We asked the FYI team to reflect on the challenges and hopes they heard from youth leaders all over the nation and experienced themselves. Join us as team members share advice, hope, and encouragement based on what we learned from leaders like you. This is the 2021 wrap-up you don't want to miss!

Timestamps:

2:27 - "What was difficult or challenging for you personally about 2021?"

17:35 - "What have you noticed that was good about the things youth leaders did this year?"

27:28 - "What is a short piece of encouragement you'd like to give youth ministers?"

34:19 - A blessing for youth leaders for the end of 2021 from Steve Argue

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Middle school and high school students experience and process identity, belonging, and purpose in distinct ways. Kristen Ivy shares insights from Orange’s Phase Project research and her personal experience. The hosts for this episode are Jennifer Guerra Aldana and Giovanny Pangingda.

Mentioned in this episode:

3 Big Questions that Change Every Teenager

The Phase Project

The Big Questions High School Curriculum

The Big Questions Middle School Curriculum

Related FYI resources:

Blog Post: Learning to Listen to Teenages

Blog Post:Tell Me More: 8 Conversations to Have with Your New Middle School Student

Blog Post: Tell Me more: 8 conversations to have with your High School Freshman

Three researchers from our Living a Better Story project, Jennifer Guerra Aldana, Jane Hong-Guzman De Leon, and Andy Jung share what they learned about listening and ministering to a young, diverse generation. This episode is hosted by 3 Big Questions coauthor Kara Powell.

Thinking about purpose may bring anxiety for some of your students—maybe because culture often focuses on purpose as a destination or vocation. But students can find purpose in many aspects of their lives, both now and in the future. Rev. Dr. Almeda M. Wright offers examples and practical ideas from her research and personal experience. This episode is hosted by Jennifer Guerra Aldana and Giovanny Panginda.

Showing your students that they belong may bring some awkward moments, but it can become something deeply meaningful and fun! This practical conversation with Montague Williams will give you ideas on nurturing belonging in your ministry. The hosts for this episode are Jennifer Guerra Aldana and Giovanny Panginda.

Your students' realities and histories influence their identity. In this conversation Kat Armas talks with our hosts, Jennifer Guerra Aldana and Giovanny Panginda, about how you can encourage students as they begin to understand the different parts that shape who they are in order to find the Christ-centered truths of their identity.

This season we're talking about teens' questions of identity, belonging, and purpose. Hosts Jennifer Guerra Aldana and Giovanny Panginda talk with Dr. Kara Powell and Brad Griffin about the research and insights of FYI's latest book 3 Big Questions that Change Every Teenager.

Disruption in youth ministry may take the form of job changes, tragedies in a congregation or community, or as we've all learned, even a pandemic. Although it can be difficult to imagine innovating in the midst of a season of change, sometimes that's the best time to try something new. In the last episode of Season 2, Marko talks candidly about the personal challenges a season of disruption can bring, as well as the surprising gifts such seasons can hold. This episode is hosted by Roslyn Hernández and Dr. Steven Argue, coauthor of FYI's latest book Sticky Faith Innovation.