The Child Discipleship Podcast

In case you haven’t noticed, we think that the Child Discipleship Forum is a pretty big deal. Mike Handler, Melanie Hester and Ross Cochran sat down to preview this year’s Forum and share what makes this gathering unique. We can’t wait to see you and your team in Nashville or online! SHOW NOTES Save your seat for the 2023 Child Discipleship Forum, and take advantage of our best p...

Taylor Johnson, The Next Gen Minister and Children’s Minister at The Church at Station Hill in Tennessee, has been serving in various roles in child discipleship since he was 17. Ross Cochran and Taylor discussed how kids today are expected to achieve more than ever before, while their families have never been busier, and never been in church less often. Taylor provided perspective for pract...

Gloria Lee, Director of Family Ministries at Pacific Crossroads Church in California, shared what it’s like to lead ministry today compared to when she started in children’s ministry. She also discussed with Host Ross Cochran how to retain volunteers, how to avoid comparison, and what kids will remember about children’s ministry 30 years later. SHOW NOTES Learn more about Gloria...

Josh is the Director of Family Discipleship at Storyline Church and has served in Next Generation ministry since 2010 and is passionate about seeing the church and home work together in the discipleship of kids and students. He and Ross Cochran discuss how children’s ministry leaders recruit and manage volunteer teams, even when it feels like a “group project” that never ends! SH...

Sam Luce, Pastor of Global Ministries at Redeemer Church in New York, helps kick off season five of the podcast by talking about recruiting volunteers. It is easy to be overly apologetic when we recruit volunteers, or to become overburdened and try to do everything ourselves. Sam provides wisdom and practical solutions on leaders can be a “non-anxious” presence for their teams and focu...

Awana President and CEO Matt Markins returns to share how the rhythms and systems we establish up in our churches and families make child discipleship possible. Matt also discusses the stalemate that exists between parents and children’s ministry leaders over being the primary discipleship influence in the life of a child, and how Awana is continuing to partner with the local church to meet...

Host, Ross Cochran, interviews Mark and Kim Fordyce, on their long-standing relationship with the ministry of Awana. They discuss how the Gospel entered their home through intentional child discipleship and the transformation that took place in their hearts and in their home. SHOW NOTES SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode. You can leave a voicemail for the s...

Director of Discipleship Engagement, Melanie Hester, speaks with author, speaker, and founder of Every Woman a Theologian, Phylicia Masonheimer, on the necessity of every person having a strong biblical theology and intimate relationship with God in order to disciple our children well. SHOW NOTES Watch the entire conversation HERE SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an...

Ross Cochran discovers why and how Tony Souder, CEO of One Hundred Years, founded a ministry where each young person has three adults praying for them called the Pray for Me Campaign. SHOW NOTES Learn more about the Pray for Me Campaign. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode. You can leave a voicemail for the show at 630-289-5353 and email the show at podcasts...

Host, Ross Cochran, and President & CEO, Matt Markins are joined by CEO of the Josh McDowell Ministry, Zack Wilson, and Director of Resolution Movement, Ben Bennett, to journey through the pros and cons that come with exposing our kids to social media. SHOW NOTES Learn more about the Josh McDowell ministry. Learn More about Resolution Movement. Check out Free to Thrive book. Check out Mark Say...

We hear from our Ukrainian Missionaries one year after the war began. SHOW NOTES Support Awana Ukraine. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode. You can leave a voicemail for the show at 630-289-5353 and email the show at podcasts@awana.org. The post Ukraine: One Year Later appeared first on Child Discipleship .

Host, Ross Cochran, and Director of Discipleship Insight, Melanie Hester, process with author and co-founder of Girl defined, BethanyBeal, on why it’s so important for girls to have an identity as God’s daughter.  Then, they discuss how the body of Christ can come alongside girls to help them find that identity. SHOW NOTES Learn more about Girl Defined. Learn more about Bethany’s...

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....

