End Goals: LCMS Youth Ministry Podcast

Rev. Sean Daenzer joins Mark and Julianna to talk about the Divine Service on Wednesday at the Gathering. We hope this helps you get excited and prepare your group for this unique worship experience.  Bio: Rev. Sean Daenzer serves as director of LCMS Worship and chaplain of the LCMS International Center.  He previously served for seven years as pastor of a dual parish in rural North Dakota. Daenzer holds a Bachelor of Music in Organ from Hope College, Holland, Mich. (2006), and a Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. (2011). He and his wife, Audrey, have four children.  Resources: Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. LCMS Youth Gathering – www.lcmsgathering.com 

There so many ways Christians can serve and live out their vocations. The church also needs professional church workers! In this episode, Rev. Dr. Jim Baneck talks about how youth ministry can encourage young people to consider church work.   Bio: Rev. Dr. Jim Baneck is the executive director of LCMS Pastoral Education. In this role, he encourages the spiritual, character, confessional, physical, emotional and intellectual development of LCMS pastors and other church workers. He and his wife, Myrna, live in St. Louis and are blessed with four grown children and ten grandchildren.    Resources: Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Set Apart to Serve: https://www.lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve 

Mark and Julianna wrap up our series on the Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry with some ideas for practical use and next steps.   Resources: Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry available at CPH Research from the Pacific Northwest District: https://nowlcms.org/resources/youth-leadership-initiative-survey/ 

In the final episode going through the Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry, we talk with Rev. Dr. Mark Koschmann about helping youth understand vocation and how God has placed them to be His hands and feet in the world.   Bio: Rev. Dr. Mark Koschmann serves as Vice President of Faith and Ministry and Chief Mission Officer for Concordia University, St. Paul. He also serves on the Executive Leadership Team and is responsible for assisting the University in maintaining a strong institutional mission and identity as a Christ-centered Lutheran university. In his role, he oversees CSP Ministry and Church Relations and serves as the Chairperson for the Department of Theology and Ministry.  Dr. Koschmann assists his congregation, Jehovah Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, as a pastor, liturgist, and Bible study teacher. He and his wife, Dr. Kara Koschmann, have three children. Resources: Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry available at CPH Rev. Dr. Koschmann's Vocation Curriculum - https://www.youthesource.com/2019/07/bible-study-leading-lives-that-matter/  

Mark and Julianna discuss the ways in which we serve during the Gathering and how the Gathering offering gets used. Resources: Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. LCMS Youth Gathering – www.lcmsgathering.com  

As young people hear countless messages about who they are, we want them to have a resilient identity in Christ. DCE Paul Nelson joins us to talk about how to help youth build that resiliency as they are disciples of Jesus for life.   Bio: DCE Paul Nelson currently serves at St. John's Lutheran in Buffalo, MN. He graduated from Concordia Nebraska and has served congregations for six years.   Resources: Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry available at CPH

Rev. Dr. Peter Jurchen joins Mark and Julianna to talk about how youth ministry can help every young person to deeply understand their Baptismal Faith.   Bio: Rev. Dr. Peter Jurchen is an Assistant Professor of Lutheran Education and Faith Formation at Concordia University, Nebraska. Prior to that, he was an editor of Curriculum Resources at Concordia Publishing House. In addition to his MDiv, he has a Masters and Doctorate in Education. He enjoys the pursuit of lifelong learning and serves as the Editor for the Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry book. Resources: Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry available at CPH

Mark and Julianna dive into the fourth of seven practices in "Opportunities to Serve and Lead." Joining them is DCE KerriAnn Schmidt who works to empower her youth to serve and lead in their congregation.   Bio: DCE KerriAnn Schmidt started to serve Zion Lutheran Bellville in 2001 right after her graduation from Concordia Nebraska. She leads Zion's Family Ministry. Her passion is to help parents and grandparents bring the love of Jesus into their homes and provide education and events to help strengthen our families and community. KerriAnn's husband, JP, is a teacher at Zion Lutheran School. They have two young children.  Resources: Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry available at CPH

