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The hype of camp is fading. The smell of leftover sunscreen and emotional debriefs still lingers. But now it’s time to face the real ministry question: What’s next? In this episode, Chad and Zac unpack the sneaky shift from summer chaos to fall calendars, and how to survive the mid-summer mental fog without quitting or creating a whole new youth group (again).

July can be a peculiar time in youth ministry. The adrenaline of summer events still lingers while the pressure of fall kickoff looms on the horizon. Some of us respond by mentally checking out ("laid out on the carpet," as Chad puts it), while others frantically start dreaming up complete ministry overhauls. Both responses stem from the same reality: seasonal transitions are hard, and our brains don't always cooperate.

Chad shares his strategy of scheduling a dedicated "dream planning day"—a physical and mental reset that helps him formally shift from summer to fall mode. This intentional transition, often accompanied by a change in location, creates space for creativity to return. Meanwhile, Zach offers the complementary approach of completely stepping away through hobbies, physical activities, or creative pursuits that engage different parts of the brain.

Perhaps most powerfully, let's talk about  "Tuesday faith," learning to find meaning and purpose in the ordinary moments of ministry between the mountain-tops of camp experiences and the valleys of crisis. As Chad notes, "Not all flowers grow year-round," a reminder that seasons of apparent stagnation are natural and necessary parts of ministry.

🛠️ IN THIS EPISODE:

• 🌀 Mid-Summer Drift: Why it’s hard to go from bonfires to budget meetings.
• 😩 Two Ministry Mood Swings: Burnout Brian vs. Overhaul Olivia.
• 🌳 Change Your Place, Change Your Pace: A new spot might mean new ideas.
• 🏃‍♂️ Hobbies, Health, & Holy Distractions: Stepping away might be the secret to stepping forward.
• 📆 Why “Tuesday” Faithfulness > Friday Night Lights: Embracing the unglamorous middle.
• 🧠 Ministry Dopamine Detox: Recognize when your body is addicted to “big events only.”
• 🧍‍♂️ Be Honest, Not Isolated: The power of having someone to call out your spiral.
• 🔍 Know Thy Patterns: The better you understand your own transition style, the better you lead through it.

This episode is for the youth worker staring at a whiteboard wondering if it’s too early to plan the fall kickoff or too late to nap until Christmas. (It’s not. Just… plan a little, nap a little.)

If you're currently navigating the summer-to-fall transition in your ministry, this episode offers both practical strategies and the reassurance that you're not alone. We're all still learning—even after decades in ministry—how to work effectively through the rhythm of seasons.

Want to connect with a community of youth workers who understand these challenges? Check out Youth Ministry Booster or reach out directly to [email protected] or [email protected] to learn more about how we can support you in your ministry journey.

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The emotional marathon of summer camp affects every youth minister differently. Whether you're riding high on spiritual victories, nursing wounds from what felt like failure, or simply exhausted beyond words, this episode offers genuine encouragement for wherever you find yourself.

Zach and Chad dive into their contrasting pre-camp experiences - one fueled by caffeine-like excitement, the other weighed down by planning anxiety. They share practical wisdom about externalizing your plans (either in meticulously organized binders or digital systems) to create both present peace and future efficiency.

Camp Brain, Binder Blues, & the Post-Camp Fog

It's that time of year—when youth pastors everywhere go from pre-camp jitters to post-camp exhaustion in just five sleepless days! In this episode, Chad and Zac take you on the emotional rollercoaster known as Summer Camp Season. Buckle up, it's a wild ride full of excitement, duct tape, and probably at least one crying senior guy.

🛠️ IN THIS EPISODE:

• 😅 Pre-Camp Vibes: Why some of us are Camp Keeners and others are... Camp Avoiders.
• 📓 Binder or iPad?: Getting organized (yes, your spreadsheets can be holy).
• 🧠 Document the Madness: Future you will thank you for writing it down now.
• 🙏 The Power of Presence: How to be spiritually available between cabin wars and snack bar runs.
• 🛏️ The Three Faces of Post-Camp: Euphoria, Disappointment, and “Please let me sleep forever.”
• 📋 Wrap It Up, Don’t Leave It Hanging: Final reports > mental “I’ll do it next week.”
• 🌿 True Rest: How not to burn out your soul on the altar of “just one more game.”
• 🗣️ Multiple Takes Matter: Debriefing with your team so the loudest voice isn’t the only voice.

This is the Summer Camp Survival Guide your soul needed. It's honest, a little chaotic, and fully soaked in sunscreen and sanctification.

