Claim OwnershipETCH with Chuck Peters
Subscribed: 10Played: 79
Subscribe
© 2025 ETCH with Chuck Peters
Description
The ETCH NextGen Podcast is your go-to resource for inspiration, practical advice, and spiritual encouragement tailored specifically for those leading the next generation. Whether you're a pastor, youth leader, Children's Ministry director, or a volunteer passionately investing in young lives, this podcast is designed to equip and empower you for impactful ministry to kids, students, and families. Each episode features insightful conversations with seasoned leaders, experts, and influencers who share their wisdom on relevant topics. Join us as we explore how to navigate the enormous needs of Gen Z and Alpha, and the unique challenges and opportunities of next-generation ministry leaders.
45 Episodes
Reverse
Have you ever paused to consider what’s really going on beneath the surface in the lives of the kids and students you serve? So often, we see behaviors that confuse or frustrate us, but behind many of those actions is a story—sometimes one marked by pain, trauma, or stress they don’t yet have the words to explain. In this episode, Chuck Peters and Stephanie Shivers invite you to slow down and reflect on the reality that many children and youth are carrying more than we realize. The impact of ...
It's no secret today's youth are facing unique challenges that differ from those in previous generations. In this two part series, Chuck Peters and Josh Straub dive deep into the mental health challenges facing today’s youth and the critical role emotional safety plays in their lives. For next-generation leaders, creating environments where young people feel seen, known, and valued is non-negotiable. We’ll explore how to foster trust, build authentic relationships, and empower youth through l...
Welcome to the very first episode of ETCH - a podcast designed for the Next Gen Leaders of the church! For us to know how to lead the next generation, we must know who they are! How are they different from the generations before them? What unique challenges do they face? What do they value? On today's show Josh Straub and Chuck Peters dive into those questions and challenge leaders to invest with integrity and authenticity. Joshua Straub, Ph.D. is a husband, dad, speaker, author, and family...
The ETCH Next Gen Podcast is your go-to resource for inspiration, practical advice, and spiritual encouragement tailored specifically for those leading the next generation. Whether you're a pastor, youth leader, children's ministry director, or a volunteer passionately investing in young lives, this podcast is designed to equip and empower you for impactful ministry to kids, students, and families. Each episode features insightful conversations with seasoned leaders, experts, and influencers ...
Stepping into ministry can feel like being handed a map… with no directions. Whether you’re a brand-new leader or guiding others who are, the early stages of ministry are filled with both calling and chaos. In this episode, Chuck Peters is joined with Amanda Mejias and Delanee Williams, and together they unpack what it really takes to equip, support, and sustain new ministry leaders so they can thrive, not just survive, in their roles. From volunteer training and team culture to safety, mento...
Who do your students really believe Jesus is? In a culture filled with half-truths, memes, and mixed theology, even well-meaning young people can end up following a version of Jesus that doesn’t actually exist. In this episode, Shane Pruitt brings a timely and passionate conversation about rediscovering the real Jesus -the one revealed in Scripture, not reshaped by culture. If you’re leading Gen Z or Gen Alpha, this conversation will help you cut through cultural noise, clarify biblical truth...
If ministry is starting to feel heavy, it’s probably because you’re carrying what God never designed you to hold alone. In this episode, we tackle one of the most difficult growth barriers for any leader: delegation. If you’ve ever struggled to trust others, release control, build a team you can depend on, or step away from doing everything yourself, this conversation will speak directly to you. What if delegation isn’t just a leadership skill… but a discipleship strategy? If you’re ready to ...
Healthy ministry doesn’t happen by accident, and neither do healthy teams. In this episode, we explore what it truly takes to build, lead, and sustain a thriving ministry team. Whether you lead staff, volunteers, or a mix of both, this conversation will equip you with practical tools and a biblical foundation for team leadership that lasts. Chuck Peters and Lee Hotchkiss unpack the dynamics of effective teams and discuss how to assess team health, navigate dysfunction, and cultivate trust. Yo...
Every leader knows the power of vision. But in the busyness of ministry, it’s easy for vision to drift, blur, or get lost in the noise of daily demands. Without clarity, leaders risk aiming at the wrong targets, making decisions that miss the mark, and losing momentum in their mission. In this episode, Jana Magruder and Chuck Peters unpack the critical role of vision in leadership, especially within the context of ministry. They share personal stories and practical wisdom that will inspire yo...
