Youth Ministry Booster

Send us Fan Mail Orange you glad you have a plan for August 25th?   Zac and Chad get a little silly, giddy, excited for Launch 2022. Summer was full of big events, travels, and surprises. BOOSTER SIGNUPS END September 1st, 2022 What are you doing to get ready for fall after a busy summer? Register for Launch 2022 Let's answer the Parent Ministry Question August 25th 1pm CT https://studentmini...

Send us Fan Mail This is an episode about Girl Scout cookies. It's also an episode about the real feelings many of your students are probably feeling, right now...   Zac and Chad get a little confused if this a phone or a podcast and maybe share a little too much, but there is a really important conversation that youth pastors should be having today. Embarrassment v. Guilt v. Shame Are your s...

Send us Fan Mail This is a sparkling episode of fresh tips and insights on how to welcome new (young) students into your existing ministry. It's almost Promotion Sunday? Howdy week? Yeet Week? Zac and Chad get us practical as an ice chest full of cold drinks on a summer day with this episode of helpful insights into transitioning your new students well into your existing student ministry. 3.5...

Send us Fan Mail Momentum. It's a word that sparks or fizzles depending on what just went right (or wrong). It's the never-ending wash of waves on the seashore. It's Zac and Chad disagreeing on exactly how much time we could or should spend on this... Mo' Momentum, it begs the question... when will it ever end? The answer. Never, and yet, we find seasons, waves, moment(ums) of...

Send us Fan Mail Momentum. It's a word that sparks excitement into the heart of every senior leader and an is an exhale for every leader who feels swallowed up by the current wave. In this episode Zac and Chad break down the waters inside the wave of momentum you may or may not be feeling right now. Summer is halfway done! Yeehaw! or so what? How are you feeling about where you are today? Thi...

Send us Fan Mail What makes a sermon a sermon? Last week we talked about the necessity of text, THE TEXT. This episode we invite you to ask, "what's the response?" It's the now what of whatever was read and said. It's the impetus to action, the immediate and/or lifelong application. We believe every good sermon demands a response.  So let's ask about what you are aski...

Send us Fan Mail "Hurry up. Move. Get in to it!" These are probably all thoughts you have had while preaching and teaching to students and we are here to confirm that they are normal and it is right for us to "get into it" (the it being Scripture) as soon as it makes sense.  So let's talk about teaching and TEXT. This episode is part 2 in the art of talking to teenagers. C...

Send us Fan Mail Hey, hey, it's summertime in student ministry and that means we have a lot of unique opportunities to teach and preach that might stretch us from our usual weekly/monthly habits. In this episode Chad and Zac talk about the art of talking to teenagers. Whether you are preaching at (a) camp, leading a worship night, gathering students for devotion on a mission trip, or getting...

Send us Fan Mail Summer camp is a time honored student ministry tradition. Whether you head off into the hills, chill at the beach, or serve a neighboring community the corporate spiritual discipline of retreat, renew, and community is important for modeling faith for students. After a busy Easter season it's easy to forget that summer and specifically big week long events like camp are almos...

Send us Fan Mail The rumors of our disappearance were greatly exaggerated. After a relentless 6 weeks on the road Zac and Chad are back to share why someone else's expectations of your job are not always your problem, immediately.  In this episode Chad and Zac wade into the relational waters around managing expectations, pierce through the "ask," and find hope for the critic who rea...

Send us Fan Mail Why are the teens not coming to youth events, programming, or small groups? Is it something we said? No. But. Maybe yes? Students are hungry for connection and we are often caught shouting or promoting. How can we turn ministry programming and promotion into Good News proclamation? In this episode Chad and Zac delve into what lies beneath the surface of students feeling disengaged...

Send us Fan Mail What is the ultimate snack? Protein? Fried? Dippable? This episode of the YMB podcast was recorded live in Houston,  at Houston's First Baptist, during one of our Essentials sessions with some friends and commentary about the content of the day, the strategy for the day after, and banter for our favorite snacking. In this episode Chad and Zac and guests Sean and Tony share so...

