The Young Life Podcast

Sean Mann, South Central Capernaum Divisional Coordinator,  joins the Young Life Mini-Cast to share with us what ministry with our special needs friends looks like during this season along with an encouraging story about how God is bigger than our fundraising events.  

Glenn Austell and Caitlin Carr join us again, this time to discuss a creative way to keep Committee informed and engaged during this ministry season.   www.younglifeaccess.com/podcast

Zac West joins the YL Mini-Cast this week to discuss his area's virtual ministry schedule and Committee/Leader Prayer Calls.  To see Zac's schedule visit www.younglifeaccess.com/podcast.

Aaron and Liz Kalms join us from Munich, Germany, to share ideas for ministry during COVID-19 that have been successful with many of our international ministries, including a virtual camp, daily morning devotional with kids, and an Intercontinental Mega Online Club.  For more information on any of these ideas, contact Aaron and Liz at akalms@younglife.org.

Lauren Bocci, Young Life's Senior Director of Marketing, joins us to discuss our upcoming May 8th State of the Mission Global Webcast. https://younglife.regfox.com/stateofthemission

Andy Davenport, Young Life's Capernaum Initiatives Coordinator, shares with us how he and our Capernaum staff are reaching out to our special needs friends during this time of shelter in place.

Crystal Kirgiss, Young Life's Vice-President of Discipleship, joins us for this edition of the YL Mini-Cast and shares with us a new discipleship resource for the mission.

Aswan Morris, Regional Director of New York's Manhattan Region, is our special guest for the third episode of the YL Mini-Cast.  Joining us from what has become the epicenter of the U.S. COVID 19 fight, Aswan shares how he is staying in touch with and encouraging his staff along with helping them stay connected with kids.  

The second episode of the YL Mini-Cast Special Edition features Andy Chittick, Area Director of Edinburgh, Scotland, as he shares a tangible way to engage people in praying for his community.

This first episode of the YL Mini-Cast Special Edition features Glenn Austell and Caitlin Carr, Co-Area Directors of Lubbock, Texas, as they share a unique way they found to minister to small business owners in their community during this unusual season of COVID-19. Our regular Young Life podcast will resume later this year with all-new episodes.

This week, a conversation with hall-of-fame friend, contributor, and Young Life donor, Terry Looper. Terry's secret weapon in life, ministry, family, & business is keeping a Sacred Pace, which became the title of his new book, out today. Thanks for listening!  Order Terry's book — Sacred Pace — by clicking here. 

Kelsey Carr (Field Reporter / Training Specialist) had a front row seat to RIKA, YL Africa/Middle East's bedrock training event. Today, 5 simple and transformative ways you can use to improve your own training.  Find out more. 

One family, the Parsons, moved to Moscow in the early 90's with a vision to build friends and learn Russian culture. That step of faith has resulted in thriving Young Life work all over the Former Soviet Union. Today, the story of how it all began, as well as stopovers in Armenia, Central Asia, the Far West, and Ukraine. 

What can Young Life learn from Popeye's chicken? Could you be a rested revolutionary?  Today, the answers to those questions, and more, with Jack Nikcevich (Regional Director, Raceway). 

Today, two pioneers in urban ministry tell stories from 5 decades of street work in New York City. 

The most vital part of Young Life's Forward Movement is a mission-wide commitment to seek the Lord first and help kids grow in their faith — to go deeper.   This week, join Crystal Kirgiss, Young Life's VP of Discipleship, in part 2 of a mini-series called “Deeper”, specifically designed to provide a few minutes of reflection on Colossians 2:6-7. Parts 3 & 4 will release in two weeks.  This week, download, turn on airplane mode, and go deeper. 

The most vital part of Young Life's Forward Movement is a mission-wide commitment to seek the Lord first and help kids grow in their faith — to go deeper.   This week, join Crystal Kirgiss, Young Life's VP of Discipleship, in part 1 of a mini-series called “Deeper”, specifically designed to provide a few minutes of reflection on Colossians 2:6-7.  This week, download, turn on airplane mode, and go deeper. 

