Each year, high school seniors are excited to finish their education and graduate. Many churches, however, are not too excited, because they fear these students will also graduate from their faith in God. Many of us are all too familiar with teenagers who walk away from the church and their faith when they leave youth group. So in this episode, Steve shares 5 tips for helping students not graduate from their faith. 

Links referenced in this episode: 

• Learn more about the statistics and research surrounding teens leaving the church at https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/are-young-people-really-leaving-christianity/ 

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

Sponsor for this episode of podcast: G Shades - https://gshades.org (Use code CONNECTION to save $20 off your next order). 

Purchase a copy of Life Through the Lens of the Gospel by Mike Haynes - https://amzn.to/432h2B5 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game and/or their brand new game, Holy Guacamole, 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, including these listed below:  

• Apple Podcasts 

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 does it look like to not only share Jesus with the next generation but to also equip parents as the spiritual leaders in their homes? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we’ll talk with Sam McDowell, author of Parent Equip, about what all of that means and share some practical steps on how youth leaders can take equip parents in what the Bible says is their role. 

Links referenced in this episode: 

• Check out Sam's website at https://sammcdowell.com and his book at http://parentequip.com (discount code shared near the end of the interview) 

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

Sponsor for this episode of podcast: G Shades - https://gshades.org (Use code CONNECTION to save $20 off your next order). 

Purchase a copy of Life Through the Lens of the Gospel by Mike Haynes - https://amzn.to/432h2B5 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game and/or their brand new game, Holy Guacamole, 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, including these listed below:  

• Apple Podcasts 

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!  

 Should we take a  break from our student ministry over the holidays, canceling our programs that week. This is a common question among youth leaders. On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we share five reasons of why it's important to take a break over the holidays. 

Links referenced in this episode: 

• Read about 5 Youth Ministry fixtures that need to die at https://bit.ly/5mymftntd 

Contribute to the 2024 Youth Pastor Compensation Survey before November 30, 2024, at the following link - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfx-js1VfoX8scimVovqAD9KxXD_-RS7aipfMHOCclQ9W32gg/viewform 

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

Sponsor for this episode of podcast: G Shades - https://gshades.org (Use code CONNECTION to save $20 off your next order). 

Purchase a copy of Life Through the Lens of the Gospel by Mike Haynes - https://amzn.to/432h2B5 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game and/or their brand new game, Holy Guacamole, 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, including these listed below:  

• Apple Podcasts 

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!  

While we often talk about the importance of partnering with parents, what does that actually look like? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we brought on a parent to ask her directly what she has appreciated and what she believes all youth pastors should know. 

Links referenced in this episode: 

• Email Michelle at [email protected] 

Contribute to the 2024 Youth Pastor Compensation Survey before November 30, 2024, at the following link - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfx-js1VfoX8scimVovqAD9KxXD_-RS7aipfMHOCclQ9W32gg/viewform 

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

Sponsor for this episode of podcast: G Shades - https://gshades.org (Use code CONNECTION to save $20 off your next order). 

Purchase a copy of Life Through the Lens of the Gospel by Mike Haynes - https://amzn.to/432h2B5 

Get 40 free credits for Coleader by following this link - https://bit.ly/coleader-steve 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game and/or their brand new game, Holy Guacamole, 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, including these listed below:  

• Apple Podcasts 

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 can we take a Cobra Kai approach to our ministry? I don’t necessarily mean how can we strike first and strike hard and show no mercy, but how can we take some of the principles we see in that show and apply them to our ministry with teenagers. On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Travis Deans joins us to discuss what we can learn from Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence, and he also provides 5 things that student ministry must do to keep moving forward.  

Links referenced in this episode: 

• Email Travis at [email protected] 

Contribute to the 2024 Youth Pastor Compensation Survey before November 30, 2024, at the following link - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfx-js1VfoX8scimVovqAD9KxXD_-RS7aipfMHOCclQ9W32gg/viewform 

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

Sponsor for this episode of podcast: G Shades - https://gshades.org (Use code CONNECTION to save $20 off your next order). 

Purchase a copy of Life Through the Lens of the Gospel by Mike Haynes - https://amzn.to/432h2B5 

Get 40 free credits for Coleader by following this link - https://bit.ly/coleader-steve 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game and/or their brand new game, Holy Guacamole, 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, including these listed below:  

• Apple Podcasts 

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!  