Whether you're preparing for camp, in the thick of it, or recovering from it, this episode provides the encouragement that you're not alone in this emotional journey. 

Share your camp stories with us on social media or email us at [email protected]!

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Kate Downing joins us to discuss her new Bible study "Fighting With Fear" and shares profound insights about the theological significance of fear in ministry leadership and decision-making.

• Fear itself isn't bad—we were designed to fear, but the object of our fear matters
• Ministry decisions often trigger fears about consequences and others' opinions
• The "brain dump" technique helps sort problems into what you can and cannot control
• Decision fatigue plagues ministry leaders who try to reinvent the wheel annually
• Document everything to avoid recreating the same work year after year
• Christian leadership requires balancing fear-fueled paralysis with reckless fearlessness
• Scripture mentions the fear of God over 200 times as our proper orientation
• Leaders should filter decisions through the question: "Does this honor and obey God?"
• Student anxiety often reveals deeper theological misconceptions about God's character
• Ministry in 2025 should focus on equipping students as ministers, not just recipients

Check out "Fighting With Fear: Becoming Fearfully Unafraid" by Kate Downing, available now wherever books are sold. The six-session Bible study for teens includes video access and additional resources.

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Youth Ministry.. it ain't what it used to be! 

The digital revolution has transformed youth ministry into uncharted territory, creating what seasoned experts are calling "a perfect storm" of challenges for today's teenagers. At the heart of this storm lies the smartphone – a device that has fundamentally altered how adolescents experience relationships, rest, and reality itself.

"The culture is catechizing our kids 24-7 through these devices," -Walt Mueller

Special Guest Alert: Walt Mueller of CPYU

There is some reason to raise alarms: trends like teens sleeping with phones, FaceTiming until they pass out, and even gambling online during school lunch periods. This constant digital immersion directly contributes to the sleep deprivation fueling unprecedented anxiety levels among young people. Medical experts emphasize that teenagers need approximately nine hours of uninterrupted sleep for healthy development, yet notifications and digital dependencies make this virtually impossible for many.

In the wake of Jonathan Haidt's must-read book "The Anxious Generation"  Zac and Walt discuss how parents increasingly use their children as "status objects" for social media validation, creating crushing pressure that transforms ordinary activities into high-stakes performance arenas. Youth workers must respond with a threefold approach: prophetic influence (speaking God's truth to cultural realities), preventive influence (building appropriate guardrails), and redemptive influence (offering grace when mistakes inevitably occur). Rather than merely aiming for behavioral compliance, effective youth ministry nurtures heart transformation through balanced spiritual formation.

Today's youth ministry leaders function as cross-cultural missionaries who must be deeply grounded in Scripture while simultaneously understanding the complex digital landscape teens navigate. By creating spaces where adolescents can experience genuine community, rest, and spiritual formation apart from screens, youth ministry offers what many teenagers desperately need but rarely experience elsewhere. 

Subscribe to the podcast to hear more conversations with ministry leaders who are reimagining how we disciple the next generation in an age of digital distraction and spiritual hunger.

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If you're experiencing ministry burnout or feeling your passion fading, establish accountability with someone who knows you well enough to speak truth when you're drifting, and intentionally surround yourself with those newer to ministry who bring fresh perspective and enthusiasm.

SPECIAL GUEST ALERT: Jameson Barker

Veteran youth minister Jameson Barker shares how he maintains ministry passion after two decades of service by shifting from complacency to expectancy. 

Here's some practical strategies for staying spiritually engaged when ministry routines become all too familiar.

• Fighting complacency after 20+ years in youth ministry
• How routines and familiarity can lead to spiritual disengagement
• Creating a mindset of expectancy through intentional daily practices
• Recognizing warning signs when your heart begins to drift
• The importance of staying present during ministry moments
• Creating unexpected moments of joy and connection for your team
• Building accountability relationships with people who know you well
• Surrounding yourself with younger staff to maintain freshness and enthusiasm
• Practical ways to approach familiar events with renewed anticipation

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What's it like to be new? Feel like you are the only one? 

Welp you are not! There is a growing trend of folks leading youth ministry that are 1. new to the role 2. home grown from the church where they attend. In this episode we learn firsthand all about it! 

Join us for an eye-opening discussion about the journey into youth ministry with Miguel Adesokan, who shares his unique experiences as he transitions from volunteer to staff. 

This timely episode brings to light not only the challenges faced by those new to the ministry but also the incredible opportunities to make meaningful connections and create a thriving youth community.

This conversation highlights the vital connections, challenges, and opportunities within the youth ministry landscape.

