Podcasts about intergenerational ministry

Seth Kaplan's article on the After Babel Substack reads like a secular argument for why youth ministry matters.Joel and Tim trace the arc from 1950s street culture to the latchkey generation to the screen-based void that smartphones were custom-built to fill, and ask what the church uniquely offers in response. The answer, according to both secular sociology and Christian theology, is the same thing: thick, embedded, multi-generational communities where kids are known, challenged, given genuine responsibility and can't just opt out when conflict arises.Tim also pushes back on one of Kaplan's conclusions, and the pushback is worth hearing.00:00 Welcome, studio upgrades, the Soul Revival car door and half marathon training05:50 We Took Away the Phones. Now What? Seth Kaplan's After Babel article10:00 How we lost the street, from 1950s community to suburban isolation13:30 Overprotection, the latchkey generation and the void screens filled18:00 What kids actually lose when they stop playing outside22:00 Organised activities as a poor substitute for free play27:00 Board games, conflict resolution and what teachers are being asked to fix32:00 Scouts, third places and the church as embedded community36:00 The 30-year generational arc: Miranda campus now vs Kirrawee in the 90s43:00 The cognitive shift: from "my parents' church" to "my church"48:00 Sport vs church: what non-negotiables reveal about priorities54:00 Tim's pushback on Kaplan: why experiences AND instruction both matter1:00:00 Church attendance as covenant, not option. Plus Tim's takeawaySubscribe, leave a review, and send your thoughts to joel@shockabsorber.com.au

"What is our role in bringing about the kingdom of heaven?" Sermon by Charissa Simmons, Canon for Intergenerational Ministry, recorded live on Sunday, May 18, 2026.

Last episode was the intangibles. This is the tangibles.Joel, Stu and Tim open with the Met Gala, a $1 bill across Sarah Paulson's eyes, and whether millionaires protesting billionaires is tone deaf,  before tracing the thread from wealth inequality all the way to how the church should function as a genuine leveller. Then they get practical.What systems does Soul Revival actually use? How do you say no to a good idea without crushing the person who brought it? What is ministry slide and why does grace need to be structurally built into your teams? And what does teams not tasks actually mean, and why does it protect against utilitarianism in a way that pure efficiency thinking never can?Plus: why prayer nights in the 90s drew the biggest crowds, what happened when the bands Soul Revival raised started pulling people to pub gigs on Saturday nights, and Stu's memory of a meeting 25 years ago where they cancelled all the plans and just prayed — and why he still remembers it.Timestamps00:00 Welcome — excursions, the Met and peanut butter sandwiches on a school bus03:00 The Met Gala, Sarah Paulson and tone-deaf protest art07:00 Francis Schaeffer — how philosophy flows through artists into culture12:00 Wealth inequality, housing and the church as a leveller19:00 Galatians 3 — no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free24:00 Practical levelling — $7 meals, camp subsidies and families taking home leftovers29:00 Church systems — ChurchSuite, communication across generations and the pigeon budget35:00 How to say no to a good idea — the shock absorber in practice42:00 Prayer in the service — building a bridge to a new reality48:00 Teams not tasks — why friendship protects against utilitarianism57:00 God gives different personalities — honouring everyone in the team1:02:00 Ministry slide revisited and wrapping upDiscussed on this episodeFrancis Schaeffer — The Great Evangelical DisasterAndy Crouch — Culture MakingRobert Greene — The 48 Laws of PowerChurchSuite — churchsuite.comSubscribe, leave a review, and send your thoughts to joel@shockabsorber.com.au

Is efficiency a godly value? And if the Good Shepherd leaves 99 sheep to find the one, what does that say about how we should be running our churches?The guys open with King Charles's surprisingly funny speech to the U.S. Congress, a masterclass in soft power, humour and resetting an agenda without throwing a punch, before getting into the real conversation: how do you manage a church well without accidentally turning it into a business?Stu unpacks Soul Revival's approach to project management — organised messiness, ministry slide, double-up meetings and why grace has to be baked into the structure from the start. Tim brings in Andy Crouch's cultural postures and Marshall McLuhan's medium-is-the-message warning about what happens when corporate metaphors quietly reshape how you think about ministry.Timestamps00:00 Welcome — fake arrogance, King Charles and the Churchill bath story08:30 Soft power, constitutional monarchy and why Charles reset the agenda without throwing a punch17:30 Church project management — theology, strategy and practice21:00 The African church vs the Sydney church — context shapes everything25:00 Metrics, growth and the danger of deterministic ministry thinking31:00 Andy Crouch, Marshall McLuhan and why corporate metaphors aren't value-neutral37:00 Organised messiness — Stu's philosophy of church management43:00 The Good Shepherd, the 99% and why efficiency isn't a godly value47:00 Isaac Gordon's late arrival and what it taught Soul Revival about grace54:00 Ministry slide — a practical framework for holding people and mission togetherDiscussed on this episode:King Charles III addresses US CongressAndy Crouch - Culture MakingMarshall McLuhan - The Medium is the MessageColin Marshall and Tony Payne - Trellis and VineSubscribe, leave a review, and send your thoughts to Joel at joel@shockabsorber.com.au