Today, a fireside chat with Young Life's President & CEO, Newt Crenshaw. Fresh off he and Susan's first assignment this past summer, Newt encourages listeners to ‘get in the game' of serving people, a passion he leads with both in and out of Young Life. Are you a leader who serves, or a servant who leads? #servantswholead  

Our latest #ExploreYL campaign took place in Nashville, TN, where Young Life has a 50-year presence locally — It's a 50 year extravaganza!  Alex Lewis joins to discuss the vlogs, linked below (1:50), then we sit down with David Ott and the Nashville staff for a discussion on area culture (7:55). Next, an interview with Eve Sarrett (Associate Regional Director) (16:03), and finally, an exclusive song by Young Life College director, Becky Kinder (30:55), called 'Run'.  #ExploreYL Vlogs:  Welcome to Nashville (IGTV)  Kids Surprise and Thank Their Leaders (IGTV)  Friday Night Lights (IGTV)   

What is God's Mission for us today? How is it challenged by problems and/or informed by history? Today, the formation of ‘witnessing communities' with Dr. Darrell Guder.  Dr. Guder is the emeritus professor of missional and ecumenical theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. From 1976 to 1985 he served in Young Life as the Director of the Institute of Youth Ministries, providing theological education for Young Life staff. Dr. Guder helped to set a theological precedent that Young Life continues to strive for today.  He has participated in diverse ways in the missional church initiative; he was the editor of the volume Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America; and the author of The Continuing Conversion of the Church and Called to Witness: Doing Missional Theology.  

Whether speaking about the intentional development of people, building a thriving ministry, or the success of Denver's ELDI (Emerging Leaders Development Initiative), Art Williams (Multi-Ethnic Coordinator for the NW Division) believes that clarity is king. Today, we sit down to discuss these items, and other lessons he's learned in 15 years of ministry with Young Life.  Special thanks to Irene Reza and Ashley Davenport, ELDI grads and world-changers who make guest appearances in this episode!   #clarityisKing        

Today, a refreshing look at Young Life's intentional, timeless, and essential discipleship efforts with Crystal Kirgiss (Young Life's VP of Discipleship). We're becoming more like Jesus by...   

One year ago, Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island of Puerto Rico. Today, one perspective from the many heroes in Puerto Rico who continued to bring light into darkness in the aftermath of a historic storm. Today, our prayers go out to all affected by Hurricane Florence.   

Today, a conversation with Young Life pioneer Chuck Reinhold, whose recent book A Life Worth Living details the principles that produced a fruitful ministry spanning four decades and multiple continents. Learn more: www.ChuckReinhold.comChuck's Book A Life Worth Living (Amazon) Search the Scriptures (Amazon) How to Win Friends and Influence People The Topical Memory System The Christian Wheel     

“Young Life is not a ministry of moments, but a ministry that walks with people through various moments.” -Alex Lewis In our Season 1 finale, Alex Lewis (Digital Marketing Specialist) joins the show to recap the #TheBestWeekofYourLife Campaign and this years 'home' theme. Surprise guests include Tom Wilson (Regional Director and employee #65!) and some wonderful people from around camp. We're out until September, but in the meantime: check out the 4 vlogs YL produced for the special look at camp here at the links below to IGTV, and keep pioneering.   1 - "The Best Week of Your Life: Home" 2 - "Laughter: What if IG Followers controlled programs day?!" 3 - "It's not about me: Work Crew & Summer Staff"  4 - "Going Home"  

“A picture I have of the African women … is that she's carrying the continent on her shoulders.” —Dyan Larmey Today, stories of redemption, hope, and empowerment from Africa's ministry to women. Links:  Karama Collection Young Life Africa's Website  

“Supervision is an underutilized avenue to care for and develop people in ministry." John Evans (Sr. Dir. of Advanced Training) has made a career of creating safe spaces for people to learn how to grieve their losses. In Part I of our conversation, he spoke about being a healthy and congruent person. Today, how to lead others from a place of health and emotional maturity. We're @YoungLifePod.     

John Evans (Sr. Dir. of Advanced Training) has made a career of creating safe spaces for people to learn how to grieve their losses. This week, he teaches us how to be congruent (Part I) and to lead others from a place of health and emotional maturity (Part II, coming this Thursday). Conversation topics for today include his perspective on ministry motivation, emotional health, grieving, technology, anxiety, depression, and much more. Questions to Ponder:  Are you pursuing spiritual health while neglecting emotional health? What are losses you need to grieve? Do you know how to grieve losses properly? What is your motivation for helping people? Do you turn to technology to manage anxiety? Do you have a healthy/safe person to be vulnerable with? Are you in the habit of getting on other people's level to communicate with them?      

