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High School - Jr. High -

How authenticity enables students to truly know God —

By CIY Staff

It's time for "Rules of Youth Ministry" Episode 4! We asked a bunch of youth ministers what their most important...

High School - Jr. High -

Have you tried “Home Invasions”? —

By CIY Staff

We recently had one of our totally awesome Zoom Round Table gatherings, where we shared ideas, asked questions, and just connected over our...

Culture - High School - Jr. High -

How leadership diversity helps your ministry —

By CIY Staff

Welcome to our third installment of our series called "Rules of Youth Ministry"! We asked a bunch of youth ministers...

Culture - High School - Jr. High -

Why consistency matters so much —

By CIY Staff

Welcome to our second installment of a new series called "Rules of Youth Ministry"! We asked a bunch of youth ministers...

High School - Jr. High -

How to Celebrate and Extend Impact after the Summer Trip —

By CIY Staff

We recently had a Youth Minister zoom call where we discussed what to do after your summer camp, trip, MIX, or MOVE to...

Culture - High School - Jr. High -

How can we help students engage outreach as part of discipleship? —

By CIY Staff

Welcome to our first installment of a new series called "Rules of Youth Ministry." We asked a bunch of youth ministers...

High School - Jr. High -

Is it time to start thinking about the 2021-2022 school year yet? —

By CIY Staff

Can you believe it? It seems like summer just began: we’ve barely had time to swim, our sunglasses just arrived from...

Culture - High School - Jr. High - Preteen -

“Concentrate on Your Nostrils” - And Other Advice for Processing Anxiety in the New Normal —

By CIY Staff

Things are starting to open back up, churches are meeting in person, summer camps and conferences are happening. Finally! We're entering the "...

High School - Jr. High -

We’re Back! —

By CIY Staff

It has been a long year, and we're so excited to be back!

This is a Summer Like No Other, and...

Jr. High -

5 pieces of advice from a 70-year-old Kingdom worker —

By Kathy Litzkow

You want to know why I went to church as a kid?

Jr. High -

The ABCs of theme development —

By Becca Haines

The process of developing a theme for a CIY program starts a lot further back than most people might think. Take the Believe...

Jr. High -

The best ministry moments can’t happen without this —

By Mallory Jenkins

The CIY MIX team has the greatest joy in hosting middle school conferences every year across the country, but I’m going...

Jr. High -

Q&A with Isaac Pitman —

By Becca Haines

CIY’s Believe program welcomed the band ISAAC on the 2019/2020 tour to lead worship for thousands of junior high students.

Jr. High -

A letter to a junior higher – from a youth pastor —

By Josh Powell

This letter was written by Josh Powell – next generation director for Sun Valley Community Church in Casa Grande, Arizona.

Jr. High - Preteen -

You’ll need this for your small group time —

By Becca Haines

Youth leaders coming to CIY’s weekend events Believe and SuperStart are encouraged to download “Convos” from the App...

Jr. High -

5 things junior highers need to hear EVERY DAY —

By Cindy Branton

What gets repeated gets remembered.

Jr. High -

Why being a lab rat was the best part of my summer —

By Emily Burt

I had the awesome opportunity to join middle schoolers at MIX as a leader … and a lab rat.

Jr. High -

The 5 Ws of YB —

By Becca Haines

Christian rapper YB joined the CIY Believe tour in 2019 as a host, and junior highers across the country have loved hearing his faithful...

Jr. High -

The story of Elijah was just what this student needed —

By Jake Niven

On our way home from MIX in 2019, we stopped for dinner and I noticed one of our students sitting by himself with his...

Jr. High -

5 take-aways from a new CIY super-fan —

By Becca Haines

Typically students attend one CIY event a year … Reagan Wilson has experienced three.

Jr. High -

What youth leaders are saying about MIX —

By Becca Haines

Youth leaders are loving the MIX tour with this year’s theme, “To be continued …” Here’s a...

Jr. High -

What middle schoolers are saying about MIX this year —

By Becca Haines

Middle schoolers are having a blast with the MIX team at each stop of the tour this summer. 

Jr. High -

Sixth grader gets a warm hug from the Lord at MIX —

By Becca Haines

Expressing vulnerability to a group of peers can be terrifying for a sixth grader.

Jr. High -

‘I watch my kids grow here’ —

By Becca Haines

Middle schooler Kaitlyn Anderson said she was having a blast at MIX, and whenever she felt convicted about anything, she could easily talk...

