Ministry is full of incredible moments of joy and impact—but it also comes with challenges we don’t always anticipate. Today, Chuck and Kevin Jones dive deep into the reality of spiritual warfare, exploring how the enemy seeks to distract, discourage, and divide ministry leaders. Far from being a reason to despair, these struggles remind us of our dependence on God’s strength and the power of His promises.

Highlights from this episode:

• Why ministry often brings unexpected challenges—and how to set realistic expectations
• The reality of spiritual warfare and the enemy’s strategies against leaders
• The necessity of prayer, unity, and vigilance in overcoming trials
• Finding joy in the midst of hardship and holding fast to God’s promises
• The role of the armor of God in preparing for spiritual battles
• Encouragement that God will restore and strengthen those who remain faithful
• A closing prayer of strength and hope for ministry leaders

If you’ve ever felt weary, overwhelmed, or under attack in your calling, this conversation will encourage you to press on with hope. Together, we’ll unpack practical truths about preparation, prayer, and perseverance—reminders that God equips us for every battle we face in ministry.

SHOW LINKS:

Connect with Lifeway Kids

Connect with Lifeway Students

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry 

Leadership in ministry rarely looks like a straight path. More often, it feels like walking forward with limited clarity, unexpected turns, and a constant call to trust God’s leading. The story of Gideon reminds us that even the most hesitant leaders can be used mightily when they surrender fear, embrace faith, and trust the One who holds the mission steady, no matter the circumstances.

In this episode you’ll discover five key takeaways designed to encourage and equip leaders to adapt when circumstances shift, remain faithful to God’s mission, and lead with boldness rooted in trust. Through this episode, you’ll be reminded that while methods may pivot, the mission of making disciples never changes.

Key Highlights:

• Lessons from Gideon’s journey as a hesitant but faithful leader.
• Why adaptability is essential in ministry leadership.
• Five takeaways for leading with confidence in uncertain times.
• Encouragement to trust God’s mission, even when methods must shift.

Whether you’re leading a kids ministry, student ministry, or family ministry, this episode will challenge and inspire you to step forward in courage, knowing that God’s strength is always enough! 

SHOW LINKS: 

Connect with Lifeway Kids

Connect with Lifeway Students

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry 

In a rapidly changing culture where ministry strategies come and go, some methods continue to stand the test of time. Vacation Bible School (VBS) is one of those deeply rooted traditions that still holds transformative power for the church. In this episode, we take a thoughtful look at how VBS remains a cornerstone of next gen ministry—bridging generations, strengthening community ties, and inviting kids and families to encounter the Gospel in meaningful ways.

 This conversation explores the enduring relevance and spiritual impact of Vacation Bible School in today’s church landscape. The hosts unpack how VBS continues to thrive as a vital outreach and discipleship tool—equipping churches to reach children, engage families, and foster lasting community connections. You’ll hear a compelling case for why VBS isn’t just for the kids; it’s a ministry-wide opportunity that fuels evangelism, develops leaders, and unites generations.

 If this episode encouraged or equipped you, we’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with other ministry leaders who care about reaching the next generation. Let’s keep growing together.

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry 

Preteens are standing on the edge of two worlds—no longer children, but not yet teenagers. They’re asking big questions, feeling deeply, and shaping a worldview that will guide them into adulthood. For those of us in next generation ministry, this season can be both exhilarating and challenging. How we show up in these years matters. It’s in this transitional phase that faith can either become personal and enduring or drift into the background.

 In today's episode, Chuck Peters and Kayla Stevens dive into the unique challenges and opportunities of preteen ministry. Together, we explore how to understand the preteen phase with fresh eyes, meeting their emotional and spiritual needs with care and intentionality. We discuss the vital role authentic leadership plays in guiding preteens as they wrestle with identity, belonging, and faith ownership. You’ll hear practical strategies for creating environments where preteens feel seen, valued, and equipped to navigate cultural pressures with a biblical worldview. 

Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just stepping into preteen ministry, this conversation will inspire you to invest intentionally in helping this age group thrive in their faith journey.

SHOW LINKS: 

Flip the Script 

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry 

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.

SHOW LINKS: 

Flip the Script 

Hyfi

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry 

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.

SHOW LINKS: 

Define the Relationship

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry 

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.

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry 

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.

SHOW LINKS: 

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry 

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.

SHOW LINKS: 

7 Habits of Highly Effective People 

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry 

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.

SHOW LINKS:

Bible Studies for Life

Explore the Bible 

Hyfi

The Gospel Project 

Day by Day Chronological Bible

Read and Remain

Reach Teens

Teach Kids

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry