• 062 | Don’t Roll Your Eyes: Keeping Up with Youth Culture
    2025/09/15

    In this episode of the Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers, we discuss the importance of staying connected with youth culture as volunteers in youth ministry. We explore the challenges volunteers face in understanding current trends and provide practical tools and tips for engaging with teenagers. The conversation emphasizes the need for curiosity, authenticity, and the use of resources to better connect with youth. The episode concludes with encouragement to stay connected with other youth workers and look forward to future topics.


    Takeaways

    • Volunteers often feel outdated compared to their youth.
    • Understanding youth culture is essential for effective ministry.
    • Use resources like the Culture Translator to stay informed.
    • Engage with students to learn about their world.
    • Not every trend is negative; discernment is key.
    • God's truth transcends cultural trends.
    • Be authentic and relatable to teenagers.
    • Utilize technology to access information quickly.
    • Encourage open conversations about cultural issues.
    • Stay connected with other youth ministry volunteers.


    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Youth Ministry Podcast

    01:01 Navigating Youth Culture as a Volunteer

    05:10 Understanding Youth Culture: The Why and How

    06:36 Practical Tools for Youth Workers

    10:32 Bonus Tips for Engaging with Youth Culture

    11:17 Pro Tips: Learning from Students

    15:24 Key Takeaways for Youth Workers

    18:06 Conclusion and Future Topics


    You can reach Chris & the team at studentministrynetwork.com


    We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

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    21 分
  • 061 - How They've Changed
    2025/09/01

    In this episode of the Youth Ministry Podcast, we discuss the changes that teenagers undergo, particularly after summer breaks. We explore the importance of recognizing these changes in behavior, spirituality, and social dynamics, and how volunteers can effectively support and engage with youth. The conversation emphasizes the need for volunteers to be aware of these shifts, provide opportunities for growth, and maintain meaningful conversations with the teens they serve.

    Takeaways

    • Teenagers undergo significant changes during adolescence.
    • Summer can lead to both spiritual growth and bad habits.
    • Volunteers should be mindful of the changes in their youth.
    • Friendship dynamics among teens can shift dramatically.
    • Encouraging open conversations is crucial for understanding teens.
    • God's unchanging nature provides stability for teens.
    • Volunteers should create diverse opportunities for youth to serve.
    • Recognizing positive changes in teens is important for affirmation.
    • Building relationships with teens requires consistent effort.
    • Volunteers play a key role in guiding teens through changes.


    Chapters

    00:00 Welcome Back and Summer Reflections

    06:13 Understanding Teen Changes

    11:52 Spiritual Growth and Challenges

    18:04 Navigating Friendships and Social Dynamics

    23:58 Practical Tips for Volunteers

    The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by several youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!


    You can reach Chris & the team at studentministrynetwork.com


    We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.


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    30 分
  • 060 | Praying for Students During the Summer
    2025/05/27

    In this episode, we celebrate our 60th podcast milestone and reflect on the journey so far. With a packed summer ahead—camps, activities, and all—we talk about why intentional prayer matters more than ever. We share practical ways to pray for your students’ spiritual growth, hunger for God's Word, salvation, and boldness to share the gospel.

    The Seven Things to Pray for Your Students:


    1. Spiritual Protection

    Psalm 24:3–6 (CSB)

    3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?

    Who may stand in his holy place?

    4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,

    who has not appealed to what is false,

    and who has not sworn deceitfully.

    5 He will receive blessing from the Lord,

    and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

    6 Such is the generation of those who inquire of him,

    who seek the face of the God of Jacob.,

    Selah


    2. Hunger for God’s Word

    Matthew 5:6 (CSB)

    6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

    for they will be filled.


    3. Spiritual Growth

    1 Timothy 4:7–8 (CSB)

    7 But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness. 8 For the training of the body has limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.


    4. Salvation

    Romans 10:9 (CSB)

    9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.


    5. Passion to Share the Gospel

    Acts 1:8 (CSB)

    8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”


    6. Wisdom

    Isaiah 30:21 (CSB)

    21 and whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”


    7. Spiritual Strength

    Ephesians 3:14–21 (CSB)

    14 For this reason I kneel before the Father 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

    20 Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.


    Chapters

    00:00 Celebrating Milestones in Youth Ministry

    02:54 Summer Plans and Challenges in Youth Ministry

    05:54 Intentional Prayer for Students

    08:58 Spiritual Protection for Students

    12:03 Hunger for God's Word

    14:58 Engaging Students in Scripture

    15:17 Spiritual Growth in Youth Ministry

    17:36 Praying for Salvation

    19:43 Developing a Passion for Sharing the Gospel

    22:28 Praying for Wisdom in Decision Making

    26:24 Spiritual Strength and Guidance

    29:11 Practical Tips for Prayer in Youth Ministry


    The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by several youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!


    You can reach Chris & the team at studentministrynetwork.com


    We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.


