* THIS POST CONTAINS BOTH AFFILIATE AND PRODUCT LINKS,
​ALONG WITH LINKS TO THIRD PARTY WEBSITES AND VIDEOS MENTIONED IN THE POST.*

I am always looking for opportunities for training, networking, and a little time out of the office. As a youth leader, a chance to be with other youth leaders for worship, encouragement and training is something I strive to keep in my yearly routines. So when the time came to attend the Youth Leader Summit, I was excited.

My time in Michigan was the last Summit for 2025. But the dates for 2026 are here. Take a few minutes to visit the YouthLeaderSummit.com, to learn more about the 2026 Summit locations, dates, and registration.

Don't miss a weekend designed for youth leaders, by youth leaders.

- jay

This past week I participated, for the first time, in Footprints on Campus. Footprints on Campus is a national prayer initiative that invites youth leaders, para-ministry organizations, churches, adults, anyone really, to come together to prayer-walk their local schools. The primary objective is to pray for 67,000 schools and 1,200 juvenile detention facilities across America. I participated by attempting to organize prayer walks for our local schools in my community. We have 5 schools in our district; 3 elementary schools, a middle school, and the high school.

​The whole experience was powerful. I've prayed for schools countless times over the years. But with the exception of showing up for See You At The Pole events or one-off prayers while sitting in my car in a school parking lot, going and praying on school campuses hasn't been a regular routine of mine. So to go and pray for our local schools on the campus was an exciting opportunity. And in doing so, I learned a couple things that I want to share with you. Here we go...

At two of our schools we had either teachers or teacher aides show up to pray with us. I was struck by their own desire to lift their students up in prayer. But not just their students, they prayed for their co-workers, support staff, and administration. As I was listening to them pray, I heard their hearts and thought, we need to be praying for these teachers.

But not just in a clump-prayer like, "God, we lift up our teachers to you...blah, blah, blah..." No, I'm thinking, we need to pray for our teachers by name. Let's reach out to our teachers, ask them how we could pray for them specifically. What are their needs? What are they seeing happening among the students? What's happening in the school? How can we pray for them as they serve students? Pray for teachers.

As I make my way to my office, I drive pass 4 of the 5 school buildings in our district. It occurred to me that as I pass by each school, I could say a drive-by prayer. Drive-by prayers, short, 2 to 3 sentence prayers for the students, teachers, staff, and administration. And not just while driving to the office. These are prayers we can make every time we pass the school buildings. 

May I suggest you consider doing something similar. Make it a habit to practice drive-by prayers when passing by your schools. Say a short prayer. And every time to drive by, say another prayer. Then another.

Are you willing to pray big prayers? I mean, BIG prayers. I was at a retreat recently, when I was convicted of my prayer life. Not my lack of a prayer life, but the size of my prayers. No, not how long they are. How BIG they are. I was challenged to consider what it was I was praying for. I found myself leaning into prayers about life and ministry, but they were general prayers. The challenge was to pray for big things. God-sized things. 

So that is what I am going to do. Since the retreat, I have started praying bigger prayers. And that's what I am encouraging you to do. Pray BIG prayers. The bigger the better.

I want to invite you to join with me next year for Footprints on Campus. Here's a link to the website. Footprints on Campus.

What are you praying for? What BIG prayers are on your heart? How are you seeing God move in your life, your ministry, in your community? Share those in the comments below.

​- jay

* THIS POST CONTAINS BOTH AFFILIATE AND PRODUCT LINKS,
​ALONG WITH LINKS TO THIRD PARTY WEBSITES AND VIDEOS MENTIONED IN THE POST.*

I number of years ago, I wrote a blog post for YM360. They asked for something that helped youth workers begin to think about their summer and how to make to most of their time. So I wrote, Make the Most Out of Your Summer. The article included three quick thoughts that youth leaders could apply to their summer planning with the hope of setting aside some valuable time for themselves, their families, and the students they served. You can read the original post here, Make the Most Out of Your Summer.

For many of us, summer brings the slow-down factor. Schools out, families go on vacation, students are off to camp or summer jobs; and the church takes on a light summer schedule. The busyness of programming, small groups, bible studies, and school events all take a back seat to summer. This is a great time to do something that helps you become a better youth worker.

Read a couple books. Take an online class. Take an in-person class. Set out to study a book in the Bible you've been avoiding. Set to meet with someone that you respect who you might learn something from. Use the lighter schedule to do something that will help you grow. And ProTip; maybe what you need to grow in isn't youth ministry. Maybe you need to challenge yourself and look at a topic or practice that will truly challenge you.

