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Articles & Posts

Check out our NEW featured Articles, Devotionals, and Ministry Tips!

    • ALL DEVOTIONALS

    • MARRIAGE RETREAT

    • LEAD SUMMIT

    • ALL MINISTRY TIPS

    • SUMMER TRAINING

    • 9 MARKERS

    • 8 ESSENTIALS

    • 5 MINUTES W/ BO

Featured
5 MINUTES WITH BO: Asking Good Questions
Ministry Tips
Youth Ministry, Coaching, Toolbox, Questions, 5 Min Bo
5 MINUTES WITH BO: Asking Good Questions
Ministry Tips
Youth Ministry, Coaching, Toolbox, Questions, 5 Min Bo

Check out these “Powerful Questions for Strategic Conversations.” This coaching resource is designed to help coaches facilitate meaningful conversations and guide members toward greater insight and intentional growth. The goal is to help leaders think more deeply, gain greater clarity, and become more visionary in their leadership.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
Youth Ministry, Coaching, Toolbox, Questions, 5 Min Bo
MARKER #1: Vision & Alignment
Ministry Tips
9 Markers
MARKER #1: Vision & Alignment
Ministry Tips
9 Markers

Vision drives everything. Do you have a clear and compelling vision for your Student Ministry? Do students and leaders understand your mission, strategy, and values? Check out these Quick Tips for Refining Your Vision, Mission, Strategy, and Values.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
9 Markers
MARKER #2: Tips for Life Transformation
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Transformation, Spiritual Growth
MARKER #2: Tips for Life Transformation
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Transformation, Spiritual Growth

Is your youth ministry a place where life transformation happens? Do you want students’ lives to be changed by the power of God? That’s the goal of most youth ministries, but sometimes it can get lost in our programming. Check out these 5 Tips for Developing Life Transformation.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Transformation, Spiritual Growth
MARKER #3: Tips for Building Healthy Teams
Ministry Tips
teamwork, Volunteers, Youth Ministry, 9 Markers
MARKER #3: Tips for Building Healthy Teams
Ministry Tips
teamwork, Volunteers, Youth Ministry, 9 Markers

Teamwork is essential, but what does it take to build a healthy team and create a healthy team environment? How well does your ministry do at recruiting and training volunteers? Join the conversation with experienced leaders, Joe and Hunter, as they share some Funky Fresh Tips for Building Healthy Teams and why it matters.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
teamwork, Volunteers, Youth Ministry, 9 Markers
MARKER #4: Tips for Creating Student Ownership
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Student Ownership, Student Leadership
MARKER #4: Tips for Creating Student Ownership
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Student Ownership, Student Leadership

Do your students get excited about your youth ministry? Do they have an opportunity to give ideas, get involved in leading, and help shape what your ministry does? Check out these HOT Tips for Creating Student Ownership.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Student Ownership, Student Leadership
MARKER #5: Pressure Free Teaching Tips
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Teaching, Youth Ministry, Lesson Prep
MARKER #5: Pressure Free Teaching Tips
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Teaching, Youth Ministry, Lesson Prep

One of the greatest honors of working in student ministry is teaching God’s Word. It can also bring the most pressure because it’s the most public aspect of our job. Check out these 4 Great Teaching Tips to help you prep your lessons with less stress.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Teaching, Youth Ministry, Lesson Prep
MARKER #6: Tips for Creating Intentional Events
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Events, Youth Ministry
MARKER #6: Tips for Creating Intentional Events
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Events, Youth Ministry

Are you good at building intentional events that students actually want to attend? Check out these HOT Event Tips and Tricks to make your next gathering irresistible.


