Middle schoolers are already self-conscious about all the changes happening in their bodies. Add to that the messages they’re receiving and the pressures they’re getting in regards to body image, and you’ve got the potential for some major body image issues.
Read MoreYou know those moments when something happens that you have no category for? Or when everything you thought you understood all of a sudden doesn’t seem quite as clear? The older I get, the more experiences I have like this. The more I realize I don’t know much of anything. Things just aren’t as simple as they used to be. Or maybe they just aren’t as simple as my human mind wants them to be!
Read MoreOne question I always get leading up to Orange Conference is about which breakouts I think people should register for. The honest answer is I have no idea because I don’t know you or your ministry. Whatever problems you are currently trying to solve or navigate—go to those breakouts.
But… if I were attending, these are the breakouts I, as a middle school youth leader, would not miss:
Read MoreHave you ever seen a post on the Gram, Facebook, or on a blog or vlog that straight punched you in the gut?
I have. You know…. You look at the picture and know what the copy is going to say. You start reading it and then have to re-read it to make sure you read what you think what you just read. Then you start down the comment rabbit hole. It just keeps going. And you start to look at who liked the picture and the comments to figure out who has already seen it, hoping certain people haven’t. And the knot in your stomach just keeps getting bigger.
For me, most of the time when I have this experience, the posts have to do with people’s short-term mission experience.
Read More“Ashley Bohinc is the Director of Middle School Strategy for Orange. As time consuming and important as that is, that isn’t all she does. In fact, she is very passionate about an organization called Carry 117. She is so passionate about it, she is the US Executive Director.
I’ve known Ashley for a few years now through stuff at Orange, and every time we talk Carry 117 comes up so today I invited her back to talk specifically about this wonderful mission. Today we will talk about what this, how did it get started and how you and your ministry can connect with it for future involvement.”
Read More“It’s a bittersweet day here at the Think Orange Podcast as we celebrate and commemorate Ashley Bohinc’s last show as a regular host (don’t worry though, she’s not going far!).
In honor of the self-proclaimed “lead singer of the podcast,” Dave and Ashley are recapping Ashley’s most insightful, moving and musical contributions to the show. This, of course, means talking about Small Group Leaders, generational differences and Taylor Swift.”
Read MorePicture this.
You have been the Small Group Leader for a 15-year-old girl since she was in middle school. It took a long time for her to let her walls down, but she’s finally started to let you into her life. You tried a million different things, but the only thing that worked was time. The longer you were in her life, the more she trusted you.
Then one day she texts you and tells you she is having dark thoughts. Thoughts that scare her. Thoughts of hurting herself. Thoughts of potentially ending her life.
Read MoreIn this episode, I get to hang out with Caleb and Todd and talk about Generation Z, and how we may need to change our strategy to influence them. This conversation was so much fun… and Todd sang in my honor.
Read MoreWhen a student chooses to open up with you and be vulnerable about what they’re really feeling inside, we as Small Group Leaders need to be prepared to take the needed and necessary steps to keep the hearts and lives of those teenagers we’ve been entrusted with safe.
Read More
