In this episode of youngadults.today, Josiah and Micah sit down with David Wright, College Pastor at Life.Church Stillwater, to unpack how their Late Night college service is turning college students from spiritual consumers into spiritual contributors.

David shares the story behind Late Night, why Sunday night church for college students works in a college town, how they retain and develop student leaders, and why simple, repeatable systems and clear discipleship pathways are critical for young adult ministry.

If you’re dreaming about reaching college students or launching a young adult ministry in your context, this conversation will give you both vision and practical handles.

In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Chris Hilken—young adult pastor, widowed single dad of five, and lead pastor at College Avenue Baptist in San Diego.

Chris unpacks:

This conversation is raw, practical, and deeply hopeful for anyone leading or dreaming about young adult ministry.

In this episode of YoungAdults.Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Sam Hernandez, Young Adults Pastor at Elevation Church, to unpack how Elevation is reaching what many call “the loneliest generation.”

Sam shares the journey of building a multi-site young adult ministry across 20+ locations through worship nights (Chapel), YA nights, e-groups, clubs, and outreach. She talks candidly about the tension between image management and spiritual intimacy, the power of doing it doubting, and why authentic social media is one of the most strategic tools in young adult ministry today.

Whether you’re just trying to get a handful of young adults together or scaling across multiple campuses, this conversation is packed with practical handles, social strategy, and soul-level encouragement.

Intimacy vs. Isolation: Young Adults, Loneliness, and Real Community

Why are so many young adults feeling lonely, anxious, and burned out in the most “connected” generation ever? In this episode of the Young Adults Today Podcast, Josiah sits down with Christian counselor Mike Kerstetter to talk about the friendship crisis, the loss of third spaces, and the mental health warning lights that leaders and young adults can’t afford to ignore.

They unpack how intimacy vs. isolation shapes young adulthood, why AI can’t replace real relationships, how pastors and leaders can spot burnout before the “engine blows,” and why slowing down might be the most spiritual thing you do this year. This conversation is packed with language you can use with your team, your church, and your small group.

In this episode of youngadults.today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Tori Farina, founder of Rev Fresh and creator of the new RevStream cohort, to talk about the real financial pressure pastors are facing in 2026—and how ethical, well-designed side hustles can help close the gap without compromising the call.

Tori shares the powerful story behind Rev Fresh (think: Make-A-Wish for pastors), how a three–week stay in a $4M beachfront home changed his family’s life, and why he now spends his energy refreshing ministry leaders with sabbaticals, medical crisis support, and financial help.

You’ll hear honest conversation about pastor compensation, side hustles, conflict of interest, family rhythms, and calling—plus practical side hustle ideas and a sneak peek into the RevStream beta cohort that will help pastors earn about $866/month in roughly 10 hours a week.

If you’re a pastor, young adult in ministry, or someone who wants to bless spiritual leaders, this conversation will stretch your thinking and give you concrete next steps.

Young adults aren’t bored with the Bible… they’re bored with shallow expressions of it. In this episode of the Young Adults Today podcast, Josiah and Micah unpack the 7 biggest trends shaping young adult ministry in 2026– and what they mean for your church, campus, and calling.

🔍 In this episode, we cover:

📥 Download the full report – The State of Young Adult Ministry (2026)

Is your young adult ministry built on personality—or on the person of Jesus?

In this masterclass conversation, Kylan Perry from The Porch at Watermark Church (Dallas, TX) joins Josiah & Micah to unpack what makes young adult ministry uniquely powerful, how The Porch has stayed resilient beyond any one leader, and why the next generation is spiritually “appetite + aptitude” on fire.

If you’re launching, relaunching, or leading young adults, this episode is packed with language, frameworks, and practical systems you can apply this week.

More about us: www.youngadults.today

What do you do when God speaks a powerful call over your life… and the next day your dad suddenly dies?

Does marketing really matter for churches and young adult ministries? In 2026, the answer is a loud yes—if you want to actually reach Gen Z and young adults.

In this episode, Josiah Kennealy sits down with Dillon Smith (CMO.Church, former marketing lead for the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast & Life.Church Open Network, and former content manager for Carey Nieuwhof) for a masterclass in church communications, digital outreach, and AI.

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.