End Goals: LCMS Youth Ministry Podcast

Technology experiences are different for every generation. To get the perspective of young people, Mark and Julianna welcome Isaiah Duport and Madison Sieve to share their insight into how we can support youth as they use technology. Resources: YouthESource Website – youthesource.com

Rev. Dr. Trevor Sutton joins Mark and Julianna to break down the complexity of how AI and technology are impacting our world, our teens and our youth ministry.   Bio: Rev. Dr. A. Trevor Sutton is the Senior Pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Lansing, Michigan. Sutton has written several books, including Redeeming Technology (coauthored with Brian Smith, M.D.) and Authentic Christianity (coautho...

Technology impacts culture, education, social lives, and more. Youth Ministry isn’t exempt from feeling those changes, even as the Gospel stays the same. Mark and Julianna discuss some of the key topics we are hearing from youth leaders about how those changes are impacting healthy youth ministry.  Resources: YouthESource Website – youthesource.com

Mark and Julianna interview two student athletes, Savannah Butterfield and George Austin, about how the church can support all student athletes in their vocation.   Bios: Savannah Butterfield is from St. Louis, Missouri and plays on the Concordia University, Nebraska basketball team. Her home congregation is The Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens.  George Austin is from Chandler, Arizona and plays...

Dr. Heath Lewis joins Mark and Julianna to try and answer the question “Does God care about sports?” as we continue our series on youth ministry and sports.   Bio: Dr. Heath Lewis joined the faculty at Concordia University, St. Paul in Fall 2015. As Associate Professor of Christian Education & Leadership, Dr. Lewis teaches courses in the Christian Ministry major, working to enhance the historicall...

Mark and Julianna talk about how youth sports have changed over the past few decades and how the current youth sport environment can impact teens and their families.  Resources: YouthESource Website – youthesource.com 

Politics can be a divisive thing to discuss, but it's an important part of engaging in our vocations. Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies comes in to discuss how we can have healthy conversations about politics in our youth ministry.   Bio: Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies is the Vice President for Ministry Engagement with Lutheran Hour Ministries. His work centers around helping the church become more outreach focused by e...

War is not a new topic, but it is one our young people may be asking about. In this episode, Mark and Julianna are joined by Rev. Dr. Joel Lehehbauer, the Executive Director of the Commission on Theology & Church Relations (CTCR) for the LCMS to give us a brief understanding of how we talk about war in the church.  Bio: Rev. Dr. Joel Lehenbauer is the Executive Director of the Commission on Theolo...

We continue our series on hard conversations by talking with Daniel Weiss, executive director of the Sexual Integrity Leadership Summit, about how we approach conversations around pornography with our young people.   Bio: Daniel Weiss is the executive director of the Sexual Integrity Leadership Summit, which supports, equips, and collaborates with Christian leaders to promote Gospel-centered sexua...

In a new series, we discuss how to approach and talk about difficult topics in our youth’s lives. In this episode, DCE Rebecca Duport shares her story and how we can talk about divorce in Youth Ministry.   Bio: Rebecca Duport has served her alma mater, Concordia University Irvine, as the Director of the DCE program since 2014. A DCE for 26 years, Rebecca has worked with children, youth, families,...

In our final episode of the Gathering Finishing Pack, we talk about what happens between now and the 2028 LCMS Youth Gathering.  Resources: YouthESource Website – youthesource.com  LCMS Youth Gathering – lcmsgathering.com 

The Gathering has an impact far beyond what happens in your congregation. Hear DCE Zeal Beale and Kari Benson talk about the impact of our service at the 2025 Youth Gathering.  Bio: Zeal Beale is the mother of two adult children and one rescue chiwennie dog named Trisk. Since her return twelve years ago from South Africa as an LCMS missionary, she has served as DCE at St. Paul in the heart of New...

Rev. Dr. Peter Nafzger joins Mark and Julianna to talk about our theme of community and how we can carry it forward in healthy youth ministry.   Bio: Rev. Dr. Peter Nafzger is an Associate Professor of Practical Theology and Director of Student Life at Concordia Seminary here in St. Louis.  He served a congregation in Minnesota before coming to the Seminary. Peter has served on our Theological Adv...

