Doug Fields > Quotes

“busyness is usually a sign of brokenness.”
― Doug Fields, 7 Ways to Be Her Hero: The One Your Wife Has Been Waiting For

“Proverbs 21:23: “Watch your words and hold your tongue; you’ll save yourself a lot of grief” (MSG).”
― Doug Fields, 7 Ways to Be Her Hero: The One Your Wife Has Been Waiting For

“I am not suggesting you shouldn’t work hard, but I am suggesting that if you are defining your value by the chase—by your ambition, your work, and your achievement—then you are simply chasing after the wind, and ultimately, it is meaningless.”
― Doug Fields, 7 Ways to Be Her Hero: The One Your Wife Has Been Waiting For

“The students in your youth ministry don’t need your clever ideas and great programming skills. They need a living model—a man or woman of God who is passionate about his or her faith.”
― Doug Fields, Purpose Driven Youth Ministry: 9 Essential Foundations for Healthy Growth

“Not saying everything you think isn’t about choosing to allow your body language to do the talking instead of speaking your thoughts aloud. It’s about refraining from both! Keeping quiet and still.”
― Doug Fields, 7 Ways to Be Her Hero: The One Your Wife Has Been Waiting For

“No matter how impressive the structure, or how lengthy the preparation, or how unique the design, Christian communication—whether it’s a sermon, a talk, a Bible study, or a devotional—that doesn’t help people connect to God is a waste of time, effort, and opportunity. It’s a bridge to nowhere, and a bridge to nowhere is no bridge at all.”
― Doug Fields, Speaking to Teenagers: How to Think About, Create, and Deliver Effective Messages

“Love is a choice, and you need a plan, and you need to use skills to keep your marriage filled with love choices.”
― Doug Fields, 7 Ways to Be Her Hero: The One Your Wife Has Been Waiting For

“I am so sorry that I hurt you. I know I’ll make many more mistakes as time goes on, but I’ll try not to make that one again.”
― Doug Fields, 7 Ways to Be Her Hero: The One Your Wife Has Been Waiting For

“Your biggest, most important job as the hero husband of her life is to identify the baggage, help her unload it, and then fill it up with what God would want her to know—how precious and wonderful she truly is.”
― Doug Fields, 7 Ways to Be Her Hero: The One Your Wife Has Been Waiting For

“Deep in the soul of every teenager is a desire for a calling, a part to play, a role in the story of life. At the end of the day, they want to feel that it will matter that they were here. They try to construct these narratives out of recognition, accomplishment, beauty, wealth, and popularity, and do so by shrinking big dreams to fit into small stories. But all they’re left with is a hunger for a life that means something.”
― Doug Fields, Speaking to Teenagers: How to Think About, Create, and Deliver Effective Messages

“Calling students on the first day of school and praying for them. Sending students photos taken of them at youth group events. (Always get double prints.) Dropping by their workplaces just to say hi. Attending the last quarter, inning, or set of their games. (Although you can drop by earlier, coming at the end affords the opportunity to interact with your students after-ward.) Mailing favorite snacks to arrive on their birthdays. Calling students' parents just to brag on them. (e.g.,“Mrs. Gates, your son Billy is doing some amazing things with computer graphics for our small groups!”) Taping notes of encouragement to the front door during exams or other stressful periods. (Ring the doorbell and disappear.) Actually taping notes of encouragement directly on students. Inviting students over for dinner. Letting a group of (same-sex) students spend the night. Following up a few days after a student shares a prayer request. Using your students as positive illustrations in your message or Bible study. (It's always a good idea to get permission first.) Mailing goofy postcards for no reason. Dropping off brain food (a double cheeseburger) the night before a big test. Asking students—on a one-to-one basis—to pray for you. Remembering students’ names”
― Doug Fields, Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry: A Personal and Practical Guide to Starting Right

“Bigger isn’t better; healthier is better. Steer clear of churches and youth workers who are driven by numbers, and surround yourself with those who are motivated by serving God faithfully and pursuing health.”
― Doug Fields, Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry: A Personal and Practical Guide to Starting Right

“The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain” (10:11 NLT).”
― Doug Fields, 7 Ways to Be Her Hero: The One Your Wife Has Been Waiting For

“Running a marathon is a fitting picture of youth ministry. It’s not an easy task within the church. If it were, we’d have more youth workers than ushers. Youth ministry is filled with long, tiring, often unrewarding, complex, unique, intense, humorous, joy-filled, and painful experiences. Many within the body of Christ have entered the youth ministry marathon, but many quit before long, having lost joy and satisfaction. They're wounded and weary.”
― Doug Fields, Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry: A Personal and Practical Guide to Starting Right

“The chase causes you to be overcommitted and under-connected. Something has to change, or your marriage will suffer the consequences.”
― Doug Fields, 7 Ways to Be Her Hero: The One Your Wife Has Been Waiting For

“You can’t minister to everyone on your own. You must help others become ministers. Encourage your leaders to develop relationships with students.”
― Doug Fields, Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry: A Personal and Practical Guide to Starting Right

“The good news is God isn’t waiting for your perfect youth talk to do a mighty work through you.”
― Doug Fields, Speaking to Teenagers: How to Think About, Create, and Deliver Effective Messages