best practices Archives

25 09, 2025

Using AI to Adapt CBOQ Youth Curriculum for Your Youth Ministry

By Alvin|2025-10-08T10:17:20-04:00September 25th, 2025|best practices|0 Comments

There are a lot of great curriculum available online (including the ones developed by CBOQ Youth at cboqyouth.ca/curriculum). However, likely doesn't always fit your youth ministry the best. Using AI tools (like Microsoft Copilot) can help you customize curriculum to suit their group’s unique needs—whether by age, group size, time frame, or spiritual maturity. In this post, we will use the CBOQ Youth curriculum as the example. Step 1: Choose

12 08, 2025

How to Use Student-Led Microgrants

By Jaimie Wiebe|2025-08-12T19:24:11-04:00August 12th, 2025|best practices, Uncategorized|0 Comments

What is a Student-Led Microgrant? The Student-Led Initiatives Microgrant is a funding opportunity provided by CBOQ to empower youth and young adults (up to the age of 25) to lead ministry projects that impact their communities. Grants of up to $1,000 are available to support new creative, missional, and community-focused initiatives. Who Can Apply - Youth or young adults connected to a CBOQ church. - Applications must be submitted on

17 10, 2023

We Have What it Takes

By Alvin|2025-12-16T00:23:04-05:00October 17th, 2023|best practices, youth ministry thoughts|0 Comments

“We will not hide them from their descendants; We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.” – Psalm 78:4 What does it take to run a youth ministry? The simple answer is whatever is available at your church. Perhaps you might feel that your church doesn’t have the resources or personnel to run an effective youth ministry. Let’s

14 11, 2022

Preparing for CSJG

By Alvin|2022-11-11T15:55:15-05:00November 14th, 2022|best practices|0 Comments

Every summer, Canada Summer Jobs provides funds for organizations (like churches) to hire youth/young adults (ages 15-30) for paid positions during the summer. Their deadline (although the 2023 edition has not yet been published) is typically in late January; the deadline in 2022 was January 25. With a couple of months before the deadline, some considerations: Review the criteria and timeline established by CSJ. This includes the criteria of eligibility,

11 06, 2021

Reopening Considerations

By Alvin|2021-08-19T10:21:04-04:00June 11th, 2021|best practices|0 Comments

Download the Reopening Considerations doc With insights from a group of youth leaders, here is a working document on 8 considerations for the coming months as the Quebec and Ontario services open up. If you have additional insides, you can either: Share them in the comments below. Email Alvin. Share on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

5 04, 2021

April Break in Ontario

By Alvin|2021-04-01T17:07:27-04:00April 5th, 2021|best practices|0 Comments

Next week, many schools in Ontario begin spring (April, not March) break. Some are asking for ideas on how to best engage their youth. For those in Quebec, what suggestions did you find most helpful? Feel free to share them in the comments below on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram. Here are some ideas (ensuring to follow all current Public Health guidelines): Do a physically-distanced porch/driveway visit and drop off a care package Hosting a

14 03, 2021

Evaluating Summer Opportunities

By Alvin|2021-03-14T21:50:08-04:00March 14th, 2021|best practices|1 Comment

It’s been just over a year since the first comprehensive lockdown happened. For many of our senior youth and young adults, this was a curveball like no other. Graduations and milestones changed. Work opportunities were in flux. Some students were helped by programs like CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit) and CESB (Canada Emergency Student Benefit), although these programs also may have influenced their expectations of what work-life and remuneration means. For those in school (whether secondary or post-secondary), the expectations of this summer will need to be

17 09, 2020

Book Club – Youth Ministry: Now and Not Yet

By Alvin|2023-10-23T10:25:44-04:00September 17th, 2020|best practices|0 Comments

In 2012, Matt Wilkinson wrote a book that guides a conversation between the lead pastor, youth leader(s) and parents in how their church can move towards a youth ministry that is youth-led, adult-mentored and family-empowered. From October to May, each month, we'll spend an hour together with Matt as he shares some key considerations followed by a group discussion with those on the Zoom call. The 10-min sharing by

24 08, 2020

Back to School in 2020

By Alvin|2020-08-24T09:48:03-04:00August 24th, 2020|Alvin Lau, best practices|0 Comments

Back to school feels more stressful than ever before. Parents, educators and kids are all asking what the best step is to take. More than ever, churches and youth ministries will need to be available to navigate the new few months. So how can you best support your students, your church family and your neighbourhood in the coming months? Here are some considerations and questions. Make room for students to discuss what they’re experiencing. Some

20 07, 2020

Gap Year Options

By Alvin|2020-07-18T16:18:10-04:00July 20th, 2020|Alvin Lau, best practices|0 Comments

High school grads in the 2020 cohort will experience a summer and fall unlike previous generations of grads. Grads who are continuing to post-secondary studies will experience orientation events and the first weeks of classes (if they exist in person at all) in completely new ways. Some grads are deciding to defer their acceptances for a year. (Note: If you are looking to defer but haven’t done so already, you’ll need to check with your respective institution to see if any conditions apply to that deferral.) Other grads made the decision to defer a while ago. If you