The LCMS Youth Ministry staff reflects on the 2025 LCMS Youth Gathering and celebrates what God did during our time together in New Orleans.  Resources: YouthESource Website – youthesource.com  LCMS Youth Gathering – lcmsgathering.com  End Goals is the podcast of LCMS Youth Ministry in the Office of National Mission. LCMS Youth Ministry Staff discuss practices for healthy youth ministry and interv...

We know that you are exhausted as you return from a big event like the Gathering. Mark and Julianna talk through some things to keep in mind in the first days and weeks after the Gathering to help make the Gathering a catalyst for healthy youth ministry.   Resources: YouthESource Website – youthesource.com  LCMS Youth Gathering – lcmsgathering.com 

Mark and Julianna record from the Interactive Floor of the 2025 LCMS Youth Gathering!  Resources: LCMS Youth Gathering – lcmsgathering.com  YouthESource website – youthesource.com End Goals is the podcast of LCMS Youth Ministry in the Office of National Mission. LCMS Youth Ministry Staff discuss practices for healthy youth ministry and interview practitioners who provide insight for experienced an...

As the Gathering gets closer, we are taking some of your big questions so you can be confident heading to New Orleans in just a week!  Resources: YouthESource website – youthesource.com. LCMS Youth Gathering – lcmsgathering.com 

As large youth events like servant events, camps, and the LCMS Youth Gathering are happening this summer, adult leaders may be focused on their youth. But it is important for adult leaders to care for themselves as well. DCE Annie Anderson and Pastor Peter Couser talk about best practices for making sure all the adult leaders thrive and connect with the Gospel at large youth events. Bio: Annie And...

Rev. Sean Daenzer joins Mark and Julianna to talk about the Divine Service on Wednesday at the Gathering. We hope this helps you get excited and prepare your group for this unique worship experience.  Bio: Rev. Sean Daenzer serves as director of LCMS Worship and chaplain of the LCMS International Center.  He previously served for seven years as pastor of a dual parish in rural North Dakota. Daenze...

There so many ways Christians can serve and live out their vocations. The church also needs professional church workers! In this episode, Rev. Dr. Jim Baneck talks about how youth ministry can encourage young people to consider church work.   Bio: Rev. Dr. Jim Baneck is the executive director of LCMS Pastoral Education. In this role, he encourages the spiritual, character, confessional, physical,...

Mark and Julianna wrap up our series on the Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry with some ideas for practical use and next steps.   Resources: Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry available at CPH Research from the Pacific Northwest District: https://nowlcms.org/resources/youth-leadership-initiative-survey/ 

In the final episode going through the Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry, we talk with Rev. Dr. Mark Koschmann about helping youth understand vocation and how God has placed them to be His hands and feet in the world.   Bio: Rev. Dr. Mark Koschmann serves as Vice President of Faith and Ministry and Chief Mission Officer for Concordia University, St. Paul. He also serves on the Executive Le...

Mark and Julianna discuss the ways in which we serve during the Gathering and how the Gathering offering gets used. Resources: Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. LCMS Youth Gathering – www.lcmsgathering.com  

As young people hear countless messages about who they are, we want them to have a resilient identity in Christ. DCE Paul Nelson joins us to talk about how to help youth build that resiliency as they are disciples of Jesus for life.   Bio: DCE Paul Nelson currently serves at St. John’s Lutheran in Buffalo, MN. He graduated from Concordia Nebraska and has served congregations for six years.   Resou...

Rev. Dr. Peter Jurchen joins Mark and Julianna to talk about how youth ministry can help every young person to deeply understand their Baptismal Faith.   Bio: Rev. Dr. Peter Jurchen is an Assistant Professor of Lutheran Education and Faith Formation at Concordia University, Nebraska. Prior to that, he was an editor of Curriculum Resources at Concordia Publishing House. In addition to his MDiv, he...