Here’s the hard truth: Institutional trust is collapsing. Across industries, organizations, and yes—even faith communities—people are putting less faith in institutions and more in individuals.

So, what does that mean for ministry? It means relationship-centered faith leadership isn’t optional—it’s the future.

In this episode of the Future of Faith Podcast, hosts Josh Packard and Keedren Boston unpack the data behind the decline in institutional trust and reveal why listening is the key to rebuilding it. When people don’t trust organizations, they turn to personal relationships—and trust is built one genuine conversation at a time.

Trust Is Built, Not Assumed

🛠️ Listening with intent is the foundation of real trust. You can’t fake it. People know when they’re truly being heard.

📉 Institutional trust is at an all-time low. People trust individuals they know more than titles or organizations.

❤️ Relationships > Authority. Trust doesn’t come from a position of power—it comes from shared experiences, honesty, and consistency.

🌍 Ministry must be relationship-centered. People stay connected when they feel seen, known, and valued—not because of an institution’s reputation.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🔵 How listening builds trust within faith communities

🟠 Why people trust relationships more than institutions

🟢 The importance of feedback in maintaining trust

🔴 How leaders can create spaces of belonging in a low-trust world

🟣 Why trust is gained slowly but lost quickly—and how to protect it

Where Do We Go from Here?

This episode wraps up the season with a powerful look at the future of faith in a world where trust is earned, not assumed. If you care about leadership, ministry, or the future of faith communities, you don’t want to miss this one.

🔗 Want the full study? Get the whitepaper, data graphics, and more:

👉 Sacred Listening Study

💬 Join the Conversation:

📍 Follow us on Facebook & LinkedIn: Future of Faith

📩 Sign up for our newsletter: futureoffaith.org/newsletter

Got insights on trust in faith communities? We’d love to hear them! Email us at hello@futureoffaith.org. 🎙️🔥

Music by Treleon Music – used with permission

We all know listening is important. But let’s be real—most of us think we’re great listeners when, in reality, we’re making a few key mistakes that shut conversations down fast.

In this episode of the Future of Faith Podcast, hosts Keedren Boston and Josh Packard break down five major listening mistakes that can wreck trust, stall faith formation, and make people feel unheard. (Plus, they throw in a bonus tip about when laughter can backfire!) Through personal stories and research-backed insights, they reveal how true listening goes beyond just being quiet—it’s about creating a space where real dialogue can happen.

The 5 Things Not to Do When Listening:

❌ Don’t judge. Judgment kills openness. If people sense criticism, they’ll shut down.

🙅‍♂️ Don’t give unsolicited advice. Just because you can fix it doesn’t mean you should. Ask before offering input.

⏸️ Don’t interrupt. Cutting someone off signals that their words don’t matter as much as yours.

📵 Don’t look at your phone. Distraction = disrespect. Be present.

🧐 Don’t make assumptions. Jumping to conclusions keeps you from truly understanding.

🎭 Bonus Tip: Be careful with laughter! Even well-intended chuckles can send the wrong message in serious conversations.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🔵 Listening without judgment fosters deeper connections

🟠 Unsolicited advice can alienate instead of helping

🟢 Interruptions make speakers feel unheard and unvalued

🔴 Phone distractions break trust and engagement

🟣 Avoiding assumptions leads to better understanding

🟡 Why laughter can be tricky in serious discussions

Want to Be a Better Listener?

If you want to improve your listening skills and build stronger faith communities, this episode is a must.

🔗 Want the full study? Get the whitepaper, data graphics, and more:

👉 Sacred Listening Study

💬 Join the Conversation:

📍 Follow us on Facebook & LinkedIn: Future of Faith

📩 Sign up for our newsletter: futureoffaith.org/newsletter

Have a listening fail (or win) to share? Email us at hello@futureoffaith.org. We’d love to hear your story! 🎙️🔥

Music by Treleon Music – used with permission

You know what kills real connection? Assumptions. You know what builds it? Curiosity.

In this episode of the Future of Faith Podcast, hosts Josh Packard and Keedren Boston dive into the game-changing role of curiosity in faith formation, trust-building, and effective communication—especially in youth ministry.

Listening isn’t just about staying quiet while someone talks. It’s about engagement, follow-up, and asking better questions. When we approach conversations with curiosity, we deepen relationships, build trust, and create safe spaces for real faith growth. Ignore this? You risk shutting people down before the conversation even starts.

Curiosity vs. Assumption: The Conversation Decider

🗝️ Curiosity builds bridges. When we ask good questions and listen with an open mind, people feel heard and valued.

🚧 Assumptions build walls. Jumping to conclusions kills trust and makes real dialogue impossible. If you’re not curious, you’re just waiting for your turn to talk.

