My Third Decade in Youth Ministry

Geoff Cocanower joins me for a conversation on internships. Geoff took part in all three types of internships we do at our church, and he was my first-ever resident intern, joining us for three years post-college to be trained up and take ministry responsibility before being launched out.Mentioned in the show:- We are in the third decade of episodes! Thanks for joining us on the journey.- Can’t wait to see you at DYM200.- I have my first My Third Decade swag.. stickers! If you want one, find me at DYM200 and tell me your favorite episode or moment from the show.- 5 star rating/review challenge: Over the next two weeks, leave an honest 5 star rating/review on iTunes, then message me with your name and address, and I’ll send you a sticker AND my son will give you a shoutout (aka roast you) on an upcoming show.Are you a Download Youth Ministry Member? check out the September Freebie in Sidekick for a fun “Poser”-style game I made called “Celebrity Mood Match.” If you aren’t a member, you should become one today! https://dymmembership.com/ The Sponsor: http://givecentral.org The Podcast on the Web: http://podcast.downloadyouthministry.comTHE PLACE for YM Resources: http://downloadyouthministry.com The Socials:Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/mythirddecadeFollow on Twitter and Instagram @mythirddecadeCheck out Derry's resources on Download Youth Ministry: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/shop?author=28 Email: derry@mythirddecade.com

Geoff Cocanower joins me for a conversation on internships. Geoff took part in all three types of internships we do at our church, and he was my first-ever resident intern, joining us for three years post-college to be trained up and take ministry responsibility before being launched out.Mentioned in the show:- We are in the third decade of episodes! Thanks for joining us on the journey.- Can’t wait to see you at DYM200.- I have my first My Third Decade swag.. stickers! If you want one, find me at DYM200 and tell me your favorite episode or moment from the show.- 5 star rating/review challenge: Over the next two weeks, leave an honest 5 star rating/review on iTunes, then message me with your name and address, and I’ll send you a sticker AND my son will give you a shoutout (aka roast you) on an upcoming show.Are you a Download Youth Ministry Member? check out the September Freebie in Sidekick for a fun “Poser”-style game I made called “Celebrity Mood Match.” If you aren’t a member, you should become one today! https://dymmembership.com/ The Sponsor: http://givecentral.org The Podcast on the Web: http://podcast.downloadyouthministry.comTHE PLACE for YM Resources: http://downloadyouthministry.com The Socials:Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/mythirddecadeFollow on Twitter and Instagram @mythirddecadeCheck out Derry's resources on Download Youth Ministry: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/shop?author=28 Email: derry@mythirddecade.com

Thanks to Jordan, Erin, Tim, Monica, Kevin, and Anonymous for the great questions. I’d love to do more of these in the future, but I need questions. You can submit those by going to http://podcast.downloadyouthministry.com and click on the submit questions tab in the right corner. You can also email derry@mythirddecade.com or DM me through The Twitter, Instagram or Facebook Page.Mentioned in the show:Parenting Through the Phases Curriculum (so good!): https://store.thinkorange.com/parenting-through-the-phases.html DYM University (great way to train): http://dymuniversity.com The Super Sexy Super Pack: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/super-sexy-super-pack Are you a Download Youth Ministry Member? check out the September Freebie in Sidekick for a fun “Poser”-style game I made called “Celebrity Mood Match.” If you aren’t a member, you should become one today! https://dymmembership.com/ If you are attending DYM200, let me know. I’d love to connect with you!The Sponsor: http://givecentral.org The Podcast on the Web: http://podcast.downloadyouthministry.comTHE PLACE for YM Resources: http://downloadyouthministry.com The Socials:Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/mythirddecadeFollow on Twitter and Instagram @mythirddecadeCheck out Derry's resources on Download Youth Ministry: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/shop?author=28 Email: derry@mythirddecade.com

Thanks to Jordan, Erin, Tim, Monica, Kevin, and Anonymous for the great questions. I’d love to do more of these in the future, but I need questions. You can submit those by going to http://podcast.downloadyouthministry.com and click on the submit questions tab in the right corner. You can also email derry@mythirddecade.com or DM me through The Twitter, Instagram or Facebook Page.Mentioned in the show:Parenting Through the Phases Curriculum (so good!): https://store.thinkorange.com/parenting-through-the-phases.html DYM University (great way to train): http://dymuniversity.com The Super Sexy Super Pack: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/super-sexy-super-pack Are you a Download Youth Ministry Member? check out the September Freebie in Sidekick for a fun “Poser”-style game I made called “Celebrity Mood Match.” If you aren’t a member, you should become one today! https://dymmembership.com/ If you are attending DYM200, let me know. I’d love to connect with you!The Sponsor: http://givecentral.org The Podcast on the Web: http://podcast.downloadyouthministry.comTHE PLACE for YM Resources: http://downloadyouthministry.com The Socials:Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/mythirddecadeFollow on Twitter and Instagram @mythirddecadeCheck out Derry's resources on Download Youth Ministry: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/shop?author=28 Email: derry@mythirddecade.com

