In Episode 5 of Season 5, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor welcome guest Ellington Crabtree to the show. Ellington is a junior at the University of Kentucky and discusses how she is leveraging her life as a college student for the glory of God. Be encouraged as she shares how God is actively moving to ignite students with a passion for sharing the gospel and following Him fully in every aspect of their lives, on and off campus. 

Also in this episode:

• How to strategically reach college freshmen during their first weeks on campus 
• The impact of intentionally training and equipping the next generation
• Why mentorship and church community are vital for college students to live on mission and thrive
• How youth and college pastors can collaborate to bridge the gap for incoming freshmen
• The role of the Holy Spirit to work in both large-scale revival as well as in the mundane moments of obedience

Helpful Resources:

• GenSend Webinar: The Handoff
• Personal Ministry Impact Worksheet
• Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders
• Replicate, Robby Gallaty
• Sacred Fire, Ronald Rolheiser
• Not a Fan, Kyle Idleman

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

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

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Shareable Quotes:

“The most important thing that the Lord has been teaching me is to include Him in everything that I do and getting to see college students join in on that. It expands, and you see the brokenness on the campus and want to see Jesus make change in that.” 
—Ellington Crabtree

“Shout out to our college ministries that are focused on reaching freshmen. I want to double down on the reminder that this is such a pivotal moment, maybe one of the most pivotal moments in someone’s entire life.” —Paul Worcester

“Life change is walking day by day, moment by moment, discipleship, walking in holiness, in righteousness, in the right direction. Ministry is not a sprint; it's a marathon.” —Shane Pruitt

“This is a revival generation where we're seeing the resurgence of a new passion for evangelism and for discipleship.” —Lacey Villasenor

“College pastors have the opportunity to strategically help students think through their personal ministry, their spheres of influence. They can consider that their mission field.” 
—Paul Worcester

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In Episode 4 of Season 5, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor welcome guests Everett and Olivia Sinclair, who discuss leveraging their post-grad years for the gospel. Hear insights from their journey as they participated in GenSend Summer during college and intentionally chose to live on mission in Boston after graduation. Discover the essential role of the local church in equipping and preparing college students to fulfill the Great Commission after college ministry and graduation.

Also in this episode:

• The role of prayer in living on mission
• How to leverage your non-ministry vocation for the gospel
• How church leaders can best prepare students for post-grad missional living 
• The impact of faith-filled, multigenerational church life
• How to intentionally establish newlywed life for the gospel 

Helpful Resources:

• Every Good Endeavor by Tim Keller
• Spiritual Multiplication in the Real World by Bob McNabb
• Meet Generation Z by James Emery White
• Loveology by John Mark Comer
• Church Membership by Jonathan Leeman
• GenSend Summer

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

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

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Shareable Quotes:

“Through college I saw the value of the local church, so I knew that I wanted to be invested in that post-grad as well. Our ministry gave us a solid foundation in the Word and taught us through example of how families and young adults live on mission.” —Olivia Sinclair

“They're actually helping students think through what they're going to do post-grad, not just occupation-wise, but thinking through where they're going to go live and to let it be a place of impact, and then find a job in that city, find a place to live on mission in that city.” 
—Shane Pruitt
 

“Through college I was wrestling with whether to go into ministry or the workplace. During my last summer of GenSend, I was a part of a Faith and Work cohort and caught a vision for God's view of work and different ways to leverage a secular job for the kingdom.” —Everett Sinclair 

“Pray for B.O.B. Pray for a Burden for the lost, an Opportunity to witness, and Boldness to proclaim Christ every morning.” —Paul Worcester

“Especially today, as we become more and more digital, people crave that in-person connection, and it's so rare. We have an opportunity as believers to show some gospel hospitality and open up our tables, open up our homes to lost people.” —Lacey Villasenor

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In Episode 3 of Season 5, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor meet with pastor and licensed professional counselor, Dr. Shannon Thomas, to discuss the mental health crisis of the next generation and to answer the question, “Have we started to lean on therapy too much?” Join the GenSend team as they unpack the role of mental health resources in light of the victory found in the gospel. Discover the truths found in Scripture and what it looks like to live resiliently with the hope of Christ.

Also in this episode:

• The impact of social media on our anxiety and lack of connection
• How to recognize the signs of a mental health crisis
• The role of biblical community in times of struggle
• How a right view of God’s sovereignty helps us in our suffering
• The ways we’ve allowed culture to sway our values as the church

Helpful Resources:

• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
• Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier
• The Calvary Road by Roy Hession
• Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill
• Going Higher with God in Prayer by A.W. Tozer
• A Creative Minority by Jon Tyson and Heather Grizzle

★   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:

“Students are living in a fear of missing out in real time. They’re aware of everything going on around them and what they’re being left out of. It drives up that fear and anxiety.” —Shane Pruitt

“If my entire world is really in the palm of my hand, and if you take that away, what else do I have? There’s not much social connection or community when all community happens electronically.” —Dr. Shannon Thomas

“When life gets hard, boredom hits, or you are getting anxious, you just turn to your phone to numb it out instead of learning to cope with your feelings or the situation you got yourself in.” —Lacey Villasenor

“We’re almost building a community around how we label ourselves. There’s been a high focus on transparency and authenticity as core values for young people, and then we turned this cliche into a core value of the church when it really started in culture.” —Shane Pruitt

“Part of what we have to do is teach ourselves and each other is, ‘Okay, when I’m experiencing anxiety, what is really going on? What am I anxious about? Or what is causing this anxiety?’” —Dr. Shannon Thomas

“In terms of our relationship with Jesus Christ, we have victory, hope, and a deep sense of wellbeing—to know that no matter what my circumstances are, victory is on the other side of this.” —Dr. Shannon Thomas

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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

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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

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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.

Also in This Episode:

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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.

Also in This Episode:

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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.

Also in This Episode:

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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.

Also in This Episode:

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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.

Also in This Episode:

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