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

When it comes to separating or combining middle school and high school ministry environments, there are many factors to consider: ministry size, volunteers, space, budgets, and more. With variables like these, how do we create engaging and developmentally appropriate environments for middle AND high schoolers? This week, join ministry leaders as they discuss the benefits and drawbacks of separate and combined ministries, as well as possible solutions you can begin implementing in your ministry.

Whether you're brand new to youth ministry or been in the trenches for years, establishing a plan for longevity is important—for you and the youth ministry you lead. But what does that plan for longevity look like? This week, ministry leaders are joined by Kurt Johnston, Pastor to Students at Saddleback Church, for a conversation on how youth workers can best set themselves up for effective long-term ministry.

This generation of middle school and high school students, known as Generation Z, is unlike any other. But what sets them apart from the generations that preceded them? And how can the Church best serve and influence them? This week, join Tom Shefchunas, Crystal Chiang, Ashley Bohinc, and Sarah Anderson for a conversation on what Generation Z is all about, how they're different from the generations before them, and what that means for us as youth workers.

The recent school shooting in Parkland has had a lingering impact on this generation of students. In response to the event, many students are organizing school walkouts and protests to make their voices heard. And all of this puts youth workers in a unique spot. Do we encourage the walkouts? Do we remind students to respect authority? Do we avoid the issue altogether? This week, join ministry leaders as they discuss the best ways to lead students through this challenging season.

In most areas of ministry, there's a finish line. There's a finish line for that weekend retreat. There's a finish line for that message you're writing. And if we're not careful, we tend to apply that same mindset to the students in our ministries as they graduate. But should graduation really be the end of our influence in a teenager's life? This week, join Kara Powell joins ministry leaders for a conversation about equipping and walking with students long after their high school graduation.

Planning and leading a mission trip for students in your youth group is no small task. From picking a destination to booking airline tickets to training the team, it can get overwhelming in a hurry. This week, join Elloa Davis, Charlie Conder, Ashley Bohinc, and CJ Palmer for a conversation about how you can make the most of your student mission trips—from the moment you begin the preparation process through your return home—while easing the burden on you and your ministry.

If you're a ministry leader or a youth pastor, there are a lot of responsibilities and expectations on your shoulders from week to week. And in the midst of it all, it can be easy to think you have to be the “rockstar” of your ministry to get it all done. This week, join youth leaders for a conversation about what's wrong with the “rockstar student pastor” mentality and how shifting that mindset can be beneficial for your ministry now and in the future.

Have you ever crossed the finish line of a student camp or weekend retreat and thought, “Is this really worth it?” From coordinating logistics to writing messages to convincing leaders to take time off to attend, there's so much time and effort that goes into pulling off a student camp. This week, join Sarah Anderson, Crystal Chiang, Tom Shefchunas, and Josh Lamm for a conversation about the lasting benefits of a camp experience for students in your ministry.

Let's be honest: No one loves to be criticized. Especially when the criticism is given the wrong way or by the wrong person. However, if we learn to receive criticism with the right mindset, as ministry leaders, speakers, and youth workers, we have an opportunity to grow from it. This week, join Jamey Dickens, Ben Crawshaw, Crystal Chiang, and Sarah Anderson, for a conversation about embracing criticism and the value of asking those around you, “What's it like to be on the other side of me?”

There are a lot of things competing with youth group attendance, and for many youth leaders, there's no greater competitor than sports and athletics. Whether it's travel baseball, swim meets, or soccer tournaments, when our students prioritize sports over church, it feels like we're losing them. But are we? This week, join ministry leaders for part two of this conversation as they discuss their experiences navigating this tension from the perspectives of a parent, coach, player, and youth pastor.

There are a lot of things competing with youth group attendance, and for many youth leaders, there's no greater competitor than sports and athletics. Whether it's travel baseball, swim meets, or soccer tournaments, when our students prioritize sports over church, it feels like we're losing them. But are we? This week, join Brett Talley, Ashley Bohinc, Stuart Hall, and Dan Scott as they discuss how to survive the competition and how ministry leaders should respond to the growing tension.

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Have you ever looked at one of your students and thought, “What were you thinking?” Well, thanks to new discoveries in adolescent brain development, we’re starting to find out. The truth is, a teenager’s brain changes dramatically throughout their middle school and high school years. This week, join ministry leaders for a conversation with Mark Oestreicher about the teenage brain and how we can leverage the development of the brain to set our students up for a vibrant faith.

The start of a new year gives us an opportunity to reflect on the previous year, set goals for the upcoming year, and refocus ourselves for what's ahead. But as ministry leaders and youth workers coming out of a very busy season, what's the best way to refocus and reset as we begin a new year? This week, join ministry leaders for a conversation about what it looks like to recalibrate your faith, invest in yourself, and prepare for the next season of ministry.

It's no secret that, over time, youth culture has become the dominant culture in our world today. Because of that shift, the way we do youth ministry has also changed. Join ministry leaders for a special episode with Mark Oestreicher, co-founder of The Youth Cartel, as they take an in-depth look at the history of youth ministry, how youth culture has splintered throughout the years, and what that means for our youth ministries today.