The Effective Ministry Podcast

Winter Holiday Check-In Meaghan and Al from Youthworks’ Effective Ministry Podcast reflect during the winter holidays on topics they’ve been thinking about, including questions around using AI in youth ministry and how AI raises deeper issues of autonomy, authorship, authentic connection, and Christian anthropology. Meaghan shares her current focus on under fives, offering practical tips such as k...

Parenting in God's Family Vol. 2 | A Resource for Families & Ministry Leaders What does it look like to raise children who are anchored in Christ — and how can youth and children's ministry leaders partner with parents to make it happen? In this crossover episode with the Timeless Parenting Podcast (hosted by Ann Cunningham and Harriet Connor from Mothers' Union Sydney and Growing Faith/Youthw...

Al James and Annemarie Rivers discuss moving from “principle (theology/belief) to practice” in youth and children’s ministry, arguing against copying what’s always been done or what merely “works” and instead letting biblical and theological convictions guide intentional, reflective decisions. They outline their "thinking framework": start with a biblical/theological framework, bring in new knowle...

In today's episode, we're going to listen to a conversation between Annemarie Rivers and Al James on Adolescent development. It is a fascinating conversation about the biology and sociology of adolescent development and how they intersect with ministry to young people.  This conversation was originally recorded as an introduction to this topic, as it is taught at Youthworks College. If you enjoyed...

Preaching and Youth Ministry: Why the Preached Word Still Matters   In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, host Josh interviews The Rev Dr Tom Habib, a Moore Theological College lecturer and coordinator of the John Chapman Preaching Initiative. They trace preaching through Scripture: Deuteronomy as Moses’ covenant sermon; the prophets’ role in proclaiming the written word; Jesus as the...

Rev. Polly Butterworth, a Sydney high school chaplain, shares about her new role as Schools Ministry Development Officer for the Sydney Anglican Diocese, created to better support Anglican school ministry workers. She outlines five aims: pastoral support and mentoring networks for chaplains, strengthening partnerships between schools and churches, improving training and recruitment pathways for ch...

Episode Description This episode is a little different! We're sharing a recording of a Theology Think Tank on the topic of belonging , facilitated by Dr. Louise Gosbell in collaboration with YouthWorks College and the Ministry Support Team. You'll hear Louise's teaching, live Q&A, and group discussion — all focused on what it means to create spaces of belonging for children and young people in...

We’re thinking about how to make the most of when kids are in the room for church gatherings. In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast , Meaghan Gates, Adam Joliffe, and Al James share some simple, practical “low-hanging fruit” to help include children and young people meaningfully. We start with a core conviction: kids aren’t the “future church”—they’re full members of the body of Christ...

Kicking off the 2026 Effective Ministry podcast, Al James and Annemarie Rivers discuss how ecclesiology (the theology of the church) shapes youth and children’s ministry, asking whether youth group, kids’ church, and afterschool clubs are “church.” Drawing on Chase Kuhn’s work (including discussion of Donald Robinson, Broughton Knox, Kevin Giles, and Graham Cole), they explore church as the gather...

Welcome to our Summer Re-Release series 2025/26 This week, we are re-releasing episode 091 - Under 5's Ministry with Meagan Ho and Eliza Batten. Intentional Under Fives Ministry: Insights and Strategies In this episode, Meagan and Eliza discuss their extensive experience and passion for ministry to children under five. They share practical insights and examples from their own work including the im...

Welcome to our Summer Re-Release series 2025/26 This week, we are re-releasing episode 101 - Youth Ministry and the Social Media Ban with Chris Jones. Navigating Social Media Ban for Under 16s: Implications for Youth Ministry In this episode, Al chats with Chris Jones, a colleague on the Ministry Support Team at Youthworks. They discuss the upcoming social media ban for individuals under 16 in Aus...

Welcome to our Summer Re-Release series 2025/26 This week, we are re-releasing episode 98 - House Conference Follow up Q and A with Dr Viv Cheung and Dr Graham Stanton. This episode continues the HOUSE Conference 2025 series from Youthworks. Earlier, we released a pre-conference lead-up series including: Ep 92 - House Conference Special | Audio Reading of Paper by Viv Cheung | The Cost and Joy of...

