youngadults.today

Jackson Hanson, young adults pastor at Zoe Church, joins Josiah and Micah Kennealy to discuss how churches can help Gen Z find purpose, grow in faith, and become active members of the local church. They explore why meaningful discipleship happens beyond Sunday services, how young adults can be given room to lead and learn from failure, and the value of intergenerational mentorship. In this episode...

Pastor Eric Geiger (Senior Pastor of Mariners Church) joins Micah and Josiah Kennealy to talk about serving young adults through spiritual care, honest teaching, and meaningful community. Eric shares how his own faith journey shaped his ministry, why young adults often want spiritual parents more than a “cool friend,” and how leaders can begin by listening before launching a program. They also dis...

Pastor Daniel Goulding joins Josiah Kennealy to talk about reaching young adults, building healthy ministry teams, and planting Echoes Church. Daniel shares how a life-changing encounter with faith shaped his path from youth ministry to serving young adults—and eventually launching a church rooted in both sound teaching and spiritual vitality. They discuss why young adulthood is a pivotal season f...

What does it take to build a young adult ministry that forms people—not just fills a room? Hannah Rivera, young adult pastor at Multiply Church, joins Micah and Josiah to talk about spiritual formation, building community, and developing healthy leaders. Hannah shares how her family’s ministry legacy and her own journey shaped her calling. She explains why she believes ages 18–30 are a pivotal sea...

Are You Really Covered? The Insurance Basics Every Young Adult Should Know Insurance can feel like something to think about later—until an accident, medical emergency, or home repair makes it urgent. In this episode of Young Adults Today, Gino Ward joins Josiah and Micah to talk about understanding your coverage before you need to use it. They discuss auto liability limits and deductibles, renters...

Divine Appointments: How God Shows Up When You’re at Your Lowest In this powerful episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah sits down with his former professor Dr. David Watson to unpack divine appointments—the moments where God interrupts our schedules, meets us in our lowest valleys, and writes stories we could never script. Dr. Watson shares his legendary “Rusty Tin Can” testimony of a miraculous $...

In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah & Micah unpack the 7 biggest challenges facing young adult ministry in 2026—from pastoring your peers and fragile systems to undeveloped leaders, discipleship, and burnout. If you’re a young adult pastor, leader, or church planter, this conversation will help you build a ministry that’s not just growing… but actually healthy and sustainable. State...

In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Andrew & Emily Meade, founders of Elo Coffee Co., to talk about Gen Z loneliness, young adult ministry, and how a God-given dream turned into a missional coffee company that’s changing lives around the world. You’ll hear how a trip to Thailand, a prophetic dream, deep grief, and a burden for missions all converged into “exce...

Want better communication with your youth and young adults – without group text chaos and notification fatigue? In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah talk with Mason, Naomi, and Nathan about how they use the BAND app to build real community, disciple the next generation, and streamline communication for youth, young adults, worship teams, and volunteers. We cover: Why young adult...

Gen Z doesn’t want to attend another event—they’re longing to belong to a family. In this episode of the youngadults.today podcast, Josiah & Micah Kennealyunpack 5 things Gen Z actually wants from your church: authentic leaders, real community, meaningful opportunities, clear Bible teaching, and a faith that connects to real life. If you’re a pastor, young adult leader, or volunteer wondering...

In this episode of the youngadults.today podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down with Turbo, young adult pastor at Bethel’s Rock and leader at The Yard Young Adults. Terbo shares his powerful journey from D2 basketball player to full-time ministry, how one invitation changed everything, and what it’s really like to lead young adults in a multisite church. They talk about: Moving from “I love basketball...

Two-thirds of young adults (18–29) have walked away from church… but we’re also seeing an all‑time high in Bible sales driven by young adults, plus millions returning to a personal commitment to Jesus. In this episode of youngadults.today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Daniel Young (Young Adults & Student Pastor at Eagle Brook Church) to talk about: His prodigal story and how Jesus recaptured...

In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with executive pastor and YA leader Jared Terpenning to reframe the so‑called “waiting season” as a growing season. They talk about honest community, roundtable discipleship in LA, and why investing in young adults reshapes the future of the church and our families. If you lead young adults—or are one—this conversation will help you...

In this episode of youngadults.today, Josiah and Micah sit down with David Wright, College Pastor at Life. Church Stillwater, to unpack how their Late Night college service is turning college students from spiritual consumers into spiritual contributors. David shares the story behind Late Night, why Sunday night church for college students works in a college town, how they retain and develop stude...

In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Chris Hilken—young adult pastor, widowed single dad of five, and lead pastor at College Avenue Baptist in San Diego. Chris unpacks: Why young adults are the seeds of revival, historically and right now How a declining, aging church next to a universitybecame a movement of 1,200–1,300 young adults on Sunday nights His pers...

In this episode of YoungAdults. Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Sam Hernandez, Young Adults Pastor at Elevation Church, to unpack how Elevation is reaching what many call “the loneliest generation.” Sam shares the journey of building a multi-site young adult ministry across 20+ locations through worship nights (Chapel), YA nights, e-groups, clubs, and outreach. She talks candidly abou...

Intimacy vs. Isolation: Young Adults, Loneliness, and Real Community (with Christian Counselor Mike Kerstetter) Why are so many young adults feeling lonely, anxious, and burned out in the most “connected” generation ever? In this episode of the Young Adults Today Podcast, Josiah sits down with Christian counselor Mike Kerstetter to talk about the friendship crisis, the loss of third spaces, and th...

In this episode of youngadults.today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Tori Farina, founder of Rev Fresh and creator of the new RevStream cohort, to talk about the real financial pressure pastors are facing in 2026—and how ethical, well-designed side hustles can help close the gap without compromising the call. Tori shares the powerful story behind Rev Fresh (think: Make-A-Wish for pastors),...

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...