Youth Ministry Podcast

As summer winds down, Erik and Bryan open up the mailbag to answer listener questions about attendance policies, budgeting, and building momentum between middle school and high school ministries. Thanks to everyone who reached out!

By now, you've probably seen a kid Flossing or doing the Best Mates dance. Maybe you've heard a kid talk about their recent Victory Royale. Noobs. Bandies. Squads. What is all this, you ask? Fortnite! It's a game that has taken over the culture in many ways – in both good and not-so-good ways. In this episode, Bryan and Erik discuss what Fortnite is, how youth workers should think about it, and are joined by two very special guests.

It's summer and that means one thing--church camp! If you've spent even one summer in youth ministry, you know: church camp is a big deal. For some kids, it's a chance to reconnect with far-off friends. For others, it's an opportunity to grow in their faith. And for most of them, it's an unforgettable experience that lasts well into the program year. In this episode, Bryan and Erik discuss mountaintop experiences, cry nights, and one of them is coming to you live! from actual confirmation camp!

Whether you're starting a new job, or have been in your position for a few years, the importance of reliable, effective volunteers cannot be overstated. But how do you find people who are called to youth ministry? How do you get them onboard? What's the best way to empower them? And what does God have to do with all of this? In this episode, Bryan and Erik discuss how to find, train, and keep effective volunteers.

You're done with the mission trip – or maybe it's camp – and it was a week full of hard work, meaningful interactions, and fun. So now it's back to the grindstone! Unless you're planning on taking comp time. Do you take comp time? You should be taking comp time. In this episode, Bryan and Erik discuss how to determine how much time to take after a trip, the reasoning behind it, and why Sabbath is necessary for youth ministry.

Youth Gathering 2018 is a wrap. Bryan interviewed a bunch of participants and leaders about what they liked, how they were impacted, and why it's important to gather 30,000 of your closest friends every three years.

Remember the story where Jesus and the disciples play the classic youth ministry game Sardines? While youth ministry games haven't been along that long, there's no denying that games are baked into the DNA of youth ministry. From icebreakers and up-front games, to dodge ball and Ultimate Frisbee, youth workers have literally thousands of choices to start or end their weekly programming. In this episode, Bryan and Erik discuss the good, the bad, and the messy.

Students will always have questions about the Bible and part of our job as youth workers is to help them understand, engage, and read Scripture with a certain amount of faith, knowledge, and insight. But how do we do that well? And how do we push back against less-than-helpful theologies that come at students from celebrities, pop culture, and other places? In this episode, Bryan and Erik talk about reading the Bible with integrity, when and how to say, "I don't know", and both of them realize that, maybe, they're not the best communicators.

Youth ministry is a professional position, despite the nights of laser tag and go-carts and pizza eating. And while some of us may have some inherent laser tag skills, there are many opportunities to grow as a youth worker in both the skills we employ and the knowledge we bring to our ministry. In this episode, Bryan and Erik talk about the difference between continuing education and professional development, effective ways of developing skills in ministry, and whether you can get away with taking a class in bread baking.