Student Ministry Conversations

Have you had someone ask you why you play games with your youth group? Has your church financial person questioned your purchase of 50 pool noodles, 25 cans of shaving cream and 3000 water balloons? 

Games are not just something to pass the time, or what you do when nothing else is planned. Games can be an essential part of your youth ministry, open the door for conversations and build relationships while teaching truths about Jesus and our faith. 

Come join the conversation as Russell sits down with James Daniel Schopp and they talk about games, ministry, TikTok and more. 

You can listen to this episode in a variety of formats including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Youtube, Breaker, Pocket Casts and Radio Public. 

Show notes can be found on our website by clicking here 

Video for this episode can be found here:

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We have spent time in previous episodes talking about marriage and how it effects ministry, but what about being single in ministry? What benefits and challenges come from being in ministry without a focus on family or kids or having to revolve around those schedules?

You can listen to this episode in a variety of formats including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts,   Amazon Music, Youtube, Breaker, Pocket Casts and Radio Public.

Show notes can be found on our website by clicking here

Video for this episode can be found here:

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While there is a decent number of Youth Pastors that are fortunate to have a Full-Time position in Youth Ministry, it's often found that the larger majority of Youth Pastors are working full-time elsewhere and volunteer as the youth pastor or get paid for a Part-Time role, but does that change how ministry is done? 

Come join the conversation as Russell sits down with Ken Burns, the Youth Pastor at Lake Houston UMC as they talk about Bi-Vocational Ministry.

You can listen to this episode in a variety of formats including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts,  Amazon Music, Youtube, Breaker, Pocket Casts and Radio Public.

Show notes can be found on our website by clicking here

Video for this episode can be found here:

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We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus to everybody that we come in contact with but what happens when that also should convict us to be reaching out to the special needs community that is in all of our own backyards?

Come join the conversation as Brent sits down with his wife, Lesa Aiken who is a Special Education teacher currently and previously worked as a Behavioral Therapist as they talk about the incredibly large need of getting churches and student ministries involved in reaching out to the special needs community.

You can listen to this episode in a variety of formats including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Youtube, Breaker, Pocket Casts and Radio Public.

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Video for this episode can be found here:

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Most churches today work in what is often called "silo" ministries where each age group (children, youth, adults) all have their own ministries and meet separately outside of the Sunday morning worship service, but what would it look like to have ONE church ministry? What would it look like to have older kids serving the younger kids alongside the adults? 

Come join the conversation as Russell sits down with Chris McCarthy, the Next Gen Pastor at John Wesley UMC in Spring, Texas, as they talk about the ins and outs of Next Gen Ministry and what it looks like in Chris' church.

You can listen to this episode in a variety of  formats including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts,  Amazon Music, Youtube, Breaker, Pocket Casts and Radio Public.

Show notes can be found on our website by clicking here

Video for this episode can be found here:

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The beginning few years of ministry can be incredibly daunting and challenging, but also can create the foundations for your ministry leading for decades to come. How do you go about preparing and planning for your ministry when experience isn't quite a reality yet?

Come join the conversation as Brent sits down with Josh Griffin as they talk about the first few years of ministry. Josh is the co-founder of Download Youth Ministry and has worked in churches like Saddleback church and Mariners Church. He is currently the Junior High Pastor at Mariners Church in California.  

You can listen to this episode in a variety of formats including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Youtube, Breaker, Pocket Casts and Radio Public.

Show notes can be found on our website by clicking here

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It's time for another recap episode! Come join the conversation as Russell and Brent sit down and discuss their favorite moments of the past 16 guests on the podcast. We are excited to kick off the second season of the podcast and bring you more conversations with more youth pastors and leaders over more content!

We would also love to have you join the conversation if you would like to be on the show! Click here to fill out our guest form!

You can listen to this episode in a variety of formats including  Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Pocket Casts and  Radio Public.

Show notes can be found on our website by clicking here 

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***This Episode Marks The First Year Of The Student Ministry Podcast*** 

One of the most desired things for a Wednesday night program is to develop a team of students that leads their peers in worship, but what does that look like? How do you start a worship team? How do you build and encourage the team to be prepared and passionate in leading? 

Come join the conversation as Brent sits down with Russell Martin as they talk about building worship teams. Russell has started and led multiple worship teams throughout his years in youth ministry and pastoral ministry and shares his practices on how to develop teams and develop individual musicians.

You can listen to this episode in a variety of formats including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Breaker, Pocket Casts and Radio Public. 

Show notes can be found on our website by clicking here 

Video for this episode can be found here: https://youtu.be/k_P-L42fwpQ

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Evangelism has gotten too technical in it's definition in some Christian circles, but the bottom line for the Evangelism is "People want to know that you care before they want to know what you care about." The conversations needs to be about not only how you (as a pastor) can evangelize better, but how to equip students for evangelism better as well.

Come join the conversation as Brent sits down with Caleb Davis, the founder of "Simply Love Jesus" which is a non-profit organization in Atlanta, Georgia as they talk about Evangelism and how we can do better with the mission at hand.

You can listen to this episode in a variety of formats including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Breaker, Pocket Casts and Radio Public.

Show notes can be found on our website by clicking here

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