Pastor Brian King and DCE Emily Schatz join Mark and Julianna to talk about how we engage parents in youth ministry. Our conversation helps remind us to support and care for the parents of our youth as a part of youth ministry.   Bio: Pastor Brian King graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan before going to Seminary. He has served at Webster Gardens since 1998.  He and his wife Liz have two kids. He has never seen a documentary he didn't like.   DCE Emily Schatz graduated from Concordia University Chicago in 2016. She served in Washington and Colorado before joining the staff at Webster Gardens in 2021. Emily has focused on middle school and high school students in her congregations. Emily grew up in St. Louis and was excited to move back here with her husband and three daughters to be closer to her parents and extended family. Resources: Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry available at CPH

We know that pastors, DCEs, teachers and other church workers play a special role as supportive adults for youth. Pastor Ben Meyer joins us to talk about how church workers can be supportive adults and create an environment that encourages other supportive adults.  Bio: Pastor Ben Meyer is pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Sunbury, Ohio and the president of the Central Ohio Lutheran Immigrant Mission. He and his wife Christine have four children: Timothy, Lucy, Cooper, and Boaz. He also enjoys making BBQ in the backyard when time permits.  Resources: Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry available at CPH Age to Age: An Intergenerational Study of Spiritual Practices by Pastor Meyer

There are over 1000 volunteers who help make the LCMS Youth Gathering run! DCEs Lindsey Schmidt and Leslie Sullivan talk about their experience in supporting our Gathering Ambassadors, Young Adult Volunteers and Team Flex.   Bios: Lindsey Schmidt has been a DCE for 19 years and is still serving at her first call: Woodbury Lutheran.  She serves as the Director of Next Gen ministries and loves working with middle school students. She and her husband Tad enjoy volunteering and serving at the Gathering. This will be her 10th Gathering, having experienced the Gathering from many different seats: participant, young adult volunteer, Primary Adult leader, Community Life Builder, and Planner.     Leslie Sullivan has been a DCE for over 20 years now and this will be her 9th LCMS Youth Gathering. She currently serves as Celebrate Director at St John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. She has been blessed to be married to her amazing husband Brian for 8 years, and they love volunteering and serving at the Gathering together.  Resources: Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. LCMS Youth Gathering – www.lcmsgathering.com 

In this special episode, we interview Rev. Dr. Terry Dittmer, who served LCMS Youth Ministry for many years. His stories help give us some wisdom and perspective about youth ministry.   Bio: Rev. Dr. Terry Dittmer had a distinguishing career serving the church.  He served as a Lutheran high school teacher, parish pastor, poet, song and hymn writer, and supporter of young people and those who care for them.  One of the main ways he did this was as a staff member of LCMS Youth Ministry.  He led organizations such as Lutheran Youth Fellowship and served as the department's communication director.  In the early 2000s, he served as the Director of LCMS Youth Ministry until he retired in 2016.  He now lives in Kirkwood, MO with his wife Shari.  He enjoys his home and backyard and spending time with his children and their families.   Resources:   Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

We believe every young person should have at least five Christian supportive adults in their lives. DCE Hailey Jo Miller comes on the podcast to talk about how she engages and encourages supportive adults in her youth ministry.   Bio: Hailey Jo is the Director of Student Ministry at Memorial Lutheran Church. She's served in ministry for 13 years and loves working with students to affirm their baptismal identity and connect God's word to their daily living. Her current hobby is cleaning up after her 5 children and saying "no" to the 59th snack of the day. Resources:  Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry avaliable at CPH  Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

As we dive into the Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry, Mark and Julianna are joined by DCE Angela Kollbaum to talk about what it means to have warmth, challenge, and grace.  Bio: Angela Kollbaum, DCE, PLMHP is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) and Certified Professional Counselor (CPC) in the state of Nebraska with Lutheran Family Service (LFS). She is a member of a Christian counseling team as a master's-level prepared mental health and marriage and family counselor. She serves clients in person in the Norfolk and Northeast Nebraska area. Angela also serves Nebraskans through telehealth. She also serves as the director of the LFS Church Worker Wellness Team to provide support, encouragement, and prayer for church workers throughout the LCMS. She is Called as the Director of Christian Education (DCE) at Trinity Lutheran Church in Madison, NE.  Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry avaliable at CPH: https://www.cph.org/seven-practices-of-healthy-youth-ministry?srsltid=AfmBOorekrYOVJEP-oK7TM9kmh8fOC_6Ob3v9S9unGIRdDp0RHxTlSTg Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

