Podcasts about student ministry

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Your Christmas party is rapidly approaching and you've got a budget of zero dollars. Every list online is the same white elephant and wrapping-paper-mummy nonsense you ran in 2019. These ten game ideas need nothing but stuff already in your building — welcome to the best 10 Christmas games for youth group Christmas Parties!

In this episode, Jake and Gerb dive into one of the biggest conversations happening right now: AI.What are the can's and can'ts of using AI in student ministry? What does a healthy approach to AI actually look like? And what happens when we put our attention spans to the test… in real time? Listen in for a great conversation around an idea affecting the world. Have show topics you want us to cover? DM our Instagram or email us! jake@venturechristian.church or nathan@yourventurechurch.org  FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @lead.222Help us grow the community!Subscribe, share, and leave a review.For more information about Lead222 or find a community of leaders in your area: ⁠⁠⁠www.lead222.com ⁠⁠⁠Lead222 Youth Ministry Staffingwww.Lead222/⁠⁠⁠staffing.com⁠⁠⁠

If you've ever wondered why students stop inviting friends to youth group or why your regulars start drifting away from youth ministry, the answer is often simpler than a new game night or a better message. Students are looking for a youth ministry that feels built for them and for their friends, not an insider club they feel they can't invite anyone to. In this episode, we talk through five core needs we see again and again in healthy, growing student ministry, and we challenge you with one question: does your youth group actually offer these things right now? If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share this with a youth pastor friend, and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review so more pastors can find the help they need.===========Looking to grow the size & health of your youth ministry?...Let's work together to make it happen! Check out GrowYourYouthMinistry.com for more info - or feel free to email us at MinistryCoachPodcast@gmail.com with any questions!===========You may also enjoy these episodes:Youth Room Tour: https://youtu.be/LFfWFZ5_fsc(#040) How to Start a Student Leadership Team in Youth Ministry(#064) What's the BIG DEAL About SMALL GROUPS in Youth Ministry?(#052) Small Group Leader Training for Youth Ministry(#160) Youth Pastors: Are You Challenging Your Youth Group Enough?(#156) How to Minister to the 4 Different Types of Students in Youth Ministry=======We love hearing from you all and we do our best to provide powerful and insightful youth ministry content on a weekly basis to be that coach and mentor you may not have, but desperately need.If you have an episode idea, please E-Mail us at MinistryCoachPodcast@gmail.com!If you have it on your heart to support this ministry, please consider going to our Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/ministrycoach=========

Listen to a Q&A with an OMF worker in Vietnam, as she shares what student ministry looks like there. Hear some of the challenges students go through, which the gospel can speak into. And pray for students in Vietnam to know the Lord Jesus.

Teaching in youth ministry can be a weekly pressure cooker - junior high attention spans, high school skepticism, limited prep time, and the real weight of opening the Bible and preaching responsibly. In this episode, we're sharing 11 books that have genuinely sharpened how we teach & preach in student ministry, especially when we need clarity, better structure, and illustrations that actually help students understand.  Besides giving you a list of 11 books, we break down why each one individually will make your teaching vastly better!If you're ready for stronger youth sermons and healthier youth ministry rhythms, listen now, subscribe, share this with a youth ministry friend, and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review so more youth pastors can find it.==========

Probably the most impressive feature of sidekick overall is in this final category. This is the feature that made me say: "Our Pastoral Care Increased 100-fold" after we began using it. Which one is it? Let's find out! SEASONAL SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1470781?view=expanded SIDEKICK ACCESS: https://www.sidekick.tv SHOW NOTES Shownotes & Transcripts https://www.hybridministry.xyz/219 [FREE] HYBRID STRATEGY GUIDE https://www.patreon.com/posts/complete-guide-142500019?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

The fastest way to burn out as a new youth pastor is trying to create everything from scratch: games, graphics, sermons, small group questions, student leadership training, and a communication system that parents will actually use. Don't wear yourself thin!  Use time saving resources to help you in student ministry!  In this episode, we're laying out five must-have youth ministry resources that can save you hours every week, especially in a small church or low-budget setting.Looking to grow the size & health of your youth ministry?...Let's work together to make it happen! Check out GrowYourYouthMinistry.com for more info - or feel free to email us at MinistryCoachPodcast@gmail.com with any questions!Resources Mentioned in this Episode:➡️ Download Youth Ministry (DYM)  https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/➡️ Life.Church https://open.life.church/categories/315-youth➡️ YouVersion Bible App https://www.youversion.com/bible-app➡️ Discord (Internal) https://discord.com/download➡️ Band App (External) https://www.band.us/about/intro➡️ Student Leadership Journey https://studentleadershipjourney.com/➡️ Coleader https://www.coleader.co/➡️ G Shades https://youthministrycurriculum.com/

