Youth Worker On Fire Podcast

Dr. Cary Ferree has been a volunteer for student ministry and Guatemalan Missions for many years. She is also a full-time Pharmacist for Bay Lake Pharmacy for the Long Term Care Division, servicing much of Central Florida.  Cary volunteered for the student ministry I was pastor over for several years and her husband Eric was a volunteer as well. In this episode, you will hear how and why she was o...

To Youth Workers - Cracking the Code : "Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves." - Matthew 10:16-20 NLT Youth For Christ taught me that we need to know the strategies for reaching students, families, and communities. How to be a valued part of the schools we serve. Then YFC trainers said this, "But… if you do that without the Spirit of God...

Tom Yohe ( Hope For Hurting Parents ) has returned for a 2nd interview on the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast to discuss his new book called " Moments of Clarity: Wisdom from the Father of a Prodigal ". Yes, Tom and Dena Yohe have been on this podcast before! You can hear more of their story on episode 50 of Youth Worker On Fire Podcast and all about Renee Yohe , their daughter. As well as, a group t...

Bend … but not break ! It seems like a good thing, but when analyzing objects that keep bend ing, they eventually lose their shape. Bend ing items (and people) lose their ability to bounce back at some point and some eventually break … Yes, eventually they BREAK ! This episode is a look into how often we bend to pressures, people, and spiritual battles thinking we are more flexible and resilient t...

GROWN UPs ! Now those are big words to live up to. My wife would say that has never applied to me, Ha! Ha! But, that is not what this is about. This is about a 4 episode podcast I listened to, by Andy Stanley, that takes a very interesting look at when and how the Christian Bible came about and especially the New Testament. I like this, because otherwise I might not have taken the time to understa...

"Keep your eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good. Be careful what you do, and always do what is right. Don't turn off the road of goodness; keep away from evil paths." - Proverbs 4 : 25 - 27 NCV I did not become who or what I wanted to be. God had a better idea. It's OK! The disciples had other plans too and Jesus changed their direction and goals twice.  1. Being...

Zane is a 3rd Generation Pastor. Zane's grandpa was a pastor for many decades and his dad is currently a pastor in Iowa City, Iowa. In this episode, you will hear about his life and the legacy left to him that he is carrying down. Zane was born and raised in Freeport, Illinois and spent his college years in Chicago at Trinity International University and Divinity School where he also played basket...

Jokes and laughter are important in student ministry. So in this episode, I recall and discuss a few jokes that were exchanged between me and a young man in college recently.  But the message here is this… If we don't tell the next generation about God's miracles, stories, love, and truths… they won't pass this down to the next generation after them. It's our responsibility to pass on to them that...

WHISPER ing draws us closer, because it's so quiet. It requires attention. So, though we may shout, scream, and cry out to God, He usually responds with a WHISPER . At least that's how it works with me and many others I have discussed this with. So, WHISPER … He did when someone asked me to baptize them, even though we had never talked about that particular topic. As you remain in ministry (and in...

Showing up is half the battle! Many people don't even show up, but the other half that do... Share The Love ! We have to be ready to meet the needs of the people God has annointed us to talk to about the Gospel, God's Story, His-Story. Jesus was an "on the way" friend, rabbi, prophet, and forgiver of sins. That's what He has given us the power to be in this world for Him. Share The Love . ________...

Mary Lomma was one of my student ministry volunteers (Associate Staff as I called them) working with our middle school girls. Mary is one of those volunteers you hope and pray for! She took everything she learned and never stopped telling people about Jesus Christ. Recently, Mary texted me a link to the story written below… ___________________________________   "STORY TELLER - MARCH 2023 ISSUE" Wh...

" When Words Don't Come Easy " is the title of Andy Howard 's book ( andyhoward.com ). It's about how God redeems our stories, gives purpose to our pain, and still uses us to change the world. Andy says… Have you ever looked at your life and wondered, "How on earth did things get so hard?" "I have—more times than I can count. I'll never forget how helpless I felt when it seemed like our life was f...

