Simply Youth Ministry Show (AUDIO)

Kurt misses his first show ever (he says it's because he was out helping an old lady cross the street), and nobody cares because A.C. is in the house! On this episode A.C. and Jason discuss transitioning children from the kids ministry to the youth group, how to calendar and plan, parents taking advantage of you, the myth of keeping up the pace and the fact that A.C.'s daughter is quickly becoming picky and pricey!

The Youth Ministry Nation mailbox is overflowing with emails so the guys are taking the next three episodes to catch up! This week, questions and conversation flow fast and furious....which makes sense in light of Kurt's occasional insistence that he looks like Vin Diesel (mostly just the arms).

This week, Jason commits the unforgivable sin: He badmouths George Lucas. In the meantime, Kurt isn't even sure who George Lucas is. As for youth ministry discussion....the guys tackle portions of a topic that is a constant challenge in youth ministry; creating a healthy volunteer ministry culture. As Kurt rambles off some of his thoughts, a disturbing trend is identified.

What do you do after a big event like a youth ministry conference of camp? How do you avoid losing the "mountain top" high? Should you avoid losing it? In addition to this rich discussion, Kurt saddles up his horse and we learn first-hand why Jason is a drummer, not a singer.

In honor of the Simply Youth Ministry Conference happening this weekend, Kurt and Jason share some of their tips for making the most out of attending a conference. A.C. gets a gift from a sponsor even though he's hardly ever on the show and Kurt hits a basketball shot even Michael Jordan would be proud of.

Dr. Tim Levert joins the guys via Skype to share three marriage and ministry tips. Also on this episode Jason riffs about Star Wars and Kurt doesn't care, there is a celebrity sponsor and the ongoing bet over the previous usage of the fancy black chairs is settled!

The focus on this episode is all about preparing your ministry for your absence....whether it's because you have to call in sick on a Wednesday night or because you are leaving the church. The big question: Can your youth ministry survive without you? Apparently Kurt has some feelings about this issue because he climbs up on a soapbox and has a hard time coming back down. But at his height, it's impressive he was able to climb up there in the first place.

The mailbox is full of questions from the Youth Ministry Nation and, for once, Kurt and Jason manage to stay focused long enough to get through a few of them. The wisdom and wit dripping from this dynamic duo is a sight to behold....not really, but we needed to make this week's show description a little longer so we added that part.

The guys still haven't got Skype completely figured out...and it shows. But that doesn't stop them from bringing in the one and only Jason Ostrander (the brains behind all things Simply Youth Ministry) for an interview via the technology of the world wide interweb thingy. They talk about lots of stuff, but mostly about the upcoming Simply Youth Ministry Conference and why YOU need to be there!

It was Kurt's birthday this week and nobody remembered to mention it on the show. So this week's title is our attempt to put salve on his old man wounds. On this episode, the guys address the ongoing chair saga as well as share a few of their favorite teaching tips.