Youth Ministry Sherpas: Coast To Coast

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. Two doofus youth pastors get something right now and then.  We might have even hit a good golf shot on occasion. Last episode (#20), Steve and Mathew lamented about the things we would do differently if we could do them again. So many years, so many mistakes! In this episode --EPISODE 21 -- we share our "blind squirrel" moments, those rare times w...

Sometimes you need to look back to see what's ahead. Mathew wishes he had gotten glasses sooner. By the time Jesus healed his eyes with spit and mud at 17 (okay, it was the eye doctor at the mall), he had missed out on a lot. Meanwhile, by 17, Steve was already wearing his Kurt Rambis Rec Specs and intimidating 6' 0" power forwards all across the basketball courts of Western Pennsylvania. Now, nei...

Do you remember what it was like your first day on the job? It's a nerve-wracking experience for everybody. You are self-conscious. You are unsure of yourself. And you have little idea you are getting yourself into. In this episode, Steve and Mathew reflect on their first days on the job. Having been the "check" in box #1, Mathew walked into a staff meeting where they were looking to fill box #2....

We all have things we want to accomplish in life. Mathew wants to climb Half Dome in Yosemite (he's planning to do so in a few months). Steve wants to write a book and break 90 in golf (not sure which one is more likely). We were also thinking of starting a shockingly successful and entertaining podcast. Still working on that one. What about ambition in youth ministry? Have you ever wanted to lead...

It's that time of year. One week we say goodbye to our seniors whom we've known and loved for seven years. The next week we're welcoming 11-year-olds and their nervous first-time parents. There's barely time to process it all. In this episode, Steve and Mathew talk about the importance of transitions. For the incoming 6th graders, Mathew does a reverse Exodus, without the actual Red Sea swallowing...

Summer is almost here! Soon us youth workers will have nothing to do! Except go to camp, the conference, and mission trip. Did we mention family vacation (we hope)?! Summer seems so chill. How does it become so busy? In today's episode, Steve and Mathew compare notes about how they operate in the summer. Steve gives his volunteers the summer off (a fact Mathew will try to hide from his). Mathew re...

Let's face it--everyone loses it sometimes. We all get mad. In fact, Mathew is still peeved about the Seahawks miraculous comeback against the Packers in the NFC playoffs a few years ago, and Steve can't get over the fact that the Steelers' Jesse James scored the winning touchdown against New England last December according to everyone but the idiots in the replay booth. Can you sense the forceful...

Sometimes the only relationship more strained than the parent-teen relationship is the parent-youth worker relationship! As youth workers, we often see issues with families and parenting styles that we wish we could change. But as Steve and Mathew know from experience, when you are in the throes of parenting, it's much harder than it looks. In this episode, we unpack four types of parenting styles...

Sometimes the only relationship more strained than the parent-teen relationship is the parent-youth worker relationship! As youth workers, we often see issues with families and parenting styles that we wish we could change. But as Steve and Mathew know from experience, when you are in the throes of parenting, it's much harder than it looks. In this episode, we unpack four types of parenting styles...

Welcome to Sherpa Shorts! Feeling the winter blues? Tired of waiting for spring to actually arrive? No Prob-llama! We bring you SHERPA SHORTS--a special presentation of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast -- 26 short episodes delivered in 26 days! Steve and Mathew are going through the alphabet one day at a time, taking turns choosing a word that begins with the next letter as it relates to youth m...

Welcome to Sherpa Shorts! Feeling the winter blues? Tired of waiting for spring to actually arrive? No Prob-llama! We bring you SHERPA SHORTS--a special presentation of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast -- 26 short episodes delivered in 26 days! Steve and Mathew are going through the alphabet one day at a time, taking turns choosing a word that begins with the next letter as it relates to youth m...

Welcome to Sherpa Shorts! Feeling the winter blues? Tired of waiting for spring to actually arrive? No Prob-llama! We bring you SHERPA SHORTS--a special presentation of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast -- 26 short episodes delivered in 26 days! Steve and Mathew are going through the alphabet one day at a time, taking turns choosing a word that begins with the next letter as it relates to youth m...

Welcome to Sherpa Shorts! Feeling the winter blues? Tired of waiting for spring to actually arrive? No Prob-llama! We bring you SHERPA SHORTS--a special presentation of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast -- 26 short episodes delivered in 26 days! Steve and Mathew are going through the alphabet one day at a time, taking turns choosing a word that begins with the next letter as it relates to youth m...