Tony Abbott wrote a history of Australia called, wait for it, Australia. Tim has been reading it, which sent him down a rabbit hole about celebratory versus critical history, cognitive dissonance, steel-manning both sides, and why we're so terrified of changing our minds.Joel and Tim work through black armband versus three cheers versions of Australian identity, and what Christian Smith's critical realist personalism has to do with welcoming newcomers at church. Then they land somewhere that ties it all together: Jesus is the synthesiser. Not a middle ground between two political tribes, not a careful hedge, but the total truth above and beyond all of it, which is exactly what a generation exhausted by polarisation is starving for.Plus: two Michael Jensen articles on how not to be weird to newcomers, the difference between a hobby and a practice, and Tim's takeaway on being genuinely curious about other people.Timestamps00:00 Welcome — adventures, new creation and Tim's AI-generated book cover05:00 Tony Abbott's history of Australia and the history wars09:30 Black armband vs celebratory history, why we can't hold both at once16:30 Steel-manning both sides with Claude and the danger of always complexifying22:00 Christian Smith's critical realist personalism: objective truth, subjective engagement28:00 Michael Jensen on how not to be weird to newcomers at church34:00 The regulars and irregulars problem: when community becomes a closed circle43:00 Hobby vs practice: Brad Stulberg on getting 1% better at welcoming51:00 God's sovereignty and our practice: the both/and of sanctification56:30 Tim's takeaway: be genuinely curious about othersDiscussed on this episodeTony Abbott - Australia: A HistoryChristian Smith - What is a Person?Sean Nolan - The Way He WalkedMichael Jensen - How Not to Be Weird to Newcomers at ChurchMichael Jensen - How to Be Normal to Newcomers at ChurchBrad StulbergCal Newport - How To Build Discipline in a Distracted WorldThe Antilibrary: The Hidden Value of Unread BooksJoin the Shock Absorber Network: shockabsorber.com.auSubscribe, leave a review, and send your thoughts to Joel at joel@shockabsorber.com.au

Every Christian parent has felt the tension. Do you send your kids to a Christian school? They're plugged into kids church right? The faith formation is happening right? But is it? And whose job is it really?Joel, Stu and Tim are joined by David Stonestreet — Principal of Shire Christian School and Soul Revival member number 009, to work through the history of Christian schooling in Australia, what sets a covenantal Christian school apart, why church attendance in the Sutherland Shire has dropped from 11% to around 1% in a generation, and why the school-church-home partnership is more urgent now than it's ever been.They also end up somewhere unexpected: a conversation about transcendence, immanence, why young people are flocking to ancient liturgical churches, and what the seeker-sensitive movement got wrong about a generation that hates its own life.Timestamps00:00 Welcoming Dave and some old Soul Revival stories06:30 Francis Schaeffer, L'Abri and why Christianity doesn't require intellectual suicide13:30 What sets a Christian school apart, David unpacks the covenantal model20:30 Tim's school choice story, pro and con lists, a billboard and vanilla Christianity28:30 The offload problem: why sending kids to Christian school isn't enough34:00 Church decline in the Sutherland Shire: the statistics that should concern every church leader44:00 Schools and churches working together: the partnership model54:00 Has state school become more hostile to Christianity?1:07:30 Transcendence and immanence: why young people are flocking to ancient churchesDiscussed on this episodeShire Christian SchoolAbraham Kuyper's sphere of sovereigntyFrancis Schaeffer and L'AbriFrancis Schaeffer's The Great Evangelical DisasterNCLS Research: How Religious Are Australians?NCLS Research: What draws newcomers to church?Kendra Creasy Dean's Practicing PassionJoin the Shock Absorber Network: shockabsorber.com.auSoul Revival Church: soulrevivalchurch.comSubscribe, leave a review, and send your thoughts to Joel at joel@shockabsorber.com.au

Is banter just harmless fun — or is something deeper going on beneath the surface?Joel, Stu and Tim open with Easter reflections, including JoelChristian humour, banter and friendship, male friendship theology, tall poppy syndrome Australia, hegemony church, belonging and identity, Andrew Huberman friendship, banter church community, shock absorber podcast, soul revival church, church leadership podcast, intergenerational ministry, Christian culture Australia, microaggression, theology of joy, fruit of the spirit joy, church and culture, adolescent belonging, Easter baptism, Christian banter baptising his own son at the river service, before diving into a clip from Andrew Huberman's podcast about male friendship and the role of humour in building trust and loyalty.What starts as a straightforward conversation quickly gets complicated: tall poppy syndrome, hegemony, the Cronulla riots, a bucks party gone wrong, a proverb about flaming arrows, and the question of whether Jesus ever actually made a joke.This is one of the most honest and wide-ranging conversations the Shock Absorber has had. If you've ever wondered how to think Christianly about humour, banter and belonging, especially with young people, this is worth your time.Timestamps00:00 Welcome and Easter reflections09:30 Andrew Huberman on male friendship — does banter build trust and loyalty?13:00 Tim's cautions: power imbalances, adolescent vulnerability and passive aggression17:00 Stu's story: family of origin, words of affirmation and learning banter as a foreign language20:30 NT Feather, tall poppy syndrome and the Australian pressure to cut people down27:00 The bucks party: stocks, a hacksaw and being expelled from the group40:00 Hegemony, racism and the Cronulla riots — the darker thread in Australian banter culture48:00 Does Jesus ever make a joke? What does God's laughter mean?54:00 Tim's takeaway — joyfulness, the fruit of the Spirit and what redeemed humour looks likeDiscussed on this episodeCultivating Awe & Emotional Connection in Daily Life | Dr. Dacher Keltner and Andrew HubermanNT Feather on tall poppy syndromeMiroslav Volf's Exclusion and EmbraceChester Pierce on microaggressionsGramsci's concept of hegemonySubscribe, leave a review, and send your thoughts to Joel at joel@shockabsorber.com.au