In honor of our 30th episode, have we got a deal for you! Our biggest resource ever in the DYM store, the One Year. One Click. Bundle is being offered for just $30! This is only happening for this week, so don’t miss out!. https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/1-year-1-click-50-week-teaching-bundle-youth-group This morning we talked about the views we get from the pulpit that noone else is privy to. Tim had a guy approach the stage while he was preaching, Andrew had a poodle come in to the church mid service… Andrew and Tim were both preaching this week. Andrew preached a “controversial” sermon that went over much better than he did the last time he preached it. We talked about how to respond when people do not respond well to a sermon. We have a new resource about to come out on DYM, and we gave a little sneak of both the message and the game. It is called, Neighbor, and is a deep look at the Good Samaratian. You can win it before it is even in the DYM store by letting us know that you have left a review for our show and another show in the DYM Podcast network. Check out our resources in the DYM store here: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/shop?author=8 Be sure to like The Morning After Ministry on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morningafterministry/ instagram.com/morningaftermin and twitter.com/morningaftermin. You can also find Tim @t00th and Andrew @andrewlarsen Be sure to check out the other shows in the DYM Podcast Network at podcast.downloadyouthministry.com Thanks to Dignity Memorial, Peek Reach, and Give Central for making our show possible!

Definitely my most controversial episode title to date, but it’s not as scandalous as it seems. Kory and Alison Lantz are a former student and intern who did get married. Kory was a part of the youth group and graduated in 2005. Ali came on as an intern in 2007. The two of them met in their college years. Today they lead an amazing youth ministry in South Bend, Indiana called Transformation Ministries.In this episode we talk about the impact of being involved in a ministry marked by longevity, the challenges of sticking it out in urban ministry, the beauty and brokenness in the communities we serve, and about 20 other incredibly valuable insights for you.Check out Kory and Ali’s ministry at https://www.transformation58.com/ or follow them on Instagram at @transformation.ministries If you haven’t checked out all the other fantastic episodes the DYM Podcast Network has recently released on Camp, do it!And speaking of the DYM Podcast Network, it looks like someone trolled us all by leaving a several one star ratings overnight. If you’d be up for helping us out by heading to any show you’ve enjoyed and leave an honest five star rating/review. SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS FOR AN UPCOMING Q&A SHOW:Email derry@mythirddecade.com The Sponsor: http://givecentral.org The Podcast on the Web: http://podcast.downloadyouthministry.comTHE PLACE for YM Resources: http://downloadyouthministry.com The Socials:Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/mythirddecadeFollow on Twitter and Instagram @mythirddecadeCheck out Derry's resources on Download Youth Ministry: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/shop?author=28 Email: derry@mythirddecade.com

Definitely my most controversial episode title to date, but it’s not as scandalous as it seems. Kory and Alison Lantz are a former student and intern who did get married. Kory was a part of the youth group and graduated in 2005. Ali came on as an intern in 2007. The two of them met in their college years. Today they lead an amazing youth ministry in South Bend, Indiana called Transformation Ministries.In this episode we talk about the impact of being involved in a ministry marked by longevity, the challenges of sticking it out in urban ministry, the beauty and brokenness in the communities we serve, and about 20 other incredibly valuable insights for you.Check out Kory and Ali’s ministry at https://www.transformation58.com/ or follow them on Instagram at @transformation.ministries If you haven’t checked out all the other fantastic episodes the DYM Podcast Network has recently released on Camp, do it!And speaking of the DYM Podcast Network, it looks like someone trolled us all by leaving a several one star ratings overnight. If you’d be up for helping us out by heading to any show you’ve enjoyed and leave an honest five star rating/review. SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS FOR AN UPCOMING Q&A SHOW:Email derry@mythirddecade.com The Sponsor: http://givecentral.org The Podcast on the Web: http://podcast.downloadyouthministry.comTHE PLACE for YM Resources: http://downloadyouthministry.com The Socials:Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/mythirddecadeFollow on Twitter and Instagram @mythirddecadeCheck out Derry's resources on Download Youth Ministry: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/shop?author=28 Email: derry@mythirddecade.com

