Youth Ministry for the Longer Haul Podcast

Let’s be honest the culture has shifted drastically.  We can no longer assume that the teens who come into our ministry have an understanding of even the basics of the Christian faith.  This drastically changes how we minister to youth.

So what are the keys to reaching these post-christian students in our youth ministries?

In this episode Kolby Milton and I tackle this and more.  In this interview you’ll learn the things you need to do, evaluate and consider how to reach these students in your community.

Links mentioned:

YouthMinistryMedia.com

Resources mentioned in this Podcast:

Youth Ministry in a Post-Christian World: A Hopeful Wakeup Call by Brock Morgan

Black Nomatic Planner- Agenda, Whiteboard, Organizer, and Daily Planner

In this particular episode, you will learn:

HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS!

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any future episodes, and please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.

Also, please leave an honest review for The Longer Haul Youth Ministry Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They help others know the value of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

If you like what you find at The Longer Haul.  Consider supporting it to provide even more for as little as a $1 per month…and get some cool rewards.

Support the Show

If you stay in youth ministry long enough you will face a season of a downturn in your youth ministry numbers.  Knowing how to push through this and strengthen your ministry in light of it is essential.  If though you manage this well you can actually come out stronger in the end having gone through this.

Managing this well helps keep you from being discouraged, helps you communicate what success really is for your ministry, and helps you strengthen those within your ministry.  It isn’t a matter of if this will happen, rather it is one of when it will happen.

In this episode Paul Turner and I tackle this and more.  In this interview you’ll learn the things you need to do, evaluate and consider you work your way through and lead through a downturn in your youth ministry numbers.

Links mentioned:

DiscipleProject.net

Resources mentioned in this Podcast:

Evernote

Evernote Essentials

TLH014: Seasons in Youth Ministry

In this particular episode, you will learn:

HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS!

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any future episodes, and please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.

Also, please leave an honest review for The Longer Haul Youth Ministry Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

If you like what you find at The Longer Haul.  Consider supporting it to provide even more for as little as a $1 per month…and get some cool rewards.

Support the Show

Bringing in a guest speaker for you youth can be a great thing…or it can go terribly wrong.  So what are the secrets to a great guest speaker?

In this episode Chase Snyder and I tackle this and more.  The secrets to a guest speaker aren’t complicated, but they are really important.  In this interview you’ll learn the things you need to do, ask, and consider BEFORE you bring them in so you can avoid disaster and make sure you bring in a great guest speaker.

Links mentioned:

MinistryBubble.com

Resources mentioned in this Podcast:

Evernote

Evernote Essentials

Slack

Trello

Fuge Camps

Student Life

In this particular episode, you will learn:

HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS!

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any future episodes, and please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.

Also, please leave an honest review for The Longer Haul Youth Ministry Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

If you like what you find at The Longer Haul.  Consider supporting it to provide even more for as little as a $1 per month…and get some cool rewards.

Support the Show

What happens when you choose stay in Youth Ministry when you could leave?  It won’t take long serving in Youth Ministry before you will hit a point where you feel you could–or should–leave the position you’re in.  Choosing to stay in Youth Ministry, and choosing to stay in your position in Youth Ministry can be really difficult.

I’ve written about why you should stay, and why most will leave, but today you’ll hear first hand what happens when choosing to stay in Youth Ministry.  It certainly isn’t easy, but the payoffs can be HUGE.

So, what happens when you stay?

Today, Mike Kaczorowski, a listener and reader of the Longer Haul shares his “stay story” and what staying has done for his ministry.  You’ll hear how he ended up serving where he is, the opportunity he had to leave, why he stayed, and what staying has done for his ministry.

So, if you’re struggling with whether or not to stay, listen to Mike’s story.  I know you’ll find it encouraging.

Links mentioned:

TLH014: Seasons in Youth Ministry

3 Reasons You Should Stay in Your Current Youth Ministry Position

Why Youth Pastors Leave Every 2-3 Years

TLH031: When Youth Pastors Leave Too Often

Resources mentioned in this Podcast:

Sustainable Youth Ministry by Mark Devries

In this particular episode, you will learn:

Show Sponsor:

Audible.com – Grab a free 30 trial and free download of any of the 250,000+ books available on Audible

HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS!

