J Thomas

“Of course one wants to feel better. But are we willing to have new experiences? Are we willing to work for it? Do we want it bad enough?”
― Monica A. Coleman, Not Alone: Reflections on Faith and Depression

“The road from sick A to well B is not straight or paved. It winds; there are obstacles; you will fall on the path. Are you willing to get back up again? And again? You will feel as if you are groping in the dark. Will you trust that there is light at the end? Until you get there, can you work with the shadows? You will need community. Can you trust those who love you? Can you hold tight with one hand and release with the other? You will have to trust in the process. You will need faith. Do you want to be made well?”
― Monica A. Coleman, Not Alone: Reflections on Faith and Depression

“Very few kids step out of a youth ministry because the programs are lousy. Kids will actually forgive all kinds of programmatic mediocrity if they are certain they belong. Consider what most teenagers do on weekend nights. They don’t usually have brilliant, hypercreative plans (you’ve seen them meandering through Blockbuster for hours, looking for a movie to rent). They simply “hang out” with their friends. If our youth ministries don’t provide students with the opportunity to be with the kinds of friends they want, it won’t matter how spiritual, cutting-edge or outrageous our programs are; kids will not stick.”
― Mark DeVries, Sustainable Youth Ministry: Why Most Youth Ministry Doesn't Last and What Your Church Can Do About It

“Skilled people Start with Heart. That is, they begin high-risk discussions with the right motives, and they stay focused no matter what happens.”
― Kerry Patterson, Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High