Now that we're wrapped up "Returning Legends" and "Staples" it's time to explore the fun side of sidekick. Some of these features, I truly believe, are some of the greatest youth ministry game innovations that I've ever seen in my career as a youth pastor! SEASONAL SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1470781?view=expanded SIDEKICK ACCESS: https://www.sidekick.tv SHOW NOTES Shownotes & Transcripts https://www.hybridministry.xyz/218 [FREE] HYBRID STRATEGY GUIDE https://www.patreon.com/posts/complete-guide-142500019?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

What if the very thing that once made you feel ashamed is the same place God wants to birth boldness—and a mission that reaches the nations?  In this episode of God on the Move Biruktawit Tsegaye shares how her father's dramatic transformation and fearless street evangelism shaped her own calling, how God turned her shame into confidence, and how she moved from engineering into campus ministry with EvaSUE despite family rejection and real spiritual opposition. Biruk describes Ethiopia's complex Christian landscape, ongoing persecution in some regions, and the presence of unreached peoples, while highlighting how God is at work within Orthodox and even Muslim communities. She also shares Living Bridge Global's vision of how global migration can become a mission  force through mobilizing international students and professionals. Biruk shares stories of evangelism fruit in Ethiopia, Thailand, Spain, and the Netherlands, alongside her anticipation for Lausanne's Younger Leaders Gathering.  

God isn't simply looking for the most qualified and skilled people to make a difference for His Kingdom. While feelings of insecurity and doubt sometimes stop us from following God's call, He works through us in more powerful ways than we can understand.

Send us Fan MailWhat if the school year ahead is more than just another year to get through? High School Director Ava Parks looks back at Youth Encounter Weekend and the “Hero's Journey” that challenged students to embrace God's call, walk through life in Christian community, and trust the story He is writing through every season.HOME | PLAN YOUR VISIT | BLOG | DIGITAL BULLETIN

Looking for Student Leadership Curriculum?  We've just launched our own called "Student Leadership Journey!"  Grab yours here: Student Leadership Journey.  *** If your youth ministry is small, “student leadership team” can sound like something for bigger churches with bigger budgets and a bigger youth group. We see it the opposite way. A small youth group is the perfect opportunity for building a healthy core of students who serve, grow, and set the tone the second a new kid walks through the door. When the culture is concentrated, it is instantly noticeable, for better or worse, and that is why a student leadership team can become your biggest lever for youth ministry health.We get practical about the fear almost every youth pastor has: “What if everyone applies?” We also talk about how to keep leadership from becoming a carbon copy of youth group by making it a different tempo with a clear focus on biblical leadership, character, and real responsibility. Along the way, we share hands-on coaching ideas, from assigning roles that fit students' gifts to giving simple weekly challenges that train students to notice and include first time visitors.Then we dig into the “close vs closed” tension that shows up fast in smaller ministries. We lay out how to build a core that is genuinely close without feeling cliquey, and we give concrete ways to train students to welcome first-time visitors. You will also walk away with a list of serving roles inside the church and service projects outside the church that work especially well with a small, mobile student leadership team.This Fall, we are teaming up with Onward Leadership for a Fall Cohort!!!  If you are interested in joining or simply looking for more information, please visit: www.onwardleader.comIf you are ready to build a student leadership team that fuels real discipleship and sustainable growth, listen now, then subscribe, share this with another youth pastor, and leave a quick ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review so more leaders can find it. =======You may also enjoy these episodes:(#040) How to Start a Student Leadership Team in Youth Ministry(#254) 5 Secrets to Creating a Strong Student Leadership Team in Youth Ministry!(#253) 3 Ways to Encourage Your Youth Group to Join Your Student Leadership Team(#203) Create a Student Leadership Team that Your Youth Group WANTS to Be a Part Of!(#304) 5 Mistakes that Youth Pastors Make With Student Leadership TeamsNavigating the Cliques in Youth Ministry Student Leadership Teams=======We love hearing from you all and we do our best to provide powerful and insightful youth ministry content on a weekly basis to be that coach and mentor you may not have, but desperately need.If you have an episode idea, please E-Mail us at MinistryCoachPodcast@gmail.com!If you have it on your heart to support this ministry, please consider going to our Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/ministrycoach=========

In this episode we're ranking the staples of sidekick. Now, don't go to sleep on this, because these staples are what makes "sidekick" be able to be your full presentation software. It's no longer another software's little brother, this is able to function as your entire church software for an entire youth ministry program, and I'm giving you the honest breakdown! Welcome everybody, to the Hybrid Ministry Show SEASONAL SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1470781?view=expanded SIDEKICK ACCESS: https://www.sidekick.tv SHOW NOTES Shownotes & Transcripts https://www.hybridministry.xyz/217 [FREE] HYBRID STRATEGY GUIDE https://www.patreon.com/posts/complete-guide-142500019?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Hey, Beyond Sunday listeners! This week, we're continuing to shine a spotlight on the various ministries of our church. Today, we're joined by our Student Ministry team, made up of Dyllan Smith and Grace Pearson, who serve our high-schoolers, as well as Jackson Munyon and Mattie Hughes, who serve our junior-high students. Tune in today to hear about the heart behind StuMin, get info on how to plug in, and understand how StuMin contributes to the larger mission of Harvest Church!