Ministry is full of incredible moments of joy and impact—but it also comes with challenges we don’t always anticipate. Today, Chuck and Kevin Jones dive deep into the reality of spiritual warfare, exploring how the enemy seeks to distract, discourage, and divide ministry leaders. Far from being a reason to despair, these struggles remind us of our dependence on God’s strength and the power of His promises. Highlights from this episode: Why ministry often brings unexpected challenges—and how t...
Leadership in ministry rarely looks like a straight path. More often, it feels like walking forward with limited clarity, unexpected turns, and a constant call to trust God’s leading. The story of Gideon reminds us that even the most hesitant leaders can be used mightily when they surrender fear, embrace faith, and trust the One who holds the mission steady, no matter the circumstances. In this episode you’ll discover five key takeaways designed to encourage and equip leaders to adapt when ci...
In a rapidly changing culture where ministry strategies come and go, some methods continue to stand the test of time. Vacation Bible School (VBS) is one of those deeply rooted traditions that still holds transformative power for the church. In this episode, we take a thoughtful look at how VBS remains a cornerstone of next gen ministry—bridging generations, strengthening community ties, and inviting kids and families to encounter the Gospel in meaningful ways. This conversation explores...
Preteens are standing on the edge of two worlds—no longer children, but not yet teenagers. They’re asking big questions, feeling deeply, and shaping a worldview that will guide them into adulthood. For those of us in next generation ministry, this season can be both exhilarating and challenging. How we show up in these years matters. It’s in this transitional phase that faith can either become personal and enduring or drift into the background. In today's episode, Chuck Peters and Kayla...
Preteens are in one of the most complex seasons of life. They’re not quite kids anymore, but not yet teenagers. Too old for the playground, too young for youth group. And often, this “in-between” stage can leave them feeling like they don’t fully belong anywhere—not at school, not in culture, and sometimes, not even at church. In this episode, we pause to consider: What if our ministries could be the place where preteens feel most seen, most known, and most valued? What if we could help them ...
In the world of next generation ministry, it’s easy to focus all our energy on the kids and students who show up week after week. We pour into them, plan for them, and pray over them. But what if the greatest impact we can make isn’t just in the classroom or the youth room - but around the dinner table at home? This episode invites ministry leaders to pause and reflect on a foundational truth: parents are the primary disciplers of their children. When we as church leaders shift from programmi...
In ministry, it’s easy to get caught up in what’s next. The next event, next age group, next building phase. But what if we slowed down long enough to truly see the opportunities God has placed right in front of us? What if collaboration wasn’t just a logistical necessity but a spiritual discipline? And what if contentment wasn’t complacency, but a deep trust in God’s perfect timing? This episode invites leaders to pause and reflect on how we’re serving not just in strategy, but in spirit. It...
As ministry leaders, we’re not just teaching lessons - we’re shaping lives. And the way we teach matters just as much as what we teach. From coloring sheets and object lessons to small group discussions and personal reflection, kids and students engage with truth in very different ways. If we’re not intentional, the transition from children’s to student ministry can feel like a jarring leap rather than a natural step. In this episode, we pause to consider a vital question: How can we better b...
It’s easy for ministries within a church to drift into silos, each one focusing on its own age group, calendar, and curriculum. But when we forget that kids and student ministries are part of a larger discipleship journey, we risk creating disjointed spiritual experiences for the very families we're called to serve. True transformation in the lives of young people happens when ministry teams are united by a clear, gospel-centered vision that transcends age brackets and stage-specific programm...
Every child’s faith journey is a story in progress, but far too often, our ministry strategies treat it like a series of disconnected chapters. When there’s no alignment between kids and student ministries, we risk losing spiritual momentum at the very moments when children are ready to grow deeper. In today’s conversation, Chuck Peters and Pastor Jay Strother step into the critical work of closing educational gaps in the church, ensuring that from preschool to high school graduation, o...
In ministry, calendars fill up fast. Between planning events, training volunteers, and caring for families, the pressure to “just get it all done” can pull ministry leaders in different directions. And when kids and student ministries aren’t aligned, the result isn’t just double-booked spaces - it’s missed opportunities for unity, shared vision, and sustainable impact. What if we saw scheduling not just as logistics, but as ministry in itself? What if collaboration wasn’t a burden, but a bles...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States