THE MINISTRY LEADER PODCAST

Developing the next generation of young leaders

Part 2 of our small group conversation

Is it the best way to reach young people?

We promised you some updates this month and to be honest, when we said that, we weren't sure yet what those updates would be. Reggie and I (Brian) were in the midst of making some decisions about our professional lives and over the course of the last 4 weeks we have both made some significant changes. In this episode we'll share what those changes are for each of us and what we're looking forward...

This episode from June 2021, kicked off a series focused on the cultural attributes of Youth For Christ. The conversation revolves around how we define a Christ-centered culture. The other episodes in the series are linked in the notes below. Original show notes from June 28, 2021: This episode kicks off a 6 part series on culture, or more specifically, the culture that defines our minstry at Yout...

This episode from August 2021 was one of our favorites, not just because it was a fun conversation to have, but because of the value it communicates to a young person when you remember their name. And as you will hear, we're not always good at it. So since we needed the reminder, we thought it might not hurt to share it again with our listeners as well. Original show notes from August 30, 2021: As...

Spring Break trips have been a staple for our ministry in Northern Indiana for years. But we've recently had to rethink that experience and consider new opportunities to engage young people in smaller groups. In this episode from March of 2021 we brainstormed some new ideas that could be helpful for you as you plan small group Spring Break outings now or in the future. Original show notes from Mar...

This month we are going back in time to revisit some or our favorite and most listened to episodes. In this episode we revisit a conversation we had (a little prematurely) in May of 2020 about youth ministry programming in a post-COVID world. Though we're technically still not living in a world beyond COVID, there's not doubt that our ministry models and methods have changed. Listen again with us...

Having an appointment with a student is one of the best ways to connect with them, hear their story, address their needs, and even share the gospel. But there are a few things to keep in mind as you plan your next appointment. In this episode we don't talk about any of those. Instead we want to tell you about the worst appointment ever and hope that you can avoid these mistakes... seriously please...

Reggie and I have noticed that there has been a common thread of discouragement and overwhelm in so many of our recent conversations with others. And we recognize that many of you may be experiencing similar feelings. So we wanted to take an opportunity to share a few thoughts that have been encouraging to us over the past year. We hope that you might be encouraged as well. For more on the Healthy...

We took a little break right after the new year, partly due to the fact that Reggie was across the country in Denver, Colorado serving as a presenter and small group facilitator for YFC Institute, Youth For Christ's flagship training event for new staff. In this episode we discuss his experience at Institute and how it relates to Martin Luther King, Jr Day. If you attended YFC Institute recently,...

In our first episode of 2021 we made some pretty bold predictions about what we thought we would see in the world of youth ministry this year. Now, as we wrap up the year, we're taking a look back and discussing what actually happened and evaluating the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of our predictions. What do you hope to see happen in the realm of youth ministry in 2022? Visit us on Facebook and join...

With Christmas quickly approaching, we wanted to take time to reflect on a few quotes from a book that has made a lasting impact on my (Brian) life and ministry for the last 20 years, The God-Bearing Life: The Art of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry by Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster. The quotes we discuss in this episode are listed in the paragraph below. If you get a chance to listen, we would l...

Family gatherings. Company parties. Youth group Christmas celebrations. There's a lot happening this time of year and we have the guide that will help you make it through. Listen in and share with a friend, because in this episode we're sharing the ultimate youth worker's Christmas survival guide! What did we miss in this guide? Visit us on Facebook and let us know what else is essential for your...

The Ministry Leader Conference is one of our favorite events of the year and we're excited to be able to meet again locally, in-person, for the first time in a couple of years. In this episode we discuss why this conference is so valuable for our ministry teams and give you a preview of what you can expect at this year's conference which is happening on January 29, 2022. We hope you can be a part...

Christmas break provides great opportunities engage in some fun and different activities to build relationships with young people. In this episode we discuss some of our favorite building times for Christmastime. What is your favorite Christmas break activity? Visit us on Facebook and join the discussion.

With Thanksgiving coming up in just a few days, we wanted to take an opportunity to celebrate a few of the small things we witnessed this year that often get overlooked in our ministries. As you listen in on this conversation we'd encourage you to take a pause to consider the little things you are thankful for in the past year. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Today marks the kick off of the second annual We Believe in You(th) campaign across northern Indiana and we are inviting you to participate from wherever you are listening - locally or globally. This is a one week, all out campaign for the young people in our communities to let them know we see them, we love them, and we believe in them. Here are a few ways you can engage: Write an encouraging not...

The week of November 15-19, 2021 Youth for Christ of Northern Indiana is launching a one week, all out campaign for the young people of the region to let them know we see them, we love them, and we believe in them. We'll tell you more about it in this episode and how you can get involved. Check out https://yfcnin.org for more info. You can give to the campaign at https://give.yfcnin.org/you

Trips and events can be a strategic way to both engage new students and deepen relationships with those you currently serve. Those experiences and those memories can last a lifetime, but it's the relationships developed on those trips that have the potential for long term impact. In this episode, we're discussing a few ways leaders like you can leverage your time with students while serving on tri...

It's crazy to think we've been at this podcast for nearly 3 years now. In that time, we've learned a lot about podcasting, grown a ton as leaders, and hopefully helped you engage more effectively in relational ministry is some small way. This episode happens to the the 150th episode of the show and we thought we'd take some time to reflect, celebrate, and have some fun. Give it a listen OR watch t...

One of the best ways to get to know someone is simply by sitting down with them and having an intentional conversation to get to know their story. In this episode we're discussing a few conversational skills every youth worker needs to have great appointments with students. Next week we are releasing our 150th episdoe and we are responding to your questions! Send us your thoughts and/or questions...

One of the best ways to get to know someone is to spend time with them engaging in some type of shared experience. At Youth for Christ we call these experiences building times an in this episode we're discussing how these intentional actions can set you up to learn more about a young person's story in order to better serve them. What is the best building time you've ever had? Visit us on Facebook...

As the new ministry year begins, you and your team will likely be in contact with a lot of new students which can present some challenges if you are unsure how to engage. In this episode we're talking about how to start conversations and remember names. What is your strategy for remembering names of new students? Visit us on Facebook and join the discussion. Download this list of discussion starte...

As youthworkers seek to build healthy relationships with young people, we have to know where to go and how to initiate those relationships. In this episode we'll talk through the contacting process to help you and your team meet more young people as the school year kicks off. What tips do you have for meeting new students? Visit us on Facebook and join the discussion. Episode 145: Countdown to Kic...