Blog: Motivate! - Christians Networking

How to Plan a Mission Trip that Truly Matters

7/7/2025

Image via Freepik

by guest blogger Laura Carlson, , Licensed Counselor

Planning a church mission trip isn’t just a logistics exercise — it’s a spiritual invitation. You’re not organizing a vacation. You’re creating space for transformation, both for those you serve and those who serve. That kind of responsibility? It demands more than a clipboard and calendar. It calls for clarity, intention, and yes — a bit of holy fire. Here’s how to get it right, from spark to send-off.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” —Isaiah 6:8

Start with Who It’s For — and Why It’s Needed
If your trip isn’t rooted in the needs of your host community, it’s off track before it begins. This isn’t about exporting your church’s vibe — it’s about listening, aligning, and supporting work that’s already bearing fruit. Before you choose a location or buy a plane ticket, make sure you align your trip with their strategic needs, not your assumptions. That means asking what they actually want help with. It means understanding local timelines and cultural rhythms. And it means your team arrives as learners first, not saviors.

How to Teach Teenagers About Love & Relationships in a Gospel-Centered Way

7/3/2025

by Regular Contributor Mike Haynes

When it comes to topics that dominate the minds of teenagers, love and relationships are often at the top of the list. Students are constantly surrounded by cultural messages about love—whether through social media, music, movies, or conversations with friends. Unfortunately, many of these messages are shallow, misleading, or outright contrary to a gospel-centered perspective.

In youth ministry, it’s essential to provide students with a clear and biblical vision of love—one that goes beyond romantic feelings and fleeting emotions. The truth is, if the church is silent on this topic, culture will fill the gap. And without guidance, students may build their understanding of love on unstable foundations that lead to hurt and confusion.

What Lies Behind Human Suffering?

6/30/2025

by Regular Contributor Leah Halpert

Why do humans suffer? This question is one of the oldest in psychology, philosophy, and religion since the beginning of our existence.

📌 Why Am I Here to Explore the Depths of Suffering?
I began to experience suffering when my husband unexpectedly passed away last year due to mental anxiety. His sudden death left me engulfed in overwhelming pain that shook my very being. His passing awakened something within me, prompting me to confront a new reality I had never faced before. It pushed me into a space where survival and living took on entirely new meanings, forever changing my understanding of suffering.

Youth Ministry Curriculum for Small Churches: Why a Different Approach Is Needed

6/20/2025

by Regular Contributor Mike Haynes

When it comes to youth ministry, not all churches have the same needs. While large churches may have the resources, staff, and volunteer base to support expansive programming and large-scale events, small churches often face unique challenges. These challenges require a different approach, especially when it comes to choosing a youth ministry curriculum that genuinely supports their mission and meets their practical needs.

1. Adapting to Unpredictable Attendance
Small churches often operate with limited budgets, fewer volunteers, and smaller student groups. This environment, while rich in relational ministry opportunities, also presents unique hurdles. Many traditional curriculums are designed with larger ministries in mind, offering resources and event ideas that simply aren't feasible for smaller congregations.

When Something Good Just Drops on You

6/20/2025

We’ve all had the experience of something good seemingly drop on us out of the blue. But was it really out of the blue? Let’s dig deeper into this phenomenon and gain some encouragement.

Last week, I received a call from a prospect I hadn’t thought about for years. He had an issue, he said, and within a 45-minute conversation we had an agreement for a consulting engagement to help him with the issue.

Years ago, I would have thought to myself, “Wow, that one just dropped out of thin air.” Today, I know better.

The Struggle with Grief: Is True Healing Possible?

6/12/2025

by regular contributor Dr. Leah Halpert

1.The Uncharted Path of Grief
Nothing has hit me as hard in my life as the passing of my husband. I lost my father in 2023, and while it brought immense sadness, I didn’t feel completely crushed. However, the sudden loss of my most beloved husband utterly shattered my world and nearly destroyed my very existence. When your soul is so deeply intertwined and in love with another, the death of one feels like the death of both.

2.No One Can Walk in Your Shoes and Feel What You Feel
When I was in the deepest grief, could anyone truly comfort me? No. No words from another human being could bring me peace. It felt like my soul had descended into an unknown space, like the bottom of the sea—so deep, so dark, so unreachable.

Keeping Students Attentive During Discussion Time: 5 Strategies That Work

6/3/2025

by Guest Blogger Mike Haynes

Small groups are one of the most powerful environments in youth ministry. They provide a space where students go beyond listening to sermons and start wrestling with faith, building relationships, and applying biblical truths to their daily lives.

But keeping students engaged in small groups can be challenging. You may have experienced these common issues:
• Some students dominate the conversation while others stay silent.
• Discussions can feel forced, awkward, or disconnected from real life.
• Leaders struggle to draw out meaningful engagement from the group.

If your small groups feel more like a checkbox than a life-changing environment, it might be time to shift your approach. Here are five practical strategies to transform your small groups into spaces of real growth and connection.

Trust God and Let Him Take Control

6/2/2025

by Guest Blogger Elizabeth Thambiraj

Trust meaning in English: to believe that someone is good and honest and will not harm you, or that something is safe and reliable:[1]

Jer 17: 7-8 says, "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

Two Small Things You Can Do to Practice Your Faith in the Marketplace

5/20/2025

by Guest Blogger Dave Kahle

For many Christian professionals and businesspeople, the prospect of practicing our faith in the marketplace is overwhelming. It’s easy to remain paralyzed in the face of so many things calling for our time and attention. In the face of overwhelming number of choices, most marketplace Christians default to what’s comfortable and familiar – which is to focus on worldly success in business and give up on having an impact for the Kingdom.
In order to break through this inertia, here are two small things you can do. These are small acts that get you started and moving on the right path.

Teaching Teenagers to Handle Peer Pressure Through a Gospel Lens

5/14/2025

by Guest Blogger Mike Haynes

Peer pressure is nothing new. For generations, it has influenced the choices and behavior of teenagers. But in today's hyperconnected world, that pressure is not only more persistent but also much harder to escape.

The constant buzz of social media creates an always-on environment where the need to conform feels never-ending. Cancel culture amplifies the fear of rejection, urging students to fit in at all costs. Fear of missing out (FOMO) can drive students to agree to things they know aren't right.

As youth leaders, we can't simply tell students to "be strong" or "make good choices." They need a deeper foundation—one rooted in the gospel—to view peer pressure through God's perspective.

Here's how to guide teenagers in navigating peer pressure in a way that is both biblical and genuinely transformative.

Mission: to encourage and motivate readers to grow in Christ . . . and then step out in faith to do whatever He is calling them to do.

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ChristiansNetworking is a ministry of Find Christian Links (FCL). FCL's mission is to provide resources for church planting, discipleship, and Christian networking under the umbrella of Find Christian Links Ministries. Learn more.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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