Middle School Ministry Podcast

Did you spend a lot of time planning an event that had to get canceled or postponed due to the pandemic? This week, Ronald and Michelle talk about having to make contingency plans and calling audibles during this wild season. And what to do when you don’t really agree with the decisions that get made. Questions to Consider •What do you do with the plans you had for an event that didn’t come togeth...

Have you and your church stayed open this whole time? Did you have to shut down and then got to re-open? After all that, are you having to shut down AGAIN? This week, Michelle and Ronald talk about having to go back to online. Again. Questions to Consider •How do you communicate with parents and students about going back online? •Who makes the call in your church about the youth group being online...

It’s time to vote. And this election cycle has been extra spicy for us and our students. So when politics come into the conversation during small groups and hanging out, how do we talk about politics without being a jerk? Today, Ronald and Michelle talk about how to do just that. Things we talk about this episode: •Reading good books •Listening to both sides of the news •Talking with leaders and w...

After a crazy break, student ministry is getting started back in force! This week, Ronald and Michelle talk about what that looks like in their ministries. Things we talk about this episode: •Starting small groups and big program •Outside versus inside •Communicating to everyone •The great NDOVYMT!

We’re pumped for this year’s NDOVYMT! In this episode, Ronald and Michelle talk about the big day of training, how they’ll use it, and how it’s helped train their middle school leaders! Things we talk about this episode: •Talks and topics at this year’s events •Ways to use the training AFTER the event •Sweet ways to experience the training even during a pandemic

*Ronald and Michelle are not medical doctors* This week we talk about trying to make small groups happen without making Covid-19 happen. We talk about how we communicated to parents, small group leaders and students. We also talk about the interesting ways we’re trying to make this stuff happen! Things we talk about this episode: •A couple ways we’re making small groups happen •What we tell leader...

Everyone has some time of guidelines in place for their space. But what if that space doesn’t belong to your church? This week, Michelle and Ronald talk about the challenges of sharing space in the midst of a pandemic. It’s challenging for sure. It could also be a great chance for you to show middle school students what it’s like to be a great neighbor. Things we talk about this episode: •Not comp...

You’ve never gotten a complaint before, right? HA! In youth ministry, we’re dealing with parents and their kids. Parents care deeply about what goes on with their students and students often have lots of opinions anyway. In this episode, Ronald and Michelle talk about how to not let complaints go to your heart and compliments go to your head! Things we talk about this episode: •All the complaints...

School would be starting up soon (normally). Youth ministry would be finishing up its last summer trips (usually). Parents would be excited about their student promoting into the next grade (in normal circumstances). This year has been anything but normal! Michelle and Ronald talk about the crazy lives they’ve been living and the plans for the fall they’re making! Things we talk about this episode...

In the craziness of COVID-19, churches still need middle school pastors! This week we’re really excited to talk about Michelle’s new job. We also talk about some of the weirdness of starting in a ministry where you might not meet in person for… a long time. Join us! Things we talk about this episode: •Meeting with leaders and parents while socially distancing •Introducing yourself to your group (o...

We’re getting ready to welcome 6th grade students to the youth ministry! Also, we’re not entirely sure what we are welcoming them to… So we’re putting together a strategy to welcome students in the crazy COVID season. Ronald and Michelle talk about Ronald’s plan and see what in the world will happen! Things we talk about this episode: •Ronald’s three step welcome plan •Getting the children’s minis...

Michelle has finally moved to Idaho! In this episode, she and Ronald talk about resting, new starts, and trying to adapt in the crazy covid climate. Things we talk about this episode: •Figuring out what rest looks like •Getting excited for new/unknown chapters •What a staycation actually looks (and sounds) like

In the season of COVID, youth ministry looks really different! This week, Michelle and Ronald talk about going out and doing youth ministry while trying to practice social distancing. It’s a challenge, but we’re up to it! Things we talk about this episode: •Doing ministry with COVID on the brain •Being in LARGE spaces so you can spread out students •Being outside and playing disc golf and a cornho...