This Fall, we are teaming up with Onward Leadership for a Fall Cohort!!!  If you are interested in joining or simply looking for more information, please visit: www.onwardleader.com  In this episode, we break down five “leadership superpowers” that help youth pastors and youth ministry leaders stay in the game for the long haul without losing joy.  Youth ministry leadership is not about finding the perfect church setup. It is about becoming the kind of leader who can thrive in reality with thick skin and a tender heart, focused on the mission even when criticism, low encouragement or even church politics show up. If you are ready for healthier church leadership and a more sustainable student ministry, join us and then share your biggest takeaway.  Subscribe, share this with a youth pastor friend, and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review so more leaders can find the help they need.

I tried every sidekick feature, and I'm giving you the honest low-down. Each week we'll be ranking and ultimately crowning a favorite from 4 categories, and this week the category is: “Returning Legends.” Welcome everybody, to the Hybrid Ministry Show SEASONAL SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1470781?view=expanded SIDEKICK ACCESS: https://www.sidekick.tv SHOW NOTES Shownotes & Transcripts https://www.hybridministry.xyz/216 [FREE] HYBRID STRATEGY GUIDE https://www.patreon.com/posts/complete-guide-142500019?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Jeremy Stafford tackles a tough topic, sharing practical tips and techniques on how to create a safe environment in student ministry, based on his How-To Guide on EducateandEngage.com. If your platform doesn't automatically start the video, look for the link that allows you to switch to video. For any issues, email lharry@upci.org.Find all your youth worker resources at EducateandEngage.com

A sermon by Carter Macfarlane from Proverbs 1:10-22

Send us Fan MailLooking for Student Leadership Curriculum?  We've just launched our own called "Student Leadership Journey!"  Grab yours here: Student Leadership Journey.  *** A youth ministry's student leadership team can become the engine that changes the entire youth group culture...but it can also quietly derail your student ministry if not handled correctly.  In this episode, we're discussing five common mistakes youth pastors make when they launch or rebuild their student leadership team and how to avoid these costly pitfalls.  We explain how to actively coach a culture of hospitality, inclusion, and humility, plus what we actually teach when we blend Scripture with leadership development.This Fall, we are teaming up with Onward Leadership for a Fall Cohort!!!  If you are interested in joining or simply looking for more information, please visit: www.onwardleader.comSubscribe, share this with a youth pastor or youth leader friend, and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review!=======You may also enjoy these episodes:(#040) How to Start a Student Leadership Team in Youth Ministry(#254) 5 Secrets to Creating a Strong Student Leadership Team in Youth Ministry!(#253) 3 Ways to Encourage Your Youth Group to Join Your Student Leadership Team(#203) Create a Student Leadership Team that Your Youth Group WANTS to Be a Part Of!Navigating the Cliques in Youth Ministry Student Leadership Teams=======We love hearing from you all and we do our best to provide powerful and insightful youth ministry content on a weekly basis to be that coach and mentor you may not have, but desperately need.If you have an episode idea, please E-Mail us at MinistryCoachPodcast@gmail.com!If you have it on your heart to support this ministry, please consider going to our Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/ministrycoach=========

Jesus Sightings | Pastor of Student Ministries Sara Fisher | 8.16.2026

Send us Fan MailStart the school year with a healthy, thriving youth ministry...let's work together to make it happen! Check out GrowYourYouthMinistry.com for more info *** Costumes, candy, and a packed room of youth ministry students?  Why not?! In this episode, we're breaking down exactly how we run a super fun fall youth group event that students look forward to all year, while still keeping it appropriate, gospel-centered, and realistic for any church budget.  From food to youth group games, we've got you covered for your next student ministry event!FREE EVENT IDEAS: If you'd like a list of 20 fun, small group or Fall kick off ideas, email us at MinistryCoachPodcast@gmail.com and put "FALL EVENT IDEAS" in the subject or description and we will send over our list!If you want a fall festival, harvest festival, Halloween alternative or whatever you call it that builds community and points students to Jesus, this is your event blueprint. Subscribe for more youth ministry event planning ideas, share this with a youth pastor, and be sure to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review!

Hey, Beyond Sunday listeners! Today, we're joined by Wes Selecman for a deeper dive into his sermon on Matthew 7:24-29 from this past Sunday. Thank you for following along with us this summer as we've been journeying back through the Sermon on the Mount! In the next few weeks, we'll be interviewing members of our church staff to help you understand the who, what, when, where, and why of our various ministry areas. Listen in to learn more about the heart and vision behind Preschool & Kids; Student Ministry; College, Young Adults & the Internship; Worship & the Harvest Collective; Home Groups & Sunday Schools; and Missions. You'll also receive guidance on how to get plugged into each of these areas! Then stay tuned for our Fall 2026 season, where we'll discuss John Piper's book Battling Unbelief: Defeating Sin with Superior Pleasure. We hope you'll join us!

