What if this summer became the most spiritually significant season for the young adults you lead? In this episode of youngadults.today, Josiah and Micah unpack 15 practical, creative, and low-pressure ideas to help you reach, disciple, and mobilize young adults in your church and community. From lake days and rooftop hangs to city impact projects, financial literacy nights, and leadership development, this conversation will give you vision, language, and plug-and-play ideas for the next 100 days of summer.

In this special podcast mashup between youngadults.today and the Shepherd Hearted Leadership podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Nate Ruch of Emmanuel Christian Center to talk about future-ready leadership, legacy, and young adult ministry.

From Hawk Nelson to Rock Bottom & Back: Jason Dunn on Prodigals, Deconstruction, and Starting Over

Backyard Nights: How a Once-a-Month Gathering Is Reaching Young Adults in Oklahoma In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Josh and Blake, the leaders of Backyard Nights—a once-a-month worship gathering for young adults in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. They unpack why young adult ministry is so vital in 2026, how Backyard Nights started as a side project and grew into a city-wide movement, and what they’re learning about community, accountability, and empowering volunteers to use their “5–9” to build God’s kingdom.

From Status Quo to Curated Experiences: Forming Gritty Young Leaders with North Central University President Darnell Williams

In this episode of the Young Adults Today Podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Derek Wile, Next Gen Associate Pastor at Faith Church in South Carolina. Derek shares his journey from Minnesota to South Carolina, how God led him into young adult ministry, and how his church is reaching young adults across nine locations with a sustainable, scalable model.

In this episode of the Young Adults Today podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down with Brennan Schmidt, Young Adults Pastor at GracePoint Church in Brookings, South Dakota, and leader of Oasis, a weekly ministry gathering 700+ young adults across two Sunday night services.

Brennan unpacks the “secret sauce” behind sustaining and scaling young adult ministry in the local church over decades—not as a side program, but as a fully integrated expression of the church’s mission. From teaching calendars and leadership pipelines to navigating transient college populations and keeping alignment with senior leadership, this conversation is a masterclass for pastors and leaders who want to reach the next generation in a healthy, sustainable way.

In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Dan LaCella from Ohio to talk about why young adult ministry is not optional for the local church anymore.

Dan shares:

If you’re a pastor, young adult leader, or a twenty-something wondering where you fit in God’s mission, this conversation will fuel your faith and give you practical vision for the future.

In this episode of the Young Adults Today podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down once again with Pastor Danny Rangel from BT Young Adults in McAllen, Texas. Danny shares a powerful three–year recap of BT Young Adults—from humble beginnings after the pandemic to campus worship nights, spontaneous baptisms, and record-breaking Tuesday gatherings.

Spark: Awakening Courageous Creativity & Preparing for Revival with Al Gordon In this episode of the Young Adults Today Podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down (via Zoom to London) with Al Gordon—pastor of SAINT Church in East London and author of Spark. Al shares how planting a church on “Murder Mile,” preaching the funeral of a murdered teenager, and then encountering a Netflix documentary became a turning point in his understanding of creativity as a spiritual act. You’ll hear about: Why every person is creative (and why we lose it) How boredom can become the birthplace of brilliance Why the church should be a homeland for creativity and entrepreneurship The signs of a pre‑revival moment among young adults in London Five keys to unlocking courageous creativity in your life and ministry If you’re a young adult, a ministry leader, or anyone who feels a holy burden for this generation, this conversation will challenge you to dream again, think bigger, and take new risks with the Holy Spirit.