The Child Discipleship Podcast

Live from the 2023 Child Discipleship Forum, Rich Villodas shares with Ross Cochran what makes kids who have been raised in homes that pursue a deeply formed life in Jesus unique, and how all of us have access to this kind of discipleship. SHOW NOTES SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode. Ready for more? Childdiscipleship.com is your one stop shop for resource...

Author, musician, and public speaker, Andy Crouch, is interviewed by Ross Cochran and Michael Handler as part of a live online event on how to engage with technology, culture, and faith for the next generation. SHOW NOTES This episode was originally released on June 30th, 2022 Learn more about Andy’s ministry. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode. Watch Today...

Live from the 2023 Child Discipleship Forum, Melanie Hester sat down with recording artist and disciplemaker Ellie Holcomb. They discussed how the discipleship of children is so important that it’s shaped Ellie’s work, and how writing simple songs of faith has impacted her own discipleship. Ellie also shared how the churches she and her husband have been involved in have best equipped...

Director of Lifeway Kids, Chuck Peters, wakes us up to the reality that if we truly want to disciple the next generation, we need to have genuine relationships with them just like Jesus did with His disciples. SHOW NOTES This episode was originally released on October 27th, 2022 Learn more about Chuck’s ministry. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode. Yo...

Live from the 2023 Child Discipleship Forum, Jared Kennedy and Jenny Smith discuss the critical need for centering ministries around the Gospel, provide practical ways for leaders to evaluate how things are going, and encouragement for the work ahead of all of us that are invested in the future of the faith! SHOW NOTES SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode.  R...

Live from the 2023 Child Discipleship Forum, Bishop Stephen Maphosah and Matt Markins share what God is doing in Africa through the public school system, and how you can be a part of reaching 31 million kids across the continent. SHOW NOTES Get a glimpse of what God is doing in Africa through the public school system and how He is using Awana to further His kingdom. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your...

Awana President and CEO Matt Markins interviewed Dr. Albert Mohler in a conversation focused on the truth of the Gospel in today’s rapidly changing environment. Dr. Mohler is the President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Host of the Briefing Podcast as well as the Thinking in Public Podcast. He is the author of several books, and has contributed to over 100 other published works....

Elizabeth Smith and Melanie Hester discuss the need for multigenerational investment in child discipleship, giving kids “someone to love” in Jesus, and how Elizabeth equips the next generation of kidmin leaders as a professor Moody Bible Institute. SHOW NOTES SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode.  Watch Today’s Conversation Ready for more? Childdi...

Phil and Diane Comer believe their highest calling was to raise their own children to become passionate Jesus followers who would in turn raise the next generation of all-in Jesus followers. By the grace of God that has happened, and now they help other parents live out that mission through Intentional Parents International. Phil and Diane sat down with Shawna Murlin to discuss how first generatio...

Singer-songwriter Ellie Holcomb and Melanie Hester discuss Ellie’s career and how music can be useful in the discipleship of kids. SHOW NOTES SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode.  Watch Today’s Conversation Ready for more? Childdiscipleship.com is your one stop shop for resources dedicated to helping kids form lasting faiths in Jesus , including resour...

Santosh Swamidass and Melanie Hester discuss how to help kids live on mission, their mutual passion for child discipleship, and how church leaders can better equip parents to be confident in discipleship. SHOW NOTES SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode.  Watch Today’s Conversation Ready for more? Childdiscipleship.com is your one stop shop for resources dedic...

Darren Whitehead sat down with Ross Cochran at the 2023 Child Discipleship Forum to discuss an initiative happening at Church of the City, where Darren serves as Senior Pastor, to serve families in the foster care system. Ross and Darren discuss how all churches of all sizes can serve all families and all kids in foster care. SHOW NOTES Learn more about The Village at Church of the City SUBSCRIBE...

Dr. Shelly Melia is the Associate Dean at the Graduate School of Ministry at Dallas Baptist University and a leader in helping children’s ministry leaders provide hope and healing to the kids in their ministries that have adverse childhood experiences. In this conversation, Dr. Melia and Melanie Hester discuss practical ways that church leaders can become more equipped to navigate this compl...

