Here are the TOP 5 posts from 2016 on self-leadership, culture, and youth ministry. Feel free to browse, add to the conversation, and share your thoughts on the top posts in 2016.

All the best in 2017!

How do you spend Christmas break? Of course there is family, food, fun, and reflection on faith. For me, it is one of the most strategic times to make the most out of my time for the new year. My hope for you, as a leader, is to make the most out of your time too. Here are 5 practical ways to make the most out of this Season.

Many times I have been asked how I have done youth ministry. For me, I have always seen youth ministry as a city-wide youth ministry, not a church ministry or community ministry. 

I have based EVERYTHING I have done on John 3:16. Let me unpack this: 

Jesus - the MOST effective influencer humanity has EVER seen - spoke 60% in stories/parables, 30% in giving or answering questions, and 10% in content. 

In the Gospels, Jesus was asked 113 questions, answered 61, and asked 51.*

In the same way, how important is it for you and I to influence millennials through effective questioning?

Based on the request of leaders + pastors in local churches, this post is to provide a practical response to reach + engage Millennials through a redemptive way of sexuality. 

Too often leaders are too busy. Leaders are ALWAYS doing ministry but very few receive personal ministry. Understanding your blindspots in ministry + life WILL personally minister to you AND help you not be blindsided by the busyness + demands of ministry.

Everyone deals with discouragement... but not everyone deals with discouragement well. APPLY the principles of HOW Paul, the Apostle, dealt with discouragement + difficult times. 

There are burdens to leadership – weights, needs, hurts, disappointments, criticism – that tends to go with the territory of leading. 

Exercise – weight training, cardio, walking, hiking – have great benefits to enhance ministry (not just your body). Even the Apostle Paul mentioned the importance of exercise so that spiritual effectiveness would be evident.