What if a prayer you pray today becomes part of an answer God is still revealing generations from now? In this episode of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards explores the power of persistent prayer, revival, intercession, and building a legacy of faith that can continue long after our lifetime. Jesus taught His disciples to always pray and never give up. But what might that kind of prayer actually look like in our lives, our churches, our youth ministries, and our families? Drawing from Mark Batterson's Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge, Doug reflects on the extraordinary story of believers who committed themselves to around-the-clock prayer and a prayer movement that continued for generations. He also shares the story of Corrie ten Boom and a long-term prayer effort connected to Jerusalem, along with the powerful promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14. These stories lead to an important question: What is God calling you to keep praying for? In this episode, you'll be encouraged to: • Pray consistently instead of giving up • Believe that your prayers can have an impact beyond your lifetime • Pray intentionally for revival in your home, church, community, and nation • Include students and children in a culture of prayer • Model prayer for your children and grandchildren • Help the next generation experience prayer instead of only hearing about it • Trust God even when you cannot yet see the answer • Build prayer habits that can influence generations Doug also challenges youth pastors, volunteers, parents, and grandparents to think bigger than individual prayer requests. What if the students watching you pray today become the adults who lead prayer movements tomorrow? Children understand trust in a powerful way. When they see adults praying, depending on God, and recognizing His answers, they learn that prayer is not simply something Christians talk about—it is part of how we live. Maybe God is calling you to pray differently. Maybe He is calling you to pray more consistently. Or maybe He is simply telling you: Keep praying. Don't underestimate what God can do with a prayer you refuse to stop praying. Find your prayer rhythm. Pray for revival. Bring the next generation with you. And build a prayer legacy that can continue long after your lifetime. Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _________________________________________________________________________________

Send us Fan MailStart the school year with a healthy, thriving youth ministry...let's work together to make it happen! Check out GrowYourYouthMinistry.com for more info *** You can throw a youth ministry event that students talk about for weeks without spending your whole budget. We break down a general blueprint we just used to pull off one of our best summer nights at basically zero cost, and we turn it into a repeatable formula you can use for your church youth group whether you have a small budget, no budget, or you're trying to stretch every dollar.We walk through six practical building blocks of every good event from food to themes to spiritual impact.  We also talk about creating “vibes” with simple sensory cues like music, lighting changes, and game intros that can help students feel the moment shift.  Remember: fun is not a distraction from youth ministry when it helps students drop their guard, bond with friends, and engage worship, small groups, and the message with more openness.  BONUS: We have a super fun, dodgeball variation game that we share inside this episode!!

Fall Kickoffs. Once you've done Paint wars, Nerf Wars, Slip-n-Slide Kickball… You kind of start running low on ideas... Then you run to the DYM Facebook Group which gives you all the same ideas again. In this episode I'm taking 5 of my best selling and favorite resources on the DYM site, and turning them into a full out fall kick off event. And best of all, I'm giving you a completely FREE Fall Kickoff Guide complete with… [FREE] Graphics Theme Ideas Service Order Ideas & Options Links to the Associated Games via DYM Fully fleshed-out framework for Each Event if I were doing it And stick around to the end because Hybrid Hero Members just got all of these links for FREE on last Monday's podcast episode, and I'll tell you how you can get access to them by jumping in now FREE FALL KICKOFF EVENT GUIDE & LINKS https://www.patreon.com/hybridministry/posts/5-youth-group-163404919 HYBRID HERO MEMBERS GET THESE GAMES FREE! https://www.patreon.com/13008414/join SHOW NOTES Shownotes & Transcripts https://www.hybridministry.xyz/213 50% OFF SUMMER SOCIAL MEDIA https://www.patreon.com/collection/1470781?view=expanded [FREE] HYBRID STRATEGY GUIDE https://www.patreon.com/posts/complete-guide-142500019?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