Read more →
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Events, Youth Ministry
MARKER #7: Tips for Showing Uncommon Care
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Uncommon Care, Acceptance
MARKER #7: Tips for Showing Uncommon Care
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Uncommon Care, Acceptance

Being a teenager can be tough, but you can help make it easier. Does your youth ministry provide a safe and caring environment where students can grow? Do students feel seen and understood by a caring adult? Join the conversation with Erika & Dianne, and check out these 5 Tips for Showing Uncommon Care and Acceptance.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Uncommon Care, Acceptance
MARKER #8: Group Communication Tips
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Communication
MARKER #8: Group Communication Tips
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Communication

Do your students, parents, and volunteers know what’s happening in your ministry? Do you have a clear way to communicate the details of your next activity or event? Check out these 5 HOT Tips for Communicating with your students and families.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Communication
MARKER #9: Tips for Evaluating Your Ministry
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Evaluation
MARKER #9: Tips for Evaluating Your Ministry
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Evaluation

Evaluating our ministries can help us improve them. Join the conversation as Tim and Maria share years of insight from their growing Student Ministry in Kansas. Check out the interview and put these 5 Powerful Tips for Evaluating Your Ministry into practice.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Evaluation
ESSENTIAL #1: Soul Care Tips
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Soul Care, Youth Ministry, Sabbath
ESSENTIAL #1: Soul Care Tips
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Soul Care, Youth Ministry, Sabbath

We live in a culture addicted to hurry, and that pace can be felt even more for youth pastors and church leaders. If we are not careful, we can easily find ourselves facing burnout. Check out these 3 Great Soul Care Tips and how to reclaim your Sabbath.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Soul Care, Youth Ministry, Sabbath
Team Dev.jpg
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Team Training, Volunteers, Youth Ministry
ESSENTIAL #2: Team Training Resources
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Team Training, Volunteers, Youth Ministry

Need to train your volunteer youth leaders? Check out these 8 Volunteer Team Training Resources! Here’s why… Inviting others to share their God-given gifts and then training and building them up to pour into the lives of students promotes volunteer longevity, consistency, and fulfillment.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Team Training, Volunteers, Youth Ministry
ESSENTIAL #3: Sharing the Gospel
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Gospel, Evangelism, Youth Ministry
ESSENTIAL #3: Sharing the Gospel
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Gospel, Evangelism, Youth Ministry

Do your students know how to share the Gospel? What is their confidence level in sharing their own faith story? Check out these Outreach Tips & Tools for helping teenagers learn and share the GOSPEL with their friends.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Gospel, Evangelism, Youth Ministry
ESSENTIAL #5: Student Leadership Resources
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Student Leadership
ESSENTIAL #5: Student Leadership Resources
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Student Leadership

Check out these 9 GREAT SL RESOURCES! Here’s why… Developing a student leadership team and creating ways for students to serve builds ownership and helps them become participants instead of spectators. Providing leadership training and opportunities to lead helps create a student-centered culture and multiplies your leadership.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Student Leadership
ESSENTIAL #6: Small Group Discussion Tips
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, small groups, discipleship, Youth Ministry
ESSENTIAL #6: Small Group Discussion Tips
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, small groups, discipleship, Youth Ministry

Need a quick way to train your Small Group leaders? Does your team need reminded how to lead a good small group? Check out these 7 Small Group Tips for leading an effective discussion with students.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, small groups, discipleship, Youth Ministry
ESSENTIAL #7: Programming Tips for Good Transitions
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Youth Ministry, Programming, Transitions, Middle School, High School
ESSENTIAL #7: Programming Tips for Good Transitions
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Youth Ministry, Programming, Transitions, Middle School, High School

Transitions are one of the most important parts of what we do as student ministry leaders. Helping students move well from one ministry to another is vital to their personal and spiritual growth. Check out these HOT Tips for Good Transitions.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Youth Ministry, Programming, Transitions, Middle School, High School

Summer Training: Maximizing Summer and Ramping Up for Fall

September 25, 2025 in Ministry Tips

Join national speaker and middle-school ministry guru Heather Flies as she shares tangible, thoughtful, fun, and time-tested Pro-Tips. In this Summer Training, she will help us take our momentum from summer and use it to fuel and propel us into the Fall.

