Beyond the Event: A Youth Ministry Podcast

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! Summer can either empty out your youth ministry calendar or expose what was never sustainable to begin with. We sit down with Hannah Helwege from New Life Church in Colorado Springs to get specific about what actually works when school gets out, sports and theater shift, and families finally have breathing room. If you’re a youth pastor trying to bu...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! Summer doesn’t just disrupt student schedules, it disrupts your ministry’s rhythm. And when families are already juggling travel, sports, camps, and changing routines, adding a calendar full of one off events and long breaks can quietly drain momentum. We wrestle with a simple question: if Wednesday night is the one predictable thing you can offer,...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! Confiscate every phone or teach teens how to use them well? We invite Matt Stevens from Calvary Christian Church in Omaha to unpack a wiser middle path that keeps safety high, communication clear, and discipleship at the center. Matt walks us through how his team uses a shared channel to coordinate hundreds of students on campus, why parents relax w...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What if a single boundary could transform your next youth trip? We sit down with Arkansas youth pastor Matt Tibbit, who has led students for 20 years without allowing phones at camp. His reasoning is simple and sharp: protect attention, protect safety, and give students a rare chance to belong without the pull of a screen. Matt walks us through the...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! When the Spirit nudges your ministry to change, do you add another program—or clear the calendar and listen? We sit down with student pastor Tyler Hensley from Forum Christian Church to unpack a bold move: cutting Sunday class so students worship with the whole church and step into meaningful serving roles. It wasn’t easy, especially after COVID, bu...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! Big rooms light up when students feel seen, safe, and invited to play a real part—on stage, on screen, and in their small groups. We open with CIY’s interactive team and how they’re hijacking Unreal Engine to turn LED walls into living sets, sync visuals with stage moments, and run games that respond to what’s actually happening in the room. It’s no...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! A new year deserves a new blueprint. We’re opening 2026 with a clear shift in youth ministry: equip students to share their faith with gentleness and respect, then walk with them through a real follow‑through plan that turns moments into movement. Jayson French joins us to unpack how CIY is doubling down on training, pairing students with mentors, a...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! We explore why Trevor Sill at The Bridge Christian Church combines junior high and high school and how they rebuilt midweek around one big night and weekly small groups. Trevor shares wins, missteps, and the practices that turned constraints into a discipleship advantage. • Reasons for combining ages including space, staffing, family rhythm • One bi...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! A cupcake caper, an Unreal-powered mansion, and a question every youth leader wrestles with: should we separate junior high and high school? We sit down with student pastor Michelle Kruse from Summit Christian Church to unpack how age-intentional programming can transform engagement without requiring a bigger building or a bigger budget. Michelle wa...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What if the fastest way to deeper impact isn’t writing more, but freeing leaders to be with people? We pull back the curtain on our content process and share why we’ve built a central writing model that serves multiple campuses while giving local teams room to adapt. Our north star this summer is Ephesians and the identity of a “kingdom worker”—love...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What if the fastest route to a healthier youth ministry isn’t writing more, but shepherding more? We sit down with Anne Wilson, Next Gen Pastor at Traders Point Christian Church, to learn the value of buying curriculum, then spending your reclaimed hours pastoring students and training volunteers. Anne shares a practical, month-ahead workflow for ta...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! A freshman gets baptized by his friends. A mom weeps because her child—wounded by past violence—finally steps out to a church event. Teenagers run cameras, lead songs, read Scripture, and help with communion. The thread tying it together is simple and bold: there’s no junior Holy Spirit, and students don’t need a separate church—they need a real pla...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! Want teens to feel seen, speak up, and stick around? We dig into the power of student-only spaces with Family Ministries pastor Tito Lozano and uncover how comfort, agency, and relationship-driven environments lead to deeper faith and smoother integration into the wider church. Tito walks us through a simple but game-changing redesign—turning a stag...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What if the most powerful way to reach today's youth isn't through carefully crafted topical messages, but through teaching them to dig into Scripture verse by verse? Jeremy Stevenson, formations pastor at Christ Church in Jacksonville, believes we're facing a generation hungry for authenticity—one that needs skills to engage with God...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What approach should you take when teaching in a post-Christian context? DJ Rodeffer, Youth Director at Collective Church in Frederick, Maryland, makes a compelling case for topical teaching in this thought-provoking conversation. Speaking from his experience in one of America's most unchurched regions, DJ explains why topical teaching creates...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! How do we maintain spiritual, emotional, and relational health during our most demanding seasons?  Lane Moss, Director of MOVE at Christ in Youth, opens up about the real challenges of summer ministry life when routines are regularly disrupted by constant travel. Lane draws an important distinction between routines (which often crumble under pressur...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! How do we move students from sporadic volunteer projects to living lives of Kingdom Work? In this conversation, Christ’s Church of Oronogo’s Local Impact Minister Maggie Schade reveals the transformative approach that's reshaping how youth engage with community needs. Maggie shares a compelling vision where service isn't just something stu...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What if the key to extraordinary youth ministry growth isn't flashy programming but something far more fundamental? In this conversation, Mike Branton shares how Sun Valley Community Church transformed their student ministry by focusing on relationships, staff retention, and intentional leadership development – resulting in over 300% growth in...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! When conflict arises in your ministry, how do you respond? Tim Hester, Executive Pastor at Southeast Christian Church, offers a biblical framework for restoration that focuses on healing rather than punishment. Drawing from decades of experience shepherding both church staff and congregation members, Tim walks us through the delicate process of addr...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! When a student confides they've been self-harming, what's your role as a youth pastor? Where does spiritual care end and professional intervention begin? Licensed counselor and youth pastor Jordan Francis unveils the complex reality of youth mental health today, offering wisdom that both relieves and challenges ministry leaders. Jordan dis...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! Get ready to explore the vibrant world of youth ministry with a special lens on Gen Alpha. Join us as we welcome the Emmy Award-winning preteen pastor Josh Celestin and CIY Director of SuperStart Korey Klein to unpack some extraordinary moments from this SuperStart tour. Listen as we detail the dedication of our ministry teams who balance the demand...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! Dr. James and Ginger Dellaripa take us on their journey of creating The Family Core , offering insights into the unique challenges faced by blended families and the critical role youth pastors play in their lives. Alongside some lighthearted banter with my boss's boss, Eric Epperson—from reminiscing about past improvisation antics to chatting a...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! Through her inspiring personal story, CIY Director of Digital Resources Katelyn Adams shares how a high school camp experience ignited her calling to serve, and how the mentorship from her youth minister shaped her spiritual path. This episode promises insights on how to create supportive environments where students can confidently discuss their min...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! Join us as we celebrate a major milestone in our journey—our 50th episode of Beyond the Event! With CIY President Jayson French, we reflect on the last 50 episodes of helping you maintain momentum between the mountaintops. We're also diving into the core of what makes CIY (and youth ministry) thrive: a vibrant organizational culture. Continuous...

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What if your church could create a stronger bond with families and youth through a unified ministry approach? Learn how two experts in next-gen ministry, John Luzader and Anne Wilson, are paving the way for spiritual growth and support. John, CIY’s Vice President of Experiences, shares his invaluable insights drawn from years as a youth pastor and p...