Preteens are in one of the most complex seasons of life. They’re not quite kids anymore, but not yet teenagers. Too old for the playground, too young for youth group. And often, this “in-between” stage can leave them feeling like they don’t fully belong anywhere—not at school, not in culture, and sometimes, not even at church. In this episode, we pause to consider: What if our ministries could be the place where preteens feel most seen, most known, and most valued? What if we could help them move from feeling like outsiders to becoming confident insiders in both faith and community?

In this powerful conversation, Crystal Mazucca and Kayla Stevens joins Chuck Peters to unpack the unique opportunities and challenges of engaging preteens in faith and culture. The episode highlights the critical importance of this transitional phase—where identity is being formed and belonging is deeply sought.

Together they introduce the “outsider in” methodology, a relational approach that focuses on creating psychological safety, inclusion, participation, learning, and contribution. These pillars help ministry leaders guide preteens from the margins to the center—allowing them to engage meaningfully, ask hard questions, and begin owning their faith in a safe, intentional environment.

Listeners will come away with a renewed sense of urgency and compassion for this age group, along with practical strategies for building bridges between faith and belonging. If this conversation sparked new ideas or encouraged your heart, we’d love for you to rate, review, and share this episode with fellow ministry leaders. Together, we can build ministries where every child feels seen, safe, and spiritually supported—right when they need it most.

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Flip the Script 

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In the world of next generation ministry, it’s easy to focus all our energy on the kids and students who show up week after week. We pour into them, plan for them, and pray over them. But what if the greatest impact we can make isn’t just in the classroom or the youth room - but around the dinner table at home?

This episode invites ministry leaders to pause and reflect on a foundational truth: parents are the primary disciplers of their children. When we as church leaders shift from programming for families to partnering with them, we begin to build something lasting—rooted in relationship, fueled by communication, and shaped by shared mission.

In this insightful conversation, Chuck Peters, Zac Workun, and Chad Higgins dive into the often-overlooked but critically important topic of parental engagement in spiritual development. They challenge the traditional ministry model that centers only on kids and teens and instead advocate for a more holistic, family-centered approach.

The discussion introduces the book “Define the Relationship,” a powerful new resource that unpacks practical strategies for developing a thriving parent ministry. You will be equipped with ideas for fostering meaningful communication between leaders and families, and encouraged to view parents not as passive recipients of ministry, but as essential partners in their child’s faith journey. 

If this conversation encouraged or challenged you, we’d love for you to rate, review, and share the podcast with your ministry team or fellow leaders. And be sure to check out the book Define the Relationship for deeper guidance on building a vibrant parent ministry that lasts.

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Define the Relationship

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In ministry, it’s easy to get caught up in what’s next. The next event, next age group, next building phase. But what if we slowed down long enough to truly see the opportunities God has placed right in front of us? What if collaboration wasn’t just a logistical necessity but a spiritual discipline? And what if contentment wasn’t complacency, but a deep trust in God’s perfect timing?

This episode invites leaders to pause and reflect on how we’re serving not just in strategy, but in spirit. It's a reminder that faithful ministry isn’t just about what we build, but how we build it—together, with humility, and with eyes wide open to what God is doing right now.

If this episode challenged or encouraged you, we’d love for you to rate, review, and share the podcast. Send it to a teammate or fellow leader who could use a reminder that faithfulness in the now is often the foundation for God’s future plans.

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As ministry leaders, we’re not just teaching lessons - we’re shaping lives. And the way we teach matters just as much as what we teach. From coloring sheets and object lessons to small group discussions and personal reflection, kids and students engage with truth in very different ways. If we’re not intentional, the transition from children’s to student ministry can feel like a jarring leap rather than a natural step.

In this episode, we pause to consider a vital question: How can we better bridge the methodological gap between ministries to ensure continuity, connection, and lasting faith formation? The answer lies in how we understand their developmental needs, how we design curriculum, and how we walk with them every step of the way.

From the hands-on, activity-rich environment of kids ministry to the discussion-based, peer-focused nature of student ministry, this episode explores how to align teaching methods, curriculum, and relationships to support long-term discipleship. Our guests share practical ideas for fostering continuity and building bridges that not only prepare preteens for what’s next—but help them stay connected to the church for life.

If this episode challenged or encouraged you, take a moment to rate, review, and share the podcast with fellow leaders. And if you're looking to strengthen transitions in your own ministry, consider how your curriculum, relationships, and teaching methods can align more intentionally.

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It’s easy for ministries within a church to drift into silos, each one focusing on its own age group, calendar, and curriculum. But when we forget that kids and student ministries are part of a larger discipleship journey, we risk creating disjointed spiritual experiences for the very families we're called to serve. True transformation in the lives of young people happens when ministry teams are united by a clear, gospel-centered vision that transcends age brackets and stage-specific programming.

In this insightful conversation, Chuck Peters and Jay Barbier dive into the critical topic of alignment across kids and student ministries. They explore the dangers of siloed ministry structures and the unintended consequences they can have on discipleship. With a focus on unity, the discussion highlights how a shared vision, intentional communication, and cross-team collaboration can lead to lasting life transformation for the next generation.

This episode invites leaders to step back and ask a powerful question: Are we truly working together, or just working in parallel? When we collaborate, communicate, and commit to a shared mission, we do more than fill seats—we shape hearts, build bridges, and raise a generation that knows and follows Jesus.