This is a bonus episode. I recorded an interview with one of our Seniors talking about for a podcast we do with our church. In it, he talked about the impact our Summer Camps have had on him. I asked the student (Dawson) if he would be okay with me sharing our conversation with my youth ministry friends, and he gladly agreed.If you haven’t checked out all the other fantastic episodes the DYM Podcast Network has recently released on Camp, do it!And speaking of the DYM Podcast Network, it looks like someone trolled us all by leaving a several one star ratings overnight. If you’d be up for helping us out by heading to any show you’ve enjoyed and leave an honest five star rating/review SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS FOR AN UPCOMING Q&A SHOW:Email derry@mythirddecade.com The Sponsor: http://givecentral.org The Podcast on the Web: http://podcast.downloadyouthministry.comTHE PLACE for YM Resources: http://downloadyouthministry.com The Socials:Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/mythirddecadeFollow on Twitter and Instagram @mythirddecadeCheck out Derry's resources on Download Youth Ministry: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/shop?author=28 Email: derry@mythirddecade.com

This is a bonus episode. I recorded an interview with one of our Seniors talking about for a podcast we do with our church. In it, he talked about the impact our Summer Camps have had on him. I asked the student (Dawson) if he would be okay with me sharing our conversation with my youth ministry friends, and he gladly agreed.If you haven’t checked out all the other fantastic episodes the DYM Podcast Network has recently released on Camp, do it!And speaking of the DYM Podcast Network, it looks like someone trolled us all by leaving a several one star ratings overnight. If you’d be up for helping us out by heading to any show you’ve enjoyed and leave an honest five star rating/review SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS FOR AN UPCOMING Q&A SHOW:Email derry@mythirddecade.com The Sponsor: http://givecentral.org The Podcast on the Web: http://podcast.downloadyouthministry.comTHE PLACE for YM Resources: http://downloadyouthministry.com The Socials:Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/mythirddecadeFollow on Twitter and Instagram @mythirddecadeCheck out Derry's resources on Download Youth Ministry: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/shop?author=28 Email: derry@mythirddecade.com

Look, I get it. Most ministries do not have the luxury of hiring on administrative staff. However, we all need and have those behind the scenes/detail people who make our run smoother and look far better than it would if we were running it on our own.Janelle Prenkert (my wife) and Kristy Mikel (a former student and mentee of my wife who turned into her best friend) are the two primary Administrative Assistants I’ve had over my time in my role. We sit down together and talk about our stories, why they love what they do, and best practices between the up front and behind the scenes team members.Kristy is now on the mission field in Thailand and doing amazing things to empower the underprivileged and marginalized along the Thai/Burma border. For more information on Outpour Movement and specifically the Braverly go to the following places.Outpour Movement: http://outpourmovement.comBravery: http://braverly.comFollow Braverly on Instagram @BeBraverly SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS FOR AN UPCOMING Q&A SHOW:Email derry@mythirddecade.com The Sponsor: http://givecentral.org The Podcast on the Web: http://podcast.downloadyouthministry.comTHE PLACE for YM Resources: http://downloadyouthministry.com The Socials:Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/mythirddecadeFollow on Twitter and Instagram @mythirddecadeCheck out Derry's resources on Download Youth Ministry: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/shop?author=28 Email: derry@mythirddecade.com

Look, I get it. Most ministries do not have the luxury of hiring on administrative staff. However, we all need and have those behind the scenes/detail people who make our run smoother and look far better than it would if we were running it on our own.Janelle Prenkert (my wife) and Kristy Mikel (a former student and mentee of my wife who turned into her best friend) are the two primary Administrative Assistants I’ve had over my time in my role. We sit down together and talk about our stories, why they love what they do, and best practices between the up front and behind the scenes team members.Kristy is now on the mission field in Thailand and doing amazing things to empower the underprivileged and marginalized along the Thai/Burma border. For more information on Outpour Movement and specifically the Braverly go to the following places.Outpour Movement: http://outpourmovement.comBravery: http://braverly.comFollow Braverly on Instagram @BeBraverly SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS FOR AN UPCOMING Q&A SHOW:Email derry@mythirddecade.com The Sponsor: http://givecentral.org The Podcast on the Web: http://podcast.downloadyouthministry.comTHE PLACE for YM Resources: http://downloadyouthministry.com The Socials:Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/mythirddecadeFollow on Twitter and Instagram @mythirddecadeCheck out Derry's resources on Download Youth Ministry: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/shop?author=28 Email: derry@mythirddecade.com

