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What makes a sermon/teaching moment great?

Like for serious though? More than just relaying insight, feeling clever, or speaking with passion, what makes a sermon or teaching moment great?

In this episode of Zac and Chad bound their way through what makes a great communicator. Biblically sound, yes! Quick to the Gospel message, of course! But what about the other bits that folks either reject, forget, or overlook?

Seriously, what grows a communicator-teacher-preacher beyond just the importance of the message to a connectedness with their receiving audience/group?

Zac and Chad talk  about why youth ministry needs more self-aware communicators.  For most the pain is too great, but for those who are willing to receive great feedback there is so much potential!

Chad and Zac are here to encourage you to dig deep into your own growth, spiritual formation, and willingness to receive feedback to uncover what makes you uniquely gifted as a communicator.

The best Gospel communicators are Biblically sound and authentic and true in their delivery.

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Why aren't more parents coming to your parent meetings?

But for real tho...

This episode is a how to plan, run, hook, and pop off the next time you are working to get your youth ministry parents/guardians together in one room. It's also about birthday parties.

For this episode Chad, Parent Ministry Specialist, spills the tea on what are the most important elements of a parent ministry meeting.

HOOK- What's the felt need of the meeting? Is it even right to call it a meeting

PROMISE- What are we going to get when we get there? People don't want to sign up in the dark for another meeting when they are already double booked?

**If you don't tell them what might happen they will probably assume the worst, like it's boring? or they can just find out from somebody else.**

CONNECTION- The one thing an email cannot do is deliver on connection. The reason to be at a meeting/event/symposium/party is for the connection. You will miss something if you are not here. It's a chance to be seen, heard, or have a need met. Otherwise it's just a gathering to communicate information.

TIMING- Does this meeting/party/event exist additionally or can you maximize the time and frequency you are asking them to meet with you?

LAUNCH- Don't read the next few months notes to them, give them away and create the channels of where they can learn more about what's next.

But seriously, what did we miss what would you add? Let us know.

Chad and Zac are here to encourage you to enjoy the ways in which our work in youth ministry matters. Parent meetings are one of the 7 most important things you can and should be doing in a regular way.


Email Chad about Cupcakes & Connect
[email protected]

Try Parent Partner For 1 Month Free:
https://www.lifeway.com/parentpartner
Use code "Parent2022" to check it out.

Follow up with our team!
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Greatest.Of.All.Time. or GOAT as the kids would say...

This is another episode in a (random but timely) series of episodes in which Chad and Zac talk about ministry things that are "GOATED."

So for this episode of Greatest Of All Times, let's ask what is your idea of a GOAT Volunteer... wait, don't say their name out loud!

But seriously, what moves a volunteer from the middle of the pack to the top of the charts? Is it an innate gifting? Coached skill? Or is it just unbounded enthusiasm?

Zac and Chad talk also about why youth ministry leaders need great volunteers and who they think are the greatest for your team (secret time... it's not just one person!).

So how who is your GOAT and have you recruited them or do you already have them?

Chad and Zac are here to encourage you to enjoy the ways in which our work in youth ministry matters. So much starts in the ways in which we perceive what we get to do with the time we have been given.

Follow up with our team!
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New. The feeling of the New New.

This episode is for all of those who have ever felt new at church, youth group, student ministry...

This may be you right now, or when you were a teenager, but this episode is especially for those who have NOT been new in a LOOOONNNGGG time.

There is a whole set of feelings, experiences, and unguided expectations when you are walking up new to a church building, a small group circle, or a youth ministry activity. If we want to connect with new folks, we need to take a walk in their shoes.

Zac and Chad talk also about why youth ministry leaders need to see it from the other side. Often times we are asking students to invite new friends, or we are hoping to connect with new families but we are unsure of how all that new really feels. 

So when was the last time you were new?

Looking for a resource that is NEW and designed to help you connect with NEW students? Check out HyFi!

https://myhyfi.com/

Chad and Zac are here to encourage you in not just the work but the ways in which we minister faithfully!

Follow up with our team!
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Greatest.Of.All.Time. or GOAT as the kids would say...

This is the first in a (random) series of episodes in which Chad and Zac talk about ministry things that are "GOATED"

So for this episode of Greatest Of All Times, let's start with your ideal work day.

What's the best way you could spend a day doing the work you were called to do?

Zac and Chad talk also about why youth ministry leaders need a vision of what work could  and should look like because otherwise we are just spinning our wheels. Chad is loading up a day with time creating and Zac conversing.

So how would you best spend your perfect, most "goat"-able work day?

