End Goals: LCMS Youth Ministry Podcast

Over four hundred youth, adults, and ministry supporters attended the 2021 National Lutheran Youth Workers Conference in Houston. Participants and speakers from the conference join the podcast to discuss takeaways and highlights from the event. Learn more about the National Lutheran Youth Workers Conference at lcmsgathering.com/national-2021. Find more information on YouthLead at lcms.org/youth-mi...

Being a youth leader means taking on many different roles depending on your youth’s needs and the situation. As we look at another chapter of Connected for Life, Mark and Julianna discuss key roles of the youth worker with Pastor AJ Mastic.  Bio: AJ Mastic is the Highlands Campus pastor at Renewal Church, a multi-site congregation in Denver, CO. He is a 2007 graduate of Concordia University Texas...

The LCMS Youth Gathering is far more than the five days. We want the Gathering to be just one part of your ongoing healthy youth ministry. In our final episode of this starter pack we will talk about how to bring the Gathering home.   Bio: Alan Wunderlich is a rostered teacher in the LCMS and serves as Assistant Principal and Youth Director at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Washington, MO....

As adult leaders, it can be easy for our sole focus to be on our youth and their experience. But you and your adult leader team need to care for yourselves at the LCMS Youth Gathering. This episode will look at how adults can stay healthy and energized to make the most of their whole group’s time at the Gathering. Bio: Anne Franklin has led youth groups to three LCMS Youth Gatherings as a lay lead...

As we continue the Gathering Starter Pack, we are going to talk about how the many different program elements of the Gathering can help every young person explore their unique vocations. Bio: Rhonda Palmersheim serves at Concordia University in St. Paul MN where she has held positions in admissions and university advancement over the last 20 years. NYG 2022 marks her sixth gathering experience. As...

Parents are important partners for your Gathering team! As you begin to plan, this episode of a Gathering Starter Pack is designed to help you think about how to work with and support parents as they play a critical role in the Gathering experience for their teens.  Bio: Amanda Jahnke is a DCE at St. Paul Lutheran in Fort Worth, TX. She is finishing a Masters in Family Science in Concordia St. Pau...

We pray congregational groups have a positive, healthy, and impactful experience at the Gathering. However, we know that during the Gathering a teen may experience or express a struggle or crisis. Rather than being reactionary, we hope this podcast will help all supportive adult leaders to prepare to care for young people in difficult experiences.  Guests: Amanda Jahnke, DCE at St. Paul in Fort Wo...

We have just over a year before the 2022 Gathering. The list for preparation is long, so Mark and Julianna talk you through some key things to do with guest DCE Annie Anderson.   Bio: DCE Annie Anderson is serving a congregation in the East Valley of Phoenix. 2022 will be her 8th Gathering and in this Gathering cycle she is serving as a planner on our Adult Leader Resource Team.  LCMS Gathering On...

The 2022 Gathering will bring us together in Houston. In the next part of our Gathering Starter Pack, we talk about traveling to the Gathering and highlights of the Houston area with Meredith Whitefield.   LCMS Gathering Online Resources: LCMS Youth Gathering Website lcmsgathering.com In All Things Adult Leader Resource, including Things to Do in Houston lcmsgathering.com/resources LCMS Youth Mini...

As we kick of the Gathering Starter Pack we will be looking into the theme: In All Things. We want all our planning to start with God’s Word and how your time connected to the Gathering can point young people to Jesus. Learn more on the LCMS Youth Gathering website lcmsgathering.com. Read the In All Things Thematic Development Paper and Talking Points at lcmsgathering.com/resources. Find the Colos...

Youth ministry wouldn’t be possible without dedicated adult leaders who care for young people in their congregation. Dr. Jacob Youmans joins Mark and Julianna to talk about encouraging and supporting youth leaders. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com, and find Connected for Life at cph.org/p-31891-Connected-for-Life-Essential-Guide-to-Youth-Ministry.aspx. Bio: Dr. Jac...

