For almost a decade I’ve been involved in junior high ministry in some form or another, from student leader to adult leader and now as a full time junior high pastor. When I first made the leap into full-time junior high ministry I thought I had a good idea of what it would take to be an effective junior high leader. Boy was I misguided.

I thought the keys to being a successful junior high pastor were cool programming and the ability to relate to students. Although these factors contribute to junior high ministry, in all honesty, they aren’t viable long term solutions. I mean, I had no idea how to lead volunteers, how to work with parents, how to cast vision and plan for the future. I had no goals (other than to ‘grow’ the group) and no place to take the ministry.

Sound familiar? In a nutshell, leading a ministry hadn’t really factored into my formula for successful ministry. When you throw into that mix a real lack of junior high specific resources and books, I felt over my head with no way to get on top of the whole thing.

In 2005 I began to compile my thoughts and experiences and the experiences of others into an online website, hoping that other leaders would be able to find something about junior high ministry that was practical and applicable to their own leadership and programming. It started with a focus on resources but quickly shifted to a focus on leadership.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in ministry that goes across the board, it’s the importance and value of leadership development.  Strategic Junior High is about providing junior high leaders with access to junior high specific or related leadership development resources to help them as they lead their volunteers, work with small groups, figure out community and plan for the future.

It would be great to see it grow and I would love to see others contributing their thoughts and experiences to the site as well.

Enjoy the site!

James Giroux
Strategic Junior High