By Jane Fryar on May 2, 2012
It seemed almost pointless to play the 1978 Orange Bowl. The Oklahoma Sooners, all but unbeatable that year, were a 21-point favorite. Then Arkansas lost four key players the week before the game. One had been injured, and Arkansas’s coach had benched three others for breaking team rules. That coach was Lou Holtz, who later [...]
Posted in Children's ministry, Christian Worker, Church staff, Church Volunteers, Encouragement, Encouraging Volunteers, Men's Ministry, Ministry, Pastor, Sunday School, Teachers, Women's Ministry, Youth Ministry Tagged appreciating volunteers, church staff, encouraging volunteers, managing volunteers
By Tim Wesemann on May 1, 2012
Editor’s note: This devotion is adapted from CTA’s new book for graduates, New Beginnings for Graduates. Written by Tim Wesemann in his always-popular style, all the devotions and articles in this book will encourage and uplift recent graduates. (It’s value-priced, too!) Congratulations! The last four years are officially filed away in your memory. The classroom [...]
Posted in Devotions, Encouragement, Graduation, Ministry, Pastor, Sermon Ideas, Teachers, Youth Ministry Tagged Christian, free devotion, Graduation, graduation gifts
By Jane Fryar on April 25, 2012
In last week’s post, we talked about the pros and cons of using Facebook as a tool for connecting with youth group members. If you haven’t read that article, check it out! This week, we will look at how to set up a Facebook Group, step-by-step and then talk about the ins and outs of [...]
Posted in Children's ministry, Christian Worker, Church staff, Encouragement, Pastor, Teachers, Youth Ministry Tagged children's pastor, online ministry, social media and ministry, Youth Ministry, youth pastor
By Jane Fryar on April 24, 2012
Editor’s note: How will you honor those who will graduate from high school, college, and graduate programs this spring? Here’s a “Sending Service” you can use or adapt. In addition, CTA has several value-priced items you might give as reminders to your graduates of God’s love in Christ! Adapt this commissioning/sending service to your setting [...]
Posted in Encouragement, Free Resources, Graduation, Ministry, Pastor, Sermon Ideas, Sunday School, Teachers, Youth Ministry Tagged commissioning service, Graduation, honoring grads, sending service
By Jane Fryar on April 18, 2012
A recent survey of youth ministers brought a growing concern to CTA’s attention. Across denominations, adult leaders are telling us it’s harder and harder to compete with all the other activities in which youth are engaged. As we brainstormed that issue on staff, one thought that surfaced was meeting kids where they are—online. So how [...]
Posted in Christian Worker, Church Volunteers, Outreach/Evangelism, Youth Ministry Tagged children's pastor, ministry and social media, online ministry, Youth Ministry
By Jane Fryar on April 17, 2012
This time of year, activities in Christian schools, Sunday schools, CCD classes, choirs, Awana, and Bible clubs begin winding to a close. In a few weeks, the children and youth you have worked with for multiple weeks, months, or perhaps even years will move on—to a different class, school, or community. Perhaps one of the [...]
Posted in Children's ministry, Christian Worker, Church staff, Church Volunteers, Encouragement, Encouraging Volunteers, Graduation, Grandparents Day, Youth Ministry Tagged affirming kids, children's pastor, DCE, DRE, encouraging children, encouraging kids, youth pastor
By Jane Fryar on April 16, 2012
Editor’s note: This is Volunteer Appreciation Week. For that reason, we have included a free devotion you can use to thank the volunteers who serve with you and to remind them of the blessings their service brings. This particular reading comes from CTA’s devotion book for church staff and volunteers, Thanking God for Your Servant [...]
Posted in Christian Worker, Church staff, Church Volunteers, Devotions, Encouragement, Encouraging Volunteers, Men's Ministry, Pastor, Sermon Ideas, Sunday School, Teachers, Women's Ministry, Youth Ministry Tagged encouraging church staff, encouraging volunteers, free devotion
By Karen Kogler on April 4, 2012
Editor’s note: This blog is the last in a series of five in which CTA contributor and volunteerism professional Karen Kogler discusses ways to deal with volunteers whose service becomes a challenge. We have published these blogs, one per week, on Wednesdays. Scroll back on this page to read the four previous installments. You’ve had [...]
Posted in Children's ministry, Christian Worker, Church staff, Church Volunteers, Encouragement, Encouraging Volunteers, Men's Ministry, Ministry, Pastor, Women's Ministry, Youth Ministry Tagged conflict in church, leading volunteers, volunteers in church
By Karen Kogler on March 28, 2012
Editor’s note: This blog is the fourth in a series of five in which CTA contributor and volunteerism professional Karen Kogler discusses ways to deal with volunteers whose service becomes a challenge. We are running these blogs, one per week, on Wednesdays. Scroll back on this page to read the first three we’ve posted. Then [...]
Posted in Children's ministry, Christian Worker, Church staff, Church Volunteers, Encouragement, Encouraging Volunteers, Men's Ministry, Ministry, Pastor, Women's Ministry, Youth Ministry Tagged conflict in church, leading volunteers, volunteers in church
By Karen Kogler on March 21, 2012
Editor’s note: This blog is the third in a series of five in which CTA contributor and volunteerism professional Karen Kogler discusses ways to deal with volunteers whose service becomes a challenge. We are running these blogs, one per week, on Wednesdays. Look for the next installment next Wednesday. Problems with volunteers must be dealt [...]
Posted in Children's ministry, Christian Worker, Church staff, Church Volunteers, Encouragement, Men's Ministry, Ministry, Pastor, Women's Ministry, Youth Ministry Tagged conflict in church, leading volunteeers, volunteers in church