Rethinking Youth Ministry | A podcast for youth ministry leaders, pastors, volunteers, and anyone who cares about students

Economic diversity exists everywhere. Which means, if we’re hoping to connect with every student in our community, we must consider the unique ways we can support and serve students of various economic backgrounds—including those from lower-income families. On this episode, join us for an honest conversation about what it looks like to minimize assumptions, partner with parents, and best serve students in lower-income situations.

Have you ever been in charge of a youth ministry event that completely flopped? If you have, you're not alone. The truth is, even though events are a staple in youth ministry, they’re not always easy to pull off. In fact, putting together an awesome event that students will love can be one of the toughest things to do. In this episode, join youth leaders as they talk about the best and worst events they’ve planned and the things every leader needs to consider while planning their next big event.

There’s often an underlying tension between children’s ministries and youth ministries—or between children's pastors and youth pastors—in the church. But why? What's causing the tension and what's keeping these two ministries from working together efficiently. On this episode, join children's ministry leaders and youth ministry leaders as they discuss what every children’s pastor wishes their youth pastor knew (and vice versa) and share how the two ministries can begin working better together.

Your youth ministry environment is communicating something—whether you’re intentional about it or not. The question is, what is it communicating? As students walk through your ministry’s doors each week, is the environment saying what you want it to? This week on the podcast, join us for a conversation about the impact an environment can have on a student’s sense of belonging and the growth of their faith, and how you can create a great environment on ANY budget.

Science and faith. For many students, these two categories seem incompatible. But are science and faith really as disconnected as our students might be led to believe? Let's face it—these days, students are asking some pretty complex questions about the way science fits into our faith and vice versa. This week, join us for a transparent conversation all about the best ways to talk about science and faith in youth ministry—even when you don’t have all the answers.

For many of us in youth ministry, mission trips are a part of our yearly rhythm. And while these trips seem life-changing on the surface, are they really all they’re cracked up to be? This week, we’re joined by Henok Berhanu, founder and CEO of Carry 117 and host to dozens of mission teams every year in Ethiopia. Together, we discuss the biggest mistake student mission teams make, the importance of cultural awareness, and why relationship building can be even more impactful than financial giving.

In the unrelenting pace of student ministry, it’s easy to slip into the “I’ve got this. How hard can it be to talk to someone of the opposite gender?” mentality. But there are differences that should be considered when tailoring your communication styles to the students you serve. In this episode, join ministry leaders in a conversation about the best ways to connect and engage with students of the opposite gender and learn the importance of having equal representation on your youth ministry team.

Sports and church. We’ve wrestled through this conversation before and we’re back to tackle it again. On this episode, join Stuart Hall, Dan Scott, Ashley Bohinc, and Sarah Anderson for a follow-up conversation on the tensions between church and extracurricular activities, what identity has to do with it, and what youth leaders can do for students who find their identity in sports, band, theater, and more.

It's no secret that parents and teenagers don't always see eye to eye. Yet, as ministry leaders, we know just how important it is for parents and teenagers to connect throughout the middle school and high school years. This week, join the Orange Students team for a conversation with Dr. Kara Powell on what youth leaders can do to help parents and teens connect about life and faith at home, and how your church can be a place that helps families grow WITH one other—instead of growing apart.

Is a small groups model better than a Sunday school model? And should your church really consider a shift from Sunday school to small groups? This week, join some of the Orange students team for a candid conversation all about the benefits and drawbacks of both Sunday school and small group strategies, and how to tell whether or not it's time for your ministry to make a shift.

We’re all wired in our own way, and it’s likely that looks different from the people around us. And while that might seem obvious, what's not always obvious is how the way we're wired can affect the ministries we lead. That’s why it’s so important to spend time getting to know yourself! On this episode, join ministry leaders for a conversation about understanding how you’re wired and how knowing yourself better can help you become a more effective youth ministry leader.

Showing up for students outside of youth group can seem like an overwhelming task for your Small Group Leaders. But the truth is, when we show up in students lives when we don’t have to—when we show up randomly—it can have a huge impact. On this episode, join some of the Orange Students team for a conversation with youth pastor Katie Matsumoto about coaching SGLs to show up randomly and the potential impact it can have in our students’ lives.

Most students are on social media every day, which means we should be there too, right? Maybe. On this episode, join some of the Orange Students team as they discuss the benefits and drawbacks of having your youth ministry on social media. Through their conversation, you'll find out what your youth ministry should—and shouldn't—be doing on social media and what it could look like for you to start engaging students in a digital world this week.

Even though the most popular social media platforms might change, one thing is certain: Social media is here to stay. The question is, how is it affecting us? This week, join ministry leaders and Social Media Pastor Dave Adamson as they talk about the effects of social media on our students, how we can better partner with parents in this area, and what it looks like for a student to have a healthy relationship with social media.

No one likes to have the money conversation. And as youth workers, we know that we’re not paid what we’re worth in ministry, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be compensated appropriately for the work that we do. On this episode, join ministry leaders for a conversation all about asking for a raise: the best time to ask, what you should take into consideration when preparing to ask, and how to start the conversation with your leadership.