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    34 分
  • 059 | A Biblical Theology of Youth Ministry and the Role of the Volunteer
    2025/04/28

    In this episode of the Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers, Chris Trent and Jennifer Fletcher are joined by Mike McGarry, author of A Biblical Theology for Youth Ministry. They discuss the importance of grounding youth ministry in biblical theology, the intergenerational aspect of faith, and the commitment of the church to nurture the next generation. The conversation emphasizes the role of volunteers in youth ministry and offers encouragement for those involved, especially as graduation season approaches.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Youth Ministry Podcast

    03:00 Meet Mike McGarry: Author and Youth Pastor

    05:55 Exploring Biblical Theology in Youth Ministry

    08:47 The Importance of Intergenerational Faith

    12:13 Youth Ministry as a Church Commitment

    15:07 Encouragement for Youth Ministry Volunteers

    18:00 Navigating Graduation Season in Youth Ministry

    18:22 The Mission of Youth Ministry

    21:31 Building Adult Disciples

    24:19 The Age of the Apostles

    27:58 Youth Ministry in the New Testament

    29:54 Resources for Youth Leaders


    The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by several youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!


    You can reach Chris & the team at studentministrynetwork.com


    We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

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    34 分
  • 058 | Avoiding Volunteer Burnout
    2025/04/21

    In this episode of the Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers, Chris Trent and Jennifer Fletcher are joined by special guest Tim Kilgore to talk about volunteer burnout in youth ministry. They share practical ways to avoid burnout by setting boundaries, taking breaks, and staying rooted in worship and authenticity.


    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Youth Ministry Podcast

    04:55 Understanding Volunteer Burnout

    10:11 The Importance of Personal and Corporate Worship

    14:57 Taking Breaks and Creating Margin

    20:08 Authenticity in Leadership

    23:42 Setting Boundaries and Saying No


    The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by several youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!


    You can reach Chris & the team at studentministrynetwork.com


    We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

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    24 分
  • 057 | How Being Yourself is a Volunteer’s Super Power
    2025/04/07

    In this episode of the Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers, Chris Trent and Jennifer Fletcher discuss the importance of authenticity in youth ministry with guest Ryan Appling. They explore how being yourself can be a superpower in connecting with teenagers, emphasizing that different personalities can have a significant impact. The conversation highlights the need for youth leaders to build genuine relationships with students, focusing on care over coolness.


    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Youth Ministry Podcast

    03:37 Meet Ryan Appling: A Youth Leader's Journey

    06:41 The Importance of Being Yourself in Youth Ministry

    15:42 Building Relationships: Caring Over Coolness

    15:52 Building Relationships Beyond Scheduled Programming

    18:53 The Importance of Authenticity in Youth Ministry

    24:58 Serving from a Place of Overflow

    30:06 Embracing Your Unique Strengths in Ministry


    The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by several youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!


    You can reach Chris & the team at studentministrynetwork.com


    We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

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    34 分
  • 056 | Volunteers & Parents: A team for Helping a Teenagers Grow in Christ
    2025/03/17

    In this episode of the Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers, Chris Trent and Jennifer Fletcher are joined by Lifeway experts Chad Higgins and Zac Workun. They discuss the vital role of volunteers in youth ministry, emphasizing the importance of communication and collaboration between youth workers and parents. Drawing from their new book, Define the Relationship, they share insights from research on the dynamics of parent-youth leader relationships and highlight the need for volunteers to serve as liaisons, advocating for both sides.


    00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Youth Ministry Podcast

    02:56 The Importance of Volunteers in Youth Ministry

    05:54 Research Insights on Parent and Youth Worker Relationships

    09:01 The Role of Volunteers as Liaisons

    11:55 Communication and Advocacy in Youth Ministry

    14:49 Understanding Expectations in Parent-Youth Leader Relationships

    17:49 Addressing Tensions in Youth Ministry

    20:52 Building Relationships Over Programs

    23:06 Bridging the Gap: Volunteers and Parents

    25:46 Expectations and Realities of Parenting in Faith

    29:57 Empowering Parents and Volunteers

    32:01 Final Thoughts on Relationships in Youth Ministry


    The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by several youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!


    You can reach Chris & the team at studentministrynetwork.com


    We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

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    39 分
  • 055 | Healthy Small Group Guidelines
    2025/03/10

    In this episode of the Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers, Chris, Jennifer, and Todd dive into the vital role of volunteers in youth ministry and offer practical strategies for leading healthy small groups. They explore key elements like fostering respect, encouraging participation, and leading with intentionality, while also tackling common challenges such as gossip. Plus, they discuss the power of prayer and Scripture in shaping a thriving youth ministry. This conversation is packed with insights on creating an inclusive environment where every student feels valued, known, and spiritually nurtured.


    Chapters

    00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Youth Ministry Podcast

    02:56 The Importance of Volunteers in Youth Ministry

    06:04 Healthy Small Group Guidelines

    09:07 Creating a Culture of Respect and Participation

    11:57 Guarding Against Gossip and Encouraging Vulnerability

    14:55 Intentional Prayer Time in Small Groups

    18:01 The Importance of Opening Scripture Together

    20:56 Creating an Inclusive Environment for All Students


    The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by several youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!


    You can reach Chris & the team at studentministrynetwork.com


    We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.


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    27 分