Redpoint

Chris is the youth and college pastor at Evanston Vineyard in Evanston IL. Chris and I spend a little time reminiscing about overhead projectors, but then dive deep into a conversation about how to care for your own heart and your family while also doing ministry. We also talk about dealing with the feelings of "why am I doing this still?" in youth ministry. It's a very deep episode that you'll find both challenging and refreshing!

Clint is a staff pastor a The Vineyard Church in Duluth MN and works with the highschool and middle school students. In our conversation we talk about helping teens navigate identity in a world of social media, training middle schoolers how to see themselves as useful in God's kingdom in the lives of their friends, and the importance of leaders not living inside the four walls.

Our guests this episode are Vineyard National Director Jay Pathak, and Associate National Director for Pastoral Health and Development Danielle Pathak. We have a wonderful discussion starting with how youth ministry impacted each of them as teenagers. We then talk aout as national leaders for the movement, what are their hopes for what is happening in Vineyard Youth across the country? And how can we, as youth workers, best prepare our teens discipleship-wise for the post highschool world that awaits them?

Cynda Garris is the Youth Director for both Arvada and Northwest Vineyard church—neighborhood churches of the Mile High Vineyard in CO. In this conversation we discuss the non negotiable for people in youth ministry: finding personal rhythms with God outside of what you are doing for ministry. If we don't, it's not IF but WHEN we'll burn out, leave ministry, or worse. We also talk about goals for raising teens in our OWN homes. And how to disciple teens into a love for the Word of God.

Jeremy Skelton is a staff pastor at Pathway Vineyard Church in Lewiston ME. He has over a decade of experience in youth ministry. In this episode we cover three important topics: First, he shares about what it was like to be the new youth pastor and inherit a good program from someone else, and then what it was like to hand that off to someone. Second, he shares some of his heart for how we can navigate ministering to teens who are dealing with gender and sexuality related issues. And third we discuss how to deal with the pain of watching people we've ministered to grow up to struggle with, or even leave, their faith.

Christina Lowery is the Assistant National Director for Church Health and Development. She's been pastoring for two decades and, like many, got her start working with young people both in and outside of the Vineyard. In this episode we discuss what, as the church health person, she is hoping to see come out of youth ministry in the Vineyard. What outcomes are we looking for? How do we know if we are hitting the mark? We also talk at length about what discipleship is and how we can model it for our teens. We land with a discussion around preparing our teens for young adulthood, and what tools we need to give them.

Susie Aldridge and Zeke Rink are the national youth directors for Vineyard UK and Ireland. In this episode you will be encouraged as they share stories of what God is doing in the lives of teens across the pond. You will learn about a ministry they've started called Dreaming The Impossible, and how it's affecting the lives of thousands of teens. And lastly, the hope with which they speak of youth ministry will strengthen you, challenge you, and encourage you!

Andrew Edwards is the youth pastor at Beaches Vineyard Church in Atlantic Beach, FL. In our conversation we talk about two amazing partnerships he has formed: one with a local college to help teenage moms, and one with a Vineyard in Puerto Rico to run Project Timothy. Near the end we also talk about books that have shaped our vision for ministry, as well as his favorite way to waste time. Listen to the end!

Parker is the youth and kids pastor at Virginia Beach Vineyard. In this episode we talk about pastoring people in the areas of singleness and sexuality, being intentional in our discipleship with teens, and the power of getting teens involved in all facets of church in order to support them as they bridge out of youth group.

Scott is the youth pastor at the Manchester Vineyard Community Church in Manchester New Hampshire. In this episode we talk at length about the importance of creating and cultivating Kingdom relationships. We also discuss the sacrificial life of following Jesus, the challenges and benefits of doing ministry unpaid, and some cool stories about a Project Timothy you've probably never heard of!