Rites of passage are effective ways to bless young people as they complete formative experiences and move onto the next chapter of their lives. Today, we drop in on one of Young Life's most revolutionary training programs, Latino Student Staff, to explore how it's is changing lives, sending people, and helping to transform the city of Houston. If your club or area has a rite of passage you'd love to share, hit us up @younglifepod.  Music by James Tutson & Podington Bear (from the free music archive)    

Our #songofsummer series features a camp musician(s) breaking down the music and message of their favorite song to play at camp. Today, Kel Taylor and Emma Harvey of Sawyer (@thebandSawyer) share about their song, ‘Easy Now'. Tomorrow, they fly to Malibu to play it. Are we missing a camp musician who played the songs of your summers past? Tag them and us (@younglifepod)— we'd love to help tell the story!   

Most of our Young Life staff, leaders, and stakeholders serve on teams. So, what makes them great? Today, an example of a caught up & compelled team: The Young Life Chicagoland Junior Board. Between Jon Houghton (Regional Director, Chicagoland Region) and Dana Kritsas (Chair, Jr. Board), we'll drop in on a meeting to hear how this team is effectively engaging Young Life alumni to make a difference in the city, and beyond. *Words/Music by artist (& Jr. Board's Spiritual Director) CW Allen! (iTunes|Spotify)     

Since Young Life is in ‘his blood,' Drew and Ellie Holcomb have felt right at home sharing their songs over nine summers of camp, lifting up themes like solidarity, romance, and honesty, alongside the message of Gods' love for young people. Today, a piece of Drew's musical history, and the story behind his #1 song of summer, ‘Live Forever'. If there's another camp musician you'd like to hear featured in our songs of summer series, tweet/DM us @YoungLifePod.     

Young Life is moving forward by going deeper into an authentic relationship with Jesus. Tracey Meeks (Young Life Staff, Towson, MD) has modeled how to choose depth. Today, her journey.   

Today, in our first bonus episode, we bring you two stories of monumental prayer walks to accompany Young Life's Missionwide Day of Prayer on April 21st, 2018. Use the hashtag #YLPray as you move. He sensed God saying, "Build it here." Voices: Alex Lewis (Digital Marketing Specialist) Micah Salazar (Camp Manager, Trail West) Steve Larmey (SVP, Young Life Africa/Middle East) Music by James Tutson, and Podington Bear, from the FMA    

This Saturday (4/21) is 'Move Forward', a global prayer walk for all of Young Life. Today, check out how Chad walks and prays, and listen for how you can join in this Saturday, and pray the Forward movement into reality. #YLPray  

In 41-month long summer assignments, Steve Chesney (Senior Reginal Director, Tennessee) has picked up a few nuts and bolts, some beautiful stories, as well as some timely advice for those embarking on 'the best week/month of their life'. In 60 days, the symphony plays again, with the beginning of the 2018 season.   

“Do not lose hope. Do not give up. Do not do this alone.” Luma Haddad (Area Director, South Bay Young Life) brings her wonderful perspective on thriving in an under-resourced area for 17 years. Her thoughts on ministry, rest, training, and leadership apply to all leaders — inside and outside of Young Life. Luma develops her best people by giving her best away, and today is no different. Hit us up @younglifepod with your takeaways!   

Today, a journey to the heart of Northern Ireland, a place with a legacy of sending it's best leaders out to change the world. Craig Mawhinney (Northern Ireland's Country Developer) helps us discover how they did it in the past, and how we can do it today.  

Embracing true kingdom diversity in mission requires growth in cultural intelligence. Dr. David Livermore runs The Cultural Intelligence Center (culturalq.com), and today he leads us in a discussion about achieving and sustaining kingdom diversity at all levels. Look for the surprise @YLAfrica intro — "Pamoja Pamoja" — to frame our discussion today! We're @younglifepod on social media.        