Welcome to our Summer Re-Release series 2025/26 This week, we are re-releasing episode 090 - Public High School Ministry with Katie Stringer. In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, host Josh, a Youth and High School Ministry Advisor with YouthWorks in Sydney, speaks with Katie Stringer about Special Religious Education (SRE) in public high schools in New South Wales, Australia. Katie,...

Welcome to our Summer Re-Release series 2025/26 This week, we are re-releasing episode 97 - ADHD and discipleship in children and youth ministry. In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, host Meaghan Gates is joined by Di Lucas from Youthworks Ministry Support Team and Luke Graham, a children's minister in Canterbury. The discussion focuses on the significant challenges and rewarding exp...

Welcome to our Summer Re-Release series 2025/26 This week, we are re-releasing episode 82 with Rev Dr Graham Stanton. This week we talk with Revd Dr Graham Stanton,  Founding Principal of Youthworks College . Graham is currently Director of the Centre for Children's and Youth Ministry and Lecturer in Practical Theology at Ridley College in Melbourne. He is also founder and director of Youth Minist...

In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, Josh chats with Marty Robinson about the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) within youth and children's ministry. Marty provides a theological framework encompassing creation, the fall, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, examining how each element relates to A.I. usage in ministry. They address both the benefits and caveats of A.I., such as enhancin...

Navigating Social Media Ban for Under 16s: Implications for Youth Ministry In this episode, Al chats with Chris Jones, a colleague on the Ministry Support Team at Youthworks. They discuss the upcoming social media ban for individuals under 16 in Australia, taking effect on December 10. They explore the practical and pastoral implications of this ban on youth ministry, including how to adapt commun...

In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, host Josh, a Youth and High School ministry advisor with Youthworks in Sydney, continues the series on high school ministry by interviewing recent high school graduates Ellie and Annaliese. They dive deep into their experiences in public and Christian high schools, discussing how school environments influenced and impacted their faith. The episode...

In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, hosted by Josh from Youthworks in Sydney, we dive into the ministry opportunities within Christian high schools. Denis Oliver, the College Chaplain at Thomas Hassall Anglican College and former parish minister, shares his journey from parish ministry to school chaplaincy. He discusses the unique gospel opportunities in Christian schools, the spiri...

This episode continues the HOUSE Conference 2025 series from Youthworks. Earlier, we released a pre-conference lead-up series including: Ep 92 - House Conference Special | Audio Reading of Paper by Viv Cheung | The Cost and Joy of Being a Living Sacrifice Ep 93- House Conference Special | Audio Reading of Paper by Graham Stanton | The Beauty and Ugliness of Sacrifice Ep 94 - House Conference group...

In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, host Meaghan Gates is joined by Di Lucas from Youthworks Ministry Support Team and Luke Graham, a children's minister in Canterbury. The discussion focuses on the significant challenges and rewarding experiences of working with neurodiverse children in church settings. Luke shares insights about creating inclusive spaces through initiatives like t...

This is part two of a two-part conversation with Valerie O’Brien from Aspen Ministry. If you haven’t listened to part one yet, go back and catch that first—we explored Val’s story in youth ministry and her work on the 10,000 Questions Project . In this shorter follow-up episode, host Al James and Val get practical about what it looks like to create youth ministry environments where asking question...

This is part one of a two-part conversation with Valerie O’Brien from Aspen Ministry. In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast , host Al James sits down with Val to talk about her journey into youth ministry and her latest initiative, the 10,000 Questions Project . Val, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, has spent more than 15 years serving in student ministry through the local church—walking w...

HOUSE Conference 2025 group discussion with Jocelyn Bignill & Toby Macgregor In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, host Josh Ord and guests Jocelyn and Toby dive into the theme of 'The Cost and Joy of Sacrifice' as part of the lead-up to House Conference 2025. They discuss two conference papers: 'The Cost and Joy of Being a Living Sacrifice' by Dr Viv Cheung and 'The Beauty and Ug...

This episode is part of our HOUSE Conference 2025 lead‑up series from Youthworks, exploring this year’s theme — The Cost and Joy of Sacrifice . In this episode, we share the full audio of the conference paper The Beauty and Ugliness of Sacrifice , written by Rev Dr Graham Stanton . This theological paper, with a pastoral edge, explores the beauty of sacrifice as an ideal for Christian living and t...