In this episode, Jeremy is joined by veteran youth pastor Jonathan Kornelsen from Central Community Church in Chilliwack, BC, to unpack a question that every youth worker eventually faces: How do I care for a student whose family life is messy, broken, or confusing?

Jonathan brings 20+ years of youth ministry experience into this honest, compassionate conversation about the limits and opportunities of our role as youth workers. From mandatory reporting to faithful presence, from avoiding the savior complex to knowing when to just take a kid out for ice cream—this episode offers a practical guide for navigating the mess with wisdom and love.

Whether you’re a volunteer, point leader, or ministry director, this episode will help you better support students walking through complicated family dynamics.

Looking for a practical next step? Try out one of these things…

• Listen to Episode 104 – What Should You Know About Crisis, Trauma, Abuse & Neglect (interview with a police officer and social worker)
• If you’re unsure about a disclosure, report it or talk to someone who can.
• Be a calm, safe, trustworthy adult in a student’s life without trying to “fix” them.
• Know your community’s referral resources (counselors, food banks, support workers)
• Be quick to pray, often and out loud, for students navigating hard situations
• Commit to the long haul—healing takes time, and your presence matters more than you know

You should also get Jonathan’s new book Youth Ministry Blueprint, available on Amazon.

Have a question or want to dig deeper? You can email [email protected].