🔄 Effective listening is a two-way street. This isn’t a transaction—it’s transformation. When you engage, ask follow-ups, and truly listen, relationships change.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✔️ How curiosity leads to deeper understanding in faith conversations

✔️ Why judgment is the enemy of effective listening

✔️ The power of follow-up questions in meaningful dialogue

✔️ How to create a safe space for honest conversations

✔️ Why listening isn’t passive—it’s active, intentional, and powerful

Let’s Make Listening Count.

If you care about faith, ministry, or simply being a better communicator, this episode is a must.

🔗 Want the full study? Get the whitepaper, data graphics, and more:

👉 Sacred Listening Study

💬 Join the Conversation:

📍 Follow us on Facebook & LinkedIn: Future of Faith

📩 Sign up for our newsletter: futureoffaith.org/newsletter

Got stories about the power of curiosity? A time when listening changed everything? Email us at hello@futureoffaith.org. We’d love to hear from you! 🎙️🔥

Music by Treleon Music – used with permission

Want to know the secret to real impact in ministry? Reliability. It’s not just about being there—it’s about showing up, following up, and proving that you care over time.

In this episode of the Future of Faith Podcast, hosts Keedren Boston and Josh Packard break down why reliability is a non-negotiable in ministry. They explore how personal connections + consistent follow-up = real trust—not just with youth, but with entire faith communities. And here’s the kicker: having a system matters. If you want to keep up with the people you serve, you need tools, structure, and a plan.

Reliability Isn’t Just a Nice-to-Have—It’s Everything.

🛠️ Personal connections fuel effective ministry. People don’t just remember what you say; they remember how you show up for them.

📅 Systems help manage relationships. Whether it’s a calendar, notes app, or an actual CRM (yes, ministry leaders can use CRMs too!), having a way to track birthdays, prayer requests, and past conversations builds trust and deepens relationships.

🔁 Follow-up proves you care. Checking in after the big event, remembering details from conversations, and making space for ongoing connection shows that ministry isn’t just about the moment—it’s about the relationship.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✔️ Why reliability is the foundation of trust in ministry

✔️ The power of follow-up (and why so many leaders miss this step)

✔️ Practical tools for keeping track of relationships

✔️ How consistency creates a safe and supportive environment

✔️ Why adults need care in ministry too—not just youth

Ready to Build a More Reliable Ministry?

Whether you lead a youth group, pastor a church, or simply want to be a better faith leader, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to help you create lasting connections.

🔗 Want the full study? Get the whitepaper, data graphics, and more:

👉 Sacred Listening Study

💬 Join the Conversation:

📍 Follow us on Facebook & LinkedIn: Future of Faith

📩 Sign up for our newsletter: futureoffaith.org/newsletter

Got thoughts on reliability in ministry? A system that works for you? Email us at hello@futureoffaith.org. We’d love to hear from you! 🎙️🔥

Music by Treleon Music – used with permission

Want to make a real impact in faith formation? It’s not just about what you say—it’s about how relatable and reliable you are. If people can’t connect with you or trust you, your words don’t matter. Period.

In this episode of the Future of Faith Podcast, hosts Josh Packard and Keedren Boston break down why relatability builds connection and reliability builds trust—both of which are essential for meaningful ministry, especially with youth. They explore what it really means to listen without judgment, be present without agenda, and create safe spaces for open dialogue. Because let’s be real: faith formation doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it happens in relationships.

Relatability ➤ Shared Humanity

People don’t need perfect leaders. They need authentic ones. 💡 Show your scars, not your wounds. Share experiences, not just lessons. Speak the language of the people you serve. Youth (and honestly, everyone) crave realness—not rehearsed sermons.

Reliability ➤ Trust & Presence

Being reliable isn’t just about showing up—it’s about being consistent, safe, and trustworthy. If people know they can count on you, they’ll open up in ways that lead to real faith growth.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why relatability & reliability are game-changers in faith formation

✅ How listening without judgment fosters deeper connections

✅ Why discernment matters—knowing when to speak and when to stay quiet

✅ How to create safe spaces for open, honest dialogue

✅ Why learning the language of youth culture enhances ministry

Ready to Lead with Authenticity?

If you’re serious about building trust and connection in ministry, you don’t want to miss this episode.

🔗 Want the full study? Get the whitepaper, data graphics, and more:

👉 Sacred Listening Study

💬 Join the Conversation:

📍 Follow us on Facebook & LinkedIn: Future of Faith

📩 Sign up for our newsletter: futureoffaith.org/newsletter

Thoughts? Stories? A youth leader who’s doing this well? Email us at hello@futureoffaith.org. We’d love to hear from you! 🎙️🔥

Music by Treleon Music – used with permission

Want to be more effective in ministry? Start by listening. Not just hearing words, but actually listening—deeply, intentionally, with no agenda. It’s not just a skill; it’s faith formation itself. 🙌

In this episode of the Future of Faith Podcast, hosts Josh Packard and Keedren Boston break down why trust matters more than truth (yep, you read that right). The data is clear: truth only resonates when trust has been established. And trust? That comes from time spent and genuine engagement.