In the business of the school year, we don't always have time to dream big, God-sized dreams. Most of the time we're just trying to keep our head above water and our students (and sometimes leaders) from hurting themselves. We have study time, meetings, message prep, program planning, 1-on-1's, bible studies, parents to meet with, pastors to meet with, volunteers to meet with... Too often we go from one appointment to another appointment. Where in this busy schedule do you ever have time to dream about and for your ministry.

Schedule some time in your summer to dream big dreams. I would suggest setting aside a weekend for yourself or your team, to go somewhere, and simply begin to ask the, What If? Don't try to figure everything out or plan details, just ask, "God, what would you have us do?" Then let the ideas flow. And, don't be afraid to dream big, crazy, God-sized dreams; the kind of dreams that when you see them on paper you say, Only God could make this happen. It's okay to dream, so go and dream big.

In my original article I wrote about spending time with your family. That would include your wife and your kids. Whether a family vacation, trip, or adventure, spending time with the family is always a win. But how about setting some time aside to be with your spouse? Your spouse is often one of your biggest cheerleaders, and at the same time, the person who might sacrifice time with you the most. 

Set aside some time to spend with your spouse. I'm not thinking a day, though that might be a good start or the best option depending on your season right now. No, I'm talking about multiple days. Perhaps a weekend. An extended time away from the normal routines of life where you can simply be together. A stay in a hotel. Travel to a local destination location. Book an air b-n-b. Have a romantic dinner. And if any of those ideas are not possibilities, call on some friends, siblings, or grandparents and ask them to take the kiddos away for a night or two and plan the most amazing, romantic stay-cation you can imagine. The point is, don't neglect your spouse for the sake of your ministry. Us the summer as an opportunity to reconnect and appreciate your spouse.

Maybe you have a hobby, maybe you don't. Either way, take some time this summer to practice a hobby. If you have a hobby that you already enjoy, see what it would be like to take it to the next level? If you don't have a hobby, find one and get started with it this summer.

Over the years I have found myself getting deeper and deeper into building a garden and growing vegetables. It started with just a few tomato plants, some cucumber plants, and a couple peppers in my backyard. Today the list of vegetables I plant is close to 20+ items; many of which I start as seeds. In the late summer, early fall, I harvest my veggies and either can, dry, or freeze the bounty. Doing this gives me time to be outside, get my hands a little dirty, and do something that has become very therapeutic for me.

Your hobby might not be found playing in the dirt, but a good hobby can be a healthy distraction from the stress and busyness of ministry.

The point of all of this is to take some time to focus on you and what matters most to you. Whether it's your physical health, your spiritual health, or your emotional health, your family, your spouse, or your future, you need to take time to care for you. But time caring for you during the summer months doesn't really change anything if you don't establish healthier practices all year long. 

This summer might be a great time and space for you to begin to think about your over all health more long-term. Taking control of your calendar, creating space and time to work out, having dinner with your family, studying or have a quiet time, this are all things that can become healthier habits that lead to a healthier life.

I know for me, personally, I plan on establishing a few new, healthy practices for both my family life and my ministry life. As I get older, I am becoming more and more aware of my need to have margin and balance in my life. I am also feeling the realities of not always choosing a healthy diet or exercise plan for myself. At the same time, I am realizing that I need to be healthier (emotionally and spiritually) for my family, my students, and my leaders.

At a recent youth leader conference with my NNYM co-laborers, we were reminded that if wanted to see others around us thrive, we need to be thriving in how we live. I'm not ready to burn out because I didn't take the time to prioritize and prepare for the life and ministry that God has called me into. I want to see him work through me, in the best ways possible.

​I hope that you might want to say the same. Join with me this summer and together, let's set out to have the best summer ever...for YOU!

​- the youth worker daily

* THIS POST CONTAINS BOTH AFFILIATE AND PRODUCT LINKS,
​ALONG WITH LINKS TO THIRD PARTY WEBSITES AND VIDEOS MENTIONED IN THE POST.*

I am so excited to share the next chapter of The Youth Worker Daily with you. After a 2 year sabbatical, it's time to get back to sharing student ministry. That means there is new content, both in a written format here on the blog and video content on the TYWD YouTube channel. I am also looking forward to the relaunch of my podcast, Conversations with Every Day Youth Workers, which will begin airing this coming Fall (2025).

