Women in Youth Ministry

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: Last week we talked about keeping our children and youth safe in the church, and we are continuing that conversation by talking about how we can be trauma-informed as leaders. You never know who is walking around with trauma, and Sara Nichole gives us several practical ways to care for our people. ABOUT SARA NICHOLE: Sara has been serving as a Children’s and Youth Ministry Dire...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: This week our guest is Ansley Higgenbotham. We talk about a topic that is one of my greatest soapboxes: SAFETY! We hear about the knucklehead things that youth pastors do all the time, so let's talk about how to set up some boundaries and create a policy that protects your children, youth, and vulnerable adults as well as your staff and volunteers. ABOUT ANSLEY HIGGINBOTHAM...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: Heather brings in Mama Caro to encourage youth workers to finish this year strong. Mama Caro imparts some wisdom as we plan a new school year, and encourages us to embrace safety this summer. ABOUT STEPHANIE CARO: Stephanie Caro has been involved in ministry to children, youth, and adults in the local church (both large and small) since…a long time ago. Her humorous, straightfo...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: This week's episode is a gift. Erica Schimelpfenig is the Executive Director of YouthWorks. Like youth ministry, the missions field has a reputation for being led by primarily white men. What is it like to lead as a black woman in a primarily white space -- especially in Minneapolis, the home of the murder of George Floyd and the very public trial of his murderer?  ABOUT ER...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: When we talk about sexual purity with our students, what we are REALLY doing is promising that our kids will get married one day. So how do we talk about sex instead? A much-anticipated podcast episode from our Facebook group, Rebekah gives us some new ideas. ABOUT REBEKAH: Rebekah Strobel is an ordained reverend who worked in youth ministry for over 10 years! She currently ser...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: This episode of the podcast packs a punch: We discuss the sexual misconduct of male leaders in Christian Ministry, and how women can avoid those mistakes by partnering with one another. We do discuss sexual trauma, so if you are sensitive to that subject you may want to skip this episode and we'll see you next week! ABOUT IRENE: Irene is a national speaker, writer, consulta...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE : Have you ever been a guest on your own podcast? This week Heather is interviewed by April Diaz on the transformation of coaching groups, including the announcement of coaching groups beginning in May! Heather will be leading a group designed for women in ministry, although there are many other groups available to choose from. Heather shares about her most vulnerable struggle -...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: We are BACK with Season THREE of the podcast! This season Heather invited 12 AMAZING guests, and we are excited to kick it off with Gwendolyn DeRosa. Gwen shares "all means all," how to include our LGBTQ+ youth, even if you do not come from an affirming point of view.  ABOUT GWEN: Gwendolyn DeRosa (she/her/hers) loves teaching, storytelling, and being creative. Gwen g...

It's the last episode of our season "Women Teach the Bible." It's been awesome hearing from each of these 12 women a story in the Bible that they hold close, and how they've interpreted it. This week Bethany brings a fresh look at the Samaritan Woman.  ABOUT BETHANY: Bethany is the Middle School Youth Director at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Columbia South Carolina. She loves board game...

We've got two episodes left of this series before we start our new season! Shuree speaks SO much truth into us about Proverbs 31 -- but it's not the same ol' rusty sermon you've heard before.  ABOUT SHUREE : Shuree is an urban activist and performing vocal artist with a demonstrated history of working in the music industry and in urban communities.  Ms. Rivera is...

This week's guest is Kat Bair! Kat and I met through another friend in ministry, as I was on the hunt for other women in the UMC who lead multi-staff youth ministry teams. I've been told by MULTIPLE people this year how talented Kat is, and I'm so excited to have her on this week. For our last episode of 2020, Kat is teaching us about Mary, the mother of Jesus. Merry Christmas, and see you in 2021...

We're back after two weeks off! This week's guest is Karli. Karli joins us to talk about her quest for her future husband, I mean, the story of Ruth. But the story isn't what you think it is! When do you need to step out like Ruth? And when do you need to embrace being an Orpah? ABOUT KARLI : Karli Loving resides in Lawton, Oklahoma, where she is the Youth and Children’s Minister at Zoe Christian...

This week the amazing Matumaini joins us to talk about the Parable of the 10 Virgins, and how to be prepared with extra oil in your life. ABOUT MATUMAINI: Pastor Matumaini Taylor, M.Div. is the Director of High School Ministry at Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, CA. She has 20 years of youth development and ministry experience and loves encouraging teenagers. ---- Thank you for supporti...

