The Think Orange Podcast

How can we leverage a digital strategy to better disciple the kids and teens we lead? In this episode, we share a breakout session from Orange Conference 2022 with Brett Talley, Vice President of Staff Culture and Development at Orange. Brett walks through three mindset shifts that can help us make the most of digital platforms. He also shares some practical tips and resources to engage with as you work to move beyond having a digital presence to start developing a digital discipleship strategy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A healthy small groups culture is one of the most powerful tools for ministering to our students, but it doesn’t happen by accident. In this episode, we share a conversation from the “Rethinking Youth Ministry” podcast about how to create and sustain a healthy small groups culture. The panelists share inspiration and practical advice for finding and mentoring great small group leaders, structuring your programming with small groups as the focal point, and navigating periods of transition in your student ministry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can we continue to lead well when real life gets in the way? In this episode, we share a panel discussion from the “Rethinking Youth Ministry” podcast that explores our responsibilities as youth leaders when leading through a storm. The panelists open up about their own experiences and share practical tips for making sure you get the care you need so you can lead others through challenging seasons.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are some of the key mindsets and approaches to ministry that we need to rethink in order to better serve our students? In this episode, we share an episode from the “Rethinking Youth Ministry” podcast with Reggie Joiner and Crystal Chiang. Reggie unpacks seven areas he wants to rethink, including our approach to engaging parents, the way we measure success, and the importance of maintaining relationships after high school.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the Rethinking Youth Ministry Podcast:  How can we as leaders continue to have an impact on students even when they can’t show up every week? In this episode, we kick off our summer podcast takeover by sharing a previous episode of the “Rethinking Youth Ministry” podcast.  Brett Talley, Ashley Bohinc, Stuart Hall, and Dan Scott discuss the different perspectives of parents, leaders, coaches, and students and challenge us to think differently about the ways we support our students in and outside of the church walls.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the best ways to build connection is by having fun together. So how can we take fun seriously in our student ministries? In this episode, Jon Williams and Brandon O’Dell of The So & So Show explain why fun is so important for breaking down barriers and helping kids and teens connect with Jesus. They also share practical advice for leaders looking to better incorporate fun into their ministries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How are today’s teens experiencing anxiety, and what can we learn from  the Bible about dealing with this challenge? In this episode, we share a few different perspectives on the topic of anxiety. You’ll hear from a group of high schoolers and from Licensed Professional Counselor Dr. Chinwé Williams about the ways anxiety is impacting Gen Z. We also share a lesson from the Psalms about how each of us can approach God with our anxiety. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will we see you at Orange Conference 2023? As we get excited for this year’s conference, we’re counting down some of our favorite moments from past years. Listen in to get a taste of what you can expect if you join us in just a few weeks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes the good news so good, and how can we share the Gospel in a way that connects with more people? Today, Orange President Kristen Ivy shares five different worldviews that shape how people view the Gospel. She also explains how you can communicate the good news in a way that resonates with each of these worldviews.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No one has more influence in the life of a kid or teen than their parent. So as leaders, one of the best things we can do is meet and partner with the parents of the kids and students we lead. In this episode, we share a training from Orange Director of Elementary Strategies, Dan Scott, about how to have better conversations with parents. Dan explains why parent relationships are so important and shares practical tips for letting parents know you’re on their side. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can we create an environment for our kids that supports their mental health? And how should we respond when our child is struggling? In this episode, we share a preview of a new Parent Cue course with Will Hutcherson and Dr. Chinwé Williams: “Parenting with Mental Health in Mind.” Will shares why hope is a critical response for our children to develop, and Dr. Chinwé explains the factors that increase someone’s risk for mental health conditions, and some of the common signs to watch out for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Description: One of our jobs as leaders is to understand and have empathy for the parents in our communities. In this episode, Keturah Boston of The Potter’s House talks with Reggie Joiner and Kristen Ivy about what it looks like to partner with parents—both inside and outside the walls of your church—and to lead with empathy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keeping our kids and volunteers safe is the most important thing we can do as leaders. In this episode, Roy Grant shares actionable strategies you can use to create a safer environment in your kids ministry—from equipping volunteers to preparing for emergencies to cleaning procedures. Roy is the children’s pastor at Church By The Glades, and he’ll be leading a workshop at Orange Conference 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you want to create irresistible environments for your teenagers, you need to create a ministry that MOVEs. In this episode, Orange Director of High School Strategy, Leslie Mack explains what the early church movement can teach us about ministry. She also breaks down the acronym MOVE to show how you can create an environment that engages your students.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month, we’re going to be sharing what’s new at Orange in 2023. In this episode, we talk with Shane Sanchez about his new devotional for teenagers, “How to See God.” Shane explains why he wrote the book, how teenagers can benefit from reading it, and why spiritual practices play such a key role in discipleship.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month, we’re going to be sharing what’s new at Orange in 2023. And in this episode, we’re giving you a preview of our new masterclass on building a digital ministry and launching a MetaChurch strategy with Dave Adamson. Dave is the Director of Orange Australia and Orange New Zealand and a leader in the digital ministry space, and he has some exciting new insights to share in this episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s enormous value in having friends who are different from you, and part of our job as parents and leaders is to help our kids realize this. In this episode, Mitchell McGhee interviews Amanda Roman-Leak, author of “Jackson and the Not-So-Colorful Day.” Amanda shares the inspiration and message behind her book, and she unpacks some practical tips for making every student feel welcome and having these conversations with your kids.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Description: Today’s young people are not necessarily less religious than previous generations, it’s just that they have far less trust in institutions. In this episode, we share a breakout session from Orange Conference with Dr. Josh Packard, Executive Director of Springtide Research Institute. Josh shares some of Springtide’s findings about religion among 13-25 year olds that are especially relevant for ministry leaders. He also offers up some practical examples of what it looks like to build relationships at scale.   Episode Recap: Springtide focuses on data with heart (1:11) The stories that we tell ourselves matter (5:01) Gen Z is the most diverse generation, and it’s hard to wrap our heads around that (9:27) More and more kids are having conversations about religion outside of church (16:39) It’s not that religion is declining, but institutional trust is (20:57) The trust revolution has also created a crisis of belonging (25:52) The only solution to trust and belonging is relationship (38:45) How to build relationships at scale (46:15) Belonging precedes believing (52:40)   Resources: Find every episode of the Think Orange Podcast Register for Orange Tour 2022 Springtide Research Institute “Lead Small” from Orange Books   Find show notes here: https://orangeleaders.com/podcast/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If we want to keep telling our story well and engaging with a changing culture, our ministries need to innovate. In this breakout session from Orange Conference 2022, Vice President of Orange Leaders Joseph Sojourner breaks down what innovation is, why it’s important, and how to start making it an everyday part of your ministry. He also shares five practical tips for fostering innovation among your team and broader organization. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

70% of changes made in an organization end up failing, so what can we do to make sure our ministries are able to make and maintain changes to meet the needs of students? In this episode, we share a breakout session from Orange Conference with Jake Mulder, senior director of strategy at Fuller Youth Institute. Jake breaks down the difference between adaptive and technical change, shares a case study that demonstrates the challenges many ministry leaders face, and unpacks five key things that can help you create adaptive change in your organization.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.