Podcasts about youth pastors

In this episode, Brittany details her experience of engaging in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), how it started, and how she makes sense of self-injury and her faith in God. She explains two starkly different responses she received from church leaders and shares insights about how youth pastors in particular can provide supportive responses to students who engage in self-injury and self-harm. Purchase Brittany's new book Stories Our Scars Tell: Hope, Healing, and Honesty about the Wounds We Carry here. Follow her on Instagram at @brittanytinsleywrites and read her blog at https://brittanytinsley.com/. Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram @DocWesters. To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter/X (@ITripleS). The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated #1 by Feedspot in their list of "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and #5 in their "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts." It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."

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.

Brian, a former youth pastor himself, talks with Sarah Zylstra of The Gospel Coalition about her article investigating why so many church youth pastor positions sit unfilled. Sarah traces youth ministry's evolution from the evangelistic, games-and-pizza model of the 80s and 90s through the seeker-sensitive movement, and explains why today's culture — phones, AI-mediated friendships, isolation, kids not driving, and packed extracurricular schedules — has made the job significantly harder, even as many youth pastors say the last five years have been the most rewarding of their careers. They discuss the shifting perception of youth ministry as "unserious," why some churches are restructuring the role into broader family-discipleship positions, and practical encouragement for pastors and churches trying to keep student ministry moving forward, including smaller group settings and empowering parent volunteers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's speaker is Matt Robinson, our interim Lead Pastor and Youth Pastor.

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=========

Megan, our Youth Pastor, continues our Wisdom for Life series. From Luke 6, Megan unpacks Jesus’ teaching that good or bad fruit comes from our hearts.

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!

Be greatly informed by the teaching ministry of Ephraim Garcia, our Youth Pastor; as he delivers a great message about the significance of knowing the Lord as our banner.

Be greatly informed by the teaching ministry of Ephraim Garcia, our Youth Pastor; as he delivers a great message about the significance of knowing the Lord as our banner.

Be greatly informed by the teaching ministry of Ephraim Garcia, our Youth Pastor; as he delivers a great message about the significance of knowing the Lord as our banner.

Be greatly informed by the teaching ministry of Ephraim Garcia, our Youth Pastor; as he delivers a great message about the significance of knowing the Lord as our banner.

Be greatly informed by the teaching ministry of Ephraim Garcia, our Youth Pastor; as he delivers a great message about the significance of knowing the Lord as our banner.

Be greatly informed by the teaching ministry of Ephraim Garcia, our Youth Pastor; as he delivers a great message about the significance of knowing the Lord as our banner.

Be greatly informed by the teaching ministry of Ephraim Garcia, our Youth Pastor; as he delivers a great message about the significance of knowing the Lord as our banner.

Pastor Collin Westfall is the Youth Pastor of Orchard Community Church.Sunday, August 9, 2026Orchard Community Church www.orchardcommunitychurch.comListening to sermons online can be a great way to keep up with a sermon series if you are unable to attend church but should never be a substitute for regular attendance of a gospel-centered and bible teaching church.

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!!

8.2.26 | "The Prayers Of The Righteous" | Youth Pastor John Sferlazza by The Rock Church of Fort Myers

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 _________________________________________________________________________________

At 19, I was homeless with $35,000 in debt and no one in my family who knew how to build wealth. Today, I'm giving you the exact 6-step plan that changed everything.This isn't about making more money — it's about mastering the system most people never learn. In this episode, I break down the mindset shift, the budgeting method, the debt-elimination strategy, and the investing principles that took me from broke to financially free.If you've ever felt like wealth is "for other people," this episode is for you.ABOUT ANTHONY ONEAL:Anthony O'Neal is a nationally bestselling author, speaker, and host of The Table with Anthony O'Neal. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance & Banking and is a professor of Consumer Economics at Virginia Union University. Since 2014, he's helped millions of people get out of debt, build wealth, and break generational poverty. His mission is to help you maximize your income, eliminate debt, and create a life of freedom and legacy.

Sunday evening service preaching from the pulpit of Woodland Baptist Church – Winston Salem, NC * Please feel free to visit our website at woodlandbaptistnow.com

Youth Pastor, Shelby Webb, encouraged attendees to embrace change by committing to actively chase God's presence through persistent prayer and seeking, using biblical examples (e.g., the upper room) to show committed obedience brings revival. She urged personal transformation—repentance as a change of mind and letting go of pride—so God can work through individuals to impact schools, families, and the community. The service closed with a call for attendees to self-evaluate and respond by coming forward if they commit either to chasing God more intentionally or to allowing God to change them.Youth Pastor, Shelby Webb, encouraged attendees to embrace change by committing to actively chase God's presence through persistent prayer and seeking, using biblical examples (e.g., the upper room) to show committed obedience brings revival. She urged personal transformation—repentance as a change of mind and letting go of pride—so God can work through individuals to impact schools, families, and the community. The service closed with a call for attendees to self-evaluate and respond by coming forward if they commit either to chasing God more intentionally or to allowing God to change them.