Chelsea joins us again this week as we dive into the story of Jochabed and relying on God, even in exhile. ABOUT CHELSEA: Chelsea Peddecord is a Texas native serving at Highland Park United Methodist Church. She went to Oklahoma State and recently finished her Masters of Theological Studies at SMU Perkins. Please ask her anything about Broadway, the Dallas Mavs, the Dallas Cowboys, or her pets Wes...

This week we have our first return-guest: Rita Prior! Rita shares with us the story of Deborah, particularly the etymology and meaning around Deborah's name. We talk about how to do justice work like a honey bee. ABOUT RITA: Rita Prior lives in Evansville, IN and serves at Church of the Harvest. She’s an author, activist, and health coach. You can connect with Rita on Facebook here: https://www.fa...

This week we take a break from Women Teach the Bible to talk with CYMT about their special initiative, "The Innovation Lab." Started before the pandemic, this initiative has only exploded with a wealth of knowledge and resources for the everyday youth worker trying to make it through this pandemic. ABOUT CYMT, MEGHAN, & ANDREW: The Center for Youth Ministry Training's Innovation Lab helps shap...

This week Heather laughs until she cries. Sunny Brown is one of her favorite humans and youth workers, and we think you'll agree. Sunny shares about the Daughters of Zelophehad and how they demanded their worth to none other than Moses.  ABOUT SUNNY: Pastor Sunny Brown has served for 20 years as a Youth Pastor, Worship Pastor, and Associate Pastor. She is an advocate for justice, equity, diversity...

Have you seen that meme floating around about "If you can't handle me at my Judges 4-5, you don't deserve me at my Proverbs 31?" Today Elle Dowd dives into that passage with Heather, and what it says about our leadership and femininity. ABOUT ELLE: Elle Dowd (she/her/hers) is a bi-furious recent graduate of the  Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago  and a candidate for ordained ministr...

When Heather thought about this series, the FIRST person she thought of was Loni. Loni is a natural story-teller, thinking of stories in new and creative ways. Loni talks Adam & Eve and what it means for us today. ABOUT LONI : Loni Fancher is the Director of Youth at First UMC Arlington, Texas and will never stop being weirded out that God’s led her back to serve in her hometown. She spent mos...

Heather sits down with Mikiala for this FIRST EPISODE in our new series "Women Teach the Bible." Mikiala shares the story of Tamar, and some of the, uh, unconventional lessons for our own leadership this season. Also, you'll never guess what commonality Heather and Mikiala share. IT'S WILD. ABOUT MIKIALA: Mikiala grew up in South Florida. She started volunteering in student ministry while still a...

Heather sits down with David Miller, VP of Coaching at Slingshot Group and author of Improv Leadership: How to Lead Well in Every Moment, which just released June 9th. They talk about how to know you're at the right church, whether in the interview process or in a position. Heather shares some of the raw details of her own journey to discerning her call in a hard season. ABOUT DAVID: David A. Mill...

Happy Pride Month! Linzi & Meggie are newlyweds who live in Nashville, both youth directors at two local churches. Heather talks with them about their experiences as queer persons in ministry, a gospel for those on the margins, and how to best minister to the queer students in your ministry...because they're there. In case you didn't know, Women in Youth MInistry seeks to be an organization th...

This week's guest is Tandy Adams! Tandy and I chat our journeys moving from working within the SBC to finding our way to the UMC...in Indiana! We are legit like 2 miles away from each other, ha! We also reflect on the beautiful things the SBC gave us. You know your girls love us some scripture. ABOUT TANDY: Tandy has been in vocational ministry for 31 years, most of those as a youth pastor. She at...

This week Heather invites Chelsea Peddecord onto the podcast! Chelsea runs our social media for WYM (so those memes that are posted every Monday? That's her!) amongst so many other things. This week we chat the Enneagram -- Chelsea is a 3 and Heather is an 8. We explore some of the misconceptions and hurt that comes with being strong women, the differences between the numbers 3 & 8, and most i...

This week we chat with the godfather of middle school ministry, Marko. I invited Marko on because I have been long-impressed by his relationships with women and his passion for publishing books and hosting cohorts for women in youth ministry. This episode we talk about SO MUCH, including speaking out when you're convicted about something. His journey of affirming women in leadership is something y...