Mark and Julianna kick off a series that goes through each of the seven practices of youth ministry. But before they do, let's take a second to remember how we got these practices to begin with and what they are designed to do.  Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry avaliable at CPH: https://www.cph.org/seven-practices-of-healthy-youth-ministry?srsltid=AfmBOorekrYOVJEP-oK7TM9kmh8fOC_6Ob3v9S9unGIRdDp0RHxTlSTg  Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

The Gathering is more than five days. One of the ways we hope that groups come together is in pre-Gathering Bible studies. Pastor Doug Bender and DCE AJ Vega, members of the Gathering Bible Study Team, join us to talk about the themes and values of pre-Gathering Bible studies.  Bios:  Pastor Doug Bender serves as an associate pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Macomb, Michigan. Before serving at Immanuel, Pastor Doug was a campus pastor for six years at Concordia University Wisconsin. One of his greatest passions is supporting and encouraging students and young people in faith and life, and he is thrilled to join the Gathering planning team and for the ways God's Word will impact countless lives before, during, and after the Gathering!  AJ Vega is the Director of Discipleship and Outreach at St. John's Church and Renewal Church in Denver, Colorado. AJ has served on multiple teams for the Gathering in the past, including serving as an Emcee for the 2019 Gathering in Minneapolis and serving on the Bible Study Team in 2022 in Houston. When not working, AJ loves to spend time with his expecting wife (!) his cat, Bruno, and drinking pour-over coffee in the wee hours of the morning.  Youth Gathering Resources: LCMS Youth Gathering Website – lcmsgathering.com Facebook Page – facebook.com/lcmsgathering Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/LCMSYouthMinistry LCMS Youth Gathering Pre- Event Bible Studies www.lcmsgathering.com/biblestudy  YouthESource Website – www.youthesource.com 

It is almost time for registration to start for the 2025 LCMS Youth Gathering! New staff Becky Kammeier and Emily Myers join us to discuss key things to know about how to plan for your registration to the Gathering.   Youth Gathering Resources: LCMS Youth Gathering Website – lcmsgathering.com Facebook Page – facebook.com/lcmsgathering Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/LCMSYouthMinistry

One component that is a part of every youth ministry is time in God's Word. This episode is a discussion of how you can intentionally plan, choose, and write Bible Studies and Devotions for your teens.   Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

New Orleans is a city with a lot of LCMS Youth Gathering history, and we are excited to be there again in 2025. Listen to Mark and Julianna talk about NOLA as we prepare for the next Gathering. Youth Gathering Resources: LCMS Youth Gathering Website - lcmsgathering.com Facebook Page - facebook.com/lcmsgathering Facebook Group - facebook.com/groups/LCMSYouthMinistry

Most youth ministries use games regularly, but new youth leaders might not know how to best use those games. We are joined by Signe White, Ellie Lutz, and Keith Peters, who all serve in camp ministry, to talk about how to use games for teaching, community building, and more. Resources in this episode: National Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Association: nloma.org Games on YouthESource: youthesource.com/category/free-resources/activities-games YouthESource Website: youthesource.com Guests in this episode: With three decades of service in the LCMS, Signe White is a seasoned ministry leader whose passion for the outdoors and leadership development has shaped her role as Executive Director of Camp Perkins, a thriving outdoors ministry and conference center. Signe blends her passion for nature and outdoor play with her focus on fostering and empowering new leaders through visionary guidance and strategic leadership, both within the organization and the wider church community. Ellie "Frisbee" Lutz has been a camp professional for 13 years and also served as a church youth leader for 2 years. She has led programs at camps in Wisconsin, Idaho, and her current location, Lakeview Ministries in southern Indiana. Her camp nickname is "Frisbee" because (as she tells the kids) she's fun to play with and good at spinning in circles. Keith Peters served in various Christian camp ministries and in a parish ministry, prior to joining Lutherhaven's team as the Director of Summer and Youth Ministry in 2021. During summers at Camp Lutherhoma throughout high school and college he was privileged to learn game leading and has been training others to lead games for two decades. His other interests include teaching adult bible study classes, logging miles either by running or cycling, and drinking good coffee.

