Nick Blevins Family Ministry Podcast: Children | Youth | Students | NextGen

In this episode, I interview Ben Kerns, Student Pastor and writer behind averageyouthministry.com. I talk with Ben about the challenges he's seeing in student ministry and how he's tackling them at his church.

Connect with Ben on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: [email protected]

AverageYouthMinistry.com

Marin Covenant Church

Holy Parenting: Making the Common Sacred (book)

From the Pen to the Palace: A Youth Ministry Evangelism and Discipleship Strategy for a Post-Christian Culture (book)

Average Youth Ministry (book)

“The Myth of Senioritis” (blog post)

“Helping Seniors Develop a Faith That Is Ready for College” (blog post)

“How Do We Advise Our Students Who Are Dealing With Those College Rejection Letters?” (blog post)

“Why Are Kids So Apathetic These Days?” (blog post)

“Are You Emotionally Ready for the Spring Drop Off?” (blog post)

Free Weekly Devotionals for Student Ministry – Check out all of Ben's past weekly devotionals, including devotionals on the books of Colossians, Ephesians, John, and the Ten Commandments

The End of Absolutes: America's New Moral Code (article) – Barna Group research shows that only 59% of adult Americans strongly agree that  “the Bible provides us with absolute moral truths which are the same for all people in all situations, without exception”

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

In this episode, I interview Rob Cizek, the Executive Pastor of NorthShore Christian Church in Everett, WA. I talk with Rob about how to lead up and how to hire well in ministry. Rob shares practical tips we can use right away to improve in both areas.

NorthShore Christian Church

Orange

Interview Matrix

StrengthsFinder 2.0

DISC Personality Test

Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis Assessment

StephenCovey.com – Check out Dr. Stephen Covey's books for wisdom in leadership: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People | The 8th Habit | Everyday Greatness | Leader in Me 

1. Seek first to understand before being understood
2. Empathize with your pastor
3. Create trust
4. Don’t be a silo
5. Give 100% support in public
6. Bring solutions, not problems
7. Figure out the best time to approach
8. Share success stories with your pastor
9. Be on time
10. Be prepared
11. Start the job well
12. Leave the job well

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In the next episode, I interview Ben Kerns, Student Pastor and writer behind averageyouthministry.com. I talk with Ben about the challenges he's seeing in student ministry and how he's tackling them at his church. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss it!

In this episode, I talk with Matt Guevara, the Executive Director of the International Network of Children's Ministry (INCM). INCM exists to connect, train and resource children's ministry leaders and they are probably known most for the Children's Pastors Conference. We talk about the number one priority of a leader, and that's prioritizing our relationship with God.

Connect with Matt on Facebook | Twitter

Email: [email protected]

INCM.org

KidMin.com – Check out Dispatch for ministry tools and resources to help you grow as a leader and implement new ideas

ChildrensPastorsConference.com – Register before August 15 for the 2017 conference and save $100

CPC+ – Sign up for two-day training webinars

1. Remind yourself of the importance of being rooted in God as a leader. Read Psalm 71 and Isaiah 61.
2. Have a tough conversation with yourself. Ask: Where am I?
3. Have a conversation with your senior leadership. Ask: Am I getting into a corporate worship session on a regular basis?
4. Find a version of the Bible that you enjoy reading.
5. Establish a regular reading plan. Check out the YouVersion Bible App and Scripture Union for reading plans.
6. Find an accountability partner who is at the same level.
7. Get out of the office – find silence and solitude.

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In the next episode, I interview Rob Cizek, the

In this episode, I talk with Kristen Ivy, the Executive Director of Messaging at Orange and the Director of the Phase Project. The Phase Project was created to help equip leaders and parents to best understand and lead kids at each phase of their life. We talk about the project, the research, the resources they've created and how church leaders can pass that on to their families.

Connect with Kristen on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

JustAPhase.com

Orange Leaders

Phase Resources for Leaders – Check out Phase Summaries, Phase Cards, Phase Videos, a Phase Graphics Kit, and other resources to leverage each phase

Just a Phase Blog – Subscribe to the blog and you will automatically receive the Phase maps

It's Just a Phase – So Don't Miss It (book) – Challenges church leaders to care for each child at every phase

Phase Resources for Parents – Point parents to resources like the Legacy Marble Jar and the Legacy Marble App

Movie Lists – Movie suggestions for kids in each phase

Don't Miss It: Parent Like Every Week Counts (book) – Encourages and teaches parents to make every week count

Zero to One: Parenting Through The “I Need You Now” Phase (book) – The first in a series of books to help parents make the most of each phase

Click here to register for Orange Conference 2017

BigStuf.com

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or 

In this episode, I talk with Kevin Monahan. Kevin is the NextGen Pastor at 12Stone Church in Atlanta, GA. 12Stone is a large, multisite church averaging 15,000+ in attendance across 9 campuses. In fact, they launched 5 campuses in one day just a couple years ago! We talk about the challenges of managing multiple teams, multiple ministries, and how that can translate to leading teams of volunteers.