Jr. High -

Middle schoolers teach us a huge lesson in worship —

By Elisha Maxwell

I’ve always connected to the Father the most through music, but this year as a MIX worship leader I’ve...

Jr. High -

The most powerful worship moment I’ve ever experienced —

By Becca Haines

Powerful CIY worship moments are known for including flashy lights, stunning visuals and loud, booming speakers that rattle your insides … but the...

Jr. High -

Big Foot in socks and crocs … and other mystical MIX creatures —

By Mallory Jenkins

Techno Turtles, Space Pandas, Beatbox Badgers, Unicorns … They all have competed amongst the best in years past at MIX – CIY&rsquo...

Jr. High -

Would you take vacation time for this? —

By Becca Haines

Volunteers, by definition, do not get paid for their time. But what often goes un-remarked is that many of them take weeks of...

Jr. High -

‘We’re going to defeat Dr. Frankenstein this summer’ —

By Mallory Jenkins

One of the great things about a week of MIX for middle schoolers is that they get to be silly … just for...

Jr. High -

2019 MIX Spotify playlist gives middle schoolers an extra boost —

By Becca Haines

The 2019 MIX Spotify playlist enables students to not only prepare their hearts for CIY’s summer conference for middle schoolers, but also...

Jr. High -

10 Things About … Jeff Walling —

By Becca Haines

CIY brings some of the most influential speakers from across the country to deliver Biblical truths to students. The “10 Things About”...

Jr. High -

MIX actor says this is best thing to see at a summer camp —

By Becca Haines

Once upon a time, there was a little MIX team that cried, “Wolf!”

Jr. High -

10 Things About … Terrence Talley —

By Becca Haines

CIY brings some of the most influential speakers from across the country to deliver Biblical truths students. The “10 Things About” series...

Jr. High -

Elementary to middle school: 4 tips to ease transition —

By Joe Smith

Youth ministry is one big, continuous transition, and as a youth leader you don’t want to miss these pivotal first-impression moments...

Jr. High -

10 Things About … Kurt Johnston —

By Becca Haines

CIY brings some of the most influential speakers from across the country to deliver Biblical truths students. The “10 Things About” series...

Jr. High -

Middle school to high school: 4 tips to ease transition —

By Joe Smith

Imagine you’re an eighth grader. You’re the “Top Dog” at your school. You’re rocking some...

Jr. High -

10 Things About … Shala W. Graham —

By Becca Haines

CIY brings some of the most influential speakers from across the country to deliver Biblical truths students. The “10 Things About” series...

Jr. High -

10 Things About ... Melissa Hiett —

By Becca Haines

CIY brings some of the most influential speakers from across the country to deliver Biblical truths students. The “10 Things About” series...

Jr. High -

10 Things About ... Adrianna Cervantes —

By Becca Haines

CIY brings some of the most influential speakers from across the country to deliver Biblical truths to students. The “10 Things About”...

Jr. High -

10 Things About ... Jaclyn Miles —

By Becca Haines

CIY brings some of the most influential speakers from across the country to deliver Biblical truths students. This “10 Things About” series...

Jr. High -

18 questions for your final small group discussions of the semester —

By Cindy Branton

The semester is winding down and many youth groups are wrapping up their small groups for the semester.

Jr. High -

10 Things About ... Greg Washington —

By Becca Haines

CIY brings some of the most influential speakers from across the country to deliver Biblical truths to students. The “10 Things About”...

Jr. High -

4 tips to help middle schoolers fight insecurity —

By Mallory Jenkins

It can be tough to help middle schoolers battle insecurity because everyone faces it differently.

Jr. High -

4 tips to make your MIX experience the best —

By Taylor Brown

In an effort to give middle schoolers and their youth leaders the best experience possible at MIX this summer, we’ve come...

Jr. High -

10 Things About ... Christine Lee —

By Becca Haines

CIY brings some of the most influential speakers from across the country to deliver Biblical truths to students. The “10 Things About”...

Jr. High -

10 Things About ... Robert Watson —

By Becca Haines

CIY brings some of the most influential speakers from across the country to deliver Biblical truths to students. The “10 Things About”...

Jr. High -

3 ways junior highers rocked our church —

By Josiah Brock

Believe is one the best things our junior high students do all year at First Christian Church in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Jr. High -

2 things you have to know when talking to middle schoolers —

By Mallory Jenkins

There are two very important things you have to know when talking to middle schoolers. 

Jr. High -

A parent’s response to ‘I AM’ —

By Cindy Branton

What a beautiful, terrifying responsibility we have as parents to help develop the identity of our children. We get to influence their answers...

