FIRST-PERSON: Why you can trust the Bible as the authoritative Word of God
The question of why we can trust the Bible as the authoritative Word of God is foundational for every Christian. In a world where truth is often seen as personal to your preferences and opinions, the Bible claims to be from God and authoritative, regardless of your preferences and opinions.
FIRST-PERSON: The real Jesus sends us to all nations
The global dimension of this task is clear: Jesus is calling His followers to reach “all nations.” The ultimate form of obedience to your King is to go and make other disciples.
4 reasons why baptizing students is so important
Baptism is one of my favorite biblical ordinances to witness. It never gets old! Every baptism matters to the Lord and should be celebrated by the church. No baptism should be followed by “golf claps.” (For all my non-golfing fans, that means a quiet and dignified way to clap!) Thunderous applause, hearty Amens, and an exuberant celebration should follow every baptism. Baptism should be a party for the glory of God because of all the eternal things it represents!
FIRST PERSON: New school year, same mission
DALLAS (BP) – For many students and ministries, the start of a new school year feels the same as New Year’s resolutions for many adults. Most students see returning to school as offering more new opportunities and better chances to start over compared to the beginning of a new calendar year.
FIRST-PERSON: Addressing the four major gaps in student ministry
There are usually two types of people when it comes to setting the alarm to wake up in the morning. Person number one (this is me) – sets the alarm for the last possible minute to when you actually need to wake up to not be late. Person number two – sets the alarm for about an hour before they actually need to wake up, because they want to be able to hit the snooze button over and over and over again.
FIRST-PERSON: How to keep next gen leaders at your church
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Everyone has seen or heard the stats about the short tenures of pastors to children, youth and college students. The common narrative is that they spend two to three years on average at any given church. There also currently seems to be a shortage of these next gen leaders across the nation. I’m personally getting three to five calls a week from churches and ministries looking to hire someone to lead these ministries in their churches.
FIRST-PERSON: 4 Ways to create a culture of evangelism for students
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Thirty years from now, when people ask what the pandemic was like and what we did, what will we say? What will we say about the students we lead? If we say we binge-watched our way through the latest TV series, we will have completely missed a huge opportunity.
FIRST-PERSON: Engaging the next generation on mental health
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – According to a recent Barna study, half of 18-year-olds in the U.S. report anxiety and fear of failure, and about 40 percent say they often feel sad or depressed. Thirty-four percent of young people say they feel lonely and isolated from others.
FIRST-PERSON: 7 ways for next gen ministries to approach this unique summer
This summer will not be as busy as usual, Shane Pruitt says. But that doesn't mean it can't be very effective for ministry. He lists seven ways for leaders to make the most of it.
FIRST-PERSON: Giving an effective, online Gospel invitation
One of the key aspects of serving a new online audience well is giving an effective Gospel invitation, Shane Pruitt says. He offers several applicable practices to keep in mind.











