Today’s episode is a bit unique as you get an inside look at one of the Coalition for Youth Ministry Leadership’s classes from this spring. Sid Koop dives into a deep conversation about self-esteem and self-denial and how our understanding of these things shape our ministry to students. 

Want to join dozens of other youth workers in the Coalition this year? You’ll be able to use the program towards a fully accredited Bachelor’s or completing an entire Master’s program, all while staying in your local youth ministry context. Check out youthworker.community/coalition to learn more about the Coalition!

Want to chat about youth ministry? Give us a shout by emailing [email protected]

Today’s episode is a bit unique as you get an inside look at one of the Coalition for Youth Ministry Leadership’s classes from this spring. Sid Koop dives into why caring for the next generation matters deeply to God directly from Scripture! 

Want to join dozens of other youth workers in the Coalition this year? You’ll be able to use the program towards a fully accredited Bachelor’s or completing an entire Master’s program, all while staying in your local youth ministry context. Check out youthworker.community/coalition to learn more about the Coalition!

Want to chat about youth ministry? Give us a shout by emailing [email protected]

As a volunteer youth leader, you may not necessarily know the people that have and continue to shape youth ministry through their books, teachings, and experience but today’s episode is an interview with one of the very best! Join Jeanne Mayo as she shares about how you can know if you’re really making an impact based on her 50+ years (and counting!) of ministry experience.

One of the ways to know if you’re really making an impact is to personally break the cycle of apathy and rejection (ie. students ghosting you, being generally uninterested, etc), by giving the opposite: acceptance and enthusiasm. Once you’re into the journey a bit, ask students one thing that really matters to them that you could pray about and follow up. Showing up intentionally has an eternal impact! 

You should totally get to know Jeanne more. Head to jeannemayo.com to access the Cadre, Coaching, and so many fantastic resources.

Want to chat about youth ministry? Give us a shout by emailing [email protected]

Your students are more tuned in to issues of justice than most generations before them. Oppression, exploitation, equality, and equity are part of many students’ vocabularies. But students can find it difficult to move from the talk to the walk. So while the TikTok videos they’ve seen might have sparked their interest, the truth is that you can help them take a step. And that step will be part of authentic discipleship, helping students understand and respond to the call of God.

But knowing what that step looks like can be overwhelming. That’s why today’s conversation will be so helpful for you. Listen in as Ty Hanlon, a local youth pastor, describes the journey he’s been on with his youth group in taking simple and clear steps towards justice. And then hear from Alicia Chinchilla, from Ally Global Foundation, as she helps us all understand more of the issues that are prevalent in our communities and world today.

Check out the following links mentioned in the episode for more information…

- Twelve Thousand Film & Discussion Guide 

- Lesson Plan for Human Trafficking in Canada

- Move For Freedom Information (happening July 8, 2023, there’s still time for you to join!)

- Move For Freedom Promo Video 

- Tim Keller's Article on Biblical Justice 

- Alpha Life on Purpose Series 

- Ally information

Want to chat about youth ministry? Give us a shout by emailing [email protected]

Whenever new research comes out, we try to make it meaningful and accessible for you to know if and how it affects your ministry. Join today’s conversation with Rick and Lindsay from the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada’s Center of Research on Church and Faith as they dive into one aspect of the brand new Parenting Faith Research Study. 

When asked how much Christian parents agreed with the following statement: “I want my children to make their own religious choices, without pressure from me,” 73% moderately or strongly agreed. What does that mean for the way parents are thinking about passing on faith to their kids? And what does it look like to partner with parents in the ways they’d like faith passed on? Modeling AND teaching faith is the way!

Check out ParentingFaith.ca for the research project (and other resources)

Want to chat about youth ministry? Give us a shout by emailing [email protected]

Teen culture can become more and more mysterious as you grow older. But no matter what stage of life you are in, there are some things you can do in order to understand more about the students in your group. Today’s conversation with Chandra Styles will give you some tips both on how to relate to teenagers and why it matters. She’ll also cover these two great questions you can use this week in your ministry…

1. What are you listening to these days? (Or what’s the vibe of your playlist?)

2. Is there anything on your social feed that makes you mad? 

Both questions will help you understand some of your students' values and the ways they are engaging with the world, God, themselves, and others. 