DCE Jeremy Becker joins Julianna and Mark for a conversation about how youth leaders can foster community and relationships that build belonging in their youth ministry. Bio: Jeremy Becker is a Director of Christian Education with over 24 years. He currently serves St. Paul Lutheran Church in Weston, Florida before that, he served at Concordia Lutheran in Kirkwood, Missouri. He was recently awarded the Master DCE award from the National Association of DCEs. He is married to Kristin and has two daughters.  Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

It's time to start planning for the 2025 Youth Gathering! Mark and Julianna talk about things to consider as you begin to prepare your congregation, youth, parents and other adults for the Gathering. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

The next episode in our second starter pack discusses child safety and risk management. Mark and Julianna talk about what can go wrong and how you can prepare to keep youth and adults safe and healthy. Resources mentioned in this episode: The LCMS Youth Ministry resource website: youthesource.com Ministry Safe: ministrysafe.com/lcms LCMS Page on Child Abuse/Safety: lcms.org/social-issues/child-abuse

Mark and Julianna are starting a new series of podcasts for those who are starting out in youth ministry. For the first episode, we invite LCMS Youth Ministry Communications Specialist Meredith Smith to discuss communications. Meredith Smith is the communications specialist for LCMS Youth Ministry, communicating about everything we do at LCMS Youth Ministry, including the Gathering. She is a Houston native, a graduate of Texas A&M, and is married to Pastor Alex Smith. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

We are excited to be revealing the theme “Endure” for the upcoming 2025 Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Rev. Dr. Peter Nafzger joins Mark and Julianna to talk about the theme, the passages of Hebrews we will focus on and more about our theological paper. Rev. Dr. Peter Nafzger is an Associate Professor of Practical Theology and Director of Student Life at Concordia Seminary here in St. Louis. He served a congregation in Minnesota before coming to the Seminary. Peter has served on our Theological Advisory Team for several Gatherings and wrote our thematic paper.

Service work is a key component of a healthy youth ministry. Service on longer, intensive weeks like servant events or mission trips give youth a chance to live out their faith through the work of the Holy Spirit and build relationships that keep them tied to their congregation. LCMS Youth Ministry has supported LCMS Servant Events for over 40 years and today we hear more about their benefits to young people, those who serve alongside them, and those they serve in the name of Christ. Resources for Servant Events: LCMS Servant Events - lcms.org/servantevents Event Listing - lcms-servantevents.org Service Resources - youthesource.com/service Bio: Lord of the Lakes Lutheran Church in Forest Lake, Minnesota hosts an LCMS Servant Event called Heart of a Servant. Two of the event leaders joined the podcast to discuss their event and why they love hosting young people from across the United States. Rev. Craig Bertram is Pastor at Lord of the Lakes and serves as the Event Coordinator for Heart of a Servant. Shelly Carlson has served as Youth and Education Director at Lord of the Lakes since 1991 and serves as the event's Community Life Coordinator.

College academic years have started across the country. This is a momentous time of transition for a freshman, and exciting times for upper classmen. A new living arrangement, a new schedule, new freedom, and new relationships all meet young people as they go from high school to their next academic adventure. Campus Ministries and home congregations provide ongoing prayer and support for their walk with Jesus. In this episode, we hear how parents and supportive adults provide this care for students they love. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com and LCMS Campus Ministry at lcms.org/lcmsu. Bio: Ron DuPree is a DCE who serves as the Director of Youth and College Ministries at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Denton, Texas. Ron serves youth and families at the church as well as students at the University of North Texas, and Texas Woman's University. Ron is a graduate of Concordia University Irvine, and a current graduate student at Concordia Irvine's Townsend Institute for Executive Coaching and Consulting.  When there is free time, he enjoys restoring an old Corvette, motorcycle riding and dirt biking and most importantly spending time with his children and grandchildren. 