If this conversation inspired you to think differently about ministry alignment, take a moment to rate, review, and share this episode with your team or fellow leaders. Let’s build ministries that move together toward one mission, raising up a generation rooted in Christ.

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7 Habits of Highly Effective People 

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Every child’s faith journey is a story in progress, but far too often, our ministry strategies treat it like a series of disconnected chapters. When there’s no alignment between kids and student ministries, we risk losing spiritual momentum at the very moments when children are ready to grow deeper. 

In today’s conversation, Chuck Peters and Pastor Jay Strother step into the critical work of closing educational gaps in the church, ensuring that from preschool to high school graduation, our ministries are not just passing the baton, but running the race together. This powerful episode explores the essential topic of educational alignment between kids and student ministries. 

If this episode encouraged or challenged you, please take a moment to rate, review, and share it with your ministry team. Your voice helps spread these important conversations to more leaders who are shaping the future of the Church, one generation at a time.

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Bible Studies for Life

Explore the Bible 

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The Gospel Project 

Day by Day Chronological Bible

Read and Remain

Reach Teens

Teach Kids

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In ministry, calendars fill up fast. Between planning events, training volunteers, and caring for families, the pressure to “just get it all done” can pull ministry leaders in different directions. And when kids and student ministries aren’t aligned, the result isn’t just double-booked spaces - it’s missed opportunities for unity, shared vision, and sustainable impact. What if we saw scheduling not just as logistics, but as ministry in itself? What if collaboration wasn’t a burden, but a blessing that strengthens our teams and better serves the families we lead?

In this episode, we pause to reflect on the importance of planning together with purpose and how collaboration can create a seamless, gospel-centered experience for the next generation. Chuck Peters, along with Tristan Meza and Randy Craft, dive into a conversation about scheduling and collaboration between kids and student ministry teams. They unpack the challenges that come with overlapping events, misaligned planning, and lack of communication, and offer real-life solutions for building stronger coordination and unity.

When Next Gen teams plan and lead with unity, families experience consistency, volunteers feel supported, and ministries become more effective in making disciples. Scheduling isn’t just about the calendar - it’s about honoring the mission.

If this episode helped you think differently about teamwork and scheduling in ministry, take a moment to rate, review, and share the podcast. Send it to someone on your team, and let it spark a conversation about how you can better collaborate for Kingdom impact.

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Ministry to the next generation isn’t just about meeting kids where they are, it’s also about helping them get where they’re going. As children grow, they encounter major shifts: socially, emotionally, spiritually, and developmentally. These transitions, from preschool to elementary, elementary to middle school, and so on, can be defining moments in their spiritual journeys. But if we’re not intentional, these sacred transitions can become a physical gap they metaphorically fall through. In today’s conversation, we’re reminded that the church has an opportunity, and a responsibility, to walk with kids and their families every step of the way. Through intentional environments, clear communication, and milestone celebrations, we can create a rhythm of belonging and growth that anchors a child’s faith in every new season.

In this inspiring episode, Heidi Hensley joins the conversation to discuss how churches can design intentional, engaging environments that help kids thrive through the various stages of ministry. Heidi unpacks the practical and emotional challenges families face as children transition from one ministry area to another. From the importance of emotional safety to the power of milestone celebrations, this episode equips leaders to think deeply about community building, family engagement, and relational continuity across all age groups.

If this episode gave you something to think about or talk about with your team, we’d love for you to rate, review, and share the show. Your feedback helps us serve more ministry leaders just like you who are committed to raising up the next generation with wisdom and care.

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In ministry, we often talk about strategy, curriculum, and programming - but beneath all of it is something even more essential: relationships. Without trust and connection between leaders, even the best ministry plans can fall flat. As children grow and transition through the stages of church life, the strength of our relationships behind the scenes profoundly shapes the spiritual experiences they have in front of them.

This week, Jeremy Echols joins the conversation to talk about the power of relationships in ministry leadership, especially within the next generation context. From kids to student ministry and everything in between, Jeremy unpacks the relational gaps that often hinder collaboration, and how intentional relationship-building can create a seamless, unified experience for the families we serve.

In this episode, we’re reminded that ministry is never meant to be done in silos. Whether you're leading preschoolers, preteens, or students, your work is part of a larger story. And when ministry teams communicate, collaborate, and genuinely care for one another, that story becomes clearer, more cohesive, and far more impactful.

If this episode encouraged or challenged you, we’d love for you to rate, review, and share it with your ministry team. Every share helps build a network of leaders committed to working together to see kids and students know and follow Jesus.

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Connect with Lifeway Next Gen

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One of the most pivotal seasons in a young person’s spiritual journey is the transition from kids ministry to student ministry. It’s a season filled with excitement, change—and often, challenges. As ministry leaders, we want to see continuity and connection, not confusion and inconsistency. But how do we intentionally bridge the gaps that naturally exist between age-specific ministries?

In this episode, Chuck Peters, along with Jana Magruder and Zac Workun, reflect on the importance of collaboration across ministry lines. We examine the relational, physical, and philosophical gaps that often go unaddressed—and how these affect the spiritual formation of the next generation. It’s a reminder that building bridges isn’t just about programs or logistics—it’s about people, purpose, and shared vision.

If this episode challenged or encouraged you, take a moment to rate, review, and share it with fellow ministry leaders. Let’s keep building bridges that lead kids and students into deeper relationships with Christ.

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Connect with Lifeway Next Gen 

Connect with Lifeway Kids

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