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. - 2 Corinthians 3:17 (Amplified Bible) We have all the resources we need and all the power, which brings us TRUE FREEDOM. The more time we spend with God the more Freedom we feel and have. Freedom is a result of God flowing through us. Look for "Holy Surprises" coming your w...

Ephesians 2:10 -  "…God Created in Advance good works for us to do." I was made to have a relationship with God. He had a plan for my life and I pursued it. Many times it wasn't what I thought I signed up for. But when God makes you a leader and the opportunity to lead arises, you will find yourself in the middle of leading. You can't resist it… It's a part of your Spiritual DNA! Leaders work on a...

How do you progress in ministry or life in general when people say you are too old? Your response should be, " When God tells me to do something else I will change direction ". Everyone in the scriptures was too old or too young, too inexperienced, too unqualified, and the list goes on.   God looks at the heart. There are guidelines in scripture and there are cultural guidelines that God uses some...

Dan Istvanik is a 28+ year youth ministry veteran and the founder of Youth Ministry Hub ( www.youthminhub.com ). He is also a nationally-known ministry resource creator, writer, speaker, coach, and currently a Family Pastor just outside of Chicago.   When you and your family suddenly become homeless, you find out quickly who your real friends are. Ministry found one tough man and his family who sa...

FAIR … When people say, "I just want what's fair." They are saying you haven't been fair to them or they think you are getting ready to take advantage of them in a business deal, a family situation, or something else... you fill in the blank. Chris Voss says "fair" is a word of "power ".  The person who used it first has the power, unless you know how to turn it around by asking, "Fair?" and letti...

3 THINGS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER... Pray a grateful prayer to God in the evening before bed and in the morning when you get up. Ask God to put His words in your mouth before you speak to your family, business, or if you are a public speaker. His words will bring Power, Peace and Love. "My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will al...

Tim Brokopp lives in Pennsylvania, USA and serves as the Executive Director of Operations for the Amoveo Group. The Amoveo Group is a non-profit development organization, which exists to see broken systems fixed in communities all over the world. They mobilize people, material, and financial investment in projects which spur sustainable solutions to physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. The te...

LONGEST LOCK-IN EVER Rust out or Burn out Funny story: Three years in a row we had the same event happen on one of our toughest annual youth road trips. Every year we took middle schoolers to the mountains in the winter time (most of those years we had a sleeper bus). The "Skittles Event" came out of one middle school boy on this trip 3 years in a row. You will have to listen to the this episode t...

Jesus is still relevant. Salvation is what students are looking for, but passionate sold out people are what they are attracted to. Focus on praying for students and their family members and friends, present the gospel clearly and quickly to them, and follow through with care over months and years.  Ask the QUESTION… HOW? Praying with them. Bible study together. Be Pro-Active with them, so you are...

"My grace is sufficient for you..." 2 Corinthians 12:9 "The process of elimination!" is the first step to success and identity. "Eliminate who you are NOT first… Stop the victim mentality…you are not entitled to anything… you are the author of your life." - Matthew McConaughey Also on Joe Rogen's Show, Matthew McConaughey said… "When I receive an award I give create to God on stage. I am not afrai...

A Tribute to My Youth Pastors: Ronnie and Maxine Kennedy Ronnie passed away recently and Maxine passed away a few years ago of cancer. They have 2 boys who are now men with families. They were bi-vocational pastors during the Jesus Revolution in North Carolina and did not know it. Yet, to them, and for many many others, we are indebted to their sacrifices. They bought a bus with their own money to...

David Kelly graduated from the University of Florida in 1995 and married his wife Karen in 1996. When they moved to Eustis, Florida (30 miles west of Orlando, Florida) they joined New Hope Presbyterian Church and began volunteering with the youth. From 1997 to 2001 he taught English/Journalism and coached 3 separate sports at Eustis High School. On July 1, 2001, he came on staff as the full time y...

Be more transparent and less dramatic, so that God has room to be God. That way everyone knows when He changes people and there is no doubt that it was Him! Teenagers and young adults are always looking for what is real and though they may not have the discernment or wisdom, they seem to know intuitively when someone is not being true to themselves. As I have watched the stories going on right now...