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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 _________________________________________________________________________________

In his final message before embarking on a new ministry opportunity as Youth Pastor at Patterson Park Church in Beaver Creek, OH, Pastor Drew Nilius reminds the people of New Community Church of the great and awesome love of God for His people. Listen in as Pastor Drew unpacks these critical verses from Paul's letter to the Romans, giving us the hope of a love that never lets go.

Should all churches pay their pastors? Is the youth pastor a Biblical office? Can you describe the "age of accountability" from a Biblical perspective?

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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 _________________________________________________________________________________

Meet Northbrook's new Youth Pastor, Josh Kilde! In this special "get to know you" episode, host Jon Mahlstedt sits down with Josh to officially welcome him to the Northbrook family. Tune in to hear about: His Journey: How Josh was called to Northbrook and his path to ministry. Behind the Scenes: His background, favorite hobbies, and unique interests. The Vision: What a successful youth ministry looks like to him.  We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Josh and can't wait to see how he impacts our community. Pull up a chair, get a front-row seat, and get to know our newest Pastor!

Jerry Crane shares reflections related to humility as he traces the idea through the book of Philippians.--Jerry Crane III, born and raised in Salem, OR, is passionate about the word of God and seeing lives transformed by Jesus. He has served as Youth Pastor at Creekside Bible Church for the past year and as Director of the online missions organization Christian Influence for over two years. Jerry deeply values Christian community, friendships, and the joy of shared experiences, especially through games & storytelling. He is honored that he "gets to" use these as gospel-centered tools to reach and disciple today's “terminally-online” generation.--Connect with Us:contact@parableministries.comParable MinistriesInstagram--If you feel led to give to Parable Ministries, please visit: DonateMusic created by Chad HoffmanArtwork created by Anthony Kuenzi

A message from our Youth Pastor, Jonathan Clark. For more information, visit hills.elevationchurch.com.au/ ​​--- Follow Elevation Church Hills: Instagram: @elevationchurchhills Facebook: /ElevationChurchHills http://hills.elevationchurch.com.au/

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=========

"Custom Made" - June 14, 2026 - Youth Pastor Lentz Toth

In San Diego County, jurors hear from the ex-wife of Maya Millete's lover as prosecutors wrap up their case against Maya's husband, Larry, who is accused of killing her. In Las Vegas, youth pastor David Vander Meer is charged with murdering his wife, Bernadette, on a hike in 2006. In Dateline Round Up, Alex Murdaugh and Luigi Mangione are back in court. Plus, "Legally Blonde" prequel star June Diane Raphael on her passion for true crime.  Andrea Canning's "Bend and Snap" video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZ6IxcKt0CY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Find out more about the cases covered each week here: www.datelinetruecrimeweekly.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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=========