Russia launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24th 2022. One year later, Anita and Pavils from Ukraine joined Ross Cochran and Tom Chilton to reflect on how they’ve seen God move in the past year, the current needs of the ministry and the people in Ukraine, and how we all can join them in prayer. Thank you for listening, and please continue to pray for the people of Ukraine. S...

President and CEO, Matt Markins, CCIO, Mike Handler, and host, Ross Cochran, digest part of the wisdom that 2022 CDF Faculty, Andy Crouch, gives about actively choosing who or what we let form our kids spiritually. SHOW NOTES SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode. You can leave a voicemail for the show at 630-289-5353 and email the show at podcasts@awana.org....

Host, Ross Cochran, interviews author and founder of Deeper KidMin, Brittany Nelson, on why and how to embrace technology as a tool to connect with the next generation but not let it overwhelm your ministry. SHOW NOTES Learn more about Brittany’s ministry. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode. You can leave a voicemail for the show at 630-289-5353 and e...

When we start looking for a children’s ministry curriculum, we tend to ask publishers questions like: “Is it Bible-based?” or “Can I see your scope and sequence?” But if we dug underneath them, we’d find the question we are really asking is, “Will this curriculum truly help us make child disciples?” Matt Markins and Melanie Hester talk through the most important questions to ask a provider w...

Author and Senior Editor and Director of Communications at The Gospel Coalition, Brett McCracken,  processes with host, Ross Cochran, on dancing the tightrope of keeping technology at arms length, using it to Glorify God, and everything in between. SHOW NOTES Listen to the first episode with Brett. Learn more about Brett’s ministry. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never...

Author, teacher, and spiritual director, Lacy Finn Borgo explains our need to be with Jesus in order to lead our kids to Him so God can have the last bat over their lives. SHOW NOTES Learn more about Lacy’s ministry.  Purchase Lacy’s book, “All Will Be Well”    Use promo code: AWANA22 for 30 percent off plus free shipping! SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so y...

Special Needs Minister, Tiffany McCullough, confidently expresses how God has led her and her church to embrace the special needs community as friends who need the Gospel just like anyone else.  Ross Cochran and Marlon Washington host. SHOW NOTES Learn more about Tiffany’s ministry. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode. You can leave a voicemail for the...

Listen as four staff members of Hope Collective Church passionately proclaim why discipleship to the special needs community matters, and what it looks like for a church to serve them. SHOW NOTES Learn more about ACCESS at Hope Collective. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode. You can leave a voicemail for the show at 630-289-5353 and email the show at podcas...

Hosts, Ross Cochran and Shawna Murlin, interview Family Ministries Pastor, Gina Spivey, on how serving a special needs child at church gives their whole family the Gospel and a place to belong. SHOW NOTES Learn more about Gina’s ministry. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode. You can leave a voicemail for the show at 630-289-5353 and email the show at p...

Founders of Intentional Parents, Phil & Diane Comer, use scripture, examples, and wisdom to help you fight against apathy when discipling your children. Then, Awana hosts, Ross and Kellie further discuss how to be intentional disciple-makers in your home and church. SHOW NOTES Learn more about Phil and Diane’s ministry. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an...

Hosts, Ross Cochran and Shawna Murlin, continue their conversation with Dave & Jess Ray of Doorpost Song on what it looks like to be intentional about family discipleship.  And as a special Christmas gift, Dave goes against executive producer, Marlon Washington, in a improv scripture singing battle! Merry Christmas! SHOW NOTES Learn more about Dave & Jess’ ministry. SUBSCRIBE whereve...

Hosts, Ross Cochran and Shawna Murlin, have a joyous conversation with Dave & Jess Ray of Doorpost Song on what it looks like to be intentional about family discipleship.  Merry Christmas! SHOW NOTES Learn more about Dave & Jess’ ministry. SUBSCRIBE wherever you get your podcasts today so you never miss an episode. You can leave a voicemail for the show at 630-289-5353 and email the...