Several years ago, a concerned father approached me during one of our CPYU seminars to pose this question: “How can I expect my 13-year-old son to hear the still small voice of Jesus with all those other voices out there calling him to come and follow, come and follow?” Like this man, our greatest desire should be to see our children and teens launch into adulthood as faithful followers of Jesus. How can we trumpet the life-giving message of the Gospel in a world filled with competing voices? We'll look for answers to that question as we chat with Katie Polski as she gives us three helpful reminders regarding the effective spiritual nurture of our kids, on this episode of Youth Culture Matters.

"The point is what happens after the healing." Sermon by Charissa Simmons, Canon for Intergenerational Ministry, recorded live on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

Are young adults really a problem in the church-or are they an untapped source of potential waiting to be understood? This article reframes youth ministry as a privilege, urging pastors and members to bridge generational gaps through love, relationship, and genuine connection.

Joel, Stu and Tim are relaunching the Shock Absorber Network, and this episode explains what it is, why it matters and how you can be part of it.Ministry was never meant to be done alone. But for a lot of church leaders, that's exactly what it feels like, isolated in your local context, carrying the weight of cultural change without anyone to process it with.Stu traces the thinking all the way back to his first PhD at UNSW, where he was studying Christian youth ministry as a social movement using new social movement theory. That research, and thirty-plus years of doing exactly this kind of relational networking through Soul Revival, is the foundation of what the Shock Absorber Network is trying to build. Not an institution, not a franchise, not a brand. A relational, non-competitive, theologically grounded space where ministry leaders can pray together, share ideas and learn from each other across churches and denominations.Tim unpacks Archie Poulos' research on why networking is actually essential to long-term ministry health, not a nice-to-have when you've got spare time, but a genuine factor in whether you and your ministry survive and flourish over the long haul. The alternative, as Archie points out, is that isolation tips into competition, and competition is the opposite of what Jesus prays for in John 17.Practically, it starts simply: a new website at shockabsorber.com.au, a mailing list, and a Zoom prayer meeting once a term. No money, no compulsion, no franchise. Just friends in ministry, gathered around Jesus.Timestamps01:45 Relaunching the Shock Absorber Network — what it is and where the idea came from05:20 Memories of the Treehouse — what church networking has looked like at Soul Revival09:30 Archie Poulos on why networking is essential to ministry health17:45 Are movements dangerous? New social movement theory explained28:00 The biblical foundation — loving your neighbour, John 15 and Matthew 2236:00 What the network looks like practically — website, Zoom prayer meetings and how to joinDiscussed on this episodeThe High-Level Skill of Ministry Networking and Collaboration, by Mikey LynchWe need to get better at networking - Archie Poulos on The Pastors' HeartNew Social Movement TheoryCollective IdentityCollective Identity and Social MovementsJump in at shockabsorber.com.au — and send your thoughts to joel@shockabsorber.com.au

Richard Dawkins likes Christmas carols. Tom Holland calls himself a Christian. Robert Greene thinks religion is great for transcending the banality of social media.Joel and Tim trace a thread from Bluey, through the culture war trap of coding everything left or right, into Skye Jethani's four distorted postures toward God, and land on the one thing that separates Christianity from every other self-improvement and philosophical framework: Jesus himself.Timestamps05:47 Bluey is not a normal kids show25:44 We can progress and conserve39:51 Life with God58:56 Tim's Takeaway - Seek the kingdom above all elseDiscussed on this episode‘Bluey' Is the Most Conservative Show on TV, by Louise PerryBluey Takeaway Bud Light BoycottRobert Greene, Religion's True PurposeTom Holland on UnHerdWith, by Skye JethaniParenting in God's Family - Volume 2Subscribe, leave a review, and send your thoughts to Joel at joel@shockabsorber.com.au