What does it take to remain faithful in youth ministry for more than four decades and still see your influence growing through future generations? In this interview episode of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards sits down with longtime ministry leader Hugh Kirby for a powerful conversation about youth ministry longevity, relational discipleship, mentorship, prayer, church leadership, and going the distance in ministry. Hugh has served in ministry for more than 42 years, including 17 years directly leading student ministry at New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Georgia. Today, he can look back and see former students influencing their own children, grandchildren, churches, and communities. But Hugh's ministry story began long before New Hope. He shares how God moved powerfully during his years playing football at Louisiana Tech, where more than 40 players and others connected to the team came to faith in Christ. Hugh reflects on the spiritual influence of his roommate Denny Duron, the leaders who invested in him, and the way God used relationships to shape his calling. Hugh also shares how Dr. Millard Box helped transform his understanding of discipleship as a teenager. Rather than building everything around programs, Dr. Box invited Hugh into a relationship-centered environment built on Scripture, honest conversation, accountability, and prayer. That experience became a model Hugh would carry into decades of youth ministry. In this episode, you'll hear about: • What helped Hugh remain faithful through 42 years of ministry • Why ministry longevity requires dependence on Jesus and support from family • How relational discipleship shaped Hugh as a teenager • Why relationships should come before programs • The importance of Scripture, accountability, and intimate prayer • How Hugh learned to build disciples who would disciple others • What youth pastors can learn from Jesus' progressive disciple-building model • How long-term ministry influences students, families, and generations • Why churches must keep Jesus—not programs—as the main thing • How mentors and mature believers shape a young person's future Hugh explains that effective discipleship is not simply giving students more information. It means entering their lives, building relationships, helping them understand Scripture, creating loving accountability, and teaching them how to walk personally with Jesus. This conversation is especially valuable for youth pastors, student ministry volunteers, Christian educators, parents, grandparents, mentors, and anyone who wants to invest in the next generation for the long term. Programs eventually end. Positions eventually change. But a life poured intentionally into another person can continue bearing fruit for generations. Listen and be encouraged to build relationships, make disciples, remain faithful, and go the distance in the ministry God has given you. Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _________________________________________________________________________________

Have you ever messed up? Missed the mark? Done what the Bible calls sin?The hard truth is: of course you have. We all have.But here's the good news: you're not alone. Even David—whom God called "a man after His own heart"—fell into sin. The question then is, once we have, what do we do next?This weekend, we'll dive into Psalm 51, first read by Student Ministry volunteer, Zane Chwirka. In the Psalm, David shows us what authentic repentance and spiritual renewal look like. No matter where you've been or what you've done, God's grace invites you to come back to Him.--WebsiteFacebookInstagramSunday SetlistSunnybrook App (ios)Sunnybrook App (Google)Connect with us!How can we pray for you? Let us know.Giving

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Summer camp was epic, but let me tell you, the lead up, the planning, the work on the front side, it did something tragic to our social media. Let me show you what I'm implementing to ensure this doesn't happen again! Hybrid Hero Members Get all of this for just $4/month https://www.patreon.com/hybridministry SHOW NOTES Shownotes & Transcripts https://www.hybridministry.xyz/212 [FREE] HYBRID STRATEGY GUIDE https://www.patreon.com/posts/complete-guide-142500019?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Hybrid Hero Members Get all of this for just $4/month https://www.patreon.com/hybridministry Summer Social Media Year 2 https://www.patreon.com/collection/1470781?view=expanded Carousel Engine https://www.patreon.com/hybridministry/posts/carousel-engine-155124829?collection=2099839 Best Sermon Clip Generator https://www.patreon.com/hybridministry/posts/best-sermon-clip-156670711?collection=2013798

What can one missionary's faithfulness set in motion across languages, students, families, and generations? In this episode of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards remembers his friend Dr. Wes Collins and reflects on the extraordinary legacy Wes and his wife, Nancy, built through missions, Bible translation, education, and service among the Mam people of Guatemala. As a missionary connected with Wycliffe, Wes helped restore a written form of the Mam language and worked to translate the New Testament so that indigenous families could read Scripture in their own language. His ministry helped people reclaim a sense of dignity, identity, and the assurance that God loved them and valued the language He had given them. Wes also opened the door for Doug and generations of students to experience cross-cultural ministry firsthand. Over five years and six trips to Guatemala, students participated in construction projects, Vacation Bible School, medical outreach, and ministry among Mam families in the mountains. They also visited the Guatemala City dump, where thousands of people lived in extreme poverty—an experience that profoundly changed how many students understood faith, service, gratitude, and the world around them. In this episode, Doug reflects on: • The missionary legacy of Dr. Wes Collins • Bible translation and the importance of indigenous languages • How student mission trips can permanently change young lives • Serving the Mam people of Guatemala • Construction, children's ministry, and medical missions • What students learned from witnessing extreme poverty • The importance of trusted missionaries and responsible trip leadership • How one faithful life can influence people for generations This episode is for youth pastors, student ministry volunteers, parents, missionaries, teachers, and anyone who believes young people should experience a faith that moves beyond words and into service. Wes Collins' influence did not end with one translation, one class, one mission trip, or even one lifetime. It continues through the people he taught, the communities he served, the students he inspired, and the leaders who are still carrying that mission forward. Thank you, Wes and Nancy, for your faithfulness, sacrifice, hospitality, and commitment to helping others know that their language, culture, lives, and stories matter to God. Share this episode with a youth pastor, missionary, parent, or student who needs to be reminded that one faithful life can change generations. Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _________________________________________________________________________________

How can we live a life that pleases God? We imitate people all the time, so let's imitate God. Zach Wiggins, Director of Student Ministries at the Antioch Campus, continues our series, “Ephesians: One in Christ,” preaching from Ephesians 5:1-14. Notes in this sermon: Walk in love Walk in light Visit www.bluevalleychurch.org for more information about Blue Valley Church in Overland Park and Olathe, Kansas.

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Summer is coming to an end, with a BANG! Lasagna. Chicken Wings. What a tastier way to end summer, than with all of this food! Let's finish summer strong, together, friends!

No youth pastor, volunteer, ministry leader, business owner, or parent accomplishes meaningful work alone. In this episode of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards shares the three types of people every effective youth ministry leader needs: mentors, investors, and operators. Mentors provide wisdom from experience. Investors believe in the mission and contribute the resources required to move it forward. Operators handle the responsibilities, systems, communication, planning, and administration that allow leaders to focus on the work God has uniquely called them to do. Drawing from decades in student ministry, Doug shares how mentors from Youth for Christ helped prepare him to lead, how supporters including Johnny Cash and local ministry partners invested in reaching students, and how gifted staff members and volunteers made a large, multi-level student ministry possible. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why every youth pastor and ministry leader needs multiple mentors • How financial supporters and ministry investors expand the reach of the gospel • Why volunteers and operators are essential to sustainable student ministry • How delegation allows people to serve in their areas of strength • Why being unqualified on paper does not disqualify you from God's calling • How God brings the right people together to accomplish a greater mission • Why one mentor should not influence every area of your life • How to recognize which role may be missing from your ministry team Doug also explains why leaders should stop trying to perform every task themselves. The strongest ministries are not built around one person doing everything. They are built by people with different gifts working together toward the same mission. You may be the visionary, communicator, pastor, teacher, or relationship builder - but someone else may be better equipped to organize the calendar, manage communication, raise support, plan trips, or operate the systems behind the ministry. Ask yourself: Who is mentoring me? Who is investing in the mission? Who is helping operate the ministry? You do not need one person to fill every role. You need a community of gifted people who believe in what God has called you to build. Share this episode with a youth pastor, volunteer, ministry leader, or parent who needs help building the right team. Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _________________________________________________________________________________

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We got REAAAALLLLL nerdy. But we redeemed it with pie. Pizza, Apple Pie & Math, what would be better in the middle of July?!

Youth ministry is hard work... but it was never meant to depend on one person doing everything. In this episode of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards shares a practical and biblical challenge for youth pastors, student ministry volunteers, church leaders, and parents: work smarter, not harder, by following Jesus' model of discipleship, delegation, and multiplication. If you are a volunteer youth leader, part-time youth pastor, or full-time student ministry leader, you already know the weight of ministry. The planning, teaching, trips, retreats, mission work, public school outreach, discipleship, counseling, and constant care for students can quickly become overwhelming. But Jesus did not build His ministry around doing everything Himself. He equipped disciples who would carry the mission forward. Doug unpacks key passages including Ephesians 4:12, 2 Timothy 2:2, Mark 3:13-15, and Matthew 28:19-20 to remind leaders that the goal is not simply to build bigger programs - it is to make disciples who make disciples. In this episode, you'll be encouraged to: • Stop carrying the entire ministry alone • Equip volunteers and students to do the work of ministry • Build a student ministry that can continue without depending only on you • Follow Jesus' model of investing deeply in a few to reach many • Delegate with purpose instead of guilt • Avoid burnout through sustainable leadership • Create disciple makers, not just event attenders Doug also shares how a forced sabbatical helped him realize he had waited too long to delegate and trust others with ministry responsibility. The question every youth pastor and ministry leader should ask is: If you disappeared for six months, would the ministry stop or would it continue because you developed disciple makers? Working harder may increase what you can accomplish. Equipping others increases what God can accomplish through His people. Disciple. Delegate. Multiply. Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _________________________________________________________________________________

First Baptist Church Williamstown Elder and Student Ministry pastor Mark Elliott is joined by his wife Kristin in giving this week’s message – the second week of the summer series “If I Had to Choose Just One” from the book of Proverbs.

Send us Fan MailStart the school year with a healthy, thriving youth ministry...let's work together to make it happen! Check out GrowYourYouthMinistry.com for more info - or feel free to email us at MinistryCoachPodcast@gmail.com with any questions *** In this episode, we walk through four things to avoid before preaching in youth ministry.  Youth ministry sermons land best when our hearts are fully engaged, not just our notes. We talk about surrender, staying with the people in the room, and leaning on the Holy Spirit instead of trying to carry the moment ourselves.  If you care about student ministry preaching, sermon preparation, and spiritual leadership that's more than stage presence, this conversation will help you refocus on what matters and lead with humility and power of the Holy Spirit. Subscribe, share this with another youth pastor or youth leader, and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review with your best pre-message routine!=======You may also enjoy these episodes:(#241) 3 Ways to Immediately Improve Your Youth Ministry Sermons(#107) How to Deliver Better Sermons - 5 Youth Pastor Tips(#089) How to Get Better Engagement During Sermons in Youth Ministry(#218) Steal These 5 Tips to NEVER RUN OUT of Sermon Ideas for Youth Ministry!=======We love hearing from you all and we do our best to provide powerful and insightful youth ministry content on a weekly basis to be that coach and mentor you may not have, but desperately need.If you have an episode idea, please E-Mail us at MinistryCoachPodcast@gmail.com!If you have it on your heart to support this ministry, please consider going to our Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/ministrycoach=========

Christmas in July?! Why not? Let's celebrate "National Give Something Away Day" by having a [completely unfair?!] White Elephant exchange! That's for next Wednesday, get your FREE graphic in the shownotes!