Young Life in Africa/Middle East has grown tremendously since it launched less than 20 years ago in one country with a single high school ministry. Today, we explore how this movement has grown so fast, when the leaders of it intentionally move slow. Here's a copy of the Leadership Tree.    

It's important to have a "constellation of Yodas" as you prepare for college. Today, a panel of College Directors discuss how YOU can crush your freshmen year, or prepare people you lead to eventually do so. Topics include pressure, relationships, faith, and much more. Our panel, in order of appearance, is Sarah Foster (Boise State University), Brad Akin (University of Mississippi), Shanay Scott (Temple University), Cat Ryden (University of North Texas), and Pete Hardesty (Eastern Divisional Coordinator). KEEP PIONEERING, and stay away from food trucks and hipster coffee.  

Today, an exploration into the world of Young Life College/University and the lives of a few of those who have been drastically impacted by the ministry. With different ages and perspectives, our guests have one thing in common — no one told them in high school. Special thanks to Mike and Shari Gaffney (VP of Young Life College and University; Executive Admin of YLC/U). We're @younglife — hit us up with your YLC/U experience!  

Does your leadership include building a culture where people are comfortable to learn? Do most leaders think of themselves as followers and learners — in addition to being leaders? Lyn Ten Brink (@lyn10brink) certainly does. Her beliefs about leadership, deeply rooted in scripture and experience, produce culture builders unafraid to ask questions. Where most lead to influence, Lyn also leads to learn. She discusses all that, YL Forward, training, and more. Follow along @younglifepod!  

Annie Udell joins for a short look back at some favorite moments from our first fall of shows, including an update on #2 and #11. Then, we kick off a momentous 2018 with our first call-in show, featuring pioneers from around the world! Finally, Sean McGever (Area Director — Paradise Valley, Arizona) is the first guest on "Why'd You Say It That Way?", a new recurring segment that will take us into the mind of great leader's to break down the messages they craft and deliver. We're @younglifepod if you have ideas on future speaker's you'd like to hear featured.  

Aswan Morris (Regional Director — Manhattan) is on the show to finish a conversation about building Young Life's future by looking closely at three pages from the past. The second installment of this episode includes a new special (surprise) guest of honor — someone who made history in Young Life and honored God in a way you do not want to miss. This episode concludes our investigation of Jeff Chesemore's Made For This, a book about Young Life. Here's to the next chapter in 2018, written by you. We're @younglifepod.

Jeff Chesemore's (Senior Editor) book Made For This is packed with the radical history of Young Life. Today, Aswan Morris (Regional Director — Manhattan) joins the show to discuss how the past helps us build the future, including a drop in with a very special (surprise) guest of honor, straight from the pages of history. We're @younglifepod. 

Instead of seeking balance, Kristy Fox (Regional Director — South Coast Region) creates margins in her life. Her experiences as a leader, a woman, and a mother in ministry allow us to hear a perspective becoming an organization where men and women are 'better together', and presents the opportunity to discuss how we might accomplish that goal mission-wide. We're @younglifepod on your favorite social media channel. 

Whose responsibility is it to start Young Life in places it doesn't exist? Upon investigating, we found the answer in an unexpected place. Join us in a conversation with Scott Berg (Regional Director — Moutain State Region) and a few special guests, as Young Life tackles what some call 'forgotten places' — we're @younglifepod, and we have a short newsletter. Keep pioneering! 

Andre went to camp, but remembers nothing about it. This week, we explore why by diving into the generational effect of YoungLives with Veroinca Tutaj (YoungLives Divisional Coordinator, South Central), and some very special guests. We're @younglifepod if your tweeting/instagramming. Sign up here for more info. PS — Lebron or Jordan?

Did you enjoy your middle school years? For most, this time period gets a bad rap. Julie Clapp (Mission Director of WyldLife), however, has a different vision for what comes after elementary school and before high school. She has hope, and so can you. We're @younglifepod if your tweeting/instagramming. Sign up here for more info.

L.A. is warm, and warm is the new cool. This week, we journey to the Greater L.A. Young Life Summit (#LAYL17), with an interview from one of the keynote speakers, Dr. Kara Powell (Fuller Youth Institute.) Check out Dr. Powell's work here, including her most recent book, Growing Young, and another, Sticky Faith. Hit us up: @younglifepod.