One of the biggest struggles we know are a part of adolescence, especially today, is identity formation. We talk with DCE Cassie Moore about how youth ministry can play a role in helping form an identity in Christ and about her recent study on identity. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Bio: Cassie Moore is an author, international speaker, and leadership consultant with 15 years of experience as a Director of Christian Education in Lutheran churches and schools, including multi-site ministries. She's author of Authentic Youth Ministry: Straight Talk about Working with Kids, Teens & In-Betweens, contributor for Connected for Life: Essential Guide to Youth Ministry, and the upcoming Jesus' Survival Kit for Young Women. Having grown up in Illinois and Minnesota, Cassie received her undergraduate degree from Concordia University in Irvine, California, and is currently finishing her master's degree in organizational leadership from the Townsend Institute at Concordia University, Irvine. In her free time, Cassie loves dogs, chatting with friends over coffee, hiking and kayaking, and travel with her husband, Tyler. 

We conclude our short series on Christian Apologetics, inviting Dr. Brad Alles and Rev. Joe Cox to give insight to worldviews and philosophies faced by Christians. Resources in this episode: YouthESource Website — youthesource.com  Brad Alles' Resource Website — bradalles.com   “Share Hope” YouthLead Curriculum (Leader: Brad Alles) — youthesource.com/2019/12/12/share-hope Life's Big Questions, God's Big Answers by Brad Alles — cph.org/lifes-big-questions-gods-big-answers     Starting at the End by Brad Alles — cph.org/starting-at-the-end   Postmodern Times: A Christian Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture by Gene Edward Veith — amazon.com/Postmodern-Times-Christian-Contemporary-Thought/dp/0891077685   Bios: Dr. Brad Alles is an Assistant Professor of Education at Concordia University Wisconsin. He is a frequent Bible study teacher and speaker at local, state and national youth gatherings, as well as youth worker, teacher, and pastor conferences. Rev. Joe Cox is Campus Pastor and Director of Curriculum at Lutheran High School South in St. Louis, Missouri. He teaches English and Theology and coaches the school's mock trial teams.

We continue a short series on Christian Apologetics with guests Dr. Brad Alles and Rev. Joe Cox.  In this episode we tackle a few questions raised by those inside and outside of the faith.  Our guests give insight to answers to defend the faith and share it with others.  Bios: Dr. Brad Alles is an Assistant Professor of Education at Concordia University Wisconsin.  He is a frequent Bible study teacher and speaker at local, state and national youth gatherings, as well as youth worker, teacher, and pastor conferences.  Rev. Joe Cox is Campus Pastor and Director of Curriculum at Lutheran High School South in St. Louis, Missouri.  He teaches English and Theology and coaches the school's mock trial teams.   Resources from this episode: The LCMS Youth Ministry resource website youthesource.com “Share Hope” YouthLead Curriculum (Leader: Brad Alles) - youthesource.com/2019/12/12/share-hope Brad Alles' Resource Website – bradalles.com Life's Big Questions, God's Big Answers by Brad Alles – cph.org/lifes-big-questions-gods-big-answers Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell – amazon.com/Evidence-That-Demands-Verdict-Life-Changing/dp/1401676707 History, Law, and Christianity by John Warwick Montgomery – amazon.com/History-Christianity-John-Warwick-Montgomery/dp/1945500018

We continue a short series on Christian Apologetics, exploring the role of Apologetics in Christian education and youth ministry.  Faith Spelbring, DCE, joins us to give insight and resources to equip young people to think critically about the intersection of faith and life and witnessing to others. Resources in this episode: Life's Big Questions, God's Big Answers by Brad Alles cph.org/lifes-big-questions-gods-big-answers The Defense Never Rests by Craig Parton cph.org/the-defense-never-rests-second-edition Bio: Faith Spelbring, DCE, lives with her husband Chris, and four children in Belleville, Illinois. Faith has a bachelor's degree in religious education with a youth ministry emphasis from Concordia University –Irvine.  She is also a Fellow of the Academy of Christian Apologetics, Evangelism and Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.    Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

