Most nonprofits are volunteer-driven. In youth ministry, volunteers fill many front-line roles, connecting with students, answering their questions, and serving as role models and examples of the love of Jesus Christ.

In this episode, Mark and Jess are joined by Troy Vande Lune, the volunteer and network senior manager at Freedom for Youth. Troy recruits, onboards, engages, and retains volunteers to serve as small group leaders, small group assistants, skills class instructors, mentors, and other roles to engage with our students. In this episode, we'll talk about equipping, encouraging, and empowering volunteers to do the Kingdom work of Youth Ministry.

Send us your comments, questions, praise reports, and prayer requests to [email protected], and be part of Freedom Talks.

For access to FREE ministry resources and support, visit the Iowa Christian Youth Network at ⁠⁠icyn.org⁠⁠.

It can be easy to compromise in youth ministry, but is it advisable? Listen in as Mark and Jess discuss the temptation to compromise on your ministry values, the dangers of compromising in ministry, and how to stand strong in the face of compromise.

Compromising sometimes feels like we're taking matters into our own hands. Therein lies the temptation. Instead, when we stand firm, God blesses us!

Send us your comments, questions, praise reports, and prayer requests to [email protected], and be part of Freedom Talks.

For access to FREE ministry resources and support, visit the Iowa Christian Youth Network at ⁠icyn.org⁠.

We all want to have an impact in our Kingdom work, but how do we measure that impact? Join Mark and Jess as they discuss having an impact on the young people in our care every day. It's not a line item we can track or a box that we can check off when it's complete.

We don't don't measure like the world measures. We are called instead, to be under the leadership of God in what we do and how we measure it, and look at our mission statement to remind ourselves what we're called to do to serve Him. When you're doing God's work, it's easy to be 100 percent effective!

Send us your comments, questions, praise reports, and prayer requests to [email protected], and be part of Freedom Talks.

For access to FREE ministry resources and support, visit the Iowa Christian Youth Network at ⁠icyn.org⁠.

Leadership is the fourth of four foundational values derived from the Freedom for Youth Ministries ⁠mission statement⁠. In this episode, Mark and Jess talk about how leadership is taught, demonstrated, and celebrated throughout our youth and young adult programming.

As part of our desire to develop youth and equip them for a transformed life, we begin by modeling good leadership habits and celebrating leadership behavior by our students.

Leadership can be taught very early, such as when students have the opportunity to clean up after themselves, volunteer to participate in an activity, or lead others to good behavior. With leadership as a foundational value, we can even use misbehavior as an opportunity to teach leadership.

Send us your comments, questions, praise reports, and prayer requests to [email protected], and be part of Freedom Talks.

For access to FREE ministry resources and support, visit the Iowa Christian Youth Network at ⁠icyn.org⁠.

Employment is the third of four foundational values, along with faith, education, and leadership, which is derived from the Freedom for Youth Ministries ⁠mission statement⁠. Join Mark and Jess as they explain how to put the spotlight on employment for youth who have little to no understanding of what it takes to get, keep, and thrive in a sustainable career.

Talking about careers, even at an early age, instaills in our youth a positive and hopeful mindset about God's plan for their lives. Special guests, skills classes, and employment training are the key areas that youth ministry can focus on to plant that seed and equip young people for sustainable careers.

Send us your comments, questions, praise reports, and prayer requests to [email protected], and be part of Freedom Talks.

For access to FREE ministry resources and support, visit the Iowa Christian Youth Network at ⁠icyn.org⁠.

Education is one of four foundational values, along with faith, employment, and leadership, which is derived from the Freedom for Youth Ministries mission statement. Join Mark and Jess as they explain how to integrate educational support throughout our youth and young adult programming to build upon the confidence gained through faith to perform better in the classroom.

Incorporating educational support is critical to our mission focus on development, not rescue. Improved classroom performance also leads to fewer classroom behavior issues and, thus, more partnership with local schools.

Education also provide a variety of volunteer opportunities for your ministry.

Send us your comments, questions, praise reports and prayer requests to [email protected], and be part of Freedom Talks.

For access to FREE ministry resources and support, visit the Iowa Christian Youth Network at icyn.org.

Faith is one of four foundational values, along with education employment and leadership, which is derived from the Freedom for Youth Ministries mission statement. Join Mark and Jess as they explain how faith is integrated throughout our youth and young adult programming to let them know that they were created on purpose and for a purpose by a God who loves them and has a plan for them.

We don't have all the answers, but by sharing the Gospel with these young people and relying on God's Word for answers, we can empower and equip our young people to overcome whatever obstacles they may be facing in this life.

Send us your comments, questions, praise reports and prayer requests to [email protected], and be part of Freedom Talks.

Welcome to the first episode of Freedom Talks, a podcast of Freedom for Youth Ministries in Des Moines, Iowa. 

In today's episode, Jess Evans, a 13-year veteran of youth ministry, and Mark Taylor, a former pastor, small business owner, and the developer of Freedom's personal and professional development program, discuss the value of a mission statement for youth ministry. 

The mission statement is not a bumper sticker or slogan. It's a tool to guide and direct your ministry's efforts. It helps you say YES to some things and NO to others, not because they're bad but because they're just not part of your ministry's focus. 

If you have questions, comments, praise reports, or prayer concerns, send us an email at [email protected]. 

For more information about Freedom for Youth Ministries, visit freedomforyouth.org. For free resources and information about the Iowa Christian Youth Network, visit icyn.org.