In San Diego County, jurors hear from the ex-wife of Maya Millete's lover as prosecutors wrap up their case against Maya's husband, Larry, who is accused of killing her. In Las Vegas, youth pastor David Vander Meer is charged with murdering his wife, Bernadette, on a hike in 2006. In Dateline Round Up, Alex Murdaugh and Luigi Mangione are back in court. Plus, "Legally Blonde" prequel star June Diane Raphael on her passion for true crime.  Andrea Canning's "Bend and Snap" video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZ6IxcKt0CY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Find out more about the cases covered each week here: www.datelinetruecrimeweekly.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A former youth pastor accused of pushing his wife to her death at Zion National Park in 2006 has died by suicide in jail, just three days after a chilling tip regarding an underage affair led to his long-delayed murder charge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We just told you about his arrest this week, and now the former Vegas youth pastor accused of pushing his wife off a cliff 20 years ago, has died by suicide while in police custody. 49-year-old David Vander Meer was finally arrested 2 decades after the death of his wife Bernadette during an anniversary hike in 2006. Tips came in from his senior pastor at church and one of his ex-wives who was his teenaged mistress at the time of Bernadette’s death. Investigators formally charged Vander Meer with first degree murder and insurance fraud this week, but say he died of “self inflicted wounds” on Thursday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We just told you about his arrest this week, and now the former Vegas youth pastor accused of pushing his wife off a cliff 20 years ago, has died by suicide while in police custody. 49-year-old David Vander Meer was finally arrested 2 decades after the death of his wife Bernadette during an anniversary hike in 2006. Tips came in from his senior pastor at church and one of his ex-wives who was his teenaged mistress at the time of Bernadette’s death. Investigators formally charged Vander Meer with first degree murder and insurance fraud this week, but say he died of “self inflicted wounds” on Thursday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We just told you about his arrest this week, and now the former Vegas youth pastor accused of pushing his wife off a cliff 20 years ago, has died by suicide while in police custody. 49-year-old David Vander Meer was finally arrested 2 decades after the death of his wife Bernadette during an anniversary hike in 2006. Tips came in from his senior pastor at church and one of his ex-wives who was his teenaged mistress at the time of Bernadette’s death. Investigators formally charged Vander Meer with first degree murder and insurance fraud this week, but say he died of “self inflicted wounds” on Thursday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We just told you about his arrest this week, and now the former Vegas youth pastor accused of pushing his wife off a cliff 20 years ago, has died by suicide while in police custody. 49-year-old David Vander Meer was finally arrested 2 decades after the death of his wife Bernadette during an anniversary hike in 2006. Tips came in from his senior pastor at church and one of his ex-wives who was his teenaged mistress at the time of Bernadette’s death. Investigators formally charged Vander Meer with first degree murder and insurance fraud this week, but say he died of “self inflicted wounds” on Thursday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Authorities have arrested and charged former Vegas youth pastor David Vander Meer with first degree murder for the 2006 death of his wife Bernadette. According to police, David and Bernadette were on a sunrise anniversary hike in Zion National Park when Bernadette fell 1200 feet to her death. It was initially ruled an accident, but now prosecutors say they have evidence that Vander Meer pushed his wife off that cliff to be with one of his youth group members and collect nearly $600,000 from a newly purchased life insurance policy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Authorities have arrested and charged former Vegas youth pastor David Vander Meer with first degree murder for the 2006 death of his wife Bernadette. According to police, David and Bernadette were on a sunrise anniversary hike in Zion National Park when Bernadette fell 1200 feet to her death. It was initially ruled an accident, but now prosecutors say they have evidence that Vander Meer pushed his wife off that cliff to be with one of his youth group members and collect nearly $600,000 from a newly purchased life insurance policy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Authorities have arrested and charged former Vegas youth pastor David Vander Meer with first degree murder for the 2006 death of his wife Bernadette. According to police, David and Bernadette were on a sunrise anniversary hike in Zion National Park when Bernadette fell 1200 feet to her death. It was initially ruled an accident, but now prosecutors say they have evidence that Vander Meer pushed his wife off that cliff to be with one of his youth group members and collect nearly $600,000 from a newly purchased life insurance policy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!=========

Authorities have arrested and charged former Vegas youth pastor David Vander Meer with first degree murder for the 2006 death of his wife Bernadette. According to police, David and Bernadette were on a sunrise anniversary hike in Zion National Park when Bernadette fell 1200 feet to her death. It was initially ruled an accident, but now prosecutors say they have evidence that Vander Meer pushed his wife off that cliff to be with one of his youth group members and collect nearly $600,000 from a newly purchased life insurance policy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jerry shares testimony to Jesus' work in his life, moving from pursuing good things for his purposes to pursuing good things for the purposes God has.--Jerry Crane III, born and raised in Salem, OR, is passionate about the word of God and seeing lives transformed by Jesus. He has served as Youth Pastor at Creekside Bible Church and as Director of the online missions organization Christian Influence. Jerry deeply values Christian community, friendships, and the joy of shared experiences, especially through games & storytelling. He is honored that he gets to use these as gospel-centered tools to reach and disciple today's “terminally-online” generation.To see more of Jerry's work at Christian Influence, visit: https://christianinfluence.net/--Connect with Us:contact@parableministries.comParable MinistriesInstagram--If you feel led to give to Parable Ministries, please visit: DonateMusic created by Chad HoffmanArtwork created by Anthony Kuenzi

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=========

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 *** If your youth ministry calendar is packed but the room still feels flat, the problem might not be effort. It might be direction. Today we get painfully practical about vision casting in youth ministry and why a clear, God guided vision is often the dividing line between a youth group that feels alive and one that feels like it's dead.We talk about the difference between a good idea and a real vision, then we show you how to turn vision into a simple filter for everything you do as a youth pastor: your events, your teaching plan, your leader meetings, your budget, and your weekly schedule. We share how our church frames mission around discipleship and a healthy church environment, and why focusing on health over growth keeps you from building a youth ministry that looks impressive but burns people out.From there, we get specific about what vision looks like on the ground. We unpack how to teach students to think biblically about everything, how to help teenagers know Jesus instead of just knowing about Jesus, and how student leadership teams can change the return rate for new and unconnected kids. We also share simple ways to communicate vision so volunteer leaders actually buy in, including quick “locker room talk” moments before youth group and redefining goals for tough small group dynamics.