We start a short series on Christian Apologetics, starting with the basics of Christian Worldview.  Dr. Brad Alles and Rev. Joe Cox join us to give resources to develop our worldview grounded in God's Word and truth. Resources mentioned in this episode: “Share Hope” YouthLead Curriculum (Leader: Brad Alles) - youthesource.com/2019/12/12/share-hope/   Brad Alles' Resource Website  – bradalles.com   Summit Ministries – summit.org   Answers in Genesis – answeresingenesis.og   Bios: Dr. Brad Alles is an Assistant Professor of Education at Concordia University Wisconsin.  He is a frequent Bible study teacher and speaker at local, state and national youth gatherings, as well as youth worker, teacher, and pastor conferences.  Rev. Joe Cox is Campus Pastor and Director of Curriculum at Lutheran High School South in St. Louis, Missouri.  He teaches English and Theology and coaches the school's mock trial teams.   Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

Members of the YouthLead Executive Team, teens elected to serve the program for a three year term, join Mark and Julianna in talking about how to support teen leaders and what they enjoy about being young leaders themselves Bios: Reagan Martens, Austin Barber, and Adam Beadle are representatives from the YouthLead Executive Team. This team is elected by their peers to serve for three years. They provide leadership and direction to the YouthLead program and serve as leaders during our YouthLead training. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

Part of our 40 End Goals talks about how we engage and support in service and mission locally and across the globe. Rev. Mark Rabe and Erin Alter from the LCMS Office of International Mission join us to talk about how youth leaders can explore these topics and support current and future missionaries. Find the LCMS Office of International Mission at international.lcms.org, Missions Unpacked at international.lcms.org/missions-unpacked, and the Five Minutes with a Missionary Podcast at kfuo.org/category/missionary-podcast. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Bios: Rev. Dr. Mark A. Rabe is the director of recruitment for the LCMS Office of International Mission.  Rabe served from 2015–2021 as an LCMS missionary and theological educator at Mekane Yesus Seminary in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.   Erin Alter is the director of short-term missions for the LCMS Office of International Mission. 

Both in the 2022 Gathering Theological paper and in the Seven Practices we talk about the importance of telling personal stories, but especially God's story. Julianna and Mark talk to Pastor Ted Doering about his study that dives into God's story and our story. Bio: Rev. Ted Doering is the pastor at Narrative Church, an LCMS church plant in Williamson County, Texas, just north of Austin. He is blessed to be married to Chelsey, who works as the hospitality coordinator for TX district. Ted enjoys spending his free time with friends over a good meal, sampling the many local forms of breakfast tacos and BBQ, hiking in the Texas Hill Country, catching a movie, and cheering for all forms of professional Houston sports teams. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

In our last episode on difficult conversations, Pastor Jonathan and Christa Petzold help us think about how to approach issues of gender and sexuality in our youth ministry.  Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Bio: Rev. Jonathan Petzold holds an MDiv from Concordia Seminary St. Louis. He serves as Senior Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Roselle, Illinois. Christa Petzold holds an MA in Theology from Concordia University Irvine and a degree in Mathematics and Lutheran Secondary Education from Concordia University Wisconsin. She works as a stay-at-home mother, homeschooling their four children. Jonathan and Christa have been married since 2010 and enjoy learning and teaching God's Word together. They also love coffee, Star Wars, traveling, and quiet evenings at home.  Between them, they have authored multiple books and blogs and one that we want to highlight is Male and Female: Embracing Your Role in God's Design, published by Concordia Publishing House.