Those last couple of months opened the doors to join two ministries that worker with youth workers; PACT Ministries and the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM). PACT Ministry provides relationships, training and equipping for evangelical, full-time youth ministers helping them grow in their personal spiritual life, their family relationships and their student ministry through a unique combinations of highly effective, proven educational, relational, and experiential strategies. (from https://pactministry.org/about/about-pact)

National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) seeks to see every youth leader thrive in deeper connection with God and each other so that every young person is changed by the story of Jesus. They create collaborative spaces for youth leaders to be personally encouraged, professionally equipped and spiritually strengthened for faithful and effective ministry with the next generation. (https://www.youthworkers.net/mission-and-values.htm)

These ministries connected with two of my ministry passions; youth worker networking and youth ministry coaching. After a few more months of prayer and conversation with NNYM,  I joined their team. And with PACT, I began my training to become a certified ministry coach.

Then something unexpected happened. Just when we thought we had stepped into our 'what's next,' God opened another door. Just as we were getting used to our 'new roles' we were called to serve an incredible church in Cleveland, Ohio. All of a sudden we were thrusted into full-time student ministry, while connecting with youth workers part-time in the Cleveland area. I can't help but look at all of this and chuckle, just when I thought I knew what my next was, God said, 'I'm not done with you yet.'

The plan had always been to bring The Youth Worker Daily back as a resource to youth workers. Through weekly blog posts, I want to encourage youth workers with helpful content that encourages, equips, and connects youth workers to tools and resources for your ministry.

The vlog is home to practical tips , how-to's, and tricks that I hope will help you with the nuts and bolts, game ideas, creative resources, and fun ways to engage with your students. The vlog will be another weekly tool that I hope provides you with fun, interactive tips to help you thrive in your ministry.

The podcast, Conversations with Every Day Youth Workers, is something I love doing. It connects with every day youth workers and gives them the space to share their stories and the amazing things God is doing in their ministries. This summer, I hope to begin having those conversations with the goal of posting weekly episode starting in September of 2025. 

Here we go. More tools, tips, and resources to help you thrive in your ministry. The Youth Worker Daily wants to encourage you as you reach students. 

Know that you are being prayed for. Know that you matter and that you are making a difference. Know that what you are doing is vital; a calling to be Jesus' witness first in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. And through you, God is changing the lives of students.

Welcome Home.

​- the youth worker daily

* THIS POST CONTAINS BOTH AFFILIATE AND PRODUCT LINKS,
​ALONG WITH LINKS TO THIRD PARTY WEBSITES AND VIDEOS MENTIONED IN THE POST.*

I've been thinking a lot lately about this question, and thought it was time to put it out there and hear what others think.

Of course, this question leads to a list of additional questions. And while I'm not going to get into those questions here and now, I think I will circle back and address some of them in upcoming blog posts. So stay tuned for that.

In the meantime, watch today's vlog!

* THIS POST CONTAINS BOTH AFFILIATE AND PRODUCT LINKS,
​ALONG WITH LINKS TO THIRD PARTY WEBSITES AND VIDEOS MENTIONED IN THE POST.*

We spend a lot of time creating programs, planning activities, preparing messages, and leading meetings. We meet with our leaders, we meet with parents, we meet with our students. One of my favorite ideas has been student meet ups. Check out today's vlog post.

* THIS POST CONTAINS BOTH AFFILIATE AND PRODUCT LINKS,
​ALONG WITH LINKS TO THIRD PARTY WEBSITES AND VIDEOS MENTIONED IN THE POST.*

I recently spend a couple hours sitting in the service department of a car dealership as one of our vehicles received some work for our annual state inspection. I took the time as an opportunity to go over my calendar, do a little planning, and to schedule out some appointments. We were already one busy week into the new year, so before the whole month spun out of control with the unexpected, I chose to take control of my weekly schedule.

I started by included time for my goals and plans for self-health. These would be things like personal quiet times, work out times, person study and development, and times for family nights and date nights with my wife. I also blocked out the weekends that my wife and I are setting aside for family adventures. Then I started filling in the regular appointments such as worship, staff meetings, monthly directors meeting with one of our pastors, weekly bible studies, youth group gatherings; the things that happen weekly or monthly. Then I went back and filled in time for planning, message study and prep, brainstorm sessions and trainings with our adult leaders, and meetings with some of my team coordinators. Next I block in time to plan and get ready for events and gatherings that are not regular student gatherings.

In about 45 minutes I had filled about 60% of my calendar. I looked at what I had just completed, noting how much the calendar had been filled. As I looked at my calendar, I thought to myself, 'there's not much time left for being with people.' I said to myself, "this is a problem."