Most churches have got the small group and the Sunday service figured out. But there's a whole layer of community that's gone missing,  and it might be why people keep saying "I don't feel like I belong here."Joel, Stu and Tim dig into Dietrich Bonhoeffer's theology of friendship as an ecclesial category, and why his concentric circles of relationship,  drawn straight from Jesus' own relational model, give churches a practical framework for building community that's expansive instead of cliquey. They also pull in Robin Dunbar's research on the cognitive limits of human relationship, and land somewhere surprising: biology and theology are telling the same story.Plus: e-bikes, convicts, the Industrial Revolution, and why teenagers might actually be ahead of the church on this one.Timestamps05:11 Friendship as an ecclesial category13:14 The 3, the 12, the 72, the 12019:24 Jesus saves us into community24:03 Cultural differences and individualism influencing friendship34:09 The Dunbar number and what friendship brings43:17 Tim's takeaway - How would your relationships at church change if you saw them as friends?Discussed on this episodeThe Lesser of Two Weevils - Master and CommanderWhen Church Was a Family, by Joesph HellermanDunbar's NumberSubscribe, leave a review, and send your thoughts to Joel at joel@shockabsorber.com.au

"Get up and do not be afraid." Sermon by Charissa Simmons, Canon for Intergenerational Ministry, recorded live on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

Tim and Joel are back for 2026 with a conversation about authority, hierarchy, and authentic relationship with Jesus.It starts with parenting, authoritarian (high control, low love) versus authoritative (high control, high love). But the real question: how does the parent-child relationship mirror our relationship with God? For those with great fathers, God being the perfect Father is comforting. For those with absent or abusive fathers, it's healing.This opens a bigger conversation about hierarchy and power. Postmodernism wants to deconstruct all hierarchies as inherently corrupt. But because there's an inherent power imbalance between Creator and creation, they argue there must be such a thing as good hierarchy. The difference isn't whether power exists, but how it's used, to serve others or serve yourself.Tim shares about joining the Crossformed Kids podcast, leading into intergenerational ministry and reciprocity. A five-year-old is no more or less saved than a senior minister. Equal in God's kingdom, even while maintaining appropriate roles. They discuss Tom Holland's "Dominion", how even secular progressive concern for the vulnerable is borrowed from Christian moral tradition. Marx's vision could only emerge from a Christian worldview.The conversation turns to math with Joel reading John Lennox and his son to discover how mathematics reveals God's beauty and order. The elegance of math points to a rational universe created by a rational God.Finally, parasocial relationships, Cambridge Dictionary's 2025 Word of the Year. People are forming one-way relationships with celebrities and AI chatbots. Tim contrasts this with his word for the year: abiding. "I don't want a parasocial relationship with Jesus. I want to genuinely abide in Him."The takeaway? God has the right to tell us how to live. And because He's the perfect Father, that's not oppressive, it's beautiful and relational.https://online.hillsdale.edu/TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Intro and welcome back for the new year09:33 - Parenting, hierarchies, and power and our true Father25:32 - Tim's hosting another podcast, the reciprocity of intergenerational relationships and ceding power to God's good hierarchy36:20 - God is a God who cares for vulnerable people43:20 - Science and maths explaining God's created world54:52 - Parasocial versus abiding1:13:06 - Tim's Takeaway: authentic relationship with JesusDISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE:Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI, by Yuval Noah HarariRivers of London series, by Ben AaronovitchUnruly: The Ridiculous History of England's Kings and Queens, by David MitchellCrossformed Kidmin PodcastThe Child in God's Church, by Tim BeilharzDominion: The Making of the Western Mind, by Tom HollandAnglicare AustraliaThe Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality, by Glen ScrivenerHillsdale College online coursesCan Science Explain Everything?, by John LennoxWhy This Oxford Mathematician is Confident God Exists | John LennoxThe 2025 Cambridge Dictionary Word of the YearDeath of Rob Hirst

"What is your witness?" Sermon by Charissa Simmons, Canon for Intergenerational Ministry, recorded live on Sunday, January 18, 2026.

Those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ are called to bear each others burdens. We are to pray for each other. As friends, we are to love at all times and be there for others during their times of adversity. One thing I've learned as I've spent time with Christian kids is that so many of them battle with loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Even though they are followers of Christ, their adolescent struggles seem to be no different than the struggles faced by their non-believing peers. We are being told that the mental health crisis among our kids is reaching epidemic proportions, and almost two in five teens say they are not getting the support they need. Of course, those of us who are parents need to be more diligent in our efforts to nurture our kids in the faith and support them in any way we can. But there's a role the larger body of Christ must play. You may not have teens of your own, but you can and must endeavor to support the kids in your church through your prayers and presence. 

On the first day of 2026, Raising Godly Girls Podcast hosts Natalie Ambrose and Melissa Bearden officially launch Season 3 with a quick recap of Season 2 topic highlights, including Loneliness and Isolation, the Camp Experience, Honoring Differently-Abled Girls, Loving Without Compromise, Parental Rights, Cancel Culture, Intergenerational Ministry, and Biblical Femininity.     In an insightful part of the conversation, Natalie shares some special highlights from the 2025 AHG 30th Anniversary Convention Raising Godly Girls booth—a corner titled, "I Wish My Mom Knew…" where girls were invited to share their deepest desires with their moms. Some notes echoed of thriving relationships between mother and daughter, and others offered gentle challenge as daughters cried out to be understood, for mothers to pause and relax, and invitations to grow through flaws together as they reflect the Lord in their homes.     Melissa lands the conversation with a positive confidence in our Faithful God to lead us in the coming year, a yearning for Christian parents to really connect with their girls, and a reminder that today matters in eternity—so let's make it count!       Scriptures Referenced in this Episode:    1 John 2:25        Explore more resources to raise girls rooted in Christ at raisinggodlygirls.com.      To find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your area, visit americanheritagegirls.org.   