Robert and Lori Crosby and Melanie Hester discuss how to help kids who have experienced trauma experience the love of Jesus, and how to train leaders well to disciple those kids. SHOW NOTES Robert Crosby, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at California Baptist University. A former youth pastor with over twenty-five years’ experience in children’s and youth ministry, he is a leading scholar in the fi...

Rebekah Lyons and Awana President and CEO Matt Markins discuss the uncertain future our kids are facing, and the critical role of loving caring adults, live at the 2023 Child Discipleship Forum. SHOW NOTES Access more resources for helping form lasting faith in kids, including Rebekah’s full presentation from the 2023 Child Discipleship Forum Check out THINQ (formerly Q Ideas,) a ministry fo...

On today’s episode we walk through some of the discussion and highlights featured in a book club that was created for Matt Markins, Awana President and CEO’s latest book,  The Faith of Our Children: Eight Timely Research Insights for Discipling the Next Generation.  You’ll hear clips of conversation and insight form Matt Markins, Melanie Hester, Jenny Smith, Sam Luce and Catherin...

Ed Stetzer joined Jenny Smith and Ross Cochran for a wide ranging conversation at the 2023 Child Discipleship Forum about culture, the trends that research clearly points to, and what that all means for our kids and the future of the faith. SHOW NOTES SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode. Watch Today’s Conversation Ready for more? Childdiscipleship.com is you...

The Child Discipleship Podcast is a conversation dedicated to anyone who cares about the future of the faith. Today, after 185 episodes in the host seat, we wish Ross Cochran a fond farewell as he begins a new chapter outside of Awana and hands the podcast microphone to Melanie Hester. Stay tuned for more details on the season ahead for Awana and the podcast! SHOW NOTES SUBSCRIBE wherever you get...

Awana President and CEO Matt Markins returns to the podcast to announce his latest book, The Faith of Our Children: Eight Timely Research Insights for Discipling the Next Generation . He and Ross Cochran walk through key elements of the book, what Matt hopes readers walk away from it knowing, and how a children’s ministry team can build ministry around the primary areas that form lasting fai...

Brad & Marilyn Rhoads are the cofounders of Grace Marriage. Brad and Ross Cochran discuss how kids benefit from marriages where couples pursue one another, the role church leaders play in helping kids understand what God expects out of a marriage, and how family ministries can support all aspects of the family. SHOW NOTES Learn more about the Grace Marriage ministry Get your copy of the Grace...

Grant Skeldon serves as the Next Gen Director for THINQ with Gabe and Rebekah Lyons. Through the Next Up podcast, Grant teams up with Will Chung, Lead Pastor of Beloved Church, to change the next-gen narrative. Grant and host Ross Cochran discuss the three distinct generations that make up “nextgen,” the difference between discipleship and mentorship, and what Grant sees as the common...

Pastor Darren Whitehead and host Ross Cochran discuss why it is so critical to disciple kids before the age of 13, the ways that technology forms our kids in today’s society, and helpful ways to connect with your senior pastor for the sake of discipleship. SHOW NOTES Check out Church of the City, where Darren Serves as the Lead Pastor Learn more about the Digital Detox that Darren and Church...

Jon Tyson, Senior Pastor of Church of the City New York, provides an urgent call for intentional discipleship of young men. Jon and host Ross Cochran discuss the difference between being “a good man” and “good at being a man,” the unique power technology has over this generation, and the path forward for those of us invested in the future of the faith. SHOW NOTES Check out...

Rich Villodas is a pastor, speaker and author, and joined Ross Cochran for an in-depth conversation on discipleship. Rich helps define what is shaping those who walk into his church in New York City, how to help leaders disciple kids when they themselves were never discipled, and navigating an emotionally healthy home life with and ministry. Rich and Ross also discuss how to help kids understand h...

Robby Gallaty is the Senior Pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, TN and the Founder of Replicate Ministries. During this conversation, Pastor Robby shared his personal story, the importance of following the Holy Spirit’s direction in discipleship over everything else in your church, and encouragement for parents today. Thanks for listening! SHOW NOTES Save your seat for th...