Send us Fan Mail So this is episode 216 and we put off posting it, but no longer... Apathy is a haunting word in student ministry today and it is really important that we spend a few episodes talking about how it can affect us and affect our students. This week's episode is the honest talk, first about the minister, and then next week about the students in your ministry.  In this episode Chad...

Send us Fan Mail Are you planning a relationship series to start next month (February)? If so, what are you going to say? It's true that students are really into, well, each other, and we get it. But, what do we say... This week's episode is some honest talk about the role that relationships play in our teaching and leadership. Students are feeling the feelings. How are you addressing th...

Send us Fan Mail Q: Is All Dogs Go To Heaven A Theological Movie Statement? A: We don't know but it sure is scarier than we remember it as kids. This week's episode is a lil bit of YM fun/banter about the Mount Rushmore of Ministry-Safe movies and how to enjoy the most at your next ministry conference event. In this episode Chad and Zac are hitting the circuit for a lot of them this spri...

Send us Fan Mail What is up! It's 2022. Happy Holiday return everyone! Does it feel like the year just got started this week? 2022, the slow roll up amma right? This week's episode is a festive recap into a discussion of some of our monthly Booster content. Every new year at Booster is themed and this month's theme is the hard work of long division. The challenge to see all the part...

Send us Fan Mail What makes the meal? What makes for enjoyment? This week we are unpacking our Thanksgiving leftover lunches. This week's episode is about holidays, rest, and the importance of being pastoral and parental. It's also a chance to feel a little lighter and a little more fresh about the new year, next year! It's the week after a holiday so we know it's hard to get s...

Send us Fan Mail Congrats Chad welcome to the team?  This week's episode is about good news,  holiday eats, and parent ministry practices. All 3 are very welcomed this season It's an important time of year to reflect on where we are and what we are thankful and hopeful for this season. In this episode Chad and Zac want to thank you! For listening, reviewing, encouraging, DMing, and doing...

Send us Fan Mail Youth ministry is important work that can often suffer from competing visions of what is best now and next. This week's episode highlights the feelings that come around expectations of what is the next best and how we ought to get there even if/when you disagree with your boss. It's a hard look at an important topic of who and how you might start feeling used for what yo...

Send us Fan Mail Youth ministry is weighty work and sometimes the burden can leave us feeling used or create space for us to use others. How do we not?  It's November so let's be thankful for the help we have and the important work we need to do, but the people we need to love and care for more. In this episode Chad and Zac share some their new classification game (starting with Hallowee...

Send us Fan Mail Youth ministry is a chance for teenagers to find faith, community, and mentors. Yet, releasing students to join a community like that is scarier for some than most student pastors will admit. It's October so let's talk about fear. Who's fear? Parents fears, youth pastors fears, and the space in-between. It's time we tackle the unspoken fears and bring to light...

Send us Fan Mail Youth ministry is about providing relational and physical space for students to know they are loved, hear the Good News, and connect in discipleship relationships with friends, community, and mentors How do you provide a safe space?  There is a need in this new season of student ministry for leaders to audit the safety of the spaces they are creating physically, emotionally, and r...

Send us Fan Mail Youth ministry means challenges and sometimes we face challenges that demand a kick in the pants or a pat on the back. How do you receive encouragement?  There is a tension in church work, ministry leadership that we identify as internal vs. external. Or, how much can we really control? affect change? or relieve ourselves from when the challenge comes. This episode is pastoral loo...

Send us Fan Mail Ministry is difficult. Parenting is difficult. How do you face the challenge of doing both... well?  In this episode Chad and Zac share honest and humorous stories of what is like to be both parent and pastor. The delight and difficult and the importance of presence above all things. Youth Ministry Booster Learn more about Youth Ministry Booster and get signed up to be a part of a...

Send us Fan Mail Why do we put stuff off? A: I don't know.... No but srsly, why? Well in this episode Chad and Zac get to the bottom of what and why we put things off. Sometimes it's obvious other times it's personal, really personal.  Whether or not you think you do, or whether or not you think you know why, this is a really important listen for however you are thinking or feeling...