“God holds our song in God's heart.” Sermon by Charissa Simmons, Canon for Intergenerational Ministry, recorded live on Sunday, December 28, 2025.

Welcome to our Summer Re-Release series 2025/26This week, we are re-releasing episode 82 with Rev Dr Graham Stanton. This week we talk with Revd Dr Graham Stanton,  Founding Principal of Youthworks College.Graham is currently Director of the Centre for Children's and Youth Ministry and Lecturer in Practical Theology at Ridley College in Melbourne. He is also founder and director of Youth Ministry Futures In this episode, Al James sits down with Graham to explore the significance of long-term, full-time youth ministry within the national church in Australia. He shares his vision for Youth Ministry Futures (YMF) and discusses the benefits of having long term, full-time and well trained youth ministers for the sake of young people and churches. The conversation covers the state of youth ministry in Australia, systemic issues in youth ministry today,  the challenges faced by part-time youth ministers, and the advantages of integrating youth ministry into the larger church environment. Graham also highlights the pressing need for a shift in how churches perceive and invest in youth ministry roles. This episode is essential for anyone interested in the future of youth ministry and the development of strong, supportive communities for young believers.Episode Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:10 Challenges in Youth Ministry02:57 Effective Ministry Podcast Introduction03:15 Insights from Kids and Youth Ministers04:57 Upcoming Episodes Preview06:05 Interview with Graham Stanton06:53 Graham Stanton's Roles and Contributions17:19 State of Youth Ministry in Australia20:50 Systemic Issues in Youth Ministry28:29 The Impact of Full-Time Youth Ministers29:45 Exploring the Benefits of Full-Time Roles31:27 The Importance of Theological Training33:56 Challenges and Solutions in Youth Ministry36:40 The Role of Youth Ministers in Churches37:56 Advocating for Full-Time Youth Ministry38:35 Reimagining Church Staffing Priorities40:18 The Broader Impact of Youth Ministry51:26 Intergenerational Ministry and Its Challenges57:24 Youth Ministry Futures: Vision and GoalsConnect with YouthworksClick on through⁠ to discover more about ⁠the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youthworks Ministry Support Team⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and how Youthworks can help you have an effective youth and children's ministry in your local church or check out our Facebook Page.You can connect with the broader Youthworks Family clicking here.You can partner in the ministry of Youthworks by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠donating here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.We would love to hear from you. Get stuck in to the Effective Ministry Podcast Facebook page or send your thoughts, comments, suggestions, and critiques to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠effectiveministrypodcast@youthworks.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What would it be like to actually be the generation that declares the glory of God? We will never know, until we understand what a generation is in biblical language and terms. Listen in as Andy Addis and Danny Payne unpack the heart of intergenerational ministry, showing how older saints making space for young families […]

"Productivity is not a measure of our value." Sermon by Charissa Simmons, Canon for Intergenerational Ministry, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, August 31, 2025.

In this insightful workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, Dr. Danny Kwon explores how to cultivate a youth ministry culture that embraces intergenerational integration. He unpacks why connecting generations within the church is vital to discipling students for a lifelong faith in Jesus, and offers practical steps for how you can implement intergenerational ministry in your unique context.Danny Kwon, Ph.D., is the Senior Director of Youth Ministry Content and Cross-Cultural Initiatives at Rooted Ministry. Prior to joining Rooted, Danny served for 29 years as the Youth and Family Pastor at Yuong Sang Church, a bicultural and bilingual Korean-American congregation outside Philadelphia. He is married to Monica, a Christian counselor and psychologist, and together they have three children.Rooted Resources:Book Review ‘Faith Beyond Youth Group' by Kara Powell, Brad M. Griffin, and Jen Bradbury by Danny KwonWhen Intergenerational Integration Feels Impossible by Skyler FlowersFollow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates andSubscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts

In a short break from our Arts service team series, we hear about Tim's trip to Kentucky to present and be part of the Intergenerational Ministry Conference. This is a crossover episode from our Chip Lunch podcast.

Teaching Text - Psalm 78:1-7; 1 John 2:12-14Pay attention, my people, to my instruction.Listen to the words I speak.2 I will sing a song that imparts wisdom;I will make insightful observations about the past.3 What we have heard and learned—that which our ancestors have told us—4 we will not hide from their descendants.We will tell the next generationabout the Lord's praiseworthy acts,about his strength and the amazing things he has done.5 He established a rule in Jacob;he set up a law in Israel.He commanded our ancestorsto make his deeds known to their descendants,6 so that the next generation, children yet to be born,might know about them.They will grow up and tell their descendants about them.7 Then they will place their confidence in God.They will not forget the works of God,and they will obey his commands.12 I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, that you have conquered the evil one. 14 I have written to you, children, that you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young people, that you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.

