Youth Ministry Podcast

As the year draws to a close, it's time for Erik and Jake to look back at some of the more indelible moments from 2018. How have their experiences on summer youth trips continued to bear fruit into the winter months? What are the ways popular culture influenced their youth ministry? Which apps, websites, podcasts, and books helped them connect with kids? And, is Fortnite going away anytime soon? (Spoiler: no, it's not.)

In the pantheon of Christmas songs, one song rises above all other songs. In this episode, Erik and Jake take a deep dive into the carol "O Holy Night." Prepare to immerse yourselves into a wellspring of knowledge about the greatest Christmas song of all time. You can also check out Erik's Christmas music playlist at https://blog.wearesparkhouse.org/christmas-music-playlist-all.

'Tis the season to be jolly. But not everyone feels merry and bright this time of year. Jake and Erik have a complicated relationship with the seasons of Advent and Christmas. It's a time of wonder and hope, but it can also be a time of heightened anxiety and depression. In this episode, they offer suggestions to help overwhelmed youth ministers keep their heads above water and help busy kids stay connected. Also found in this episode: coffee puns and Lutheran college choir nerdery.

People who are called to Youth Ministry wear many different hats. We are event planners, theologians, teachers, counselors, carpool drivers, pizza-ordering experts, janitors, preachers, musicians, and role models. It's easy for parents and church members to not fully understand the complexity of our work. Today you'll hear a dozen youth workers answer the question, "What's one thing you wish people understood about your job?"

What does urban youth ministry look like, and how is it different from ministry in other contexts? Jose Rodriguez and Sean Fenner, two youth workers from California who work with inner-city teens, sat down with Erik during National Youth Workers Convention to share some of the strategies they use to help urban kids in need. You'll hear Sean and Jose discuss the joys and struggles of ministry, how to find the resources they need to reach kids, and the ways they partner with schools and other community organizations to fulfill the purposes of their ministries.

We're coming to you live from National Youth Workers Convention in St. Louis! Erik and Carla chatted with people from all over the country during the first night of the conference. If you're attending #NYWC18 you'll hear from several of your fellow attendees. Listeners who aren't at the conference will get a taste of the excitement which comes when people who are passionate about youth ministry come together for education, fellowship, and renewal. Thanks to everyone who stopped to talk with us.

This week Erik is joined by Jake Bouma to tackle the topic of prayer. They offer some ideas for how to demythologize this spiritual practice with young people. Topics include: null curriculum (8:00), "practice makes practice" (16:00), doodle prayer (19:00), acrostic prayer (21:30), Help, Thanks, Wow (24:20), and the Divine Hours (35:50).

Erik is joined by two Sparkhouse colleagues, Ben Gieseke and Kelly Bakalich, who will talk about their experiences working with kids. Ben served a couple of two-year stints in congregations while he was seminary. Kelly is a former volleyball coach and youth volunteer who led a small group in her church. Both of them discuss their motivation for getting into youth ministry, the ups and downs of church life, and what they miss most about their regular encounters with young people.

All Saints Day is a Christian festival that celebrates and honors saints living and dead, known and unknown. The saints we encounter in youth ministry are volunteers, fellow ministry colleagues, parents, and even students. They make the way a little clearer, a little easier. In this episode, Bryan and Erik lift up the saints from their ministries.

Everybody makes mistakes. However, the mistakes we make in youth ministry can sometimes feel…unique. In this special "It's almost Halloween" episode, Bryan and Erik talk about their scariest moments in youth ministry and wonder how they still are allowed to do this job.