• Journey from volunteer to staff 
• Unique opportunities in youth ministry 
• The importance of communication and administration care 
• Empowering dream teamers and creating leaders 
• Balancing responsibilities and personal care 
• Wisdom for newcomers in ministry 

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What happens when a vibrant young leader embraces his calling in the unpredictable setting of youth ministry?

Special Guest Alert: Mariano Sarabia

This episode explores the path of youth ministry through the experience of Mariano, who shares his calling, challenges, and successes in empowering young leaders. The importance of humility, prayer, and authentic relationships in ministry are emphasized throughout the conversation, along with practical advice to engage and disciple the next generation.

• Mariano's journey into youth ministry through personal tragedy and faith 
• The essential qualities of humility and teachability for young leaders 
• Building strong relationships with senior pastors and other colleagues 
• Engaging young adults in meaningful conversations about ministry 
• The powerful role of prayer in cultivating future leaders 
• Strategies for effectively preaching to the next generation 
• Fostering a culture of support and vulnerability in ministry

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Could You Survive the 1800s?  The password is Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Could you hack it in the 1800s armed only with modern knowledge? Wild question, right? 

Zac and Chad wrote a book! 

This episode kicks off with some fun, lighthearted speculation before we take a deep dive into childhood nostalgia—Dr. Seuss, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and how those early books shaped our love for reading. But this isn't just a trip down memory lane; it’s a special occasion. Chad is back on the Youth Ministry Booster podcast, and we’re celebrating the upcoming release of our new book, Define the Relationship, now available for pre-order!

Beyond the laughs and throwback stories (including why Clifford wasn’t just a dog in our childhood imaginations), we shift gears into something every youth leader needs to hear: the power of partnering with parents. We’ve spent years researching, listening to over a thousand church-going parents, and crafting a framework that helps youth pastors and parents get on the same page. Ministry isn’t just about programming—it’s about creating a culture of discipleship that starts in the home. We break down practical next steps, a six-month plan for parent ministry, and why youth ministries should function as spiritual centers in today’s chaotic world.

As we wrap up, we tackle one of the biggest shifts needed in youth ministry today: moving from event-based models to deep, relational discipleship. It’s a challenge, but it’s necessary for long-term impact. And of course, we can’t end without some excitement—Define the Relationship is here! We’d love for you to read it, rate it, and review it. Your feedback fuels the future of these conversations, and who knows? Maybe some special guests will join us next time.

So grab your headphones, hit play, and let’s dive in! And if you’ve got thoughts, hit us up—we love hearing from you.

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Youth ministry is relational work. The work isn't not quality time but quality time. Relationships that are growing are resilient. 

🚨SPECIAL GUEST ALERT 
Daniel Kim
[email protected]
Daniel__Tokyo

Youth ministry flourishes when leaders invest in relationships, mentorship, and personal growth. In this episode of the Youth Ministry Booster Podcast, we sit down with a young pastor Daniel Kim navigating cultural challenges and discovering how mentorship shapes resilient leaders. Whether you're a seasoned youth minister or just starting, this conversation will equip you with insights to deepen connections and lead with impact.

🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why mentorship is the backbone of effective youth ministry
✅ How strong relationships create lasting faith in students
✅ Personal growth and embracing faith through leadership challenges
✅ Lessons from Chicago’s diverse ministry landscape
✅ The unique challenges faced by international youth ministers
✅ Practical ways to build community and develop future leaders

Join us as we explore how mentorship fuels leadership, strengthens ministry, and helps you navigate the complexities of youth ministry with resilience and purpose.

🔔 Subscribe now and don't miss a weekly drop!

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This episode explores the significance of building authentic relationships in youth ministry while challenging traditional metrics of success. T-doe shares his personal experiences, from grassroots initiatives like Fast Food Valentine's to creating psychological safety for young people, emphasizing the impact of community and connection in nurturing today's youth. 

• The origin of the nickname "T-doe" and its impact on personal identity 
• Importance of relationships in youth ministry and mentoring 
• Fast Food Valentine's as a tradition of kindness 
• Measuring success in youth ministry beyond attendance 
• Creating a psychologically safe environment for youth sharing 
• Tracking relationships for more meaningful engagement 
• The role of community and support among youth leaders 
• Check out our friends at Notebird, a tool for managing and making the most of relationships in youth ministry

🔖🐦 Notebird special! 🔖🐦
Hey podcast listeners Taylor and team wanted to offer you a special promotion! Check it out here: https://www.notebird.app/booster

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