Welcome back!This week we talk with Revd Dr Graham Stanton,  Founding Principal of Youthworks College. Graham is currently Director of the Centre for Children's and Youth Ministry and Lecturer in Practical Theology at Ridley College in Melbourne. He is also founder and director of Youth Ministry Futures In this episode, Al James sits down with Graham to explore the significance of long-term, full-time youth ministry within the national church in Australia. He shares his vision for Youth Ministry Futures (YMF) and discusses the benefits of having long term, full-time and well trained youth ministers for the sake of young people and churches. The conversation covers the state of youth ministry in Australia, systemic issues in youth ministry today,  the challenges faced by part-time youth ministers, and the advantages of integrating youth ministry into the larger church environment. Graham also highlights the pressing need for a shift in how churches perceive and invest in youth ministry roles. This episode is essential for anyone interested in the future of youth ministry and the development of strong, supportive communities for young believers.Episode Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Challenges in Youth Ministry 02:57 Effective Ministry Podcast Introduction 03:15 Insights from Kids and Youth Ministers 04:57 Upcoming Episodes Preview 06:05 Interview with Graham Stanton 06:53 Graham Stanton's Roles and Contributions 17:19 State of Youth Ministry in Australia 20:50 Systemic Issues in Youth Ministry 28:29 The Impact of Full-Time Youth Ministers 29:45 Exploring the Benefits of Full-Time Roles 31:27 The Importance of Theological Training 33:56 Challenges and Solutions in Youth Ministry 36:40 The Role of Youth Ministers in Churches 37:56 Advocating for Full-Time Youth Ministry 38:35 Reimagining Church Staffing Priorities 40:18 The Broader Impact of Youth Ministry 51:26 Intergenerational Ministry and Its Challenges 57:24 Youth Ministry Futures: Vision and GoalsComing Up!SquareOne Winter | Friday 30th May-Sunday 1st June Youthworks Square One is a weekend camp for children in Years 3 - 6 and their church leaders. Youthworks Ministry Support Team in partnership with a committee of volunteers plans the whole weekend of age-appropriate Bible teaching and fun activities, freeing church leaders to invest in discipling their kids. Children need to be part of a registered church to attend so please have your church's children's ministry coordinator complete the expression of interest form.Register at youthworks.net/squareoneHouse Conference | Tuesday 26th - Thursday 28th AugustHOUSE Conference is about theological reflection for best practice in youth and children's ministry within a community of youth and children's ministers. This annual conference for youth and children's ministry is held at Youthworks Conference Centres Port Hacking.Register at youthworks.net/houseConnect with YouthworksClick on through⁠ to discover more about ⁠the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youthworks Ministry Support Team⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and how Youthworks can help you have an effective youth and children's ministry in your local church or check out our Facebook Page.You can connect with the broader Youthworks Family clicking here.You can partner in the ministry of Youthworks by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠donating here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.We would love to hear from you. Get stuck in to the Effective Ministry Podcast Facebook page or send your thoughts, comments, suggestions, and critiques to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠effectiveministrypodcast@youthworks.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amy Yu sits down to share about her experience in leading intergenerational ministry at Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church in Toronto. Through her research, she has learned about the dynamics of engaging in all-age ministry at a church with multiple languages and cultural dynamics.

All this week we're looking at David Kinnaman and Mark Matlock's book Faith for Exiles, and the five ministry practices churches and families must pursue to lead kids into life-long faith. The research done by Kinnaman and Matlock indicates that in order to form a lasting faith, we must work to create a church and family culture where rather than separating the generations, meaningful intergenerational relationships are formed with fellow believers who live and model a deep faith in Jesus Christ. Our culture is marked by isolation and mistrust between different generations. Some specific ways to make this happen include starting a mentoring program at your church where an older believer is paired with a young person. Our worship services should be inter-generational rather than generationally-segmented. And our homes should be places where our kids are exposed to older Christians as we practice hospitality. Endeavor to give your kids the gift of sitting under the wisdom of those who are older.

11.03.24 Sunday Service

Ellie and Thomas introduce and dig into our newest core value: Intergenerational Ministry.

Four weeks after they became trapped in Port-au-Prince, two staff members of Louisiana Reach Haiti (LRH) have made it safely to the ministry's Children's Village in Cap Haitien. Now that wildfires are under control in the northern panhandle of Texas, what about the cattle? Texas is home to some 11 million head of cattle, more than 85% located in the Panhandle, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture. And, in our Toolbox, scholar Malcolm Yarnell gives us seven reasons the resurrection brings joy to Christians. Here are three of them.

