youngadults.today

Young adults aren’t bored with the Bible… they’re bored with shallow expressions of it. In this episode of the Young Adults Today podcast, Josiah and Micah unpack the 7 biggest trends shaping young adult ministry in 2026– and what they mean for your church, campus, and calling. 🔍 In this episode, we cover: Why community is eclipsing content for Gen Z & young adults Why young adults are hungry...

Is your young adult ministry built on personality—or on the person of Jesus? In this masterclass conversation, Kylan Perry from The Porch at Watermark Church (Dallas, TX) joins Josiah & Micah to unpack what makes young adult ministry uniquely powerful, how The Porch has stayed resilient beyond any one leader, and why the next generation is spiritually “appetite + aptitude” on fire. If you’re l...

What do you do when God speaks a powerful call over your life… and the next day your dad suddenly dies? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Griffin McGrath joins Josiah and Micah Kennealy to talk about loss, resilient faith, spiritual fathers, and a rising young adult movement in Arizona. From losing his dad at 15 to pioneering youth and young adult ministry across the desert, Griffin shares how se...

Does marketing really matter for churches and young adult ministries? In 2026, the answer is a loud yes—if you want to actually reach Gen Z and young adults. In this episode, Josiah Kennealy sits down with Dillon Smith (CMO.Church, former marketing lead for the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast & Life. Church Open Network, and former content manager for Carey Nieuwhof) for a masterclass in ch...

What if this summer became the most spiritually significant season for the young adults you lead? In this episode of youngadults.today, Josiah and Micah unpack 15 practical, creative, and low-pressure ideas to help you reach, disciple, and mobilize young adults in your church and community. From lake days and rooftop hangs to city impact projects, financial literacy nights, and leadership developm...

In this special podcast mashup between youngadults.today and the Shepherd Hearted Leadership podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Nate Ruch of Emmanuel Christian Center to talk about future-ready leadership, legacy, and young adult ministry. Pastor Nate shares why young adult ministry is a “well” that shapes the rest of a person’s life, how to lead without burning out, and what it really...

From Hawk Nelson to Rock Bottom & Back: Jason Dunn on Prodigals, Deconstruction, and Starting Over Former Hawk Nelson frontman Jason Dunn joins Josiah and Micah Kennealy to share his powerful prodigal story—from Christian rock fame, burnout, and blowing all his money in New York… to moving back in with his parents at 30, meeting his wife Neve, and rediscovering Jesus. Jason opens up about deco...

Backyard Nights: How a Once-a-Month Gathering Is Reaching Young Adults in Oklahoma In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Josh and Blake, the leaders of Backyard Nights—a once-a-month worship gathering for young adults in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. They unpack why young adult ministry is so vital in 2026, how Backyard Nights started as a side project and grew into a ci...

From Status Quo to Curated Experiences: Forming Gritty Young Leaders with North Central University President Darnell Williams In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with President Darnell Williams of North Central University to talk about why the status quo isn’t working in higher education or the church, and what it means to move from being a repository of knowledge to a...

In this episode of the Young Adults Today Podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Derek Wile, Next Gen Associate Pastor at Faith Church in South Carolina. Derek shares his journey from Minnesota to South Carolina, how God led him into young adult ministry, and how his church is reaching young adults across nine locations with a sustainable, scalable model. You’ll hear the story behind Toget...

In this episode of the Young Adults Today podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down with Brennan Schmidt, Young Adults Pastor at GracePoint Church in Brookings, South Dakota, and leader of Oasis, a weekly ministry gathering 700+ young adults across two Sunday night services. Brennan unpacks the “secret sauce” behind sustaining and scaling young adult ministry in the local church over decades—not as a sid...

In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Dan LaCella from Ohio to talk about why young adult ministry is not optional for the local church anymore. Dan shares: Why the young adult decade (roughly 18–30) is so spiritually strategic How a local young adult ministry helped him “own” his faith at a secular university What God is doing among young adults across Ohio—...

In this episode of the Young Adults Today podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down once again with Pastor Danny Rangel from BT Young Adults in McAllen, Texas. Danny shares a powerful three–year recap of BT Young Adults—from humble beginnings after the pandemic to campus worship nights, spontaneous baptisms, and record-breaking Tuesday gatherings. They dive deep into: Why weekly young adult services incr...

