End Goals: LCMS Youth Ministry Podcast

Rev. Dr. Justin Hannemann talks with Mark about the mental health of young men and how their parents and the church can help them grow in body, mind, and soul.

Bio:

Rev. Dr. Justin Hannemann serves as the Chief Executive Officer at GracePoint Institute for Relational Health. He holds a Master of Arts in Counseling and Human Development from Saint Louis University, a Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Justin has experience working in both clinical and congregational settings and supports the care of church workers in the Nebraska District of the LCMS. He and his wife Katherine have 4 children, live in the country outside Seward, Nebraska, and enjoy all things outdoors.

Resources:

• YouthESource Website – youthesource.com
• GracePoint Institute of Relationship Health: relationalhealth.org
• Let’s Talk about Mental Health: youthesource.com/2018/11/lets-talk-about-mental-health
• Practical Ways to Navigate and Educate on Mental Health: youthesource.com/2021/10/practical-ways-to-navigate-educate-on-mental-health
• Walking in the Light – Bible Study on Mental Health: youthesource.com/2021/05/bible-study-walking-in-the-light-shining-his-light-on-mental-health
• Institute for Family Studies, research report on young men: New IFS Report Explores The Social and Emotional State of Young Men in America

Rev. Andy Becker talks with Mark about research surrounding American young men and what parents, church workers, and congregations can do to support them.

Bio:

Rev. Andy Becker serves as the director of family discipleship for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. He served three years as a DCE before going to seminary. He served for 15 years as a parish pastor before joining the team at the Office of National Mission. He enjoys music and playing games of all kinds. Andy is married to Nikki and they have two teenage boys.

Resources:

• YouthESource Website – youthesource.com
• LCMS Family Ministry – lcms.org/family
• Institute for Family Studies, research report on young men: New IFS Report Explores The Social and Emotional State of Young Men in America

Rev. Shawn Davis joins Mark and Julianna to discuss ways congregations can support young people who are staying close to home following high school graduation.

Bio:

Pastor Shawn Davis is pastor at Praise Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, after recently serving at St. Michael Lutheran in Fort Wayne. In his years in ministry he has worked in Young Adult Ministry, Missions, High School and Junior High Ministries. He has spent concentrated time helping Young Adults and their parents through seasons of transitions.

Resources:

• YouthESource Website – youthesource.com

Pastor Michael Schuermann talks with Mark and Julianna about how youth leaders can support graduates who are moving away to college.

Bio:

Michael Schuermann is the pastor of University Lutheran Church and Student Center in Champaign, IL (a campus ministry congregation serving the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign). He has served there since the beginning of 2020, and previously served congregations in Sherman, IL and Dallas, TX. He also currently serves on the LCMS Board for National Mission. He is married to Katie. He loves music (especially the music of J. S. Bach and Johannes Brahms), reading, photography, the outdoors, and birds. He strongly dislikes squirrels.

Resources:

• YouthESource Website – youthesource.com

Rev. Craig Muehler from the LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces joins Mark and Julianna to discuss how congregations can support young adults transitioning into military service while helping them remain rooted in their faith.

Bio:

Chaplain Craig Muehler is a retired U.S. Navy captain and serves as the director of the LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces. After retiring as deputy chaplain of the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served from 2011-14, Rev. Muehler stepped into this position. He received his bachelor’s degree from Concordia University, Chicago, River Forest, Ill., and his Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He also has earned his Master of Theology in Pastoral Counseling from Trinity International University. He also led a session at last summer’s LCMS Youth Gathering titled, “How to Survive and Thrive as a Lutheran Christian in the Military”. Muehler and his wife, Kristen, have four children; Seth, Jesse, Faith and Hope. You can connect with him at [email protected].

Resources:

• YouthESource Website – youthesource.com
• Ministry to the Armed Forces – lcms.org/ministry-to-the-armed-forces

Technology experiences are different for every generation. To get the perspective of young people, Mark and Julianna welcome Isaiah Duport and Madison Sieve to share their insight into how we can support youth as they use technology.

Resources:

• YouthESource Website – youthesource.com

Rev. Dr. Trevor Sutton joins Mark and Julianna to break down the complexity of how AI and technology are impacting our world, our teens and our youth ministry.

Bio:

Rev. Dr. A. Trevor Sutton is the Senior Pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Lansing, Michigan. Sutton has written several books, including Redeeming Technology (coauthored with Brian Smith, M.D.) and Authentic Christianity (coauthored with Gene Edward Veith Jr.) and serves as an adjunct professor of theology at Concordia University, Irvine in Irvine, California. He teaches, writes, and speaks frequently about technology and the church in a digital age.

Resources:

• YouthESource Website – youthesource.com

Technology impacts culture, education, social lives, and more. Youth Ministry isn’t exempt from feeling those changes, even as the Gospel stays the same. Mark and Julianna discuss some of the key topics we are hearing from youth leaders about how those changes are impacting healthy youth ministry.

Resources:

• YouthESource Website – youthesource.com

Mark and Julianna interview two student athletes, Savannah Butterfield and George Austin, about how the church can support all student athletes in their vocation.

Bios:

Savannah Butterfield is from St. Louis, Missouri and plays on the Concordia University, Nebraska basketball team. Her home congregation is The Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens.

George Austin is from Chandler, Arizona and plays lacrosse for Corona De Sol High School in Tempe. His home congregation is Risen Savior in Chandler.

Resources:

• YouthESource Website – youthesource.com

End Goals is the podcast of LCMS Youth Ministry in the Office of National Mission. LCMS Youth Ministry Staff discuss practices for healthy youth ministry and interview practitioners who provide insight for experienced and new youth leaders.

Dr. Heath Lewis joins Mark and Julianna to try and answer the question “Does God care about sports?” as we continue our series on youth ministry and sports.

Bio:

Dr. Heath Lewis joined the faculty at Concordia University, St. Paul in Fall 2015. As Associate Professor of Christian Education & Leadership, Dr. Lewis teaches courses in the Christian Ministry major, working to enhance the historically strong Christian Education and Church Work programs at CSP. In his role as Associate Chair of the Department of Theology & Ministry, Dr. Lewis supports the Department’s faculty, staff, and students in their teaching, research, and professional development. He also leads the academic programming for CSP’s LCMS Colloquy program, and has served as an instructor in CSP’s EdD in Educational Leadership program. Prior to arriving at CSP, Dr. Lewis served as the Director of Christian Education (DCE) at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (Edmond, OK).

Outside the classroom, Dr. Lewis can often be found in the crowd at a concert or sporting event. He is passionate about cheering on his favorite sports teams, including Tottenham Hotspur FC (EPL), Minnesota United FC (MLS), and Gonzaga Bulldogs (NCAA). Above all, Dr. Lewis loves spending time with his wife and daughter.

Resources:

• YouthESource Website – youthesource.com