Meet Brad Bullock, one of the first students to say I was like a father to him (I was 25 at the time)! Brad Bullock is a former student who met his wife in our youth group. He is now the youth pastor at Pathway Community Church in Fort Wayne, IN. For more info about Pathway go here: http://pccfw.orgTo connect with Brad go here: http://pccfw.org/brad-bullock/ Check out this episode of The Morning After Ministry to hear me talk with Tim and Andrew about Summer Camp (and DYM and Disney World): https://podcast.downloadyouthministry.com/episode-9-a-conversation-w-sam-pettersen-west-side-safety-harbor-story-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/ The Sponsor: http://givecentral.org The Podcast on the Web: http://podcast.downloadyouthministry.comTHE PLACE for YM Resources: http://downloadyouthministry.com The Socials:Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/mythirddecadeFollow on Twitter and Instagram @mythirddecadeCheck out Derry's resources on Download Youth Ministry: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/shop?author=28 Email: derry@mythirddecade.com

Meet Brad Bullock, one of the first students to say I was like a father to him (I was 25 at the time)! Brad Bullock is a former student who met his wife in our youth group. He is now the youth pastor at Pathway Community Church in Fort Wayne, IN. For more info about Pathway go here: http://pccfw.orgTo connect with Brad go here: http://pccfw.org/brad-bullock/ Check out this episode of The Morning After Ministry to hear me talk with Tim and Andrew about Summer Camp (and DYM and Disney World): https://podcast.downloadyouthministry.com/episode-9-a-conversation-w-sam-pettersen-west-side-safety-harbor-story-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/ The Sponsor: http://givecentral.org The Podcast on the Web: http://podcast.downloadyouthministry.comTHE PLACE for YM Resources: http://downloadyouthministry.com The Socials:Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/mythirddecadeFollow on Twitter and Instagram @mythirddecadeCheck out Derry's resources on Download Youth Ministry: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/shop?author=28 Email: derry@mythirddecade.com

EPISODE 014 – MEET MY REPLACEMENT(Release July 5)Show Notes: Meet Tim Veenstra, the guy who took my job, and keeps taking it! We are consistently coached to multiply ourselves or make ourselves replaceable as a leader in youth ministry, but what do you do when you meet the person you believe is supposed to take your position, but you don’t sense it’s time for you to step away from the church. I have been the one stepping in to replace (hear more about that in Episode 08 – Meet My Mentor), and I have been the one stepping to the side to be replaced by my guest on this episode.Tim Veenstra is the Student Ministries Pastor at Nappanee Missionary Church. He started as a Summer intern between his Junior and Senior year of college. Upon graduation from Indiana Wesleyan University, he came on in a 2 year transition to ministry internship at NMC, and after one year, he was hired on as the High School Pastor. Tim has now been at NMC for 6 years. I’m confident you will be encouraged and challenged from our story and his words.The Sponsor: http://givecentral.org The Podcast on the Web: http://podcast.downloadyouthministry.comTHE PLACE for YM Resources: http://downloadyouthministry.com The Socials:Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/mythirddecadeFollow on Twitter and Instagram @mythirddecadeCheck out Derry's resources on Download Youth Ministry: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/shop?author=28 Email: derry@mythirddecade.com

EPISODE 014 – MEET MY REPLACEMENT(Release July 5)Show Notes: Meet Tim Veenstra, the guy who took my job, and keeps taking it! We are consistently coached to multiply ourselves or make ourselves replaceable as a leader in youth ministry, but what do you do when you meet the person you believe is supposed to take your position, but you don’t sense it’s time for you to step away from the church. I have been the one stepping in to replace (hear more about that in Episode 08 – Meet My Mentor), and I have been the one stepping to the side to be replaced by my guest on this episode.Tim Veenstra is the Student Ministries Pastor at Nappanee Missionary Church. He started as a Summer intern between his Junior and Senior year of college. Upon graduation from Indiana Wesleyan University, he came on in a 2 year transition to ministry internship at NMC, and after one year, he was hired on as the High School Pastor. Tim has now been at NMC for 6 years. I’m confident you will be encouraged and challenged from our story and his words.The Sponsor: http://givecentral.org The Podcast on the Web: http://podcast.downloadyouthministry.comTHE PLACE for YM Resources: http://downloadyouthministry.com The Socials:Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/mythirddecadeFollow on Twitter and Instagram @mythirddecadeCheck out Derry's resources on Download Youth Ministry: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/shop?author=28 Email: derry@mythirddecade.com