Jr. High -

The story of Elijah ... just for junior highers —

By Mallory Jenkins

We all love a good story.

Jr. High -

KJ-52 drops new hit single ‘Flex’ —

By Becca Haines

Christian rapper KJ-52 – who has joined this year’s Believe tour for junior highers – has come out with a brand-new...

Jr. High -

Understanding the Chaos of junior high —

By Becca Haines

CIY’s events, trips and resources are age-specific, with programming that is intentionally created with language and topics that hit right at...

Jr. High -

What people are saying about Believe this year —

By Becca Haines

Junior high students and youth leaders are raving about this year’s Believe tour and the theme, “I AM.” Here...

Jr. High -

How to continue great conversations with junior higher —

By Mike Branton

There’s so much more to experience with the Believe program than what happens over the course of the weekend.

Jr. High -

Jeff Walling improv offers ‘God-ordained’ experience for junior high student —

By Becca Haines

Rebekah Wisden, an eighth grader with the Fort Worth (Texas) First Church of the Nazarene, said she was struggling with self-value the week...

Jr. High -

I’m thankful because ... a grandchild’s perspective —

By Becca Haines

CIY asked sisters Lain and Mya Davison, 14 and 11 respectively, what God had done in their lives that they’re most thankful for....

Jr. High -

This is what a community of worship leaders looks like —

By Becca Haines

If you ask the members of Revenant Worship what sets them apart from other worship bands, they’ll tell you they don...

Jr. High -

All junior high youth workers should read this book —

By Kurt Johnston

I wrote a book 17 years ago because at the time there wasn’t a whole lot of highly practical resources for people...

Jr. High -

Nothing stopped God’s grace from this 14-year-old —

By Becca Haines

Sierra Weaver has every reason to feel unloved and abandoned. 

Jr. High -

Believe tour reflects an identity that unites Kingdom workers —

By Becca Haines

Mirrors will take center stage during the upcoming Believe tour, which will explore the theme of “I AM” by helping junior...

Jr. High -

5 things you must do at Believe —

By Mike Branton

Believe is CIY’s weekend event for junior high students that combines a whirlwind of fun and Biblical learning. 

<...

Jr. High -

Keep your eye on the coin —

By Becca Haines

Illusionist Zak Mirzadeh joined the 2019 Believe tour with a few tricks up his sleeves – leaving junior high students wondering: “How...

Jr. High -

5 things every middle school volunteer should know —

By Greg McMahon

If God is leading your heart to middle school ministry, here are five helpful tips for great small group interaction:

Jr. High -

How to show humility and service … with dirty feet —

By Becca Haines

Sometimes a different angle can provide the perfect perspective.

Jr. High -

The lesson I learned from an eighth grader —

By Mallory Jenkins

No adult leader likes to be interrupted by a student’s phone going off, but when it happened every day at 8:30 p...

Jr. High -

Dodgeball moments reveal deeper meanings at MIX —

By Becca Haines

To the common bystander, it might seem like a carefree dodgeball tournament … but to youth leaders, students and MIX event staff, there...

Jr. High -

MIX wraps up another sweet summer —

By Becca Haines

It's always a bittersweet moment when the MIX team makes the final stop of the tour.

CIY loves sharing what...

Jr. High -

What conversations do you have with students at MIX? —

By CIY Staff

Part of the joy of what we do at CIY is getting to talk to youth leaders.

 

Enjoy...

Jr. High -

Why should youth ministers bring their students to MIX? —

By CIY Staff

Part of the joy of what we do at CIY is getting to talk to youth leaders.

Jr. High -

Two big reasons why students serve on the MIX event staff —

By CIY Staff

Why would a college student commit their summer to traveling around the nation to work with middle schoolers? 

Jr. High -

Emotions rise during worship sets at MIX events —

By CIY Staff

As hundreds of harmonized voices of young people lift their praises at CIY events, it’s not uncommon to see worship leaders...

Jr. High -

Why should you send your kids to MIX? —

By CIY Staff

Part of the joy of what we do at CIY is getting to talk to parents.

Jr. High -

How does MIX help your kid get more connected to church? —

By CIY Staff

Part of the joy of what we do at CIY is getting to talk to parents.

Jr. High -

Four pointers on how to get rolling to Believe —

By Mike Branton

Registration for the 2018/2019 Believe tour began July 1, and youth leaders all across the nation are preparing for another great year for their middle...

