The Sidekick Podcast

Multi-Site Church ministry is nothing new. It has been around since at least 1990, when there were 10 multi-site Churches in America. Now with thousands of multi-site Churches around the world, there is tons of resources and material on how to effectively do Church this way. But what about multi-site student ministry? What are some of the pros and cons of dong student ministry this way?

To talk about this with me today on the podcast is Kent Bjustrom. Kent leads a Multi-Site Student Ministry at Northview Church in Central Indiana with 13 campuses (9 with student ministry) and is a great resource for student ministers looking to do multi-site student ministry.

ACTION STEPS:

* Share your thoughts! Are you doing multi-site student ministry? If so, how is it going and what are some of the pros and cons of doing ministry this way? Share below or on Twitter using #ymsidekick when you post.

* If you want to connect with Kent you can read his blog or feel free to email him. Also, email him if you want information on the Multi-Site Summit email him as well.

* Facebook Group! Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe or on Spotify to see what great things we talk about each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

* If you have an idea for a topic for a future podcast episode, email him here.

* Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop to get content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics)

Christmas and Easter services are two of the biggest Church services of the year. There is no doubt about it and they should be taken seriously as it provides a huge opportunity to reach more people for Christ. However, while they are really important, they are only two weeks of the year. You still have 50 other weeks of the year to minister to your community. So how can we use Christmas and Easter to help minister to your community year round?

To talk about that today, Stan Rodda joins me on the podcast. We talk about the importance of the Christmas and Easter services and the build up to those services. We also talk about ways you can use those services to minister to your community throughout the year.

ACTION STEPS:

* Share your thoughts! How have you used Christmas and Easter to effectively ministered to your community year round? Share below or on Twitter using #ymsidekick when you post.

* If you want to connect with Stan you can read his blog and listen to his podcast here or you can find him on Twitter. He is very active on social media so definitely hit him up if you have a question.

* XXXIII Apparel. Great deals on custom apparel that Stan does. There are some great designs here.

* Facebook Group! Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe or on Spotify to see what great things we talk about each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

* If you have an idea for a topic for a future podcast episode, email him here.

* Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop to get content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics).

What happens when a single student minister, with no strings attached, gets married? Furthermore, what happens when that now married student minister has a baby? How do you make the transition and what are some tips for new parents in ministry?

To discuss these tips and how to effectively balance being a good spouse, parent and minister at the same time is new father Cory Sullivan. He and I discuss tips for new parents in ministry as we share about what it is like being a new dad. I am a father of 4 and reflect on my time doing ministry as a new parent. Cory, who is a new father, reflects currently on his transition from doing ministry with no family to what it is like now and how he balances it all.

ACTION STEPS:

* What about you? What tips for new parents in ministry would you add based on your experience?  Share what you do with us below or on social media using the hashtag #ymsidekick to share. 

* Cory is a great resource and you can find him blogging here.  You can also follow him on Instagram here or Twitter here. He’s a great resource so hit him up and pick his brain.

* Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe or on Spotify to see what great things we talk about each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

* If you have an idea for a topic for a future podcast episode, email him here.

* Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop to get content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics).

Your student ministry is never going to reach everyone. That is the reality. But that doesn’t mean that you have to settle for creating a one-dimensional student ministry. You can and should do more.

To talk about this in greater detail. Christopher Wesley joins me on the podcast. He and I talk about a blog post he wrote, “Why A One Dimensional Ministry Hurts Your Parish” and discuss what student ministers can do to help create a multidimensional student ministry that not only reaches more teens but also impacts the Church as a whole.

ACTION STEPS:

* What do you think? How have you created a multidimensional student ministry? Share your thoughts and experiences on social media using the hashtag #ymsidekick to share. 

* If you want to connect with Chris, you can a few different ways.  He’s on Twitter, has an awesome blog with tons of great insights each week. In addition you can learn more about and sign up for the Marathon Youth Ministry University as well.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe to the podcast and see what cool things we do each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

Having strong engagement on social media is key in so many ways for true effectiveness. The more you can create engaging and consistent content, the better your online presence. And, the better your online presence, the better the chance you have at reaching more people for Christ. So what are some ways you can get more engagement from your social media posts?

To discuss this, I am joined by Natalie Plumb. She is the Director of Communications and Youth Ministry at St. Ann Catholic Church in Washington, DC. Not only is she a huge Washington Nationals fan and Penn State alum (two BIG pluses in my humble opinion) but she knows a thing or two about getting more engagement out of your social media posts.

Natalie wrote post on Marathon Youth Ministry’s site called, “Social Media Hacks From A Social Media Pro” and in today’s podcast we talk about that and how these hacks can help you get more engagement from your posts on social media regardless of the platform.

ACTION STEPS:

* Share your thoughts! How do you get more engagement from your social media posts? What do you do? Share your thoughts online using #ymsidekick when  you post.

* If you want to connect with Natalie you can read her website here. As you discover, Natalie is multi-talented ranging from writing to singing to dance to speaking. And she can help you in social media and communication. Visit her website but you can also connect with her on Instagram or Twitter.

* Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers.

* NEW UPDATE 2020 EDITION of “The Twitter Advantage”. Download your copy and discover 3 HUGE advantages Twitter offers for you and your ministry.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe or on Spotify to see what great things we talk about each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

* If you have an idea for a topic for a future podcast episode, email him here.

* Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop to get content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics).

As a Social Media Director it can be easy to feel like you have to jump on the next best thing all the time. Whether it is Periscope from years ago, IGTV or TikTok there is always going to be a new to chase after with social media. However, if you are able to create a social media team (which is possible with volunteers), you are able to not only explore what is new that is coming out but you can also empower and maximize the talents of others by creating quality evergreen content.

That is why Adam McLaughlin is back on the podcast today. Today we talk about quality of posts and how to divide up your social media team so you can reach unique audiences on the different social media channels.

ACTION STEPS:

* Share your thoughts! How do you empower and maximize your social media team as well as thoughtfully process new trends that are happening in social media? Share your thoughts online using #ymsidekick when  you post.

* If you want to connect with Adam you can read his blog here and gets some great FREE ebooks here. You can also find him on Twitter. He is very active on social media so definitely hit him up if you have a question. Also, check out Sermon Clipper, the new tool that helps Churches create videos that you can use throughout the week.

* Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers.

* NEW UPDATE 2020 EDITION of “The Twitter Advantage”. Download your copy and discover 3 HUGE advantages Twitter offers for you and your ministry.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe or on Spotify to see what great things we talk about each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

* If you have an idea for a topic for a future podcast episode, email him here.

* Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop to get content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics).

These days Church Online is something a lot of Churches are either doing or are contemplating doing. While it may be something that you may feel pressure to jump into, it is best to fully think it through to see if it works best for your Church. So how do you know whether or not to start Church Online for your particular Church?

Ben Stapley joins the podcast to talk about 2 questions you need to answer before you decide whether or not your Church can effectively start and do Church Online. Also, make sure you check out his website below to get the PDF mentioned in the episode.

ACTION STEPS:

* Share your thoughts! Are you doing Church Online? How did you decide whether or not your Church could effectively start Church Online? Share your stories on social media using #ymsidekick when you share.

* If you want to connect with Ben, check him out on Facebook or on Twitter. You can also check out his website as well. He is very active on social media so definitely him up if you have a question.

* Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers.

* NEW UPDATE 2020 EDITION of “The Twitter Advantage”. Download your copy and discover 3 HUGE advantages Twitter offers for you and your ministry.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe or on Spotify to see what great things we talk about each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

* If you have an idea for a topic for a future podcast episode, email here.

* Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop to get content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics).

 

Things change from generation to generation. People change from generation to generation. This is not new information. But as Gen Xers are now managing more and more millennials, those differences are very stark. So this begs the question, what are the most effective ways in how to manage millennials?

That is what fellow Gen Xer Ben Kerns and I talk about today. We currently manage millennials and while we reflect on our own leadership development and style we look at how do you motivate and mange millennials today.

ACTION STEPS:

* Share your thoughts! Do you manage millennials? Or, have you managed millennials before? What have you learned on how to manage millennials? Share your thoughts and insights below or on social media using the hashtag #ymsidekick.

* Connect with Ben: Ben is a great friend and a tremendous ministry resource. If you would like to connect with Ben, you can a few different ways.  He’s on Twitter as well as his blogs – Average Youth Ministry (more student ministry focused) and Benjamin Kerns (more leadership focused) with tons of great insights each week.

* Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers.

* NEW UPDATE 2020 EDITION of “The Twitter Advantage”. Download your copy and discover 3 HUGE advantages Twitter offers for you and your ministry.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe or on Spotify to see what great things we talk about each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

* If you have an idea for a topic for a future podcast episode, email here.

* Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop to get content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics).

In order to grow your student ministry, it has to be visible. How do you increase visibility of your student ministry, not just in your Church, but outside the Church as well?

Joining me on the podcast today is new father Cory Sullivan. He shares about what it is like being a new dad, but also about different ways to increase visibitly of your student ministry.

ACTION STEPS:

* What about you? How do you increase visibility of your student ministry? Share what you do with us below or on social media using the hashtag #ymsidekick to share. 

* Cory is a great resource and you can find him blogging here.  You can also follow him on Twitter here. He’s a great resource so hit him up and pick his brain.

* Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe or on Spotify to see what great things we talk about each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

* If you have an idea for a topic for a future podcast episode, email him here.

* Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop to get content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics).

2020 is a few months away but I am already looking forward to it. Why? Because the Orange Conference 2020 is happening April 29th – May 1st! I look forward to the conference every year as I believe it is one of the best conferences every year. This year’s conference theme is “A New Revolution for a New Generation”.

Joining me on the podcast today is Tom Bump. I have known Tom for quite a few years as he is an Orange Blogger and has had a nice career in Children’s Ministry. Tom is also a Ministry Coach and podcasts about Children’s Ministry related topics. Today Tom and I talk about the Orange Conference 2020, why we make going to this conference a priority each year and what we think will happening at this year’s conference.

ACTION STEPS:

* Are you going to the Orange Conference 2020? If so, why?  Share your thoughts on social media using the hashtag #ymsidekick to share. 

* You can register for the Orange Conference. Simply click this link.

* Tom is a great resource and you can find him podcasting here.  You can also follow him on Twitter here. He’s a great resource so hit him up and pick his brain.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe to the podcast and see what cool things we do each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.