The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers

Join Chris Trent, Jennifer Fletcher, and Tim Kilgore in episode 39 as they discuss ministering to teenagers disconnected from church-involved parents. Discover the importance of patience, grace, and mindful communication in reaching out to these youth. Learn how to navigate relationships with both teens and their non-church parents with respect and compassion. Gain valuable tips on pointing these teenagers towards Jesus and fostering connections with their families. Stay tuned for a heartfelt reminder to keep these families in your prayers as they journey together in faith.TakeawaysBe patient and show grace to teenagers who may not be familiar with church culture.Be mindful of the language used when communicating with both teenagers and their parents.Respect non-church parents and understand that they love their children.Point teenagers to Jesus and minister to the whole family.Get to know the parents and seek opportunities to connect with them.Pray for the teenagers and their parents.Chapters00:00 Introduction02:02 Ministering to teenagers without involved parents04:37 Chapter 1: Remember they likely don't know church culture06:46 Chapter 2: Be careful with the language you use09:26 Chapter 3: Non-church parents are not the enemy10:34 Chapter 4: Point them to Jesus12:35 Chapter 5: Get to know the parents14:11 Bonus: Pray for the kids and their parents16:04 ConclusionThe 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.comWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

In this episode, Chris and Jennifer are joined by Angela Sanders to discuss girls ministry. They talk about the importance of girls ministry and why churches should consider having a separate ministry for girls. They also provide tips for volunteers who are interested in starting a girls ministry in their church. In this conversation, Angela Sanders shares insights on how to effectively run a girls ministry. She emphasizes the importance of assessing the specific needs of the girls in your context and avoiding a cookie-cutter approach. Angela also provides practical steps for starting and maintaining a successful girls ministry.You can find Angela’s book here: https://www.angelasanderswrites.com/shopChapters00:00 Introduction02:13 Excitement about Girls Ministry06:31 Why Churches Should Consider Girls Ministry07:17 Tips for Starting Girls Ministry as a Volunteer19:16 Avoiding Fluff in Girls Ministry21:24 Preparing Girls for the Future23:52 Teaching Girls to Turn to Scripture25:35 Creating an Intentional Environment27:05 Including Girls in Leadership28:27 Making Incremental Changes29:19 Bringing Girls on the Team30:18 Adding and Evaluating Ministry Elements31:30 Starting Small and Casting Vision32:12 Finding the Book and Connecting on Social Media33:46 Joining the Student Ministry Network Facebook Group34:13 Preview of Next Episode: Ministering to Kids with Uninvolved ParentsThe 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.comWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 37 | Why are teenagers so lonely an how can we help?Join us as we discuss the issue of loneliness among teenagers and how volunteers can help. We highlight the fact that despite being more connected than ever through technology, teenagers are experiencing high levels of loneliness. We also take a look the reasons behind this, including shallow relationships and lack of genuine connection. We provide four key strategies for volunteers to address this issue. And of course we emphasize the importance of volunteers in building meaningful relationships with teenagers and making a positive impact in their lives.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!Takeaways1. Teenagers today are experiencing high levels of loneliness, despite being more connected through technology.2. Volunteers can help teenagers by helping them reframe their self-talk and fight the lies with truth.3. Focusing on relational ministry is crucial for volunteers, as building meaningful relationships with teenagers can help combat loneliness.4. Volunteers can connect students with other students, breaking down social barriers and fostering genuine connections.5. Volunteers should go beyond church programs and show up in various aspects of teenagers' lives, such as attending their events and sending encouraging messages.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction04:01 The Loneliness Epidemic Among Teenagers09:05 Helping Teenagers Reframe Their Self-Talk12:06 Focusing on Relational Ministry15:55 Connecting Students with Other Students23:09 Upcoming Episode and ConclusionYou can reach Chris & the team at studentministrynetwork.comWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 36 | A Senior Pastor’s Perspective on Youth Ministry Volunteers - In this episode, we talk with Ricky Smith about his journey from youth pastor to senior pastor as he emphases the vital role of volunteers in ministry. Ricky shares his personal connection to the church and the importance of volunteers in the church's mission. He also shares about his own upbringing in a church where his father served diligently as a volunteer, and highlights the invaluable contributions of volunteers not just in organizational terms but from a biblical perspective. 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.comWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 35 | Why are Teenagers So Anxious and What Can We Do to Help - In this episode, we dive into an important topic: anxiety in teenagers. We explore the rising prevalence of anxiety among teens, particularly post-pandemic, where one in three teenagers is affected. We also discuss how anxiety doesn't discriminate by gender, impacting both boys and girls. We also address the challenge of recognizing anxiety in teenagers and distinguishing it from typical teenage stressors. 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.comWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 34 | Current Trends Youth Ministry Volunteers Need to be Aware of at the Start of 2024 with Walt Mueller - Join us as we dive into the latest trends in youth ministry with Walt Mueller from the Center for Parent Youth Understanding. In this episode, Walt shares important insights for volunteers to be aware of in 2024. Discover practical tips for balancing trend-awareness with a busy schedule, enhancing your effectiveness in youth engagement. A must-listen for all youth ministry 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.comWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 33 | If a youth ministry volunteer were to set goals -  Happy New Year! Can you believe it is 2024? Like so many of you, we’re thinking about how we can improve in 2024. That got us thinking about what it would look like for a volunteer to set goals for how they work with students. In this episode we share 5 potential goals to set for 2024.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.comWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 32 | Christmas Spectacular 2023Get ready for festive fun! Jennifer is back in this jolly episode where we share some great ideas on how to connect with students during Christmas. From fun activities to way you can encourage them spiritually, it's a must-listen for a memorable youth ministry Christmas season. Merry Christmas! #youthministry #studentministry #nextgen #nextgenministry  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 https://gabaptist.org/nextgenWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 31 | Fun Ice Breakers for Your Small GroupWhen it comes to leading a group of teenagers in a small group, one thing we’ve learned is that doing a good ice breaker before the lesson can really help get teenagers engaged in the conversation. In this episode, we talk about why ice breakers are important and then share 5 solid ideas that you can use in your next small group meeting.Book Mentioned:The Complete Book of Questions: 1001 Conversation Starters for Any Occasionhttps://a.co/d/cib5f5KThe 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 https://gabaptist.org/nextgenWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 30 | Basics of Discipling StudentsIf you’re like us, you love the idea of helping a teenager not only meet Jesus, but live a life for Jesus. In this episode we take a look at how a volunteer can leverage their opportunity to not only teach students, but disciple them.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 https://gabaptist.org/nextgenWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 29 | Building Trust with ParentsWhen we’re given the opportunity to impact a teenager’s life for Jesus, we also have a chance to impact their parents. In this episode, we talk through ideas on how youth ministry volunteers can build trust with parents with the hopes of also impacting them for Jesus.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 https://gabaptist.org/nextgenWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 28 | Asking Great Questions that will Lead to Great DiscussionSilence. We’ve all experienced blank stares when leading a Bible study and it’s not fun. In this episode we tackle how to ask great questions in order to increase participation with those we’re teaching.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 https://gabaptist.org/nextgenWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 27 | Great resources that will help me be a better youth ministry volunteerVolunteering with teenagers can be a bit overwhelming at times, so in this episode we share tried and true resources that will help you be the best youth ministry volunteer you can be as you point teenagers to Jesus.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!Resources shared in this episode:Online bible study resourcesBlue Letter Bible | https://www.blueletterbible.orgBible Gateway | https://www.biblegateway.comYouth Culture SitesCenter for Parent and Youth Understanding | https://cpyu.orgAxis Youth Culture & Culture Translator | https://axis.orgGen Z Lab | https://genzlab.impact360institute.org/Books• Seven Best Practices for Teaching Teenagers the Bible by Andy Blanks | https://youthministry360.com/collections/volunteers-strategy/products/the-7-best-practices-for-teaching-teenagers-the-bible• DISCIPLE: Ordinary Person’s Guide to Discipling Teenagers by Allen Jackson | https://youthministry360.com/collections/volunteers-strategy/products/disciple• YM360 - bundle for youth ministry volunteers | https://youthministry360.com/collections/volunteers-strategy• A Volunteer Youth Workers’ guide to understanding today’s teens by Mark Oestreicher | https://a.co/d/3r44C8LYou can reach Chris & the team at https://gabaptist.org/nextgenWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 26 | My youth pastor is young, inexperienced, and new… how can I help? Let’s face it… sometimes our churches hire really young youth pastors that don’t have a lot of experience in ministry. We want to see them thrive in ministry, so in this episode we share tips on how you as a volunteer can be an encouragement. 