What if God is working all around you, but you are missing the holy surprises? In this episode of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards shares a powerful message about recognizing God's unexpected invitations, trusting His plan, and learning to say yes when He opens a door. After a conversation at church with Larry Stevens about Israel, adventure, and the unexpected ways God connects people, Doug reflects on the phrase "holy surprises" and how God often works through conversations, interruptions, friendships, closed doors, open doors, and opportunities we never saw coming. This episode explores how one faithful yes can lead to decades of impact. Doug shares stories from his own life, including unexpected connections through Youth for Christ, Johnny Cash, student missions, Mission Discovery, music ministry, Dr. Jay Strack, and the long chain of people God used to shape the Youth Worker on Fire podcast. Through Proverbs 3:5-6, Ephesians 2:10, Isaiah 43:19, and the story of Gideon, Doug reminds listeners that God's surprises do not always make sense at first. Trust often comes before understanding. In this episode, you'll be encouraged to: • Recognize the holy surprises God places in your path • Trust God when His plan does not make sense yet • See interruptions as possible invitations • Remember that God prepared good works for you long ago • Say yes to the next faithful step • Look back and notice how God has been working all along • Help students, children, and the next generation recognize God's movement in their lives Whether you are a youth pastor, student ministry volunteer, parent, grandparent, teacher, mentor, or someone trying to follow Jesus more closely, this episode will help you open your eyes to the adventure God is already writing around you. For the next seven days, begin each morning with this prayer: "Help me recognize Your holy surprises today. Give me the courage to say yes." Then watch what God does. Your future may be one faithful yes away from your next holy surprise. Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _________________________________________________________________________________

Send us Fan MailStart the school year with a healthy, thriving youth ministry...let's work together to make it happen! Check out GrowYourYouthMinistry.com for more info - or feel free to email us at MinistryCoachPodcast@gmail.com with any questions *** In this episode, we discuss two surprisingly powerful ways to earn real parent buy-in in your youth ministry and break down each one into multiple aspects of trust. We get practical about “early and often” communication: weekly parent emails, leader updates, an always-current website and calendar, social media that actually answers questions, and using a church app or targeted messages so the right families get the right info. We also talk about planning ahead like publishing camp dates far in advance, plus a simple test for your system: if parents are constantly texting basic questions, your other communication channels may not be clear or consistent yet.  If you want more volunteers, smoother events, stronger camp sign-ups, and fewer frustrated emails, this is the leadership muscle to build.Then we shift to professionalism in youth ministry, not as a stiff corporate posture, but as maturity. We share how to create “no surprises” when incidents happen, and why owning mistakes quickly builds credibility. We also unpack the owner mindset: being prepared, starting and ending on time, handling conflict directly, and holding students accountable with kindness so parents see real leadership.If you've ever felt the tension between being fun and being trusted, this conversation will help you lead both ways. Subscribe for weekly youth ministry coaching, share this with another youth pastor and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review. What's one change you can make this week to earn more trust with parents?=======You may also enjoy these episodes:(#256) Best Practices for Emailing the Parents of your Youth Ministry Students(#047) Youth Pastors and Parents - Best Communication Tips(#057) Getting Parents Involved in Youth Ministry(#025) Best Practices to Handle an Upset Parent=======We love hearing from you all and we do our best to provide powerful and insightful youth ministry content on a weekly basis to be that coach and mentor you may not have, but desperately need.If you have an episode idea, please E-Mail us at MinistryCoachPodcast@gmail.com!If you have it on your heart to support this ministry, please consider going to our Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/ministrycoach=========

The moment you hear a sermon about handling life's interruptions is often the moment the interruption arrives. In this Around McGregor, Mark Bricker, Tamar Miller, and Christian Miller close out the first half of summer before the show's annual July break. They cover the July 1st celebration of God's faithfulness in Fellowship Hall (dinner at 5 p.m., program at 6:30), the summer Wednesday night series "How to Handle Life's Interruptions" returning July 8th with Pastor Russell Howard, the Faith and Fitness Retreat on July 18th, a family mission trip to Arizona, and the full July dinner calendar. They also introduce Sheila Ponds, McGregor's new Administrative Assistant for Student Ministries, whose story runs from Havana to Miami to Fort Myers through generations of faithful ministry. Anyone wanting to stay connected to the McGregor family this summer will leave this episode with dates, details, and a reason to show up. Around McGregor returns August 2nd. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

