Youth Ministry Maverick: Hosted by Jeff Harding

What comes to mind when someone says the word sexuality? Disgust? Confusion? Anger? Discomfort? The evangelical approach to sexuality has hardly included anything resolving dialogue, and as a key part of being made in God's image, sexuality deserves rich dialogue. Our understanding of it also needs to adapt in a world where the subject has taken on a lot of nuance. Dr. Sandra Glahn and Dr. Gary Ba...

There's usually just one thing in mind when we talk to students about their peers who belong to other faiths/religions: conversion. Conversion is the general desire we have for those we interact with who are not yet in Christ. However, what about a relationship? How can caring for someone beyond giving a gospel presentation give students affirmation of their faith while also creating more opportun...

We aim to mentor and disciple students in our ministries, but they need others to fill that role as well - both now and later in life. Moreover, we as "spiritual authorities" also need to be mentored. Many recognize this, but few know how to fulfill this need. Courtney Lowman from The Journey Of Ruth Podcast joins Jeff to talk about the importance of mentors and discipling for the individual belie...

We're not just supposed to teach and hang out with our students. We're supposed to help them pursue what God has for them, which could be a call to ministry. "I can't do it...I can't afford it...I'm not qualified....The Bible says I'm not allowed," are things we might hear from the ladies in our ministries. Regardless of complementarian/egalitarian stance, how can we help them step out in faith an...

Jeff sat down with Jacob Vandenbark, and talked about how he came to develop the Near Journal. It's a unique approach to daily quiet times and journaling, and combines several different resources all within one simple and clean outline. Hear more about it through Jacob's story, and how it could benefit your ministry. Plus, you'll get a promo code at the end for a discount on any order! Click here...

When it comes to addressing hard topics and areas of our faith, our approach with students is usually outward-driven for purposes of evangelism and witnessing to the world. However, when it comes to engaging with other believers, our hostility over the last decade has grown. Many Christians now tend toward approaching one another with a finger on their theological/sociopolitical triggers, waiting...

This episode is being released on Election Day here in the United States. It's the beginning of the end for this long and arduous campaign trail in the most polarizing presidential election we've likely ever seen (and hopefully will ever see). Unfortunately, it's been especially polarizing for the Church. How can we direct and guide our students in the art of heartfelt and intentional conversation...

What if the average tenure of a youth pastor at one church was almost a decade? What if every youth pastor in your city was part of a small group of other youth pastor's in their area for camaraderie, sharing of resources, and keeping one another from burnout? Kevin Miles joins Jeff to talk about the organization they are both a part of - the National Network of Youth Ministries - and how we are t...

Ministry in the era of COVID not only has each of us scrambling to reorient our programming and development, but it has youth ministry organizations also rethinking how they equip and partner with youth workers. How can we change and improve upon the way we collaborate with one another in this new ministry paradigm? Crystal Chaing from Orange Students joins Jeff to discuss this new direction, and...

In the era of COVID, ministry longevity is even more admirable than usual. A few studies have shown that the ongoing circumstances might result in a large number of pastors and ministers resigning from stress and burnout. How do we continue in the call God has given us, especially in the midst of these difficult variables? After getting the chance to interview one of his youth pastors (Jim in Epis...

If there was ever a more tumultuous time than right now to begin your vocation as a youth pastor, I can't think of one! Aside from the pandemic and social unrest (as if you can really put those aside), there are less youth pastors receiving higher education/seminary training, and they need a road map. Justin Herman joins Jeff to discuss what people entering the youth ministry vocation need to know...

We teach and encourage our students to have faith during hardship, and to trust that God is present and working our good. But when we go through intense seasons of hardship, do we practice what we preach? Jeremy Carlton joins Jeff to talk about the recent season of adversity in his life and ministry, and what it looks like to trust God when all signs point to hopelessness.