Jr. High -

SuperStart director thanks CIY for 5 awesome years —

By CIY Staff

It’s not easy saying goodbye to a friend, but the CIY family is excited to see what God’s plans...

Jr. High -

Students dodge aliens in thrilling game at MIX —

By CIY Staff

Just after dusk, a CIY MIX conference is so quiet that any sound bounces off the buildings and echoes through the trees. Then,...

Jr. High -

Is MIX safe for your kids? —

By CIY Staff

Part of the joy of what we do at CIY is getting to talk to parents.

Jr. High -

How MIX is affecting youth groups —

By CIY Staff

MIX is in full swing and CIY is already hearing incredible stories of students who are responding to God’s call on...

Jr. High -

How to talk to your kids about MIX? —

By CIY Staff

Part of the joy of what we do at CIY is getting to talk to parents.

Jr. High -

Why two students pushed the button at MIX —

By CIY Staff

Tyler Willis is going to start speaking more kindly to his dad.

Jr. High -

Young teens make first-time decisions for Christ at MIX —

By CIY Staff

Mia and Taevion Schmidt are two middle school students whose lives will never be the same. While attending a CIY MIX event earlier...

Jr. High -

What happens in the Outer Realm? —

By CIY Staff

Part of the joy of what we do at CIY is getting to talk to students.

 

Jr. High -

Miracles begin with laughter at MIX —

By Becca Haines

CIY events are full of age-intentional dynamics, but I think one of the most essential elements to the MIX program is laughter.

...

Jr. High -

Actors combine fun with faith on MIX stage —

By CIY Staff

Among the team of traveling MIX staff members this summer, there are six stage actors. 

Jr. High -

Word association with a Jr. higher ... —

By CIY Staff

Part of the joy of what we do at CIY is getting to talk to students.

Jr. High -

Wait ... MIX creates cool videos? Seriously?!?! —

By CIY Staff

Part of the joy of what we do at CIY is getting to talk to students. 

 

Enjoy...

Jr. High -

How would you rate MIX’s speakers? —

By CIY Staff

Part of the joy of what we do at CIY is getting to talk to students.

Jr. High -

Joyful mom thanks church for taking daughter to Believe —

By CIY Staff

Hailey Rinner was a soft-spoken Jr. high girl with hesitations about attending Believe, but when she returned home she had a lot to...

Jr. High -

MIX has free shavakado ... what? —

By CIY Staff

Part of the joy of what we do at CIY is getting to talk to students.

 

Jr. High -

Positive endings can mean great beginnings for next school year —

By Mike Branton

Relationally, if your students end their school year well it means the beginning of the next school year will start off well, too.<...

Jr. High -

How do you get your friends to MIX? —

By CIY Staff

Part of the joy of what we do at CIY is getting to talk to students.

Enjoy a conversation between Jr....

Jr. High -

Youth leaders, students rave over 2017/2018 Believe tour —

By CIY Staff

More than 17,700 Jr. high students attended CIY’s Believe “WITH” tour this year. 

Jr. High -

What 30 seconds of ‘insane bravery’ can do —

By CIY Staff

When you got a nickname like “Q-Tip,” “##### Q-Tip” and “##### Cotton Ball,” it might be hard to be...

Jr. High -

Eighth grader’s outreach to homeless starts with Believe experience —

By CIY Staff

Imagine if you will a 14-year-old girl on an inner-city street corner handing a homeless man a bag full of food, a Bible...

Jr. High - Preteen -

CIY teams to plant more seeds this spring tour —

By CIY Staff

CIY’s teams for Believe and SuperStart will be wrapping up their 2017/2018 tours this spring.

Jr. High -

What Jr. highers are saying about Believe … —

By CIY Staff

The first stop on the “WITH” spring tour for Believe was held Jan. 26-27 at the Cox Business Center in Tulsa,...

Jr. High -

5 ‘Wow’ moments for first-time Believe attendees —

By Becca Haines

I knew what to expect, but nothing could have prepared my heart for what I experienced Jan. 26-27 at CIY’s Jr....

Jr. High -

Thousands of Jr. highers came together for this … —

By CIY Staff

CIY’s Believe program rocked the stage this weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma with a roaring Jr. high crowd.

Jr. High -

Tulsa conference tackles major issue for Jr. high students in U.S. —

By CIY Staff

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depression is a common mental disorder affecting adolescents in the U.S.

Jr. High -

The world is bound to change with students like these —

By Chris Roberts

God is using middle school students to change the world. The MIX team is overwhelmed with stories of life-change in both students and...


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