When I was 24 years old, I bought a 1989 Jeep Wrangler. I don’t know what it was about Jeeps that attracted me. Was it because they seemed like a fun vehicle? Was it the sense of adventure that they portrayed? Mine had a hard top, so I had a soft top kit installed so …
The Chosen Presents: A Blended Harmony of the Gospels I first purchased Thomas & Gundry’s NIV Harmony of the Gospels as a textbook in Bible College. I used it about as much as you would imagine the typical college student would for a class in Bible College. Then, as a new youth pastor, I was …
Five years ago, when Imran Richards became the Caribbean director for The Sports Movement, they were ministering in nine countries or territories across the region. Today, they have nationals leading ministries in twenty nine of the thirty countries or territories throughout the Caribbean region. How did this growth take place? Imran was very intentional in …
I have the privilege of volunteering as a chaplain for a police department in my area. Recently, I spent about 3 hours on a ride-along with an officer. As we drove and talked, he was sharing with me about a fishing boat that his father had given him as a gift. During our conversation, it …
I recently had the privilege of teaching at Word Of Life Bible Institute in Hudson, FL. I’d been invited to come in and teach the new class of students in a week-long course on personal evangelism. Just over 100 students are enrolled this year for the Bible Institute’s one year program in Florida. While many …
I’m writing from Haiti, a country I’ve been traveling to for the last 20 years. I originally met Pastor Wiljean Compere at the Billy Graham Conference for pastors and evangelists, Amsterdam 2000. In 2008, we started a residential disciple-making training program for young leaders called SOYM (the School Of Youth Ministry). This week, I have …
Have you taken your summer APR yet? As another ministry year approaches, it’s wise for every leader to get away for what we in Sonlife circles call your APR… the Annual Planning Retreat. You’ll need two to three days to prayerfully reflect on this past year and seek the Lord for wisdom and direction as …
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 Koske was a middle school leader’s worst nightmare. He came into our group as a fun-loving kid who made everyone laugh, only it was always …
Middle school kids are high energy!! No surprise for anyone that’s spent 5 minutes with middle schoolers. What is surprising is how, knowing that, we try to get them to be calm, quiet, sit still and think, with their not yet fully developed brains. Once upon a time I was a part time Jr High …
Spiritually mature middle school students? Does this sound like an oxymoron? A pipe dream? Isn’t the best we can possibly hope for simply surviving middle school? Maybe it’s good for us to remind ourselves what Jesus looked like as a middle school boy. “And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, …