Welcome to Sherpa Shorts! Feeling the winter blues? Tired of waiting for spring to actually arrive? No Prob-llama! We bring you SHERPA SHORTS--a special presentation of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast -- 26 short episodes delivered in 26 days! Steve and Mathew are going through the alphabet one day at a time, taking turns choosing a word that begins with the next letter as it relates to youth m...

Welcome to Sherpa Shorts! Feeling the winter blues? Tired of waiting for spring to actually arrive? No Prob-llama! We bring you SHERPA SHORTS--a special presentation of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast -- 26 short episodes delivered in 26 days! Steve and Mathew are going through the alphabet one day at a time, taking turns choosing a word that begins with the next letter as it relates to youth m...

Welcome to Sherpa Shorts! Feeling the winter blues? Tired of waiting for spring to actually arrive? No Prob-llama! We bring you SHERPA SHORTS--a special presentation of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast -- 26 short episodes delivered in 26 days! Steve and Mathew are going through the alphabet one day at a time, taking turns choosing a word that begins with the next letter as it relates to youth m...

Welcome to Sherpa Shorts! Feeling the winter blues? Tired of waiting for spring to actually arrive? No Prob-llama! We bring you SHERPA SHORTS--a special presentation of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast -- 26 short episodes delivered in 26 days! Steve and Mathew are going through the alphabet one day at a time, taking turns choosing a word that begins with the next letter as it relates to youth m...

Welcome to Sherpa Shorts! Feeling the winter blues? Tired of waiting for spring to actually arrive? No Prob-llama! We bring you SHERPA SHORTS--a special presentation of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast -- 26 short episodes delivered in 26 days! Steve and Mathew are going through the alphabet one day at a time, taking turns choosing a word that begins with the next letter as it relates to youth m...

Welcome to Sherpa Shorts! Feeling the winter blues? Tired of waiting for spring to actually arrive? No Prob-llama! We bring you SHERPA SHORTS--a special presentation of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast -- 26 short episodes delivered in 26 days! Steve and Mathew are going through the alphabet one day at a time, taking turns choosing a word that begins with the next letter as it relates to youth m...

Welcome to Sherpa Shorts! Feeling the winter blues? Tired of waiting for spring to actually arrive? No Prob-llama! We bring you SHERPA SHORTS--a special presentation of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast -- 26 short episodes delivered in 26 days! Steve and Mathew are going through the alphabet one day at a time, taking turns choosing a word that begins with the next letter as it relates to youth m...

Welcome to Sherpa Shorts! Feeling the winter blues? Tired of waiting for spring to actually arrive? No Prob-llama! We bring you SHERPA SHORTS--a special presentation of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast -- 26 short episodes delivered in 26 days! Steve and Mathew are going through the alphabet one day at a time, taking turns choosing a word that begins with the next letter as it relates to youth m...

Welcome to Sherpa Shorts! Feeling the winter blues? Tired of waiting for spring to actually arrive? No Prob-llama! We bring you SHERPA SHORTS--a special presentation of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast -- 26 short episodes delivered in 26 days! Steve and Mathew are going through the alphabet one day at a time, taking turns choosing a word that begins with the next letter as it relates to youth m...

Welcome to Sherpa Shorts! Feeling the winter blues? Tired of waiting for spring to actually arrive? No Prob-llama! We bring you SHERPA SHORTS--a special presentation of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast -- 26 short episodes delivered in 26 days! Steve and Mathew are going through the alphabet one day at a time, taking turns choosing a word that begins with the next letter as it relates to youth m...

Welcome to Sherpa Shorts! Feeling the winter blues? Tired of waiting for spring to actually arrive? No Prob-llama! We bring you SHERPA SHORTS--a special presentation of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast -- 26 short episodes delivered in 26 days! Steve and Mathew are going through the alphabet one day at a time, taking turns choosing a word that begins with the next letter as it relates to youth m...

Welcome to Sherpa Shorts! Feeling the winter blues? Tired of waiting for spring to actually arrive? No Prob-llama! We bring you SHERPA SHORTS--a special presentation of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast -- 26 short episodes delivered in 26 days! Steve and Mathew are going through the alphabet one day at a time, taking turns choosing a word that begins with the next letter as it relates to youth m...