Student Ministry Conversations

While many of our listeners probably lead their respective student ministries, we cannot survive without the Associate Youth Pastors, the Youth Ministry Assistants or the Youth Ministry Interns. Regardless of the title, this job requires many different hats and faces many different challenges as they work with a team of people to make ministry happen.  

Come join the conversation as Russell sits down with one of his former Youth Ministry Assistants, Colleen Russell, as they talk about the ins and outs of working WITH the student ministry team. 

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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While many Student Pastors start out single in ministry whether they are in college or just in their younger adult years, many tend to jump into marriage AFTER they start and have a career in ministry. How does ministry and marriage work together? How do they need to be separate? Can there be a meaningful blend that transitions over time?

Come join the conversation as Brent sits down with Lennon Noland who is currently the pastor at Trinity Church in Waxahachie, Texas as they talk about marriage and ministry.

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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Student Ministry has changed for the foreseeable future with groups holding their services online, working to engage more on social media and some even jumping into the virtual church setting. How does your group fit this picture? What are some ways that you can work to take your engagement to the next level when it comes to students online? 

Come join the conversation as Russell sits down with Sammy Kelly from Digivangelism as they talk about engaging students online. 

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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While the questions remain the same, the world around us shifts and adds new challenges and opportunities for teenagers as they are learning to discover who they are and why they are meant to be here... But with constantly changing culture, how do we go about walking alongside the students (and parents) as students navigate?

Come join the conversation as Brent sits down with Brad Griffin, the Senior Content Director of Fuller Youth Institute at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California as they talk about his new book (co-authored with Kara Powell) called "Three Big Questions That Change Every Teenager: Making The Most of Your Conversations and Connections."

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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There is nothing more rewarding in student ministry that watching students walk through the development of their faith and step into leadership roles within your student ministry let alone the greater church, but how to we encourage and push students to begin to embrace their potential that we see within them? How do we challenge students to get off the sideline and step into serving with their gifts?  

Come join the conversation as Russell sits down with Brent Aiken, the co-host of Student Ministry Conversations and Youth Pastor at Wylie Methodist Church in Abilene, Texas as they talk about empowering students to lead their peers and lead within the context of the church.  

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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When we step into a specific ministry (student, children, adult, worship, etc.) we obviously will put most of our focus into the goals and missions of pushing that ministry forward, but what would it look like if you spent more time with the rest of the church that you are a part of? What would it look like for you to invest in all the different areas of the church?

Come join the conversation as Brent sits down with Karis Carstensen, who is a youth pastor and assistant HS girls coach in Happy, Texas as they talk about investing in your whole church and not just the student ministry.

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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There are many things that hold tried and true to ministry for decades at a time, if not centuries but there are many different practices in ministry require us to come at situations from a different angle, a different perspective or a different location. 

Come join the conversation as Russell sits down with Kate Boyd, who is an author, speaker and Bible teacher from Dallas, Texas as they talk about changing the "normal" of ministry and finding ways to do things differently to reach out to more people. 

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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We all hopefully have realized that we cannot do the job of ministry alone and it takes a group of church members, small group leaders and many others to meaningfully change students through Gospel conversations and so much more, but how do we go about celebrating when leaders are "winning" in their groups? How do we go about leading our leaders in their own growth as a leader as well as have a system of accountability from the ground up?

Come join the conversation as Brent sits down with Justin Knowles, Director of Kids and Youth at Sandals Church in California, host of Youth Ministry Hacks and contributor to Download Youth Ministry as they talk about how to create an environment that celebrates "winning" as a volunteer leader in ministry.

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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Ministry definitely requires some "on the job" training, but there is a wealth of great opportunities for Youth Pastors to continue their education to not only make themselves a better Youth Pastor but also a better leader, counselor and all the other responsibilities that we have in ministry. 

Come join the conversation as Russell sits down with Lisa Gill, the Director of Student Ministries at Holy Covenant UMC of Katy in Katy, Texas.

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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It's easy to get so focused in on the week to week of ministry that we don't take much time planning on the future of our programs, but what does it look like to stop and view your ministry from 3,000 feet above? What changes when you look at the long-term plan of ministry?

Come join the conversation as Brent sits down with Keith Parker, the Student Ministry team lead at Greenford Christian Church in Greenford, OH.

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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