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.

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.

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.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) -- We're being inundated with COVID-19 updates daily. As numbers of confirmed cases and the loss of life continue to grow, hard-working people are losing their jobs, and churches are navigating new ways to minister to their members and reach their communities with the Gospel. There seems to be one word that describes it all -- chaos.

Gen Z-ers or millennials will tell you what adults need to know about their generations, according to Shane Pruitt.

While it's easy to find criticisms of the church, Shane Pruitt sets forth key reasons why the church is a vital part of God's purpose and empowering for His followers.

The Holy Spirit is vital, Shane Pruitt writes, for experiencing "the freedom and victory that only comes from the Spirit of our great God."

Shane Pruitt cautions against creating "a Play-Doh Jesus" to "shape and mold" to one's imagination. "If you truly love the Jesus of the Bible," Pruitt writes, "you will also love the Bible that tells us all about Him."

Criticism can be faced in a healthy way, Shane Pruitt writes, noting that it doesn't have to make Christians to "lay down in defeat, doubt or discouragement."

No one becomes an angel in heaven, Shane Pruitt writes, noting that angels never get to experience the glory of God's grace, hope and forgiveness. "God does not gain another angel," Pruitt writes. "Rather, God calls another worshipper to come home."