There is an abundance of resources and chances for ministry partnerships accessible to youth workers, but some are still hesitant to use them for various reasons. Also, getting job support from people outside your ministry might seem counterintuitive, but it's actually more of a necessity than you might think. Zac Workun joins Jeff to discuss the evolution and betterment of these resources and par...

Dr. Andy Root talked with us about joy and establishing a narrative-shaping experience as the purpose of youth ministry. So what does that look like practically as we implement ministry methods based on Scripture? Dr. Jim Graham joins Jeff to describe and present a process that can work with any ministry aiming to make disciples within the next generation. Click here to get the discipleship diagra...

We're kicking off our new podcast segment by talking with Tyler Smith, the author of Searching For Seven: The Journey of Seeking God Seven Days a Week. Complete with small group questions and outlines, this book is a great resource for students to explore how God is writing and using their story each day. These interviews will be more concise and easier to digest.  Check out more details about Tyl...

If we encourage our students to ask questions, wrestle, doubt, and learn how to depend on God more within their church community to grow in their faith...why do we typically discourage the same process with politics? We either identify one view on a policy as the singular Christian view, and label all other views as evil, or we avoid the issues (that have real-life implications) altogether. Kaitly...

Have you ever had students ask you if only Christians can do good? Not spiritual worth or currency, but just basic acts of good. It's a question that comes up, and in this polarized culture, stating that those who aren't Christians can't partake in anything good would be a pretty thick line in the sand. If something good doesn't directly point back to or credit God, either the act itself or becaus...

Memes are a foundational part of internet communication and culture. It's a language in which students are fluent. But they're more than just something to make us laugh...they present thoughts, opinions, presuppositions, and even strong beliefs. Can they be used for ministry? Michael Moore, better known as the Honest Youth Pastor, talks with Jeff about how the meme world is actually drawing people...

The biggest concern for many youth workers right now is how to engage students well during the ongoing social restrictions caused by COVID-19. How do we gauge what is successful? How do we adapt our ministry approach in a world rocked by pandemic fallout? How can we take a breather when we're already putting all we have into keeping the worn attention of our students? Hector Martinez joins Jeff to...

**Explicit Content Warning** While Jesus said that his yoke is easy and burden is light, ministry involves working with students who experience trauma that no one would characterize in those terms. Paul Ward joins Jeff to discuss the very real and devastating presence of trauma in the lives of those in our ministry, some of which we're not even aware. How can we help them beyond well-intentioned c...

One of the many things heightened in a life restricted by COVID-19 is the already-present concept of doubt within ministry. Perhaps it already had a strong presence before pandemic life for you, but with limited methods and the general loss of intimate gatherings, it probably feels overwhelming. Dr. Andy Root joins Jeff to discuss his latest book, which aims to discover what youth ministry is real...

The challenges Gen Z faces amidst the barrage of technology and susceptibility for anxiety/depression makes the difficult adolescent struggle for identity even more complex. What does it mean to root our identity in Christ? Do trends within the modern church ease or add to that complexity? Chris Staron joins Jeff to discuss what students and churches in 2020 are faced with on a daily basis.

Mission trips are a staple in youth ministry programming. Traveling to different places is a great experience, but mission opportunities where we live often get overlooked. How can we engage in local opportunities beyond the traditional approaches of soup kitchens and clothing drives? Tim Carpenter joins Jeff to discuss a multi-faceted approach to local missions that benefits the servers just as m...

The natural progression of biology and mental/emotional growth is hard on teenagers, especially when it comes to self-esteem. But spiritual growth comes through dedication and faith, so combining the pursuit of Jesus with adolescent transformation can be heavy. Coy Poitier joins Jeff to talk about growing up in the shadow of important men, and how God can use setbacks as opportunities for growth a...

As youth workers, we teach students what God says and desires for us. But when we all engage online, we often forget that how we dialogue is just as important as the content. In short, we need to educate instead of shout down. Robert L. Wagner joins Jeff to discuss what that dialogue looks like, as they respond to the recent conversation between Louie Giglio, Dan Cathy and Lecrae.