Youth Worker On Fire Podcast

In this segment, youth pastors will learn tips on how to choose churches. Although you're being interviewed for the youth pastor position, *you need to have a list of questions to ask, also. *Churches also need to learn how to choose a youth pastor that's right for them and not just fill a vacant position. *Another key tip is to separate the middle school students, high school students and college students into their own groups and have them meet at different times during the week.  This can cause frustration with many families but each group is at a different developmental stage in life and you will be able to better minister to each group and give them your full attention. Hear this one out. This episode is simple but powerful! So here we go!

Irma was the biggest hurricane in Florida, 400 miles across. It brought back a memory of our student ministry taking 55 people to volunteer after Hurricane Andrew, 7 days later. A student, Jason Mages, decided we had to do something. He said the right things to the right people and the next thing I knew, we had a caravan of motorhomes, vans and trucks heading south from Eustis, Florida for a 2 night and 3 day work adventure in a place that looked like a bomb went off and had wiped out Homestead, Florida. Now we relive that experience but on a state wide scale. No where in the state of Florida or the Caribbean Islands escaped Irma's wrath. Today I just heard that a Catholic Nun in Miami is attacking Irma's aftermath with her own chainsaw, helping citizens remove trees from their property. With friends in the destruction of Harvey and Irma just days apart, there are plenty of places for us to lead our people to physically show that we are people of The Way, The Jesus Way, that helps the hurting. Get going Youth

DJ Verkaik at the age of 19 sold his truck and a lot of other things to get his 1st pro video camera! He later bought a $50k 1st of its kind digital computer video editing system and became famous. But he started by volunteering with me as an 8th grader producing mammoth video shows for pep rallies, church and massive events all through his high school career. He and his buddy, Matt Johnson, worked harder than most people being paid. All I tried to do was show him how to have a relationship with God and he caught a vision for going far beyond where I could take him. He has a wonderful amazing wife and 4 great children getting ready to make their own marks in this world. What adventures we had! What a life of greatness he has! This is his story. Listen and learn why students are ready for far more than you expect!

Coach/Teacher/FCA Huddle Coach/Wife/Mom was NOT a great softball player but her dad worked with her everyday even when friends went to the beach, she cried, but she practiced. And she went D1 to Auburn University as a softball player and became the 1st female athlete to go to FCA with the football team, and then she brought her team as well to start an Auburn Legacy. She is still building Legacies! What a powerful person in the public school system. Listen to Coach Brittany Beall's story now!

He has always been a champion, raised by champion parents! Being forgiven was his only way back! He had hurt his wife, himself and his relationship with God. Now he is Fellowship of Christian Athletes Director in his home county. How in heaven's name did he get to do that when his failure was so painful. Matt Matulia is a bigger Champion now than ever before. But, how? Find out in this episode!

How can a person get arrested for drugs while in college, go to a rehab facility and later become a youth pastor for one of the largest churches in the Orlando, Florida area? And who is this person? Well his name is Matt Williamson. Listen to how this story unfolds. Further more, how does he score an amazing wife and start a great family with 2 little boys? You will hear the answers to all of those questions and more in this episode of Youth Worker On Fire.

Coach Jack Cole is a self employed missionary to Jamaica where he and his wife adopted a daughter, raised their own children, and was called by a principal in a public high school, "a man of great integrity and influence." He is what every coach, youth pastor and teacher should be. He puts Faith 1st, Family 2nd and others 3rd while making all feel and believe they are blessed to be with him. Coach Jack Cole is the mentor we all should be to those around us because we do the NEXT Right Thing.

Mike, who?  MichaelTheSoundGuy.com on his website!  Michael Helms, was a junior in high school when we met. He was a regular student, but brilliant, laughed and joked a lot.  His dad was an international accountant and decided Michael, "Mike", needed to travel so he sent him to his company in Brazil where Mike met the love of his life, but he didn't know it yet. But, this young Brazilian lady, Silvana, knew he was the love of her life at 1st sight. Mike, makes Youth Worker On Fire sound AMAZING! He is a pro and brilliant! He and his family have sacrificed much for me, my family, this podcast and multiple ministries that I had developed over many years to reach students and families for Jesus Christ. Michael's oldest daughter Isabella, was even in the middle school ministry my last 2 years of my 29 years at Trinity Evangelical Free Church. Since Mike was in high school he has shown up every time God started a new wave of ministries through my family. I am forever grateful to you Michael for showing a servant's

Three children, John, Michael and Rebecca, in that order. Yet, for 24 years they have been working with Michael to control his seizures which are located all over his brain. Jim has been a 20+ year student ministry volunteer, community volunteer and church board member. He and his wife Marilyn own a major screen printing business and have traveled to different parts of the globe trying to find a cure for Michael's condition. Sleepless nights in hospitals, educating John and Rebecca through college and trying to make life normal for them...but it's not! Life is not normal as we see normal. To them, all of the above is "Their" normal. Jim and Marilyn are the Ultimate Warriors for Family, Faith, Friends and Business. Why, What, How can you possible SERVE OTHERS when your needs are so great? Listen closely to the pain and the joy and the hurt and the laughter of a man who serves...

In 8th grade she joined us on a mission trip to the Appalachia poverty mission. She has been a world changer ever since. Alex went on 4 Colorado trips with our student ministry, she was FCA student leader at her high school for 4 years because she initiated it. Pat Williams, Manager of the Orlando Magic NBA Team, spoke to the 2013 senior class because she decided it needed to happen.  She is a student at the University of Florida. She is a Biology/Medical Geography major, she  in her college career studied in New Zealand, Went to a mission trip in Croatia; then Hiked through Europe and Russia with her best friend!  "SUPER GIRL"! If you stay in student ministry long enough God will allow you to minister to students that are unbelievable. 