As a youth leader, there is so much on your plate! Between attending orchestra concerts of your students, preparing messages, responding to frustrated parents, cleaning up vomit and recruiting leaders, how can you find time to be thoughtful and intentional about your rhythms of the school year and summer?! It takes a minute (as the kids would say), but that minute will be a wave you can ride all the way through the ministry year!

WATCH PART #1:

PART 1: SUMMARY

  • Tip 1: Plan Ahead

  • Tip 2: Create Multiple Touchpoints

  • Tip 3: Move Up New Students @ the Start of the Summer

WATCH PART #2:

PART 2: SUMMARY

  • Tip 4: Celebrate the Good Stuff Going on in Your Ministry

  • Tip 5: Make Your “Move Up” More Intentional

  • Tip 6: Build Relational Touchpoints

  • Tip 7: Show Students That Being a Christian is Fun

  • Tip 8: Build Those Connections

  • Chat Question: How Often Do You Do Events in the Summer?

  • Group Question: Do You Have a Student Mission Trip?

  • Trip Tip: Mobile Home Park VBS

WATCH PART #3:

PART 3: SUMMARY

  • Tip 9: Design Programming that Creates Natural Momentum

  • Question: Do You do Some Type of Summer Camp?

  • Tip 10: You Can Scale Your Own Camp Program

  • Tip 11: Integrate a Summer Camp Celebration into Your Plan

  • Tip 12: Capitalize on the Momentum of Summer and Bring it with you

  • Tip13: Open Mic- Ask Older Students to Share (How do succeed as a MS student?)

  • Q & A: When Do You Start Planning for Summer?

  • Tip 14: Implement Tiered Rates for Trips & Camps

  • Q & A: How Much Do You Charge for Camp?

WATCH PART 4:

PART 4: ADDITIONAL Q & A

  • What Does the Kids’ Ministry Do with Moving Up?

  • Do Your Students Fund-raise?

  • How Do You Show the Camp Video so Quickly?

  • How Do You Leave Camp & Arrive Back On Time?

  • Do Parents Know That There’s a 1-Hour Celebration?

  • How Do You Communicate With Parents If Students Don’t Have Phones?

  • Question: How Many of You Don’t Allow Phones on Trips?

  • What If a Student Needs a Phone for Medical Reasons?

  • How Do We Launch the Fall Well & Carry the Momentum Forward?

  • Tip 15: Celebrate What You Want to Happen

  • Testimonials Are a Great Way to Capture & Use That Momentum


Trainer: Heather Flies • Posted: September 2025

Event: LEAD222 Summer Training

ARTICLES: ALL MINISTRY TIPS
ARTICLES: ALL DEVOTIONALS
Featured
5 MINUTES WITH BO: Asking Good Questions
Ministry Tips
Youth Ministry, Coaching, Toolbox, Questions, 5 Min Bo
5 MINUTES WITH BO: Asking Good Questions
Ministry Tips
Youth Ministry, Coaching, Toolbox, Questions, 5 Min Bo

Check out these “Powerful Questions for Strategic Conversations.” This coaching resource is designed to help coaches facilitate meaningful conversations and guide members toward greater insight and intentional growth. The goal is to help leaders think more deeply, gain greater clarity, and become more visionary in their leadership.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
Youth Ministry, Coaching, Toolbox, Questions, 5 Min Bo
MARKER #1: Vision & Alignment
Ministry Tips
9 Markers
MARKER #1: Vision & Alignment
Ministry Tips
9 Markers

Vision drives everything. Do you have a clear and compelling vision for your Student Ministry? Do students and leaders understand your mission, strategy, and values? Check out these Quick Tips for Refining Your Vision, Mission, Strategy, and Values.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
9 Markers
MARKER #2: Tips for Life Transformation
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Transformation, Spiritual Growth
MARKER #2: Tips for Life Transformation
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Transformation, Spiritual Growth

Is your youth ministry a place where life transformation happens? Do you want students’ lives to be changed by the power of God? That’s the goal of most youth ministries, but sometimes it can get lost in our programming. Check out these 5 Tips for Developing Life Transformation.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Transformation, Spiritual Growth
MARKER #3: Tips for Building Healthy Teams
Ministry Tips
teamwork, Volunteers, Youth Ministry, 9 Markers
MARKER #3: Tips for Building Healthy Teams
Ministry Tips
teamwork, Volunteers, Youth Ministry, 9 Markers