Listening ➤ Talking

Ministry isn’t about standing on a stage and delivering truth bombs—it’s about relationships. When people feel heard, they’re more open to growth, transformation, and faith. This episode dives into how listening creates a reciprocal relationship, where both the listener and the speaker are changed.

💡 Big insight? A listening culture doesn’t just happen—it has to be built. And when it is, it scales ministry efforts like nothing else. 🚀

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why listening IS faith formation—not just a tool for it

✅ How building trust over time makes ministry more effective

✅ Why truth needs trust to land

✅ How listening can transform both the speaker and the listener

✅ Why prayer matters when navigating sensitive topics

Let’s Build a Culture of Listening

If you want to lead better, serve deeper, and connect more authentically, this episode is for you.

🔗 Want the full study? Get the whitepaper, data graphics, and more:

👉 Sacred Listening Study

💬 Join the Conversation:

📍 Follow us on Facebook & LinkedIn: Future of Faith

📩 Sign up for our newsletter: futureoffaith.org/newsletter

Got stories, thoughts, or questions? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at hello@futureoffaith.org 🎙️🔥

Music by Treleon Music – used with permission

We talk a lot about teaching people in faith communities—but what if the real power lies in listening instead? 🤔

In this episode of the Future of Faith Podcast, hosts Keedren Boston and Josh Packard dive deeper into how listening transforms youth ministry and faith formation. They explore the power of circle time, a structured space where youth can safely share their thoughts and experiences. Turns out, when we stop talking at young people and start listening to them, faith and community thrive. 🚀

Listening ➤ Teaching?

We’ve been conditioned to think that teaching is the most effective way to pass on faith. But research (and real-world experience) shows that listening is just as powerful—if not more so. Youth don’t just need answers; they need validation, connection, and the freedom to process their beliefs out loud.

💡 Key insight? Questions set the stage, but the real magic happens in the responses.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How circle time fosters trust and community

✅ Why safe spaces are critical for open sharing

✅ The underrated skill of listening (yes, you can get better at it!)

✅ How giving youth a voice deepens their faith

✅ Why youth can and should lead discussions

Ready to Rethink Ministry?

🔗 Dig into the full study (whitepaper, data graphics & more):

👉 Sacred Listening Study

💬 Join the Conversation:

📍 Follow us on Facebook & LinkedIn: Future of Faith

📩 Sign up for our newsletter: futureoffaith.org/newsletter

Got thoughts? Stories? A youth leader who’s changing the game? Hit us up at hello@futureoffaith.org. We’d love to hear from you! 🎙️

Music by Treleon Music – used with permission

We all know that listening is important—but until now, we didn’t have the data to back it up.

In this bonus episode of the Future of Faith Podcast, hosts Josh Packard and Megan Bissell take us behind the scenes of the Listening and Faith Formation Research Project. They unpack why this study was necessary, how the data was collected, and what the findings mean for faith communities looking to build trust and relationships through listening.

Turns out, listening isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for faith formation. And now, there’s research to prove it.

Why This Study Matters:

📉 The gap in research was real. We had plenty of studies on sermons and teaching—but almost nothing on the impact of listening in faith communities.

🔬 Good research starts with good questions. This project wasn’t about proving a point—it was about genuinely exploring how listening shapes faith.

🤝 Collaboration was key. Bringing together researchers, faith leaders, and community voices made the study richer and more meaningful. (But also? Slower. Good research takes time!)

💡 The findings have real-world applications. This isn’t just theory—faith communities can use this data to integrate listening into their existing programs.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🔵 Why there was so little research on listening in faith

🟠 How trust and relationships are linked to listening

🟢 The power of combining quantitative & qualitative data

🔴 Why collaboration made this research stronger

🟣 How these insights can shape ministry and leadership

Research Is Just the Beginning

This study is a starting point—not the final word. The more we understand listening, the more we can use it to build stronger, more connected faith communities.

🔗 Want the full study? Get the whitepaper, data graphics, and more:

👉 Sacred Listening Study

💬 Join the Conversation:

📍 Follow us on Facebook & LinkedIn: Future of Faith

📩 Sign up for our newsletter: futureoffaith.org/newsletter

What questions do you still have about listening and faith? Let’s keep the conversation going. Email us at hello@futureoffaith.org. 🎙️🔥