I was a youth pastor in my early twenties and even for a young man, it was exhausting. We played capture the flag, went to concerts, and stayed up half the night consuming copious amounts of pizza. Phew! Twenty years later, I don’t know if I could do it. But that’s youth ministry. You have to be with the kids—and they have a ton of energy.

Sadly, at this moment, youth ministers are unable to be with the young people they lead. Sure they can connect via phones and computers, but it just isn’t the same. Still, as Kara Powell points out, this week, this does provide an unusual opportunity for reflection. Whether you’re a youth pastor or not, you’ll find “Can Social Distancing Reinvent Youth Ministry?” a stimulating read. Also, check out our resource on Discipling Teens. This 16-page resource is designed to help you go deeper as you build relationships with teenagers and help them grow in spiritual maturity.