Send us Fan MailStart the school year with a healthy, thriving youth ministry...let's work together to make it happen! Check out GrowYourYouthMinistry.com for more info - or feel free to email us at MinistryCoachPodcast@gmail.com with any questions ***  A Christian club at school can be one of the most effective ways to connect with students in your youth ministry and to reach students who maybe wouldn't normally come to church.  We talk through how to start a student led Christian club that feels welcoming, simple, and sustainable, especially during a tight lunch period where you have only 20-30 minutes to build community, share a short message, play a quick game and still let kids eat.In this episode, we will be discussing Christian Club resources (links below), benefits to partnering with organizations like Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). If FCA is not active in your area, we walk through what it looks like to launch from scratch and build a healthy student leadership team with the right adult mentoring. We also talk about various ways to be able to get on campus to reach students.  Finally, we give a simple “typical club” template / schedule to better utilize your time and give a bridge from school to church.RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:FCA: https://resources.fca.org/P7: https://upciyouth.com/resourcesCRU: https://www.cru.org/sg/en/ready/resources.htmlIntervarsity: https://intervarsity.org/Decision Point: https://decisionpoint.org/If you have it on your heart to support this ministry, please consider going to our Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/ministrycoach======= If you found this helpful, subscribe for more youth ministry strategy, share it with a youth leader who wants to reach their campus, and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review so more youth pastors can find the show.=======You may also enjoy these episodes:(#265) 3 Unacceptable Mistakes that Youth Ministries Make With Event Planning(#285) 3 Common Mistakes Youth Pastors MUST AVOID in Their Youth Ministry=======We love hearing from you all and we do our best to provide powerful and insightful youth ministry content on a weekly basis to be that coach and mentor you may not have, but desperately need.If you have an episode idea, please E-Mail us at MinistryCoachPodcast@gmail.com!=========

Send us Fan MailStart the school year with a healthy, thriving youth ministry...let's work together to make it happen! Check out GrowYourYouthMinistry.com for more info *** Youth group event mistakes...we've all experienced the stress, the embarrassment, the pit in your stomach knowing you forgot something or the sinking feeling when youth ministry planning goes all wrong.  In this episode, we will walk through three common youth pastor mistakes in student ministry event planning, then break them into practical steps you can apply to your next youth group night, outreach event, retreat, or camp.  How many of these mistakes have you made??Subscribe for more weekly tips, share this with a youth leader who plans events, and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review with your biggest takeaway from this episode.=======You may also enjoy these episodes:(#265) 3 Unacceptable Mistakes that Youth Ministries Make With Event Planning(#285) 3 Common Mistakes Youth Pastors MUST AVOID in Their Youth Ministry=======We love hearing from you all and we do our best to provide powerful and insightful youth ministry content on a weekly basis to be that coach and mentor you may not have, but desperately need.If you have an episode idea, please E-Mail us at MinistryCoachPodcast@gmail.com!If you have it on your heart to support this ministry, please consider going to our Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/ministrycoach=========

Send us Fan MailThe time to grow a healthy, thriving youth ministry is NOW...let's work together to make it happen! Check out GrowYourYouthMinistry.com for more info *** Summer camp can be the best week of the year for your youth ministry students while being the most stressful week for you and your team, and the stress usually comes from the simplest gaps: parents who missed an email, leaders who did not get fully aligned, and “tiny” forgotten details that turn into last minute problems. In this episode, we are sharing FIVE home-stretch youth group summer camp planning tips that keep logistics tight and ministry outcomes clear.We talk through a parent meeting that actually works, what to cover (itinerary, packing list, emergency contacts, spending money, expectations). Then we shift to a leader and driver meeting focused on safety, roles, communication, and wise decision making, including practical boundaries and the mindset that leaders are the stand-in parents on the trip. We also dig into summer camp checklists and why shared leadership beats heroic solo prep. You will hear ways to review shopping lists, tech gear, rec supplies, and medical prep, plus a simple visualization tactic that helps you catch the "I can't believe we forgot that" type of mistakes before you leave. If you want a smoother, safer, more spiritually focused youth ministry summer camp, hit play, share this with a student ministry leader, and then subscribe and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review so more youth pastors can find it.=======You may also enjoy these episodes:(#063) How to Keep Your Youth Ministry's "Camp High" Momentum Going(#043) DIY Church Camp Planning - Youth Ministry Summer Camp CHECKLIST!(#044) Best Games for Summer Camp - 14 Fun Camp Games Ideas!(#053) How to Plan a Low Cost Summer Camp for Youth Ministry(#098) Get More Sign Ups for Your Youth Ministry Summer Camp!=======We love hearing from you all and we do our best to provide powerful and insightful youth ministry content on a weekly basis to be that coach and mentor you may not have, but desperately need.If you have an episode idea, please E-Mail us at MinistryCoachPodcast@gmail.com!If you have it on your heart to support this ministry, please consider going to our Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/ministrycoach=========