Teamwork is essential, but what does it take to build a healthy team and create a healthy team environment? How well does your ministry do at recruiting and training volunteers? Join the conversation with experienced leaders, Joe and Hunter, as they share some Funky Fresh Tips for Building Healthy Teams and why it matters.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
teamwork, Volunteers, Youth Ministry, 9 Markers
MARKER #4: Tips for Creating Student Ownership
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Student Ownership, Student Leadership
MARKER #4: Tips for Creating Student Ownership
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Student Ownership, Student Leadership

Do your students get excited about your youth ministry? Do they have an opportunity to give ideas, get involved in leading, and help shape what your ministry does? Check out these HOT Tips for Creating Student Ownership.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Student Ownership, Student Leadership
MARKER #5: Pressure Free Teaching Tips
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Teaching, Youth Ministry, Lesson Prep
MARKER #5: Pressure Free Teaching Tips
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Teaching, Youth Ministry, Lesson Prep

One of the greatest honors of working in student ministry is teaching God’s Word. It can also bring the most pressure because it’s the most public aspect of our job. Check out these 4 Great Teaching Tips to help you prep your lessons with less stress.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Teaching, Youth Ministry, Lesson Prep
MARKER #6: Tips for Creating Intentional Events
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Events, Youth Ministry
MARKER #6: Tips for Creating Intentional Events
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Events, Youth Ministry

Are you good at building intentional events that students actually want to attend? Check out these HOT Event Tips and Tricks to make your next gathering irresistible.


Read more →
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Events, Youth Ministry
MARKER #7: Tips for Showing Uncommon Care
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Uncommon Care, Acceptance
MARKER #7: Tips for Showing Uncommon Care
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Uncommon Care, Acceptance

Being a teenager can be tough, but you can help make it easier. Does your youth ministry provide a safe and caring environment where students can grow? Do students feel seen and understood by a caring adult? Join the conversation with Erika & Dianne, and check out these 5 Tips for Showing Uncommon Care and Acceptance.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Uncommon Care, Acceptance
MARKER #8: Group Communication Tips
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Communication
MARKER #8: Group Communication Tips
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Communication

Do your students, parents, and volunteers know what’s happening in your ministry? Do you have a clear way to communicate the details of your next activity or event? Check out these 5 HOT Tips for Communicating with your students and families.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Communication
MARKER #9: Tips for Evaluating Your Ministry
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Evaluation
MARKER #9: Tips for Evaluating Your Ministry
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Evaluation

Evaluating our ministries can help us improve them. Join the conversation as Tim and Maria share years of insight from their growing Student Ministry in Kansas. Check out the interview and put these 5 Powerful Tips for Evaluating Your Ministry into practice.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
9 Markers, Youth Ministry, Evaluation
ESSENTIAL #1: Soul Care Tips
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Soul Care, Youth Ministry, Sabbath
ESSENTIAL #1: Soul Care Tips
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Soul Care, Youth Ministry, Sabbath

We live in a culture addicted to hurry, and that pace can be felt even more for youth pastors and church leaders. If we are not careful, we can easily find ourselves facing burnout. Check out these 3 Great Soul Care Tips and how to reclaim your Sabbath.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Soul Care, Youth Ministry, Sabbath
Team Dev.jpg
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Team Training, Volunteers, Youth Ministry
ESSENTIAL #2: Team Training Resources
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Team Training, Volunteers, Youth Ministry

Need to train your volunteer youth leaders? Check out these 8 Volunteer Team Training Resources! Here’s why… Inviting others to share their God-given gifts and then training and building them up to pour into the lives of students promotes volunteer longevity, consistency, and fulfillment.

Read more →
Ministry Tips
8 Essentials, Team Training, Volunteers, Youth Ministry
Tags: Summer Training
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