We are highlighting a second study in this year after the Gathering on Vocation. DCE Amanda Jahnke joins us to talk about vocation with teens now and in the future. Bio: Amanda Jahnke is a DCE currently serving Concordia Preparatory School in Townsend, Maryland. She previously served at St. Paul in Fort Worth, TX. She received her undergrad and graduate degree in Family Sciences from Concordia St. Paul. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

Suicide is not easy to talk about in your youth ministry, but it is necessary as it is the second-leading cause of death among people ages 10-24. Megan Miessler, LCSW, joins us to talk about how we can approach this topic well and care for young people who may experience crisis around suicide. Find the Columbia Protocol App at apps.apple.com/us/app/columbia-protocol/id1450966911 and Mental Health First Aid at mentalhealthfirstaid.org. If you or someone you know is in crisis or mental distress, help is available. Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org. Bio: Megan Miessler is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Megan began working with children and youth as a DCE in the Lutheran Church. She received her MSW from University of Central Florida and her DCE from Concordia St. Paul. Megan works with children and families and focuses on play therapy, depression, Anxiety, Crisis Intervention, School Counseling and Marriage Therapy. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

Deaconess Emma Heinz and Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor join Mark and Julianna to talk about how we approach life issues in youth ministry and teach a full theology of life in all things to our youth. Find LCMS Life Ministry resources at lcmslife.org and life resources on the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com/life. Bio: Deaconess Emma Heinz lives in St. Louis and is married to Seminarian Ben Heinz. She has served as a Deaconess intern in the Office of National Mission, including helping with the LCMS Gathering registration. She currently serves as registrar for Higher Things and in her spare time likes to read and write.   Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor serves as director of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod's Life Ministry.  After a first career in marketing, she received an M.A. from Concordia Theological Seminary and earned a doctorate from Bethel University. She is married to Rev. Jonathan Manor, and they have five children and two grandchildren. 

Mark and Julianna continue the series on challenging issues you might face in youth ministry. Rev. Brian Earl joins them to talk about ministering in the face of drug and substance use and addiction.     Bio: Rev. Brian Earl is a board-certified chaplain currently serving in mental health populations at the Raymond G Murphy Medical Center in Albuquerque, NM since 2019. Before that Brian completed a VA Interprofessional Advanced Fellowship in Addiction Treatment at the West Haven, CT VA. Brian is an ordained LCMS Pastor and before being called to chaplaincy in 2015, Brian served as a parish pastor in Nebraska. He and his wife Christa have three children and two cats.    Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

Our next study in the 40 End Goals series helps us to think about how we navigate difficult times with humble confidence and teach youth to do the same. Pastor Brandon Metcalf joins us to talk about his study and how we can support teens regardless of what challenges they face. Bio: Rev. Brandon Metcalf serves as Associate Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto, Illinois. Brandon has a degree from Concordia University Nebraska and served as a Director of Christian Education in Missouri before entering the Seminary. Brandon loves any chance to work with God's people to help them hold onto the promises of God. Along with “Connected for Life: Essential Guide to Youth Ministry” and youthesource.com, he is a contributing author to “Word of Strength and Promise: Devotions for Youth” and has spoken at district and national youth gatherings. He enjoys Frisbee, volleyball, and board games but his greatest joys come from being a husband and father. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

LCMS Servant Events have supported youth and adults in learning that serving others can make a difference because of Jesus Christ for more than 35 years. In this episode, our Servant Event Committee joins us to talk about how these servant events across the country.  Guests in this episode: Rev. Barry Akers — Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI Shelly Carlson — Lord of the Lakes Lutheran Church, Forest Lake, MN Joe Palinkas — Zion Lutheran Church, Painesville, OH Randy Ronning, DCE — Trinity Lutheran Church, Richmond, VA Leah Sallach — Holy Ghost Lutheran Church, Buffalo, NY Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com and LCMS Youth Ministry at lcms.org/youth.

As we continue to highlight the studies around the 40 End Goals, Mark and Julianna talk to DCE Bekah Freed about her study and devotions on Sabbath and rest. Bio: Bekah Freed is Kansas-grown girl who now lives in cornfields of Nebraska (with a 9-year stop in Buffalo, NY). She currently serves the students of Concordia University, Nebraska as the Director in the Student Life Office and loves helping youth and young adults know how much Jesus loves them. (Hint: It's a lot!) She is a Director of Christian Education (DCE) and has a master's degree in Discipleship in the context of Trauma and Crisis Response. She enjoys kayaking, conversations about things that matter, fresh-baked cookies, traveling, a fuzzy blanket on a cold winter day, hugs from her nieces, hiking, and celebrating the everyday blessings in life. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

