End Goals: LCMS Youth Ministry Podcast

Members of the YouthLead Executive Team, teens elected to serve the program for a three year term, join Mark and Julianna in talking about how to support teen leaders and what they enjoy about being young leaders themselves Bios: Reagan Martens, Austin Barber, and Adam Beadle are representatives from the YouthLead Executive Team. This team is elected by their peers to serve for three years. They p...

Part of our 40 End Goals talks about how we engage and support in service and mission locally and across the globe. Rev. Mark Rabe and Erin Alter from the LCMS Office of International Mission join us to talk about how youth leaders can explore these topics and support current and future missionaries. Find the LCMS Office of International Mission at international.lcms.org, Missions Unpacked at inte...

Both in the 2022 Gathering Theological paper and in the Seven Practices we talk about the importance of telling personal stories, but especially God’s story. Julianna and Mark talk to Pastor Ted Doering about his study that dives into God’s story and our story. Bio: Rev. Ted Doering is the pastor at Narrative Church, an LCMS church plant in Williamson County, Texas, just north of Austin. He is ble...

In our last episode on difficult conversations, Pastor Jonathan and Christa Petzold help us think about how to approach issues of gender and sexuality in our youth ministry.  Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Bio: Rev. Jonathan Petzold holds an MDiv from Concordia Seminary St. Louis. He serves as Senior Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Roselle, Illin...

We are highlighting a second study in this year after the Gathering on Vocation. DCE Amanda Jahnke joins us to talk about vocation with teens now and in the future. Bio: Amanda Jahnke is a DCE currently serving Concordia Preparatory School in Townsend, Maryland. She previously served at St. Paul in Fort Worth, TX. She received her undergrad and graduate degree in Family Sciences from Concordia St....

Suicide is not easy to talk about in your youth ministry, but it is necessary as it is the second-leading cause of death among people ages 10-24. Megan Miessler, LCSW, joins us to talk about how we can approach this topic well and care for young people who may experience crisis around suicide. Find the Columbia Protocol App at apps.apple.com/us/app/columbia-protocol/id1450966911 and Mental Health...

Deaconess Emma Heinz and Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor join Mark and Julianna to talk about how we approach life issues in youth ministry and teach a full theology of life in all things to our youth. Find LCMS Life Ministry resources at lcmslife.org and life resources on the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com/life. Bio: Deaconess Emma Heinz lives in St. Louis and is married to...

Mark and Julianna continue the series on challenging issues you might face in youth ministry. Rev. Brian Earl joins them to talk about ministering in the face of drug and substance use and addiction.     Bio: Rev. Brian Earl is a board-certified chaplain currently serving in mental health populations at the Raymond G Murphy Medical Center in Albuquerque, NM since 2019. Before that Brian completed...

Our next study in the 40 End Goals series helps us to think about how we navigate difficult times with humble confidence and teach youth to do the same. Pastor Brandon Metcalf joins us to talk about his study and how we can support teens regardless of what challenges they face. Bio: Rev. Brandon Metcalf serves as Associate Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto, Illinois. Brandon has a degree...

LCMS Servant Events have supported youth and adults in learning that serving others can make a difference because of Jesus Christ for more than 35 years. In this episode, our Servant Event Committee joins us to talk about how these servant events across the country.  Guests in this episode: Rev. Barry Akers — Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI Shelly Carlson — Lord of the Lakes Luthera...

As we continue to highlight the studies around the 40 End Goals, Mark and Julianna talk to DCE Bekah Freed about her study and devotions on Sabbath and rest. Bio: Bekah Freed is Kansas-grown girl who now lives in cornfields of Nebraska (with a 9-year stop in Buffalo, NY). She currently serves the students of Concordia University, Nebraska as the Director in the Student Life Office and loves helpin...

Mark and Julianna celebrate 100 episodes of End Goals Podcast by letting the listeners turn the tables and answering their questions. We are so thankful for your support these last three years. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

Bullying is not anything new, and youth ministries have had to deal with it many times over and in various ways. Today, much of the bullying happens not face to face but online. Kari Smith joins us to talk about how to prevent and approach this issue. Bio: Kari Smith has been a teacher, youth leader, and now works with Lutheran Family Service as Congregational Services and Adoption Case Work. She...

We all have roles, responsibilities, and relationships where God uses us to serve others and share the Gospel. Pastor Andrew Jones joins Mark and Julianna to talk about the importance to teaching about vocation.  Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Bio: Andrew R. Jones lives in the Bay Area of California where he enjoys writing, hiking, and adventures with his wife,...

This Fall we are taking on some important, but difficult topics for teens that might be tough for youth leaders to approach. In this episode, we talk with Jayme Nichols about how we can prepare to care and support youth who are impacted by depression and anxiety. Bio: DCE Jayme Nichols is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in the Austin, TX area. Before becoming a counselor, she served in...

Both the 7 Practices and the 40 End Goals use the term “Humble Confidence” but what does that mean? Join Mark and Julianna in a discussion with Rev. Trevor Sutton about his study on Humble Confidence available on YouthESource right now. Bio: Rev. Trevor Sutton is a senior pastor at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Lansing, Michigan. He is also a PhD candidate at Concordia Seminary and teaches in the di...

Our 40 Teaching End Goals are a part of our 7 Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry and our Bible studies on the YouthESource for the next year will explore those End Goals. In this episode we look at the first of those Bible studies and devotions by talking about Christian Community with author Cassie Schermbeck. Bio: Cassie Schermbeck is a DCE in Centennial, CO, and has served in youth ministry fo...

Join us for a special crossover episode with Friends for Life! Host Stephanie Neugebauer talked with us about the importance of intergenerational relationships, particularly with older generations honoring and serving the younger generation. As we think about the life of the church, how we care for pre-teens, teens, and young adults is a part of how we engage and value God’s people in every aspect...

Even though you may still be sharing your 2022 Gathering experience, our team is already well at work on the 2025 LCMS Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Hear a little bit about what happens between Gatherings and ways you can stay connected to us. Find all things Gathering at lcmsgathering.com. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

Now that we have experienced the LCMS Youth Gathering, we checked in with the staff of LCMS Youth Ministry to hear their reflections on the event. The staff works hard for years to make the Gathering possible and have a unique perspective of where God was at work in Houston. Find all things Gathering at lcmsgathering.com. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

LCMS Youth Gathering participants can be noticeable with their matching shirts and backpacks. More than just being seen, God can use Gathering participants to leave an impact on the city and those residents they come into contact with. Find all things Gathering at lcmsgathering.com. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

Mark and Julianna talk about how the Gathering can help your youth ministry beyond the five days of the event. We pray it can help spur ministry for the next three years and beyond. Find all things Gathering at lcmsgathering.com. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

We know you are exhausted and just looking for a little rest. But in the first in our Gathering Finishing Pack series, we will talk about how you might think about sharing your group’s experience at the 2022 Youth Gathering back home. This also has a special segment for pastors on the theme: In All Things! Find all things Gathering at lcmsgathering.com. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource websit...

We have finally made it to Houston for the 2022 LCMS Youth Gathering. Join Mark and Julianna on the Interactive Floor as they talk about their experiences and give thanks for what is happening at the Gathering. Find all things Gathering at lcmsgathering.com. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

While we hope that every part of your LCMS Youth Gathering experience goes perfectly, we know that you want to plan for all the contingencies. This podcast will cover some of the big “What if” questions so you can hear about some of the plans and supports we have in place for you. Find all things Gathering at lcmsgathering.com. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.