Are you a bivocational youth leader, or are you curious what it’s like to be bivocational, where your ministry is not your only source of income? Maybe you’re wondering how you can even do that. While it’s not for everyone, Caleb Julin joins us to talk about how he’s balancing everything and also writing a huge Bible study series that he’s giving away. Even if you’re full time, you will still learn a lot from Caleb. 

Links referenced in this episode: 

• Connect with Caleb on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caleb.julin 

Contribute to the 2024 Youth Pastor Compensation Survey before November 30, 2024, at the following link - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfx-js1VfoX8scimVovqAD9KxXD_-RS7aipfMHOCclQ9W32gg/viewform 

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

Sponsor for this episode of podcast: G Shades - https://gshades.org (Use code CONNECTION to save $20 off your next order). 

Purchase a copy of Life Through the Lens of the Gospel by Mike Haynes - https://amzn.to/432h2B5 

Get 40 free credits for Coleader by following this link - https://bit.ly/coleader-steve 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game and/or their brand new game, Holy Guacamole, 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, including these listed below:  

• Apple Podcasts 

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!  

Once we have our student ministry team, and we’ve begun to train them, what do we do with them? Where exactly can they serve in the ministry, and how do we set them up for success now and in the future? This is part 3 of Student Ministry Connection’s mini-series on teams, and today we’re talking about sending that team through empowerment and multiplication.

Links referenced in this episode: 

• Episode 48 on Networking - https://studentministryconnection.com/podcast/048-networking-with-jonny-radcliff/

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

Sponsor for this episode of podcast: G Shades - https://gshades.org (Use code CONNECTION to save $20 off your next order). 

Purchase a copy of Life Through the Lens of the Gospel by Mike Haynes - https://amzn.to/432h2B5 

Get 40 free credits for Coleader by following this link - https://bit.ly/coleader-steve 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game and/or their brand new game, Holy Guacamole, 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, including these listed below:  

• Apple Podcasts 

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 help our leaders become better leaders, setting them up to succeed? And how can we continue to develop them with the skills and abilities they need, as well as help them grow as a follow of Jesus? This is part 2 of Student Ministry Connection’s mini-series on teams. On this episode, we talk about equipping and discipling them. 

Links referenced in this episode: 

• DYM's Youth Ministry University - https://www.ymuniversity.com 

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

Sponsor for this episode of podcast: G Shades - https://gshades.org (Use code CONNECTION to save $20 off your next order). 

Purchase a copy of Life Through the Lens of the Gospel by Mike Haynes - https://amzn.to/432h2B5 

Get 40 free credits for Coleader by following this link - https://bit.ly/coleader-steve 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game and/or their brand new game, Holy Guacamole, 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, including these listed below:  

• Apple Podcasts 

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!  

Whether you’re a full-time youth pastor or a very part-time volunteer, along the way, we've all realized we can only do so much our own. On top of that, we need to build something that doesn’t rely solely on us. So welcome to Student Ministry Connection’s 3-part mini-series of podcast episodes focused on student ministry teams. This episode is all about forming and onboarding your team. 

Links referenced in this episode: 

• Blog: Creating a Volunteer Strategy - https://stevecullum.com/2018/05/14/creating-a-volunteer-strategy-in-student-ministry-oc18/

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

Sponsor for this episode of podcast: G Shades - https://gshades.org (Use code CONNECTION to save $20 off your next order). 

Purchase a copy of Life Through the Lens of the Gospel by Mike Haynes - https://amzn.to/432h2B5 

Get 40 free credits for Coleader by following this link - https://bit.ly/coleader-steve 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game and/or their brand new game, Holy Guacamole, 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, including these listed below:  

• Apple Podcasts 

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!  

It’s no secret that teenagers all over are dealing with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and all kinds of mental health struggles. So how do we support them? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we are joined by Dr. Chinwé Williams to talk about mental health and teenagers. Among many things, Dr. Williams is a licensed and board-certified counselor, supervisor, speaker, and author of Seen: Healing Despair and Anxiety in Kids and Teens Through the Power of Connection. 

Links referenced in this episode: 

• Get a chance to win one of Dr. Williams' books by liking this episode's post on Instagram and leave a comment. @studentministryconnection 

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

Sponsor for this episode of podcast: G Shades - https://gshades.org (Use code CONNECTION to save $20 off your next order). 

Purchase a copy of Life Through the Lens of the Gospel by Mike Haynes - https://amzn.to/432h2B5 

Get 40 free credits for Coleader by following this link - https://bit.ly/coleader-steve 

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game and/or their brand new game, Holy Guacamole, 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, including these listed below:  

• Apple Podcasts 

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!