But as I looked at my January projections, I didn't like that I had set aside 60% of my time to "work in the office" and only 40% to be with my students or with people. Now, let me also note that part of the 60% does include time I am setting aside for me as I work to keep myself healthy, both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And yes, some of the 60% is reserved for family time. But even in that, together those two things might equal about 15%, leaving 45% of my time for work.

Instead of spending the majority of my time sitting at my desk, I want to make sure that I am spending time connecting with my students, leaders, parents, and people from our community. That will require me flipping how I build out my weekly and monthly calendars. 

I'll begin the scheduling by blocking out time to be with people; students, leaders, parents, and people from the church and community. I want to re-establish the habit of putting people first. I want to make sure I am taking time to be available to my students and leaders. And I want to make sure relationships are a priority.

This is all the more important as we get back to ministry post-covid. Having spent the last 20-something months, mostly disconnected, working from home or from the office has becoming the norm. It's easy to fill up your schedule with busy work when you can't be with people. No doubt, covid has left us with some bad habits. But after two years of not always being able to meet up with students and leader, I want to make sure this years a year of connected with people.

How about you? How are you planning to reconnect with your students, leaders, parents, and the people from your church and community? What priority are you placing on the idea of spending time, one-on-one time with the people around you? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below!

​- jay

But in shortly after starting the year, my wife and I were rocked by the diagnosis of breast cancer. This news reshaped all of 2022. We also faced the deaths of both of our fathers, only weeks a part. By the end of the year, we found ourselves in desperate need of a break. We decided to step away from ministry for a bit. We needed to put our attention on our own health as we worked through all we had experienced in 2022. 

2023 was a year of pursuing new opportunities as we navigated our way through the griefing and healing process. Thanks to the support of family and friends, we made through the year and started 2024 with a renewed hope. We started asking God, "What's Next?" Little did we know that God's 'Next' was still a year away. We committed to prayer, trusting that God had a plan for us. We just needed to wait to see what that plan would be.

God is faithful. At the start of 2025, we moved from our West Virginia home to a lakeside community in Ohio. God had opened the doors to a new ministry role working with students. He also provided an opportunity to work with youth leaders through the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM). I'll talk more about that later. Now here we are, about 5 month in, and man, it's been amazing.

All this is to say, it's time. We are back in full-time student ministry. I am working more closely with youth worker than I ever have. I feel like I have been renewed. I am thinking student ministry, dreaming student ministry, talking youth ministry, living youth ministry. (All in healthy ways...) 

But post covid, the world is changed. Student ministry is changed. Students are changed. As youth workers we are facing new complexities and challenges as we looking to reach a generation with the Gospel of Jesus. It's an isolated, anxious generation. A generation worth reaching. So what better time than now to come back and begin sharing tools, tips, and resources that might help youth workers thrive in their ministry.

Welcome back to, THE YOUTH WORKER DAILY! We're so glad you're here!

- jay

* THIS POST CONTAINS BOTH AFFILIATE AND PRODUCT LINKS,
​ALONG WITH LINKS TO THIRD PARTY WEBSITES MENTIONED IN THE POST.*

Here's a Christmas-themed game I remember playing when I was a kid. Santa Beards!

I've played this game with both high school and middle school student. When I originally post the idea, I had just played Santa Beards with my high school students and it was a blast! I'm always wondering how our students will take to games that involve a little bit of a mess, this one went over huge! Let me share Santa Beards with you.

This is another simple game to play. With two teams, a guy team and a girl team (or whatever you want to set for teams), the object is to create a Santa beard out of the shaving cream. The bigger, longer, fuller, fluffier; the better! With the plastic table cloth, the possibilities are quite large. Students can create as long and as big a beard as they can! Set your time limit and go!

I was super excited that our student had fun with this one! The laughter that filled the room was pretty cool! And surprisingly, the aftermath wasn't too bad. The shaving cream stayed in our area and not throughout the church! That's a bonus.

You will want to have a few items on hand to help with the clean up. Paper towels, hand towels, and a bathroom in close proximity are things to think about.

One more thought. This is not a game to play with whipped cream. Most whipped creams are oil based and might stain certain fabrics or even irritate skin. And no one wants to send students home with stains on their cloths or rashes on their faces. Stick to shaving cream because it is a water based product and washes out well, even if you get on the carpet.

There you are, another simple, low cost game to add to your Christmas Game Collection!  Thanks for reading!

​Merry Christmas!

​- jay