Spark: Awakening Courageous Creativity & Preparing for Revival with Al Gordon In this episode of the Young Adults Today Podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down (via Zoom to London) with Al Gordon—pastor of SAINT Church in East London and author of Spark. Al shares how planting a church on “Murder Mile,” preaching the funeral of a murdered teenager, and then encountering a Netflix documentary became...

You did it—you started a young adult ministry. Now comes the real challenge: how do you sustain it and make it stronger? In this episode, Josiah and Micah Kennealy unpack seven practical, Spirit‑led ways to move beyond just filling a room to actually forming lives for decades. Whether you’re a pastor, young adult leader, or volunteer, this conversation will help you build a ministry that’s not dep...

Josiah and Micah Kennealy talk with Banks Ramsey about pastoring your peers, his journey of Prodigal Pastor's Kid to Pastor himself, and the enemies of discipleship in the life of a young adult. More about us: Learn more about youngadultstoday: www.youngadults.today Give to propel the ministry forward: https://tithe.ly/give?c=5350133 Resources: -Free eBook "10 Steps to Starting a Successful Young...

Josiah and Micah Kennealy talk with Nadine Krill about Thursdays at Mariners, leading a killer social media for churches and young adult ministries! More about us: Learn more about youngadultstoday: www.youngadults.today Give to propel the ministry forward: https://tithe.ly/give?c=5350133 Resources: -Free eBook "10 Steps to Starting a Successful Young Adult Ministry": https://www.youngadults.today...

Josiah and Micah Kennealy talk with Serena Gonzalez from Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas about how Lakewood is rethinking young adult ministry in 2026!  More about us: Learn more about youngadultstoday: www.youngadults.today Give to propel the ministry forward: https://tithe.ly/give?c=5350133 Resources: -Free eBook "10 Steps to Starting a Successful Young Adult Ministry": https://www.youngadults...

Josiah and Micah Kennealy talk with Aaron Wadsworth from Grace Church in Arizona about Unified College. More about us: Learn more about youngadultstoday: www.youngadults.today Give to propel the ministry forward: https://tithe.ly/give?c=5350133 Resources: -Free eBook "10 Steps to Starting a Successful Young Adult Ministry": https://www.youngadults.today/book -Join our FaceBook Group Community with...

In this episode, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Josh Dillon from New Life Church, Colorado, to talk about calling, hidden seasons, and building a healthy, intergenerational young adult ministry. Josh shares his story of walking away from God, encountering Jesus again in late high school, and the 7–8 year journey from sensing a call to finally stepping into pastoral ministry. Together they u...

In this conversation, Frank Beeler (Generis; formerly Elevation Church) joins Josiah and Micah Kennealyto talk about what to do when your God-given vision is bigger than your current resources. Frank unpacks a pastoral, theologically rich view of fundraising as ministry, the tension between confidence and humility, and why young adult ministry is absolutely critical in this cultural moment. Frank...

Micah Kennealy shares as a part of the youngadultstoday 2026 digital conference! Be sure to join one of our Coaching Communities: www.youngadults.today/coaching-communities You're invited to our youngadultstoday leader conference March 13-14th in Minnesota: www.youngadults.today/conference  

Jordan McClarnon shares as a part of the youngadultstoday 2026 digital conference! Be sure to join one of our Coaching Communities: www.youngadults.today/coaching-communities You're invited to our youngadultstoday leader conference March 13-14th in Minnesota: www.youngadults.today/conference  

Josiah Kennealy shares as a part of the youngadultstoday 2026 digital conference! Be sure to join one of our Coaching Communities: www.youngadults.today/coaching-communities You're invited to our youngadultstoday leader conference March 13-14th in Minnesota: www.youngadults.today/conference  

In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Charlie Hedley, Next Gen Pastor at New Beginnings Community Church in Southern California and Young Adult Director for the SoCal Network (AG). Charlie shares his story of coming to faith at 18, stepping into ministry at a young age, and now championing young adults across a diverse region. Together they unpack why young adult mi...