is the “creed” of the typical American teenager? You might be surprised.
“Communicating Our Love for Adolescents”, January 2009 Applying “The Five Love Languages” in our ministry for youth.
“Ministering to Millenials”, October 2008 We can’t do ministry to the way we were, or recreate our own ministry experience. We have to speak to the way youth are today.
“Helping Youth Encounter Christ in the Gospels”, July 2009 The best way to bring teens into deeper intimacy with Jesus is to encounter Him in the Gospels. Here are some ways to do that.
“Christ’s Invitation to Young People”, April 2008 As catechists, we must resist the temptation to water down Christ’s radical call of holiness and sainthood.
“The Missionary Nature of Youth Catechesis”, January 2008 When we deal with young people, we are missionaries to a foreign culture.
“Developmental Issues in Youth Catechesis”, October 2007 We are not speaking to small versions of adults. We need to understand basic adolescent development so we can better communicate with teens.
“Developmental Issues in Youth Catechesis”, October 2007 We must call upon the Holy Spirit to bring a new “catechetical dynamism” in ministry today.
