Deep Discipleship Podcast

Youth ministry doesn’t just need more attendees—it needs more student leaders. In Episode 12 of the Deep Discipleship Podcast, Doug and Kellee sit down with Carson Powell from River Christian Church to talk about a powerful leadership model happening inside their ministry. Instead of students simply attending Bible study, high school students are learning the lesson… then turning around and teachi...

Youth ministry doesn’t need more topics—it needs a stronger foundation. In Episode 11 of the Deep Discipleship Training Podcast, Doug and Eric break down one of the most important frameworks behind Deep Discipleship: The 8 Roots of the Gospel. Too often, youth ministry falls into the “popcorn approach”—jumping from topic to topic and unintentionally leaving gaps in what students actually understan...

Retreats don’t have to be exhausting, last-minute, or shallow. In this episode of the Deep Discipleship Training Podcast, Doug Franklin and Kellee break down four powerful retreat experiences already built into Deep Discipleship—designed to help your youth ministry grow spiritually, relationally, and strategically. Whether you’re planning a DNow weekend, investing in student leaders, preparing a m...

Reach. Grow. Go. A simple strategy that changes everything. In this episode of the Deep Discipleship Training Podcast, Doug and Kellee break down one of the most overlooked—but most powerful—parts of youth ministry: intentional programming. Youth pastors don’t fail because they don’t care. They burn out because everything feels scattered. This episode shows how Deep Discipleship provides a clear,...

Welcome to Episode 8 of the Deep Discipleship Podcast! In this episode, Doug Franklin and Kellee dive into student leadership and unpack how Deep Discipleship equips you with tools that actually work. You’ll discover: • Why traditional student leadership teams often fail—and what works instead • How the Leadership Pathway helps students grow step by step • Practical tools like assessments, empathy...

Go behind the scenes with the Deep Discipleship team as Doug, Kellee, and Eric share how many resources are created and why it’s more than just curriculum—it’s a movement. In this episode, you’ll discover: • The driving principles behind Deep Discipleship (definition, pathway, and the 8 Roots of the Gospel) • The 5 key pieces of the Deep Discipleship model (intentional programming, transformationa...

Ready to take your youth mission trips from a one-week event to a year-long discipleship journey? In this episode of the Deep Discipleship Training Podcast, Doug and David Franklin unpack the powerful tools built into Deep Discipleship to help you plan, lead, and follow up on impactful student mission trips.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ You’ll learn:⁣⁣⁣ What pre-trip, on-trip, and post-trip resources are included⁣⁣⁣ Ho...

In this episode of the Deep Discipleship Training Podcast, Doug Franklin and Kellee Gentry unpack one of the most powerful tools in the Deep Discipleship curriculum—the Spiritual Health Assessment. If you're leading volunteers, mentoring students, or trying to grow spiritually yourself, this conversation will equip you with practical steps for authentic growth.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ What you'll learn:⁣⁣ Th...

Discover how Deep Discipleship Year 4 is expanding beyond students to equip the entire church—adults and parents included. In this episode, Doug Franklin and Eric Ballard dive into the powerful new addition of Adult + Parent Lessons and why it’s a game-changer for discipleship at home and across generations.⁣⁣ ⁣ Here’s what you’ll learn:⁣⁣ Why discipling parents is essential—not optional⁣⁣ What’s...

What if summer camp wasn’t just fun—but spiritually transformational? In this episode of the Deep Discipleship Podcast, Doug Franklin and Eric Ballard dive into Built Different, a completely free summer camp kit created to help youth pastors lead with purpose and ease. More than a curriculum, this resource is packed with everything you need—large group lessons, small group sessions, breakout optio...

Inside The Discipleship Pathway | Deep Discipleship Podcast⁣ Most youth ministries have students stuck at the starting line of faith—unsure how to grow or walk in obedience. In this episode, we break down the Discipleship Pathway, a 5-step tool designed to move students from conversion to committed discipleship.⁣ ⁣ 🔍 Here's what you'll learn:⁣ Why so many students stay stuck—and how to he...

What does it actually take to build a discipleship culture in your youth ministry—not just run programs? In this episode, Doug Franklin and Kellee Gentry unpack the heart behind the Deep Discipleship curriculum and why so many youth ministries struggle to go beyond surface-level activity.⁣⁣ 🔍 Inside this episode:⁣ Why “hanging out” isn’t the same as making disciples⁣ The one thing you must have f...