In a time when leaders are just as quarantined as our students, what are you doing to help encourage them to continue to serve? How are you as a leader shepherding the leaders of your students? Michelle and Ronald spend some time talking about how they can make their leaders feel loved on and cared for in the weirdest season of ministry ever. In this episode we talk about: •Sending leaders care pa...

This week Michele and Ronald talk about the possibility of re-opening in Texas and meeting a youth group in person! While it’s really exciting to think about being together, it’s super important to make sure parents feel like you are doing everything you can to keep their students safe. Some things we talk about: •The protocols and procedures we put in place •Throw whatever was normal out the wind...

These last few weeks have highlighted the need for everyone who has any influence or voice to step up and speak for those who have been silenced. Michelle and Ronald are both white (spoiler alerts) but care deeply about making sure they are doing whatever it takes to use their voice for the black community that’s hurting. This week they break down Theo Davis’ DYM Blog Article “8 Things White Youth...

Michelle is moving! While it’s always sad to leave a church, there’s definitely a WAY to leave that helps out the people who will continue to carry the torch after you’re gone. In this episode, Michelle and Ronald talk about leaving well and what not leaving well might look like Things we talk about this episode: •Who do you tell you’re leaving and when? •How can you plan ahead for your departure?...

Parents are freaking out. Whether it’s because we’re asking their students to wear masks or because we aren’t social distancing enough, everyone seems to be on edge. It doesn’t matter where you fall on the spectrum of “Open up now!” or “Wait until Christmas!” we still have to deal with parents and their students and do our best to gain their trust in this crazy season. Things we talk about this ep...

Bread Head Part 2 This was a quick game I cooked up after last week. It’s in the resource folder! Dad Jokes Ask students to record their dads telling jokes. You’ll groan AND laugh! A quick bumper is in the resource folder. Qaurantmemes Images to make your quarantine a little better. Trials Our campus student pastor gave the lesson. Our leaders got the question sheet in the resource folder! Show an...

In this week’s episode Michele and Ronald brainstorm a little bit about what the first phase of bringing back student ministry will look like in their churches. No matter what stage of re-opening or quarantining your area is in, having a plan is a great first step to meeting in person again! Things we talk about this episode: •Getting creative with a plan •Holding onto that plan loosely •Being rea...

It’s everything we did this week to interact with Middle School students online! Wednesday Online Youth Group: Bread Head Last week we made a joke about having bread in the shape of our heads. Then we made it into a challenge! Boy did our students deliver! It was awesome! And really funny too! Maybe ask your students to bake likenesses of your pastors this week! Who’s That Leader? We played this g...

From bacon to Kahoot, things cost money! In this crazy Covid-19 season, is your church on a spending freeze, being really cautious about funds, or letting all things go on like normal? This week, Michelle and Ronald talk budget. There’s a lot of ministry that can happen for almost zero dollars! And middle school students tend not to care if you’re spending a ton of money or very little. Here’s som...

It’s everything we did this week to interact with Middle School students online! Wednesday Online Youth Group: Star Wars Enactment We asked students to retreat their favorite scene from any of the 9 Star Wars movies! It went pretty well! This time we learned our lesson though and DIDN’T use copyrighted music of any kind. Quick on the Draw Easy game from DYM! We actually had students submit ideas t...

How do you plan for things that may or may not be happening? Have you decided to cancel everything for the summer or are you holding out hope that things will be good enough to happen again sometime this summer? With sign-ups stopped or at least at an all time low, what are your summer plans? Are you going digital? Are you going to try to make SOMETHING happen even if it’s social distancing cook o...

Ms online 05.03.20 It’s everything we did this week to interact with Middle School students online! Wednesday Online Youth Group: Dance Competition So last week we let the Freshman dictate the challenge to the student ministry. They said we should have a dance competition. It was a hit and lots of small groups completed virtually! I Love My Phone We stole this from Derry Prenkert and his church’s...