Love Your Neighbor
Today was a gorgeous fall day. I love this time of the year. After a great morning at church, hearing the pastor boldly challenge the congregation to understand that our relationship with the Lord is not meant to be self-absorbed…
Are You Stuck?
Last night we flew home from Atlanta, GA and found ourselves in the “basic economy” section of the jet, i.e. the last row of the confined seats. Have you ever sat there? It’s conveniently located to the lavatory along with…
Transitioning with a Coach
Last year I took my first position as the Children’s Ministry Director at a growing church plant that was almost 4 years old. I was eager to get involved with the kids and the volunteers but had no idea some…
The Key to Winning
Rob Chagdes, Prairie Lakes Church, Cedar Rapids, IA I had only been a varsity softball coach for two weeks when I learned I was lacking a key element of a coach. I didn’t know how to make them better softball…
Who’s in My Corner?
My name is Chad Hoffman. I was sitting 5 years into ministry, broken down, raw, and ready to throw in the towel. In that moment, I had just been dealt one of the hardest blows of my ministry career, and the ref…
Equipped to Serve
My name is Brett Wiersma, and I am a middle school youth pastor in Pella, Iowa. The church that I work for is quite large and when I first arrived here five years ago, I was TERRIFIED! I was seven…
The Tulip Time Volunteer
A story on NBC’s Nightly News tonight highlighted the Tulip Time Festival in Holland, Michigan. Lester Holt referred to the festival as “one of America’s most breathtaking celebrations of the season”. This small town expands from its 33,000 residents to…
Advice from a Winning Coach
Jay Hostetler, April 19, 2017 The UCONN Huskies’ ladies’ basketball team performance has been unprecedented. They have experienced historical winning streaks spanning seasons of competition. They have had the good fortune to acquire top talent to the program for many…
Children’s Ministry–Fired Up or Worn Out?
Is your children’s ministry dynamic, fired up and getting ready for a new summer thrust and guests and engaging with volunteers to recruit for the fall team? Or is everyone on the team worn out and exhausted? Has your children’s…
The Impact of Kids
Jay Hostetler For four decades, I have had the amazing experience of spending much time in ministry with kids. My memories run deep with observing kids react to one another and with adults. I remember a flight where I noticed…