Chad and Zac are here to encourage you to enjoy the ways in which our work in youth ministry matters. So much starts in the ways in which we perceive what we get to do with the time we have been given.

Follow up with our team!
https://studentministry.lifeway.com/

Join us for a preaching event like no other!
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Don't believe the lie. Numbers do matter, we just need better ones! 2022 was a year of great consistency and we want to share what we have learned about healthy and better numbers for all of us! 


It's another episode of Youth Ministry Booster with Chad Higgins and Zac Workun. In this episode they talk about why numbers actually do matter.

They talk about why youth ministry feels like it needs more numbers, and how to find better ones. They discuss importance of getting below the surface of what the numbers mean and what you are really looking to track if you want a healthy youth ministry.

They are here to encourage you to delve a little deeper into what you desire when you say grow and if you have thought it down all the way to the most basic unit.

Tracking - what's the number you are recording.
Consistency- what's the interval you are measuring.
Discipline- what's the habit that is forming.
Growth- what's the goal for the tracking.

Follow up with our team!
https://studentministry.lifeway.com/

Join us for a preaching event like no other!
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What's the most important thing you could do in the next few weeks for your own health? For your ministry? 

We think we have an idea that might serve as a really healthy new year resolution, resolve? commitment? 

Hey YM friends we are excited to be back for our 8th year and in 2023, our collective 23 year, the GOAT year let's talk about a few important things in a few different ways. 

This year we are going to circle back to 3-4 big ideas that we believe will help make this the best and most fulfilling year yet. 

In this episode Zac and Chad talk about the importance of building trust above all else in how we work, what do we, and how we relate honorably in our church, leadership teams, and with our students. 

If you have some added tips or insights then please reach out via Instagram @youthministrybooster or email [email protected] 

Love you youth ministry friend, health is important in seasons of busy and we hope you find it amongst friends. 

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Merry Christmas! Hey YM friend & family, whether you are in finishing up this year in the office or hitting the road, or relaxing at home we hope you enjoy this episode from our team to you.  

In this episode Zac and Chad talk about Christmas traditions, the season, and what healthy youth ministers need for the end/beginning of this year. 

We are spending this episode talking about what we have learned and hope you will practice in the last few weeks of the year. 

If you are feeling the stress of the season or an impending tough choice please reach out. You are not alone. 

Reach out via Instagram @youthministrybooster or email [email protected] 

Love you youth ministry friend, health is important in seasons of busy and we hope you find it amongst friends. 

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What is healthy ministry? What are the rules that help define a healthy ministry as understood by health-seeking ministers? For us one of the most important is playing the long game (lifelong discipleship) in a short season (3-6 years at best).

In this episode Zac and Chad talk through one of the 7 Youth Ministry Booster House Rules that matter the most towards shaping our community and defining the tone and language for our conversations and goals.

For review here is the full 7:

Booster House Rules

• care over compare 
• person before pastor 
• work hard, rest hard
• questions not comments 
• never do ministry alone 
• play the long game (it's only a short season)
• fill, then serve 

We are spending this episode talking about the importance of playing the long game in our ministry work. This means thinking about today a little differently, planning next year a little differently, and reflecting on the importance of your work a little more broadly than just week to week.

If you are feeling the stress of a difficult season or an impending tough choice. Reach out via Instagram @youthministrybooster or email [email protected]

Love you youth ministry friend, health can be defined, sought, and fought for, if you are willing to do the good work and find the good rest.

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What about D-Now? Or Winter WKND?  Campference?  Or Big Retreat Thing?

No matter what you call your winter-spring thing, it's almost here, and we want to help you have the energy you need around your big upcoming D-now event (or winter camp, or WKND, or whatever... you get it.)

In this episode Zac and Chad chat about what's so great about Winter time events and why the planning and vision casting is more important than almost any other event you do.

Youth Ministry Math Basics

• 2:11 Adult To Student Safety Ration
• 5:1 Mentors To Students Discipleship Ratio
•  A1.8 slices of pizza per person
• 7x communications (Email, Post, Story, Text, Call, Stage, BulletinBoard/Lobby)
• At least 1 month of prep and planning for each one day of your event. 

It's true if you are planning a winter weekend that spans 3 days in February, you should already be in deep on planning the small details and preparing your leaders, and promoting it with your students. 

But if you are not quite there yet, then take a listen and assess the plans you were hoping to make with us! 

Not Alone
If you are feeling the stress of a tiring fall  or just generally rundown. Reach out. Seriously message us via Instagram @youthministrybooster or email [email protected]

Love you youth ministry friend, health can be defined, sought, and fought for, if you will. 

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