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What I Love about Junior High Youth (7/1/2004) Jeff Meinz
	A Jr. High student is a different sort of animal, and it takes a special person to "tame" him. In this article, DCE Jeff Meinz offers some advice on giving this unique age-group the spiritual food they need to survive.
Five Considerations for Bridging the Gap Between Junior and Senior High Youth (7/1/2004) Steven (Steve) Chrisopher
	It is sometimes difficult to bridge the gap between junior- and senior-high youth programming. This article provides five things to consider as you seek to meet the unique needs of each age group.
Why Junior High? (6/1/2004) Terry Dittmer
	It's the big youth programming question: Shoud you divide up the Jr. High and Sr. High students into seperate groups? In this short article, Rev. Terry Dittmer offers some advice on this issue.
The Essential Volunteer Youth Ministry Library (6/1/2004) Mark Sengele
	This helpful article provides a list of some essential youth programming resources for the volunteer youth worker.
Learning First to Crawl (10/1/2004) Lori Snyder
	Early adolescence if filled with many questions that can shake up a young teen's world. It is essential that this age group find identity in the body of Christ. This article shows how you might help.
Junior-High Ministry Programs (7/1/2004) thESource
	In late spring 2002, and again in the spring of 2003, a group of leaders in ministry to young teens gathered to discuss the state of junior-high ministry in the church. Compelled to voice what they believed to be one of the most important yet misunderstood ministries in the church, these leaders composed this open letter to church leaders throughout North America.
Under the Gun in Jr High (8/1/2004) thESource
	Like many things, competition is a tool. Competition can be used in the life of a young adolescent to teach values, rules and cooperation. However, though some students thrive in a competitive environment, others shut down. Our job is to identify, evaluate, and facilitate competition so that it remains positive and goal-oriented.
Jr. High and Sr. High Ministry: A Conversation (12/8/2008) thESource
	DCEs Leon Jameson and Alaina Kleinbeck discuss ministry with junior high and senior high students.
Bible Study: New Challenges and New Opportunities (6/4/2011) Tommy Moll
	In this study for eighth graders, students will explore three stories of people who were taken from a place of comfort and found themselves in a new environment where they had to face adversity.
Youth Ministry Basics: Ch-ch-ch-change (10/8/2009) Hannah Miller
	On change and confirmation
Changing Confirmation (6/25/2012) Hannah Miller
	Confirmation has been and is one of our best opportunities to teach our students and their families about our Christian faith and Lutheran heritage, but like many things, may need some tweaking to better fit the needs of the church today.
Servin' Lovin' Praisin': Kidnapping the Eighth Graders (6/14/2011) Brian Steward
	Today I want to offer an idea that can help get your newly confirmed youth interested in high school youth ministry.
Servant Hearts in Middle School (3/29/2013) Mark Cook
	Middle school is a great time to teach youth to exercise their servant hearts. This article includes some tips on how to do it well.
Betwixt: Phrases Youth Leaders Never Want to Hear (1/24/2013) Cassie Moore
	There are phrases youth workers never want to hear. These are a few of them.
Dealing with Negativity (11/29/2012) Cassie Moore
	One of the most difficult parts of youth ministry is dealing with negativity.
Betwixt: Gas Explosions in the Church? (10/25/2012) Cassie Moore
	Seize those teachable moments where ever they show up!
Mosquito Bite Ministry (10/11/2012) Cassie Moore
	Even mosquitoes can give us something to think about.
The Slowly Deflating Youth Group (12/19/2012) Cassie Moore
	When doubt about your role in working with you creeps in, we find hope in Jesus.
Betwixt: Puppy Love (2/19/2013) Cassie Moore
	Puppy love has hit your youth bad...so what do you do?
Betwixt: Crafting Relevant Lessons (5/31/2012) Cassie Moore
	My job is to know my students, to learn their struggles, and to come alongside and provide them with rich, thought-provoking materials and experiences that would fan the flames of their personal faith.
True Confessions of a Total Goofball Part 2 (9/21/2012) Cassie Moore
	More insight on how to approach the goofballs in your group.
