It’s during the spring when things seem to get really busy. With the end of school approaching, spring activities starting, and Easter right around the corner, it can be a fast-paced time. Time in a youth group or at church in general can be just the break youth need. Chances are, your youth will want to give you their ideas for what to do during your time together. Being able to give feedback allows youth to have agency and ownership of the time they spend together while still allowing you to have structure. But how do you get the most helpful feedback from youth?

Bible journaling is a pretty popular activity—but the perception seems to be that it’s only for women. And while it might seem like a female-only practice, all Christians can benefit from Bible journaling!

I’ve been pondering the phrase holy dissatisfaction lately within my ministry context. Many of our ministry volunteers express a longing for more impact in our kids’ and students’ lives but wonder how to step into the gap. I have been reading and praying through their longing as I lift them up, and the term holy dissatisfaction continually crosses my mind.

Sometimes I’m not a nice person.

Sometimes I just need to say those words out loud and admit them.

Spring is just around the corner, and with it, spring break! This week can be a restful time and help your family “spring” into the next season.

One year for Lent, I gave up Pop-Tarts.

This post is excerpted from Wherever Love May Lead by Catherine Duerr. 

“What do you do?” the lab tech asked as we waited for the equipment to charge.

Imagine struggling to find community, but you can’t afford housing and need to keep moving. You’ve had a cough for a month, but you don’t have health insurance so you can’t afford to see a doctor. And you have a Bible, but it’s in a language you don’t understand.

Valentine’s Day is a pretty divisive holiday; few people feel neutral toward it.

It was the day before Christmas break, and the whole school had come together in the gym for chapel. There were young wiggly kids and kids who had lost several baby teeth and the more mature preteens, all dressed in their uniform pleated skirts, slacks, and polos. With the excitement of Christmas break ahead, the usual semi-organized chaos was ticked up to another level.