Mark and Julianna continue their series on the book Connected for Life with DCE Mark Cook. They discuss his chapter on building Christian community in youth ministry one teen at a time. Find Connected for Life at cph.org/p-31891-Connected-for-Life-Essential-Guide-to-Youth-Ministry.aspx. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. DCE Mark Cook Bio: Mark Cook is a graduate of...

We continue our series on topics from Connected for Life.  In this episode, Dr. Deb Arfsten returns to talk about the importance of developing a support system for youth ministry in your congregation.  This network of the church goes beyond volunteers and parents, and helps increase the focus of the family of God on the next generation.    Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesou...

Our end goal of young people who are disciples of Jesus Christ for life is not exclusive to the young people who are already in our church. Mark and Julianna talk with Rev. Derek Broten about how to reach out with the Gospel in Community Focused Youth Ministry. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Get your copy of "Connected for Life" at cph.org/p-31891-Connected-for-...

Young leaders are important to the heath of the church, but they need support and mentoring to be successful and stay Christ centered. For 40 years, LCMS Youth Ministry has equipped and trained young leaders through YouthLead. Hear more about the program and the value of young leaders in your church. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Learn more about YouthLead on t...

In our continued look at the authors in Connected for Life, Dr. Mark Blanke joins Mark and Julianna to talk about the importance of strategic planning for youth ministry including how young people can be engaged in service and leadership as a part of that process. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Bio: Dr. Mark Blanke is the DCE Program Director, Director of Strate...

In our continued series on topics from Connected for Life, we talk about the importance of recruiting, involving, and supporting volunteers in youth ministry. DCE and classroom instructor Darius “Bo” Chapman joins us to provide insight and wisdom from his experience of working alongside and learning from volunteers in ministry. Find Connected for Life at cph.org/p-31891-Connected-for-Life-Essentia...

In our continued series on topics from Connected for Life, we talk about the importance of teaching the faith in youth ministry. Vicar and DCE Brandon Metcalf joins us to talk about how our teaching tactics and focus can help us better share the Gospel and help form disciples for life.   Resources from this episode: LCMS Youth Ministry resource website: youthesource.com. Connected for Life: cph.or...

What does your congregation believe about ministry with young people in your context?  Do your behaviors align with those beliefs?  A philosophy of youth ministry helps you answer the “Why?” questions in your youth ministry and bring clarity and consistency to your ministry with young people.  Dr. Heath Lewis focuses on his chapter in Connected for Life and gives brief introduction to the value of...

In our second episode with Dr. Dave Rueter, we will focus on his second chapter in "Connected for Life". We give a brief introduction to the value of creating a philosophy of Christian Education in a congregation. These conversations help you evaluate, assess, pivot and re-focus on Christian Education in your congregation. Find "Connected for Life" at cph.org/p-31891-Connected-for-Life-Essential-G...

Mark and Julianna are joined by Dr. Dave Rueter, author of two chapters in Connected for Life: Essential Guide to Youth Ministry.  In this episode, we discuss strategies and theories for the faith formation of young people and how these can help us see the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Find Connected for Life at cph.org/p-31891-Connected-for-Life-Essential-Guide-to-Youth-Ministry.aspx. O...

For youth leaders to be around for the long-term, they need healthy balance.  It’s is God pleasing when we prioritize our own spiritual practices, like worship, prayer, Bible reading, while also taking care of our bodies, their minds, and their many responsibilities. Deaconess Heidi Goehmann joins us to talk about how we care for ourselves as lay and professional youth leaders. Find all of Deacone...

Conflict impacts all congregations, including youth ministry. When conflict is handled well, it can build relationships, trust and be a good example to young people. When it isn’t, it can push young people away from the congregation. Rev. Marty Hasz joins us to talk about how to address conflict in your ministry.   Resources from this episode: Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youth...

Mark and Julianna review the data that we receive every three years at the LCMS Youth Gathering. The youth, young adult, and adult polls all help us to understand more about the young people in our congregations over time. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

In our second session diving into LCMS Youth Ministry’s research, we dive into the 2017 review with LCMS congregations, their retention, and their relationships with Millennials. Mark and Julianna are joined by Ryan Curnutt, Senior Research Analyst at the LCMS, as they share findings and how they can benefit your youth ministry. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Fi...