Why Fellow Leaders are Invaluable (3/22/2012) Cassie Moore
	When I know that my leaders are confidently operating in their God-given strengths, using the training we've given them, and impacting students positively in their faith, there's no music sweeter to my ears than that.
True Confessions of a Total Goofball, Part 1 (9/6/2012) Cassie Moore
	Get inside the minds of two total goofballs with this interview from Cassie.
The Incredible Shrinking Attention Span (1/3/2013) Cassie Moore
	Some tips on how to help kids focused.
Betwixt: Adapting and Evolving (2/25/2011) Cassie Moore
	As unpredictable and ever-changing as our jobs are, that's the reality we have to live with as youth leaders. It's the nature of our ministry.
Handling the Bubbling Stew of Emotion (5/13/2011) Cassie Moore
	The passage from middle school to high school ministry is a significant occasion. Students facing this change are caught up in a mixture of excitement, dread, nervousness, poignant sentimentalism, and utter uncertainty.
Betwixt: Six Untrue Stereotypes of Middle School Ministry (3/8/2012) Cassie Moore
	There are countless misconceptions about middle school ministry. Some are well-founded, but other stereotypes of middle school ministry aren't quite accurate.
Betwixt: What Keeps Me Going? (1/20/2011) Cassie Moore
	Sometimes my job can drive me absolutely bonkers. Can anyone else relate?
Betwixt: When Middle Schoolers Strike Back (a personal anecdote) (2/3/2011) Cassie Moore
	I've learned a fearful lesson about pranking the hard way: Never give your secrets away to middle school youth.
Betwixt: Crickets Chirping Into the Silence - Tackling Student Prayer (2/17/2011) Cassie Moore
Betwixt: What Youth Want from their Leaders, Part 1 (10/6/2010) Cassie Moore
	The longer I work with youth, the more I realize that I need to be plugged into them to really know what's going on beneath the surface and be effective in sharing Christ's incredible love with them.
Betwixt: They Think I'm Crazy...Until They See the Kids I Work With (1/5/2011) Cassie Moore
	As youth leaders, we need to know everything we can about our kids, so we can best learn how to work with them and help them grow in their faith. Here's a quick glimpse of what exactly we're dealing with when we talk about your average middle school student.
Betwixt: Good Cop, Bad Cop, part 2 (11/24/2010) Cassie Moore
Betwixt: Newborn Kittens in Shark-Infested Waters (8/25/2010) Cassie Moore
	on the faith life of tweens
Betwixt: When Your Roommate Cusses at the TV (9/23/2010) Cassie Moore
	thoughts on outreach
What Youth Want from their Leaders, Part 2 (10/15/2010) Cassie Moore
	The conclusion to what youth are looking for from their leaders.
Betwixt: Who We're Really Doing it For (4/16/2013) Cassie Moore
	It's not about what we're doing, but WHO we're doing it for.
Arriving, Surviving and Thriving at Your Middle School Retreat (4/16/2010) Cassie Moore
	Planning a retreat for middle schoolers is an opportunity for you to invest in the growth of your students' spiritual lives, build relationships with them, and have a lot of fun together. Done properly, I believe a retreat can have a life-long impact.
Betwixt: Vanilla Frosting and Dirty Gym Towels Can Really Put Things in Perspective (8/11/2010) Cassie Moore
	on lessons learned in Middle School Ministry
Hospitality How-To (5/12/2011) Cassie Moore
	As teachers and leaders and parents, it's up to us to model hospitality for our young students. When it's a priority for us, it will be easy for our students to emulate because they've seen us living it out.
Betwixt: The Elusive and Fleeting "Aha!" Moment (9/29/2011) Cassie Moore
	A light bulb going off in the mind of every kid sitting in your youth group or classroom is definitely not a guarantee in our line of work.
Betwixt: Keeping it Together (12/1/2011) Cassie Moore
	Leaders keep it together and do the right thing when everything else around them is falling apart.