Connect with Kevin on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: [email protected]

12Stone Church

Resources.12Stone.com – Free, downloadable resources for church leaders including job descriptions, trainings, and leadership development

DanReiland.com – 12Stone Lead Pastor Dan Reiland's website all about developing church leaders

7 Coaching Conversations

12Stone Kids Weekend Review

12Stone Campus Staff Review

NickBlevins.com/Resources

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In the next episode, I talk with Kristen Ivy, the Executive Director of Messaging at Orange and the Director of the Phase Project. The Phase Project was created to help equip leaders and parents to best understand and lead kids at each phase of their life. We talk about the project, the research, the resources they've created and how church leaders can pass that on to their families.

In this episode, I talk with Amy Fenton. Amy works for Orange, holding 3 roles in 1. She's an Orange Specialist, serving church leaders who use their elementary curriculum. She leads their Orange VBS team and she leads Live to Serve, an event Orange puts on for children's ministry volunteers. We talk about all of that, but we also talk about a time when Amy stepped in to lead children's ministry at a large church that had almost NO permanent volunteers and how she jump started her church volunteer recruitment.

Connect with Amy on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

WhatIsOrange.org

The Church at Brook Hills | The People's Church

LivetoServe.co – Get conference details and register your volunteers for 2016 dates

OrangeVBS.com and 252Basics.com – See how Orange writes its VBS curriculum so that it leads into regular summer programming

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In the next episode, I talk with Kevin Monahan. Kevin is the NextGen Pastor at 12Stone Church in Atlanta, GA. 12Stone is a large, multisite church averaging 15,000+ in attendance across 9 campuses. In fact, they launched 5 campuses in one day just a couple years ago! We talk about the challenges of managing multiple teams, multiple ministries, and how that can translate to leading teams of volunteers.

In this episode, I talk with Christopher Wesley, the Youth Pastor at Church of the Nativity, a Catholic Church right in the same county I'm in here in Maryland. Church of the Nativity does an amazing job holding to Catholic traditions and practices while pushing the envelope to reach people who are not a part of any church. Primarily, however, we talk with Chris about having a strategy for youth ministry.

Connect with Chris on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

ChristopherWesley.org – Download resources from Chris, listen to the Rebuilt podcast and get his book Rebuilding Youth Ministry

Church of the Nativity

1. Prayer and discernment. How is your church going to make lives different?
2. Make lives different by growing disciples. What is a disciple?
3. Know your audience. Who am I trying to reach?

RebuiltParish.com – Get Rebuilt (book) and other helpful resources designed to help parishes make church matter

Purpose Driven Youth Ministry (book)

Switch (book)

Planning Center Online Check-In

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Amy Fenton works for Orange, holding 3 roles in 1. She's an Orange Specialist, serving church leaders who use their elementary curriculum. She leads their VBS team and she leads

In this episode, I talk with Cindy Fiala, the Family Pastor at Preston Trail Community Church in Frisco, TX. We talk about the role of the Family Pastor and all that entails. Cindy shares some ways she leads her staff team with the goal of having a unified team that really works together. We also talk about women in leadership and the challenges and opportunities that exist.

Connect with Cindy on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Preston Trail Community Church

Watermark – Check out Watermark Church's Marriage Ministry and resources

Marriagehelp.org

Preston Trail Family Ministry Org Charts

Just Lead (book)

JustAPhase.com

Gifted to Lead (book)

Church Unique (book)

Auxano – Church Vision Consulting and Campaigns

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In the next episode, I talk with Christopher Wesley, the Youth Minister at Church of the Nativity, a Catholic Church right in the same county I'm in here in Maryland. Church of the Nativity does an amazing job holding to Catholic traditions and practices while pushing the envelope to reach people who are not a part of any church. Primarily, however, we talk with Chris about having a strategy for youth ministry. Subscribe so you don't miss it!

In this episode, I talk with Kenny Campbell about how to create a digital strategy for your ministry. Most of us are leveraging email and social media to communicate and build community, but sometimes we do it without a strategy in mind. Social media, text, email, can all be very powerful tools if they're used the right way. Kenny gives some practical tips for using them well.

Connect with Kenny on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

KennyCampbell.org

Orange

The Chapel

Stuff You Can Use

Youth Ministry Answers Podcast

FunNinja.org

Instafeed Live

Digital Devotionals

Weekly

Check out these Student Ministry social media pages for ideas on how to structure your digital strategy:

Elevation Students – Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

North Point High School Ministry – Twitter | Instagram

North Point Middle School Ministry – Twitter | Instagram

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Cindy Fiala is the Family Pastor at Preston Trail Community Church in Frisco, TX. Cindy and I talk about the role of a Family or NextGen Pastor, and what it entails. You'll also hear some unique ways Preston Trail approaches ministry as well as unique ways Cindy leads her team. Subscribe so you don't miss it!

In this episode I talk with the great Jim Wideman about an important question everyone asks at one point or another, should I stay (in my current role) or should I go (to a new role)? Jim also talks about the new venture he's part of to help churches and family ministry leaders connect regarding open positions.

Connect with Jim on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

JimWideman.com – Download resources from Jim and purchase any of his books, including:  Stay or Go? and Stretch- Structuring Your Ministry For Growth

Northstar Church

NextGenStaffSolutions.com

KidMinCoach.com – Use code GET10 for 10% off the one-time membership fee

TweetableLeadership.com – Purchase Tweetable Leadership

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In the next episode, we talk with Kenny Campbell about creating a digital strategy for your ministry. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss it!