Forged In Faith

In today’s world, teens are used to comfort. Instant answers. Streaming content. Heated seats. But growth—real, lasting growth—doesn’t happen in comfort. It happens in challenges. That’s why physical challenges are such a vital part of the youth program. Not just for health, but for character. When paired with gospel purpose, fitness becomes more than movement.…

Let’s face it. When it comes to physical youth activities, dodgeball is the easy button. It’s fast, energetic, and requires zero planning. But here’s the problem: it teaches nothing beyond who’s fast and who’s out. And that’s not what youth activities are for. The physical component of the youth program isn’t about wearing kids out…

“Let’s do a service project.” Great. But… what kind? Will it be: Too often, service projects become tasks without purpose, good intentions but no spiritual depth. But service is sacred. When done right, it changes both the giver and the receiver. 🙌 What Makes a Service Project “Gospel-Aligned”? It’s not just about what you do.…

Let’s be honest. When you announce, “We’re going to do a scripture activity tonight,” some teens brace themselves for boredom. Why? Because they’ve sat through enough “read-around-the-circle” lessons and fill-in-the-blank worksheets to assume scripture = stale. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a little creativity, you can turn scripture into a challenge—and…

Let’s be real. Sometimes, trying to “squeeze in” a spiritual moment at the end of an activity can feel… forced. You know the moment: And suddenly the room goes quiet in the wrong way. But it doesn’t have to be like that. Testimony moments don’t have to be awkward or heavy-handed. In fact, they can…

If you ask most teens, “Have you ever felt the Spirit?” you’ll get one of three answers: That’s not because the Spirit isn’t there. It’s because they haven’t been taught how to recognize it. 🧭 The Spirit Isn’t Always Fireworks Many youth expect the Holy Ghost to hit like a lightning bolt—tears, chills, dramatic moments.…

Sometimes, leaders fall into the trap of thinking spiritual growth only happens on Sundays—in sacrament talks, seminary, or formal gospel discussions. But here’s the truth: Every youth activity can be a spiritual experience. You don’t need a whiteboard or a lesson manual. You just need intentional design and a few small shifts. 🔄 Shift #1:…

Let’s be honest. If you’ve been in youth leadership for more than six months, you’ve probably seen this cycle: …Then repeat. Again. And again. This is what we call Repeat Syndrome—and it’s one of the fastest ways to lose momentum in your youth program. 😴 What’s the Problem with Repetition? It’s not that any of…

Youth leaders are some of the most well-meaning people on earth. They want to connect. They want to help. They want to keep kids coming back. But even good leaders fall into a common trap: planning activities without a purpose. It usually sounds like this: And suddenly, the gospel gets buried under water balloons and…

You want to plan meaningful youth activities. You want to be organized, intentional, and spiritually prepared. But real talk? You also have a job, a calling, a family, and maybe 32 unread texts from other leaders. So how do you create powerful, gospel-centered youth nights without burning out? The answer isn’t to work harder—it’s to…