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.

Also, please leave an honest review for The Longer Haul Youth Ministry Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

Support the Show

Fighting pornography addiction is a battle not to be taken lightly.  If you’re in ministry it definitely affects you.  Whether in the lives of the teens you serve, their families, or maybe you’re own personal struggle.

It is in many cases the BIG secret that seems all too present in the lives of those we serve, and many times in those that are serving.  That there is no question that it is an epidemic.

The days of having to go look for pornography are long gone making fighting pornography addiction even more difficult.  With so many carrying around a smartphone with access to the interwebs and all of its perils we must guard our hearts and minds.

But, how do we fight pornography addiction?  How can one gain victory over it?

Today, David Martin, with I Am Second is back on the show to share his own personal journey as well as some helpful tips and resources with fighting pornography addiction.

So, if you’re fighting pornography addiction personally, or just helping those you serve, this episode is for you.  Give it a listen for some great practical helps on fighting pornography addiction within your youth ministry and in your own life personally.

Links mentioned:

TLH032: Helping Youth Share the Gospel at School

@realdavidmartin

I Am Second

I Am Second – Students

Resources mentioned in this Podcast:

OpenDNS

xxxchurch.com

Convent Eyes – Get one month free

In this particular episode, you will learn:

Show Sponsor:

Audible.com – Grab a free 30 trial and free download of any of the 250,000+ books available on Audible

HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS!

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.

Also, please leave an honest review for The Longer Haul Youth Ministry Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

Support the Show

In ministry we are constantly finding ourselves ministering to many different types of people.  This seems especially true in youth ministry.

One group that is often lost in the mix are introverts.  Ministering to introverts brings a unique set of challenges.  Doing so effectively requires intentionality and thoughtfulness in every aspect of our ministries.

Added to this the fact that many youth pastors are closet introverts who feel the pressure to be an extrovert, and suddenly we find ourselves conflicted ourselves.  Everything around us seems to be aimed at and geared toward the extrovert making ministering to introverts even more difficult.

So how do we minister to the extrovert while effectively ministering to the introvert?

Today, Tim Gough, from YouthWorkHacks.com sheds light on this topic bringing loads of thought-provoking wisdom.

So if you’re naturally an extrovert, this episode is HUGE for learning how to relate to the students within your group who are introverts.  If you’re an introvert, learning the differences between these two is crucial for you as well.

Tim also shares some about YouthWorkHacks.com which is a treasure trove of amazing resources for the youth pastor and youth worker.

Regardless whether you’re an extrovert or a closet introvert, this episode is here to help.  Give it a listen for some great practical helps on ministering to introverts within your youth ministry.

Links mentioned:

YouthWorkHacks.com

TimGough.co

@TimGoughUK

Resources mentioned in this Podcast:

Contemplative Youth Ministry by Mark Yaconelli

Youth For Christ Recourses

In this particular episode, you will learn:

Show Sponsor:

Audible.com – Grab a free 30 trial and free download of any of the 250,000+ books available on Audible

HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS!

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.

Also, please leave an honest review for The Longer Haul Youth Ministry Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

Support the Show

Struggle with staying organized in youth ministry?  How can you keep track of everything without going crazy along the way?  How can you keep track of all those receipts?  Wait…anyone else struggle with losing these?  No?  Just me?  Oh, okay.

If you have been around the blog or the podcast for a day or two you probably know by now that I LOVE Evernote.  It literally keeps me sane…and employed.

Without question Evernote is the most used tool in my toolbox.  So as you can imagine, having the guru of Evernote on the podcast today makes me a bit giddy.

Today, Brett Kelly, creator of Evernote Essentials tells us how to use Evernote to help manage our ministries more effectively, and helps us with staying organized in youth ministry with Evernote.

And these aren’t your normal pointers, and are extremely helpful.  This episode will easily be one of the most practical and helpful of any to date on the podcast.

Brett also shares some about Evernote Essentials which in my opinion is a must have, and I would highly encourage you to grab it if you are able to do so.