My Travel Agent to date is Don Holme's in Texas! I have taken 18 plus years of Colorado trips booked and arranged by Don! When you travel with students and volunteers you want the guy who thinks ahead of you and cares about you and your people. That's why Don is one of my Consistent Heros. He has been working with High Point Travel in Dallas, Texas for 30 years. In Don's words, "And they said it wouldn't last." He was being funny. HaHaHa! 13 year's in Youth Ministry Married for 30 years, 2 daughters and both are in college. He also has a website that He covers the local high school sport's teams. He is immersed in his community and he is a World Vision thinker. Youth Worker Nation, Don is the real deal because everyone my team and I bring you on this podcast is and will be the REAL DEAL!

Blake Appleby was saved as a teenager and has been reaching and teaching young people as a pastor and evangelist to students for 9 years. He has a beautiful wife named Meredith and two boys, Micah and Wade. He is the Student Pastor at First Baptist Church of Umatilla, Florida. He enjoys sports, bass fishing, playing the drums, reading, and a good cup of coffee. 

Anthony Sabatini was a sophomore in high school when his principal sat him down and said to him calmly, “You have some potential and you’re going to be one of two things, either you’re going to end up in the United States Senate or you’re going to end up in prison. And you have to make that choice.” Anthony recalls, "No one had ever talked to me that way before." It could have gone either way. But Anthony was a leader and it was evident to all. He became Student Body President and is a proud member of the Eustis High School Class of 2007.  Anthony went on to graduate magna cum laude from the University of Florida in 2012, with a double major in History and Philosophy and commissioned as an infantry officer into the Florida Army National Guard. A member of the National Guard since 2008, he currently serves as Executive Officer of an Infantry Company in Ocala, FL. Anthony is now attending the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law, where he is in his final year. Listen as Anthony tells us about some of th

Bryan Totten is currently teaching AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. This program helps prepare students who are in the academic middle for four-year college eligibility. These are students who are capable of completing a college-prep curriculum but may be falling short of their potential. Bryan has been in public education for 7 years and has taught both middle and high school. He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary and is married to his wife Savannah. He's a member and Deacon at Lifepointe Church in Eustis, FL.  Bryan is also a beard enthusiast.

What if you found out your child was a cutter and later on drugs? What if soon after that child turns 18, moves out, and leaves you wondering night after night if they are alive or dead? Tom and Dena Yohe (Parents of Renee Yohe, To Write Love On Her Arms), have lived that life and still live on the tentative list. In Dena's book to parents, "You Are Not Alone: Hope for Hurting Parents of Troubled Kids.", she takes you through how their family navigated these dark and uncertain circumstances. We hope you find hope and inspiration in this amazing story! _________________________________________ RESOURCES: Read Dana's Book here: https://amzn.to/3v1NmFH Hope For Hurting Parents - http://www.HopeForHurtingParents.com To Write Love On Her Arms - https://twloha.com

Ryan Schmitz was a rebellious teenager with a tough home life. With no boundaries, he dropped out of high school and got into a lot of trouble. Doug Edwards talks to Ryan about the positive adults who influenced his life and how his life was transformed through the grace of Jesus Christ. 

A drug and alcohol addiction recovery program, Teen Challenge is the focus of this week's episode.  Doug interviews Joe Batlock, who works for Teen Challenge, a drug and alcohol addiction recovery program.  Teen Challenge USA works on a holistic model of drug and alcohol recovery. This means they are concerned with the body, mind, and spirit of those who come to their addiction recovery centers. They endeavor to help people become mentally sound, emotionally balanced, socially adjusted, physically well, and spiritually alive.  For more information or help call 1-855-END ADDICTION or visit TeenChallengeUSA.com.

Carey Baker is a man among men. He and his wife Lori have 3 children and the oldest is 14 years old. That makes him qualified to talk to youth workers among many other things. He comes from a history of soldiers. In this episode, he speaks of 3 of our recent fallen young soldiers in the Middle East and Afganistan. His dad served in WWII and Carey joined the National Guard at age 18 and served for 32 years. In later years, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives as well as serving a tour of duty in Iraq during the war. Later he went on to the Florida Senate and now serves as County Appraiser in Lake County, Florida. Listen to the great integrity and faith of this man, Youth Worker Nation.

I met Julie at the NRB, National Religious Brodcasters Convention. Great person and author. Fun interview.

Tim Latiff - Washington DC, was a young man I met while working at the NRB, which is the International Broadcasters Convention, in Orlando, Florida. •Tim grew up in Maryland,  •His parents are pastors and Tim followed suit as a youth pastor at New Life Worship Center in Capital Heights, Maryland.  •Tim also works at the Center for Urban Renewal and Education where he oversees a clergy outreach program. •There he addresses issues of culture, race and poverty in the urban communities, encouraging and educating pastors to be equipped to lead students and families concerning these issues.   •Tim believes that you should build relationships first with young people by taking time to show up at THEIR sports events, THEIR drama productions, to allow students and families to see their face in the crowd. Students are more open and receptive when YOU invest YOUR personal time into things that THEY care about and are involved in because it's important to them.  •Students and Families are real people, with real lives, nee