Student Ministry Connection

Does every ministry need a catchy name? Should it match your church’s branding—or stand out on its own? And what if your youth group’s name already sounds like a dozen others? In this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we’ll break down six essential questions to ask before naming—or renaming—your ministry or program, so you can avoid confusion and create clarity for your students, your church, and your community.  

Links referenced in this episode: 

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET. 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection. 

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry. 

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection  

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!  

Ever wondered how collaboration among churches can create a powerful outreach opportunity? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve talks with Dan Lynch about his faith journey and his experience guiding about 50 churches that collaborate every year for camp. They talk about what it takes to create an impactful, large-scale youth retreat with lots of churches, the challenges faced, and the miraculous stories of transformation that happen at these camps.  

Links referenced in this episode: 

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET. 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection. 

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry. 

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection  

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!  

 Mission trips can be life changing for students, but if they're not planned well, they can be disastrous. On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve breaks down 3 crucial areas to focus on to set up our trips for the biggest impact. 

Links referenced in this episode: 

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET. 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection. 

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry. 

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection  

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!  

On this quick episode of Student Ministry Connection, we're talking about one thing you can do to both connect with others and grow in your ministry: conferences. Steve shares 3 reasons why they're important where you can find them. 

Links referenced in this episode: 

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET. 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection. 

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry. 

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection  

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!  

Games in student ministry—some love them, some avoid them, but could they actually be a key tool for deeper discipleship? On this episode, Steve talks with Mike McGarry about the theology of fun and games—why they matter, how they can open the door to meaningful conversations, and how to use them effectively in your ministry. Get ready to rethink how games can fit into your ministry and how they can open the door to deeper faith conversations.

Links referenced in this episode: 

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET. 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection. 

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry. 

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection  

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!  

Middle schoolers are full of energy, questions, and chaos—but they’re also at one of the most pivotal moments in their faith journey. So how can we better connect with them and create a ministry that truly meets them where they are? My guest today has dedicated her life and ministry to helping churches do just that. On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we’re talking all things middle school with Ashley Bohinc and exploring how "Make it Middle School" can transform the way you reach and disciple students. 

Links referenced in this episode: 

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET. 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection. 

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry. 

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection  

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!  

 What if you could unlock a deeper understanding of how you work best in ministry? What if a simple tool could help you and your team thrive instead of just survive? In this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve talks with veteran youth pastor and ministry coach Derry Prenkert about the power of ministry coaching, the Working Genius assessment, and how these tools can help you lead with greater clarity and confidence.  

Links referenced in this episode: 

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET. 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection. 

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry. 

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection  

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!  

 How do we keep students coming back to our ministry and our programs? What's going to help us open that front door really wide, but close that back door so that they don't escape and never experience the Christian community that we're creating in our student ministries? Well, that's exactly what we're talking about on this quick episode of Student Ministry Connection.  

Links referenced in this episode: 

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET. 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection. 

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry. 

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection  

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!  

How do you grow a youth group? And what does that even mean? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve digs into what growth should look like and how we can shift our priorities to get there. 

It starts by shifting our focus away from program growth to growing students and the Kingdom in these 3 ways:

Links referenced in this episode: 

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET. 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection. 

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry. 

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection  

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!  

We had some great guests in 2024, so on this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we highlight some of the best moments from this year, including topics like: youth pastor compensation, empowering teenagers, anxiety, being fired, helping kids enter our student ministry, keeping students attention while teaching, using artificial intelligence, training the next generation, staying connected, preparing students for evangelism, and trying to figure out when to stay or when to go. 

Links referenced in this episode: 

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET. 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection. 

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry. 

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection  

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!