Betwixt: Alone? Alienated? Abandoned? Nope! (6/24/2011) Cassie Moore
	A lot of us can feel like we're alone in our jobs, but we have a God who never leaves us.
Betwixt: Stealing Kids (Without Breaking the Law) (9/22/2011) Cassie Moore
	When I say "stealing kids," I mean the notion of capturing their attention completely with pure wonder at the work of the Holy Spirit, the creative genius of our Father God and the unimaginable love of our Savior Jesus.
Betwixt: Getting the Shy Ones to Talk (3/28/2013) Cassie Moore
	Some tips on working with the quieter students in your group and getting them to talk.
Betwixt: Dealing with the Dreaded Drama (5/3/2012) Cassie Moore
	"Drama" is a bitter reality our kids deal with every day at school.
Betwixt: Expectations of Leaders (4/14/2011) Cassie Moore
	One of the most important elements of my entire ministry, without a doubt, is my leaders. Without them, I'd be floundering alone in a dark, dangerous, and life-sucking whirlpool.
Betwixt: The (Unexpected) Joys of Middle School Ministry (4/28/2011) Cassie Moore
	Sometimes, in the midst of our biggest struggles and most unbearable pains, God gives us a little glimpse of something incredible--our whisper of hope in a time when things seem the darkest.
Betwixt: The Dirty Little Secret of Ministry (1/12/2012) Cassie Moore
	The dirty little secret is this: sometimes, we give into that temptation to take the lazy road in our ministries.
Betwixt: Essential Items a Youth Leader Should Never Be Without (2/9/2012) Cassie Moore
	What are some things you always need to have on hand, as you're dealing with middle school kids all the time? Trash bags. Lots of trash bags.
Betwixt: How Did You Not Kill Us? (4/18/2012) Cassie Moore
	So how do you handle your temper, as you undoubtedly face frustrating situations, maddening parents, difficult leaders, ridiculous expectations or out-of-control students?
Betwixt: My Biggest "Oopsies" (11/17/2011) Cassie Moore
	Every so often, I like to remind myself of some of my biggest failures or mistakes in ministry, just to realize how many things I've learned in my years working with youth.
Betwixt: Learning the Act of Juggling Fun and Ministry (6/9/2011) Cassie Moore
	How do I balance fun with ministry? What's that fine line between teaching something important and goofing around? How far do I let my kids get off topic before reeling them in?
Betwixt: The Weight of the Future on Their Shoulders (8/18/2011) Cassie Moore
	I often ponder how this younger generation is growing up, and how we can best assist them in their trek to maturity as caring adults and leaders.
Betwixt: The Boy-Crazy Cheerleader Who Drove Me Bananas (7/14/2011) Cassie Moore
	The temptation, as leaders, is to think that we can't matter to certain kids. We want to try to label ourselves and the students around us.
Betwixt: Navigating the Choppy Waters of Identity (10/13/2011) Cassie Moore
	Most students are desperately trying to find their identity during these tumultuous few years, and it's easy to see why so many kids latch onto the first thing they stumble across: Hockey. Choir. Alcohol. A boyfriend or girlfriend.
Betwixt: Drowning in Technology (11/3/2011) Cassie Moore
	I'm curious about how I see technology influencing our everyday middle schooler--the good, the bad, and the ugly effects--right now, at this very moment.
Bible Study: It's a Jungle Out There (5/11/2011) Joani Schultz
	Making one's own decisions is an exciting part of growing up. But making decisions can also be like going on a jungle safari. The whole idea of decision-making for junior highers sounds exotic, exciting. Yet there's an element of fear: What's really going to happen if I choose this? What will be best for me? What will harm me?
Life...The Great Pressure Cooker (5/18/2011) Youth Ministry Classics
	Help junior high youth find ways to deal with the pressure in their lives with this junior high event.
Confirmation Practices and Youth Connectedness to Church Life (6/3/2011) Dave Rueter
	Is there a connection between models and methods of confirmation instruction and continued congregational connectedness of confirmation students after they have been through the Rite of Confirmation?