In this week's episode, guest host Jay Mooney interviews John Lindell, the lead pastor of James River Church, to explore the significance of intergenerational ministry within the church. They delve into how fostering interaction among different age groups is crucial both within and outside the church community. Key Highlights: -Reaching Across Generations: Intergenerational churches actively engage with and serve all age groups within the congregation. - Focus on Relationship Building: Building strong relationships among members of different generations is prioritized, fostering a sense of unity and community. - Creating Service Opportunities: Ministries within intergenerational churches are designed to involve volunteers from all age groups, enabling meaningful service and contribution. -Empowering Younger Generations: Empowering younger members to take ownership and leadership roles within the church community is emphasized. **Watch the Episode:** To watch this insightful episode, visit the AG USA YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLccKalAYvMsOo8d9JJGZLgeXM4pnWknuM

On this episode of Playfully Faithful Parenting, Joy encourages families to make worship and engagement with activities an intergenerational thing that allows both parents and children to hear the Holy Spirit. Joy emphasizes three key points from reflecting on her time at the Intergenerate conference. The episode also talks about how families are like little churches, and it is essential for child development and family formation. Listeners are encouraged to visit the website to sign up for exclusive content and freebies, including "The Blessings." Joy emphasizes that nurturing our child's faith starts with nurturing our own faith and letting our kids see the fruit of that. Listeners are advised to let their children have meaningful roles in things that spark love and passion, and participation is worship. You've got the Holy Spirit! You can do it, mama! Links: (This may contain some affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.) Free Consult Call Facebook Group My new devotional Playfully Faithful Parenting Podcast is a ministry of CreatedtoPlay.com. For more resources, tips, devotions, and tools check us out online: https://createdtoplay.com . Freebies for you: Want to work with me? Sign up for a 15-minute free coaching call: https://createdtoplay.com/free-coaching Free Bible Study on 3 Traits of God to Guide Your Discipline: https://createdtoplay.com/freebiblestudy Join my free 5-day Bible Play Challenge:  https://createdtoplay.com/challenge Get 17 fun, free kid's blessings for meals: https://createdtoplay.com/kids-blessings Even though I'm an introvert, I'm social!  Let's connect! Instagram: https://instagram.com/createdtoplay Facebook: https://facebook.com/created2play Twitter: https://twitter.com/createdtoplay Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/createdtoplay Are you looking for a speaker for your next women's, parenting, family, or Children's Ministry event? I'm now booking for 2023. I'm available for virtual and live conferences, brunches, MOPS meetings, retreats, trainings, and more. More details and sample video here: createdtoplay.com/speaking Did you enjoy the show? Subscribe and leave me a 5-star review on Apple Music and make me giddy. Music by jorikbasov from Pixabay. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joy-wendling/message

Dr. Holly Catterton Allen retired in 2022 from her position as Professor of Christian Ministries and Family Science at Lipscomb University in Nashville. Her most recent books include Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community, and Worship, 2nd edition (InterVarsity Academic, 2023) and Forming Resilient Children: The Role of Spiritual Formation for Healthy Development (InterVarsity Academic, 2021). In this conversation, we talk extensively about the need for intergenerational ministries in our churches. 

Kyle, Linda, and Matt welcome Tony Souder to the podcast. Tony is the founder of the Pray for Me Campaign. Together they have a great discussion about intergenerational ministry and how churches can utilize the power of prayer to bring people of different generations together. How can churches utilize the Pray for Me Campaign? Tony shares some powerful stories about the work God is doing in our churches through the power of different generations praying for each other.

This week, we are led in worship by our Epic Students. They have been hard at work preparing, and are excited to share their gifts with you. Taylor Williams, our student pastor, will bring us a special message through Matthew 25, and fresh vision and call for us to lean into intergenerational ministry. We are called to be unstuck, unafraid, and unleashed to pour into each other's lives and go after all God has for the whole body of believers. Come with an expectant heart and be ready for a wonderful time of worship together

How can different generations connect in ministry? ---- Send your questions to 315@jacksonfbc.com Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @jacksonfbc For more information on our podcast or our church, go to jacksonfbc.com

Anyone who takes the spiritual growth and nurture of children and teens seriously can't help but lament all the data that points to reality of so many young people coming of age and walking away from Christ and his church. But our lament is for naught if we don't take steps to reverse this troubling trend. Today, we chat with our friend Tony Souder about some specific ways we can build the long-lasting faith of kids through fostering intergenerational relationships and facilitating intergenerational ministry opportunities, on this episode of Youth Culture Matters.

In part two of our interview with Matthew Deprez, we focus on his recently published research centered on the role of grandparents in shaping the faith formation of grandchildren. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/073989131701400110 Matthew shares some very interesting results from the research and provides practical tips for parents and grandparents!