Episode 25 | Creating Unity When Students Don’t Come Much With attendance patterns continuing to change among teenagers and families, it can be hard to maintain unity with your group of teenagers. In this episode we talk through some ideas that we think will help create momentum that will lead to a more unified group.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 https://gabaptist.org/nextgenWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 24 | Things I Wish I Could Have Said to My Volunteers In this episode we talk with Billy Christol, who is now a Senior Pastor, about things he and most youth pastors wish they could say to their youth ministry 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 https://gabaptist.org/nextgenWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 23 | Connecting with Your New Group of Students Summer is over and the new school year is upon us. That means for a lot of volunteers, you'll be working with a new group of students along with a new class that has been promoted from children's ministry. In this episode we talk through ideas on how to best connect with those students and get relational traction quicker.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 https://gabaptist.org/nextgenWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 22 | Summer Spectacular: Staying Connected to Your Students Over the Summer. The whole gang is here in this episode! We’re talking summer plans and how to stay connected to students in the middle of a chaotic summer.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 https://gabaptist.org/nextgenWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 21 | Shane Pruitt Interview: Staying Current without CompromiseIn this episode we talk with Shane Pruitt, Next Gen Director for the North American Mission Board, about how to navigate difficult conversations on difficult topics with teenagers. We include tips on how to handle these conversations in an appropriate way without compromise. 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!—————————————————RESOURCES MENTIONED IN PODCAST:You can find Gen Send’s New Believers Guide HERE: https://www.gensend.org/life/OR you can have a student text the word LIFE to 888123—————————————————You can reach Chris & the team at https://gabaptist.org/nextgenWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 20 | Back to the Basics: A spiritual check up. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in all the work we’re doing “for” God and not realize that we’re not walking with the Lord like we should. In this episode, we take a look at some spiritual basics that will help help us stay close to Jesus.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!—————————————————Discussion Questions:As a reminder, Back to the Basics: A spiritual check up1. Importance of Prayer2. Daily Bible Study/Quiet Time3. Engaging in worship through singing and listening intentionally to sermonsAfter listening to this episode, what stood out to you as a spiritual area you need to get back to the basics on?Why is it hards sometimes to stay close to Jesus?What are some things you’ve done for daily Bible study that you’ve found especially helpful?—————————————————You can reach Chris & the team at https://gabaptist.org/nextgenWe would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.