Regardless whether being organized comes naturally to you or not, this episode is here to help.  Give it a listen for some great practical helps on staying organized in youth ministry with Evernote.

Links mentioned:

BrettKelly.org

evernote.com

@MrBrettKelly

Resources mentioned in this Podcast:

Evernote Essentials

Workflow iOS App

Receipt/Expense Workflow Recipe

In this particular episode, you will learn:

Show Sponsor:

Audible.com – Grab a free 30 trial and free download of any of the 250,000+ books available on Audible

HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS!

If you’re enjoying the podcast please take a few minutes to subscribe and write a review on iTunes.  It goes a long way in helping other Youth Pastors and Youth Workers find the podcast.

You can do that right here!

Support the Show

Ever feel overwhelmed at a Youth Ministry Conference?  I know I do.

There’s always so much to do.  There’s so much to see and hear.  Often times if I’m honest I come back more tired than when I left rather than being refreshed and encouraged.  Many times I even return a bit discouraged after hearing all of the things I feel like I should be doing in my ministry and can’t do.

Today, Rick Lawrence from Group Publishing and Simply Youth Ministry, shares some helpful tips to getting the most out of your next Youth Ministry Conference.

And these aren’t your normal pointers, and are really helpful things to consider.

He also talks about the upcoming Simply Youth Ministry Conference as well and gives us the nitty-gritty about what to expect from it this year.

Links mentioned:

Group.com

SimplyYouthMinistry.com

SYMC16.com

@RickSkip

Resources mentioned in this Podcast:

Jesus Centered Youth Ministry by Rick Lawrence

The Jesus Centered Life by Rick Lawrence

Audible.com – Grab a free 30 trial and free download of any of the 250,000+ books available on Audible

In this particular episode, you will learn:

Show Sponsor:

Audible.com – Grab a free 30 trial and free download of any of the 250,000+ books available on Audible

HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS!

If you’re enjoying the podcast please take a few minutes to subscribe and write a review on iTunes.  It goes a long way in helping other Youth Pastors and Youth Workers find the podcast.

You can do that right here!

Support the Show

What kind of expectations do you find yourself having to navigate?

In this episode we talk all about dealing with expectations in youth ministry.  We talk about what some of those expectations are, where they can come from, and what you can do when managing and dealing with expectations in youth ministry.  We also chat about the importance of networking and what the real purpose should be.

Links mentioned:

Expectations Youth Pastors Have For Churches on Day One

20 Youth Pastor Expectations that Churches Have on Day One

After9Ministry podcast

@ZacWorkun

Resources mentioned in this Podcast:

Remind.com

Audible.com – Grab a free 30 trial and free download of any of the 250,000+ books available on Audible

In this particular episode, you will learn:

Show Sponsor:

Audible.com – Grab a free 30 trial and free download of any of the 250,000+ books available on Audible

HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS!

If you’re enjoying the podcast please take a few minutes to subscribe and write a review on iTunes.  It goes a long way in helping other Youth Pastors and Youth Workers find the podcast.

You can do that right here!

Support the Show

When it comes to longevity in youth ministry there are many things that are important to consider.  If you fail to do so, you will never make it in youth ministry over the long haul.

In today’s episode you’ll find out some crucial things you need to consider with it comes to your ministry.  These will make or break you.

Links mentioned:

Benchmarks in your Youth Ministry (blog post)

Seasons in your Youth Ministry (podcast episode)

Minivan by Foreknown

@ChrisTrent

YellowShoeTravel.com

YM360

Resources mentioned in this Podcast:

Consider This by Chris Trent

#Struggles: Following Jesus in a Selfie-Centered World

Lion of War Series by Cliff Graham

Audible.com – Grab a free 30 trial and free download of any of the 250,000+ books available on Audible

In this particular episode, you will learn:

Show Sponsor:

Audible.com – Grab a free 30 trial and free download of any of the 250,000+ books available on Audible

HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS!

If you’re enjoying the podcast please take a few minutes to subscribe and write a review on iTunes.  It goes a long way in helping other Youth Pastors and Youth Workers find the podcast.

You can do that right here!

Support the Show