Matthew Deprez joins us to talk about the meaning and importance of intergenerational ministry. In this first installment of a two-part episode, we learn about Matthew's background, current ministry, family, and more. Whether you're a church leader, parent, or grandparent you'll be inspired and resourced by what Mattew has to say! wearegenerations.church fulleryouthinstitute.org https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/073989131701400110

Dene Hummon from our education office joins us this week.We explore the question of age-appropriate ministry in the church.0:20 - 1:00:  It's Hot in Arizona isn't it?1:00 -  2:39: We're not talking about mentors or leaders...but what about those folks?  Like Mike or JPII, or Dene's old youth minister?3:00 -  3;20:  Hillbilly Thomist concert...is it just for young adults?  August 4 at 7PM at St. Wendelin.3:30 - 4:20:  Singles group or young marrieds or what?  Intergenerational Ministry?4:20-  5:00: What about creepy guy?5:15 -5:40 Some folks are ok who are older but appropriately attending.  But with limits.5:45 - 6:50:  Dene met her husband at Theology on Tap, but then what happened?7:00 -8:30: Most young adult groups are aimed at an early life stage, not an age, per se.8:30 - 9:05:  The Domestic Church?9:05 - 10:00: This is a post modern issue.  Things aren't as clear with vocation.  But it's needed.10:00 - 10:30:  Seeking companions for serious conversations at deeper levels and volunteer with others.11:00- 11:45:  It's about finding your place and what's not your place.11:45 -12:00:  Self awareness and prudence.12:00:   Church Search goes to Sagrada Corozon.13:00:   Who is my neighbor is the theme of this week's readings,

The church is filled with people from all generations, from cradle to grave as the saying goes. But so often there seems to be friction between these generations. Why is this the case? What does the Bible show us about intergenerational relationships? And how can we recapture the beauty of a multi-generational church? This week we look at what the Bible teaches us about these relationships and share some personal experiences.

God has a lot more in mind for our churches than different generations feeling misunderstood, unappreciated, and ignored. Instead of living in the beauty of intergenerational ministry that God created us for, many churches experience the feeling of  “us” and “them” - like the younger people want change; the older want to hang on to old ways. Check out this episode if you're ready to close the gap between generations and build bridges instead! We're talking about … How curiosity and compassion might be the two things you need mostHow to help everyone embrace the gifts and value of differing generationsHow to foster intergenerational relationships without adding more programs3 steps to close the generational gaps in your churchPlus some creative ideas you can implement with no cost and little planningDownload 15 Fun Ideas to Foster Intergenerational Relationships PDF >> https://the-creative-little-church.ck.page/a289e5d6be   Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Laurie and The Small Church Ministry Podcast!!"

I am a husband, a pastor, a writer, a speaker, and a consultant. I was born and raised in Pensacola, FL. At Samford University in Birmingham, AL I studied religion and church health. During my four years there, I connected with a church plant called Celebration Church, where I served as Associate and Youth Pastor. I have also served on Church staffs as a youth minister at Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Peachtree City, Ga and Clairmont Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Atlanta, Ga. Since moving to Atlanta, I've earned my M.Div in Christian Social Ethics from Mercer University's McAfee School of Theology. I have partnered with various churches as a growth and general health consultant. I serve as a member of the advisory board for my friends at WORDWALK Inc., as well as speak at youth events, coach other ministers, and lead conversations on youth and family ministry, Christian ethics, Ecclesiastic/Cultural Issues, church planting, and congregational sustainability. I sense an overwhelming call to preach. I am a gifted listener, and a patient and careful counselor. My creativity is unyielding, and I thrive in diverse and unfamiliar communities. When faced with conflict and transitions in the church, I am resilient and never complacent, but consumed by the work of the Kingdom. I draw on my education in church health to identify goals and barriers towards more vibrant community. In 6 years of ministry I have devoted myself to study, prayer, and research in preparation for everything I have taught, writing tailor-made curricula and sermons. As a leader I am thoughtful, inclusive, and energetic, and in every church I have served, I've been gradually entrusted with more roles and leadership. Currently in Atlanta, I serve as the Associate Pastor at Towne View Baptist Church and Host/Producer of the KINGDOM ETHICS PODCAST and the Virtually Church Podcast. I am currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Justice and Peacemaking at Mercer University. My passions include: Preaching, Writing, Congregational Health, Intergenerational Ministry, Theology/Ethics, Biblical Literacy, and Christian Education. Connect with Jeremy Hall on any of the channels below: www.revjeremyhall.com, YouTube: Rev. Jeremy Hall, Twitter @YesimTHATjeremy, LinkedIn: Jeremy Hall, Facebook: Jeremy Sean Hall Reach out to Dr. Wisdom at www.leadwithwisdom.com. Follow Dr. Wisdom on Instagram @leadwithwisdom, Twitter @jenniferpwisdom, and Facebook @leadwithwisdom To listen, review and rate the podcast, please listen here, but you can also find it on all main platforms.

Dr. Mike Kipp has served as the Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Northwest Nazarene University for the last 17 years. His most recent book is Making Room: The Purpose and Practice of Youth Ministry.Mike and Scott talk about the history of youth ministry and the major transition taking place as churches move from a multi-generational to an intergenerational model. This transition is a difficult one, but Mike offers very practical advice and wisdom on how churches can develop an intergenerational imagination and a new set of practices.

We are joined this week by Keone Pang, English pastor at Los Angeles Chinese Alliance Church in Alhambra, CA. Listen in as Keone shares from his ministry journey and lessons he's learned as a pastor serving in an intergenerational church.