Mark and Julianna celebrate 100 episodes of End Goals Podcast by letting the listeners turn the tables and answering their questions. We are so thankful for your support these last three years. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

Bullying is not anything new, and youth ministries have had to deal with it many times over and in various ways. Today, much of the bullying happens not face to face but online. Kari Smith joins us to talk about how to prevent and approach this issue. Bio: Kari Smith has been a teacher, youth leader, and now works with Lutheran Family Service as Congregational Services and Adoption Case Work. She graduated from Concordia Nebraska. She lives in Iowa with her husband of 22 years and is a mom of four.  Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

We all have roles, responsibilities, and relationships where God uses us to serve others and share the Gospel. Pastor Andrew Jones joins Mark and Julianna to talk about the importance to teaching about vocation.  Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Bio: Andrew R. Jones lives in the Bay Area of California where he enjoys writing, hiking, and adventures with his wife, Stephanie. He has served the church on three continents in varying roles including campus ministry, international mission work, professor of preaching, and parish pastor. His writings speak to the importance of spiritual disciplines in the midst of a hectic world. 

This Fall we are taking on some important, but difficult topics for teens that might be tough for youth leaders to approach. In this episode, we talk with Jayme Nichols about how we can prepare to care and support youth who are impacted by depression and anxiety. Bio: DCE Jayme Nichols is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in the Austin, TX area. Before becoming a counselor, she served in youth ministry for 18 years. Jayme and her husband, Kobi, grew up in Saginaw, MI and met at Valley Lutheran High School. They have been married 13 years and have three children: Isaac (10), Carrington (9), and Jeremiah (5). In their down time, the Nichols' enjoy watching Michigan football, Tigers baseball, and Red Wing hockey.  Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

Both the 7 Practices and the 40 End Goals use the term “Humble Confidence” but what does that mean? Join Mark and Julianna in a discussion with Rev. Trevor Sutton about his study on Humble Confidence available on YouthESource right now. Bio: Rev. Trevor Sutton is a senior pastor at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Lansing, Michigan. He is also a PhD candidate at Concordia Seminary and teaches in the digital humanities graduate program at Concordia Ann Arbor. His most recent books include Redeeming Technology and Clearly Christian: Following Jesus in This Age of Confusion. Sutton's writing on technology has appeared in The Washington Post, Religion News Service, The Lutheran Witness, The Christian Century and elsewhere. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

Our 40 Teaching End Goals are a part of our 7 Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry and our Bible studies on the YouthESource for the next year will explore those End Goals. In this episode we look at the first of those Bible studies and devotions by talking about Christian Community with author Cassie Schermbeck. Bio: Cassie Schermbeck is a DCE in Centennial, CO, and has served in youth ministry for more than twenty years. She went to Concordia University Nebraska and received her MA in Youth and Family Ministry from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. She and her husband Tim have two kids in elementary school. Cassie loves teenagers, speaking, listening, the Spurs, the Cubs, reading, swimming, triathlons and worshiping Jesus.  Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

Join us for a special crossover episode with Friends for Life! Host Stephanie Neugebauer talked with us about the importance of intergenerational relationships, particularly with older generations honoring and serving the younger generation. As we think about the life of the church, how we care for pre-teens, teens, and young adults is a part of how we engage and value God's people in every aspect of life. Find the Friends for Life Podcast at kfuo.org/friendsforlife. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. About Friends for Life: We believe that God is the author and sustainer of all life. We also know it can be hard to speak about the intrinsic value of that life when it feels like the world is trying to drown us out. We're right here beside you. In this podcast of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod's Life Ministry, we're coming alongside one another as a community of Christ's redeemed people, ones who are speaking up for and living out the sanctity of human life. Together we'll explore life issues in a way that honors our heavenly Father's value of human life, serves our neighbor, and connects us to others who are doing the same. Join us, so that together we can be friends for life. Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life, and email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org.

Even though you may still be sharing your 2022 Gathering experience, our team is already well at work on the 2025 LCMS Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Hear a little bit about what happens between Gatherings and ways you can stay connected to us. Find all things Gathering at lcmsgathering.com. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.