In Episode 2 of Season 5, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor meet with Brandon Gilbert and Cody Carroll, the residency director and college director of Redeemer Church in Lubbock, Texas. Tune in as the GenSend team unpacks the impact and inner workings of the residency program at Redeemer from those who have led, built out, and participated in the early days of the program. Be inspired to raise up the next generation of ministry leaders through a meaningful residency that can change lives—and leadership trajectories—for the gospel.

Also in this episode:

• The benefits of support raising and how you can get started with confidence
• Why grittiness, creativity, hunger, accountability, and teachability are essentials for prospective residents
• Why seminary and residency training do not have to be at odds within your ministry
• How you can effectively develop your program’s interview and pipeline processes
• Why the freedom to fail is so vital for the next generation of ministry leaders

Helpful Resources:

• Calling Out the Called by Scott Pace and Shane Pruitt
• Reliant Mission
• The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
• “Creating Your Collegiate Leadership Pipeline” by Paul Worcester and Wes Smith
• Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
• Center Church by Tim Keller
• Gaining by Losing by J.D. Greear
• The Making of a Leader by J. Robert Clinton
• The Critical Journey by Janet O. Hagberg and Robert A. Guelich

★   Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at https://GenSend.org

★   Subscribe to The GenSend Podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
 

Shareable Quotes:

“The biggest thing I gained was the freedom to fail, to learn what does or doesn’t work, and to be really, really safe in the midst of figuring out if ministry was what God was calling me to.” —Cody Carroll

“The skills you develop in raising support are the same kind of ministry skills that you develop when starting a new church or ministry.” —Paul Worcester

“The people we want are hungry, faithful, available, and teachable. We’re not looking for perfect, polished people. We’re not looking for who has it all together.” —Brandon Gilbert

“In college ministry, if you can create an almost staff-level, intern-level role, you can do a lot of good training and utilize their gifts through your college ministry.” —Paul Worcester

“Is there a passion for the Lord and for spiritual disciplines? If we’re having to convince people to surrender to a calling to ministry leadership, then that hunger for the work is probably not there.” —Shane Pruitt

“Both seminary and residency training can be super helpful in sharpening you for the kingdom and for the local church.” —Shane Pruitt

Welcome to Season 5 of The GenSend Podcast! Join hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor as they launch the new season and are joined by special guest and friend of the podcast Mauricio Villasenor. Tune in as this campus-pastor-turned-church-planter shares his experiences in navigating his calling into vocational ministry. Discover your next steps in discerning where God is leading you to live on mission in leadership, as well as how you can move with confidence as you follow God’s calling upon your life.

Also in this episode:

• The impact of mentorship and a deep prayer life as you navigate your calling
• Knowing when to transition from one role to the next
• Key characteristics to develop within yourself as a prospective ministry leader
• What you should ask from others as you discern your calling into ministry

Helpful Resources:

• Calling Out the Called
• Youth Leader Coaching Network
• The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken
• Disappearing Church and Reappearing Church by Mark Sayers
• The Pastor’s Justification by Jared Wilson
• Tactics by Greg Koukl

★   Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at https://GenSend.org

★   Subscribe to “The GenSend Podcast” on your favorite podcast platform.

Shareable Quotes:

“I’m so thankful for the leaders who discipled me and then even let me start serving, knowing that I was going to make a mess of things, but who also knew that serving would be a part of that journey.” – Shane Pruitt

“It’s a combination of the Lord putting burdens and passions on your heart and then people speaking into your life, and doors of opportunity opening up.” - Lacey Villasenor

“Your primary job is to focus on the depth of your ministry, sit at Jesus’ feet, and grow in godly maturity, character, wisdom, and integrity. Then, the Lord will take care of what the platforms look like.” – Shane Pruitt

“God is a lot more likely to direct us if we’re moving full-speed towards His mission.” – Paul Worcester

“God is not the changing God who changes His mind on things. He’s consistent. So, if He called you to something, He’s not going to call you out of that thing unless He releases you.” - Mauricio Villasenor

