gdp's Comments

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Make Your Kids Glad That You\'re a Pastor

Wed, 6 Nov 2013 19:41:04 +0000

Thanks for stopping by, Brad! No, there's no way to ensure that your kids will be glad that you're a pastor. My point is that sometimes ministry kids pay a certain cost, so these are ways to add some perks.

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Video of the Week: Totally Biased: The God Debate

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 10:57:03 +0000

David:

Great comments, man...I also loved the light-hearted nature. We should be able to enjoy these kinds of conversations--even when we don't 100% agree--because the people who were the most serious and intense about everything Jesus said were actually the Pharisees, not those who ended up following him.

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : The Problem with Family-Based Youth Ministry

Thu, 12 Sep 2013 16:56:03 +0000

True, Paul. The GOOD thing about family-based discipleship (remember, I don't think it's all bad) is that it can be done WITHOUT a program...parents DO need to be equipped to simply open up their Bible at home, serve with their kids, etc. When we turn it into another program, it's just adding one more item onto the buffet that parents and families need to choose from.

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : The Supposed Superpowers of a Youth Pastor

Thu, 12 Sep 2013 16:05:02 +0000

Thanks, Heather...great thoughts! If we ever ARE capable of superhuman feats, it's because of God's power, not ours.

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Video of the Week: John Piper, Matt Chandler, and David Platt on Social Justice and Young Evangelica

Fri, 6 Sep 2013 15:27:03 +0000

Thanks, Chad! Tiny Hands is definitely one of those organizations doing amazing things that are also great stewards with every dollar sent their way and every hour of volunteer time raising awareness for them.

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Being a Church That Loves Hurting Teenagers

Mon, 12 Aug 2013 16:09:03 +0000

I'm so glad, Mel!

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : On Being a Nobody

Fri, 26 Jul 2013 19:05:04 +0000

Thanks Kolby!

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Five Minor but Helpful Preaching Tweaks

Thu, 18 Jul 2013 15:36:03 +0000

Nice! Nothing like our high school leaders stalking me on the Internet... :)

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Why I Choose Topical Teaching in Our Youth Ministry

Tue, 25 Jun 2013 21:18:02 +0000

Hey, Alex! Thanks for the comment. I totally agree that teenagers need a solid message that comes straight from the Bible. Just to be clear, when I use the word \"topical,\" I mean that we use the Bible to teach on a particular topic. It's not just picking a topic and throwing in a verse or two; it's opening up the Word if God and seeing what God has to tell us about a particular topic.

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Why I Choose Topical Teaching in Our Youth Ministry

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:41:02 +0000

Rachel, great points. On a side note, what you said about variation styles is exactly why I love bringing in guest speakers and handing over my teaching time to vintners in our ministry every so often. When we don't switch things up, our teaching will get stale, no matter what style we use or how good we are at delivering it!

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Strengths of an Introverted Youth Pastor

Fri, 31 May 2013 16:38:05 +0000

Don't worry...you're not alone. Maybe for SYMC '14 in Columbus, there should be an introvert Connect Group! Of course, if it were too big, none of the introverts would show up. :-)

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Three Questions to Ask Before Your Next Sermon, Message, or Small Group

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:31:03 +0000

Great point, Dan. If we're not really living what we're teaching and preaching, it's only a matter of time before people see right through us.

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Video of the Week: \"Gotcha Day\"

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:07:03 +0000

Told ya you'd need a tissue box. :)

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Hey Youth Pastor: You\'re Spending Way Too Much Time With Students

Mon, 6 May 2013 23:43:03 +0000

Ryan:

Thanks for stopping by...would love to hear your thoughts on it, too!

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Five Apologetics Topics Youth Workers Should Have Down Pat

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:21:04 +0000

Glad that it's helpful!

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Hey Youth Pastor: You\'re Spending Way Too Much Time With Students

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 05:36:02 +0000

Well put, Bev!

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Dear Youth Pastor (My Students Like Another Youth Pastor)

Wed, 6 Mar 2013 01:06:05 +0000

Glad you liked it Josh! Thanks for stopping by!

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Guest Post: Are We Caring for the Spouses of Rookie Youth Pastors?

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:00:05 +0000

I would love to see that kind of study done. I do believe that the landscape of pastoral ministry in America is changing, and I think that the first hint of that is happening (and will continue to happen) in youth ministry. The problem is this: we tend to treat part-time youth workers like we would full-time youth workers in terms of responsibility. I remember in my first part-time YM position, I was expected to be at our church staff meetings, which happened in the middle of the morning once a week! Yes, they were flexible knowing that I had a full-time job, but if I hadn't been single at the time, there is no way I could have made it all work, and I guarantee you I would have burned out eventually.

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Guest Post: Are We Caring for the Spouses of Rookie Youth Pastors?

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:50:05 +0000

J.H., I'll let Ron answer the data question, but for me, I can say that I've personally seen a lot of turnover in churches in our area of solid young youth pastors/directors who were part time and eventually had to step back from their YM position for the sake of their family. Part-time positions can work, but too often they don't because the church isn't focused on taking care of the part-timer and his/her family.

http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ : Video of the Week: Falling Plates

Fri, 1 Feb 2013 22:55:02 +0000

Awesome!