DiscoverYouth Pastor Theologian106: What NOT to do in your first year
106: What NOT to do in your first year

106: What NOT to do in your first year

Update: 2025-06-10
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In this episode, Mike McGarry and John Gardner discuss essential advice for first-time youth workers, each focusing on five key things to avoid in youth ministry. The conversation provides practical insights and encouragement for new youth leaders navigating their roles. 


Send your question to Mike and John for the podcast here, and make sure to tell us you've left a rating/review to get bumped to the top of the list. 
 
Mike McGarry is the Founder and Director of Youth Pastor Theologian and served as a youth pastor for nearly twenty years. He's written four books for youth workers and teenagers, his latest is releasing in August '25, Iconic: Being God's Image in Your World. Follow Mike on  Instagram or X/Twitter


 
John Gardner is the Pastor of Youth Ministries at Grace Church in Longmont, CO. John and his wife Jackie have been married for 15 years and love spending time trying out new food, exploring the national parks, and playing board games. Follow John on Instagram
 
Together, Mike and John co-lead the YPT Teaching Workshop, a one day training session to equip your volunteers and other area youth leaders to teach the Bible to teenagers with depth and clarity. GO HERE to learn more about how to host a workshop at your church. 
 


Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions)


Follow YPT on Twitter: @youththeologian


Follow YPT on Instagram: @youththeologian


Subscribe to YPT's website to receive our newest articles and updates sent directly to your inbox. We won't spam you, but you will receive a link to download our ebook for free... Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry is a collection of articles from the blog archives to help new YPT readers catch the vision for theological renewal in youth ministry. 

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106: What NOT to do in your first year

106: What NOT to do in your first year

Youth Pastor Theologian