Want to chat about youth ministry? Give us a shout by emailing [email protected]

As much as we believe that every follower of Christ should be serving their community in some capacity there are times a volunteer leader needs to step down. If you’ve ever wondered how to tell if someone should step down or what your role could be if someone is in the process of doing so, this episode is for you! Join Rob from Briercrest and Jeremy as they share frameworks from decades of experience, both as volunteer leaders and point leaders. 

There are generally four main categories of why a volunteer leader needs to step down, and defining it will allow you to engage better. Is it an issue of:

Conflict, Chemistry, Competency, and/or Character?

From there, start with a conversation leading with curiosity! “Help me understand” is a powerful statement, especially when addressing observable behaviors. And remember - your goal is always to move towards restoration. 

Looking for a youth leader job description? Access that HERE.

Looking to be equipped for ministry? Briercrest has so many opportunities that you could access – no matter where you are at in your ministry journey. Check them out at Briercrest.ca

Want to chat about youth ministry? Give us a shout by emailing [email protected]

Your students won’t always be in your youth ministry. They’ll move on at some point. At the very least, they’ll all move on after graduating high school.

And the research is clear that any time a student experiences a transition in their life there’s a significant chance that faith might not make it through the transition. But that’s where you come in – you can help make sure that a student’s faith remains strong.

Join today’s conversation as Jeremy interviews Rolf Nanninga from Power to Change - Students and Theresa Catania from Rexdale Alliance and they share a number of ways that you can get in the corner of students and families during the transition seasons (even those not yet part of your ministry).

One great way to support your students that are graduating high school is by offering them access to more financial resources. In light of that, you should get them to check out the NEXT Steps awards, which are designed to encourage a healthy transition to post-secondary by offering funds and by facilitating connections to faith communities on campus.

You can also reach out to Rolf Nanninga anytime as he’d love to support you as you send your students to post-secondary. You can also subscribe to his P2C youth leaders' monthly actionable email stream. 

Here is the event Theresa mentioned: Faith in Transition to Post Secondary event from 2022.  Feel free to have your students and parents attend the event in 2023 either in person or virtually on May 12th 2023. Details and registration here. 

Youth Worker Community also has topical resources on helping your graduating students -- access those HERE.

Want to chat about youth ministry? Give us a shout by emailing [email protected]

Revelation is hard to understand at the best of times. It frustrates and fascinates many people with its imagery and apocalyptic tone. And unless you are a Bible scholar, it’s likely you feel intimidated when students ask questions about it. Join today’s conversation with Cody Machett, co-author of Revelation for the Rest of Us with Scot McKnight, as he talks about how to engage students with the book of Revelation.

Cody has so many good things to say, but you might discover in this conversation that the best thing you can do to teach your students about Revelation (or really any book of the Bible) is to model what it looks like to journey into Scripture in community. You don’t need all the answers. Just curiosity, a willingness to say “I don’t know,” and the ability to engage scripture as fully as possible, including asking the surprising question, “How does [this piece of Scripture] make you feel?”

Want to read more? Go check out Revelation for the Rest of Us: A Prophetic Call to Follow Jesus as a Dissident Disciple by Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

Want to chat more about revelation and/or youth ministry? Give us a shout by emailing [email protected]

The weekly rhythms of your relational ministry certainly helps disciple students. You don’t want to give up on that. Yet, there’s something special about the experiences that happen outside of the normal rhythms. It’s those special events, retreats, camps, or unique gatherings that so many students point back to as integral for their faith journey. Why is that? And how do you plan those kinds of experiences or events, the kind that transforms your students' faith? Join today’s conversation with AJ and Kaitlin from Briercrest as they offer the frameworks they use when planning and running large events for teenagers!

The first step to any great event is knowing yourself, your team, and your audience. Then, get brainstorming! 

The best brainstorming:

1. Allows time for preparation

2. Has a key prompt

3. Has set expectations beforehand 

4. Invites new voices to the table

5. Isn’t limited by your list

And finally some general tips and tricks:

• Over communicate

• Know your calendar

• Give clear details

• Clarify expectations

• Start earlier than you think you need to

Want to read more from AJ’s blog on mountain top experiences? https://www.briercrest.ca/blog/whyretreat

Want to check out more of what Briercrest and Youth Quake are up to? 

www.briercrest.ca

youthquake.ca 

Looking for a great series that you can use this week in your ministry? Check out YQ at Home 2023: youthquake.ca/athome

And lastly, you should take your students to this year’s Youth Quake! www.youthquake.ca/registration

Want to chat about youth ministry? Give us a shout by emailing [email protected]