“It's good to be patient. When you have a call to ministry, it doesn’t mean you’re going to be on stage rocking the mic right away. Sometimes, you grow into ministry; you don’t go into ministry.” – Paul Worcester

In Episode 7 of Season 4, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor meet up with author, apologist, pastor, and professor Lee Strobel to discuss his insights on training the next generation of Christ followers to engage those outside the Christian faith with the hope of the gospel. Discover new, practical ways that you and your leaders can engage the lost with the love of Christ and go deeper in relationship with those who are searching for answers. Learn why the Lord is calling us away from earthly comforts so that we can see lives changed through the power of His Word.

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In Episode 6 of Season 4, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor team up with pastor Dean Inserra for this virtual webinar to discuss practical insights for navigating election season while still fostering a biblical worldview. Join the over 300 Next Gen leaders who attended this virtual webinar and discover ways to equip your students and leaders to see everything through the lens of the gospel, as well as the church’s role in a polarizing world. Tune in to hear more tangible ways to cultivate an atmosphere of thinking biblically and living missionally from the walls of your ministry to the world beyond.

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In Episode 5 of Season 4, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor welcome Keith Wieser to discuss the latest challenges and strategies for reaching the next generation of college students. Keith shares insights from his 17 years of ministry, including the key cultural shifts affecting students today, such as the roles of anxiety, identity, and technology in their lives. The conversation dives into practical approaches for discipling students in a rapidly changing culture and highlights the importance of relational evangelism, multiplication, and being led by the Spirit.

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In Episode 4 of Season 4, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor are joined by special guest Trevin Wax to explore the topic of cultural apologetics. They dive deep into ways that the next generation can engage with and navigate the prevailing ideologies of our time without being swayed by them. The discussion covers the most influential ideologies shaping the minds of young people today, including radical individualism, the quest for identity within groups, and the rise of pseudo-religions.

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In Episode 3 of Season 4, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor dive into a rich discussion on spiritual disciplines, focusing on well-known and often forgotten practices. They share personal experiences and practical insights on cultivating a disciplined spiritual life in today’s fast-paced, distraction-filled world. This episode addresses the rise of new-age spirituality and the importance of clearly defining and teaching biblical meditation and spiritual practices in contrast to secular trends.

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In Episode 2 of Season 4, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor are joined by Evan Vela, a GenSend Journeyman, to delve into the critical topic of mentorship. Sharing personal stories of how mentors have shaped their lives and ministries, the team highlights practical advice on developing meaningful mentor-mentee relationships, focusing on authenticity, vulnerability, and life-on-life discipleship.

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In the Season 4 premiere of The GenSend Podcast, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor dive into the five key principles of leadership and discipleship that are vital for collegiate ministry. This episode highlights the importance of creating a prayerful, evangelistic, and leadership-focused environment that encourages students to live missionally.

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In this bonus episode of The GenSend Podcast, Zach Meerkreebs, who was deeply involved in the Asbury revival, joins hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester and Lacey Villasenor for the GenSend Spring 2024 Webinar. They explore the theme of “Revival Generation,” focusing on the awakening and mobilization of young adults toward spiritual revival. The discussion delves into the importance of personal repentance and communal awakening as catalysts for lasting change in both church and society. Zach shares his firsthand experiences from the Asbury revival, emphasizing the impact of authentic, humble leadership and the power of grassroots spiritual movements.

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Shareable Quotes:

“We can’t force revival to happen, but we can sure posture ourselves in case the Lord chooses us to do it. And when we say revival, this is what we mean. We don’t mean necessarily crying or emotionalism or Holy Spirit goosebumps.” – Shane Pruitt

“My heart is just to encourage and tell stories and see how low we can go with Jesus. He’s inviting us to descend into humility, and the lower we’ll go, the more He’ll fill up, the higher He will go.” – Zach Meerkreebs

“If your ambition is to advance the gospel among the lost, it’s almost impossible to have too much ambition there because our heart is for the mission field that God has called us to. It’s not about us, it’s about these people” – Paul Worcester