Youth Worker On Fire Podcast

Youth Pastor Summit is a premier conference and training for next gen pastors, youth pastors, educators, and their teams. Youth Pastor Summit (presented by Student Leadership University) is conference designed to encourage and equip every leader. This conference includes breakout / small group sessions, labs, worship, lunch, fun activities (free day at Universal Studios Orlando we chat about in this episode), and free resources for student ministries. Our team here at the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast have been to this conference many times, as well as, had many students attend Student Leadership University at their locations all over the world! Caleb Turner of Factory Church (located in Concord/Charlotte, North Carolina), who we interviewed a few months ago (EP 195), went to his first Youth Pastor Summit this year (2024). In this episode, we dive into Caleb's firsthand experience at YPS Orlando, Florida and how it has enhanced his vision for student ministry. If you haven’t been to a Youth Pastor Summit, then

There’s an old saying that still stands true, “Facts tell and STORIES SELL.” Jesus often told stories, some as parables, to illustrate the truth of God. There was no written Bible for many years after Jesus died and rose from the dead. It was the stories by word-of-mouth and the reading of the Old Testament, Jewish scriptures, and letters of the apostles, which were not highly distributed amongst the people. They would recite them or tell others about those letters from memory. In the first 70 years, there were witnesses to the events. Their stories changed the world! The stories that are developing in student ministry matter. It’s important that you tell stories and let your students share their stories with the people who support you. The stories of your students and their families will transform your churches and communities. Don’t under estimate the power of a truly great (and honest) story! _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “Burn Up Not Out

You may be an amazing speaker. You are probably an incredible person, but people listen and believe you are who you are when other people, students, staff, parents and colleagues say great things about you (what you and/or your ministry have accomplished). It’s still happening to me. People are still talking about good things, God things, that we accomplished. We accomplished the most and gained the most in all of the ministries that I headed up when student’s started publicly telling how their lives were changed. I could talk all day about these moments, but it was their testimony, their witness, that changed the course and growth of all we did in Jesus name. It will happen to you. Stay true. Stay the course. Let others talk! _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq ____

“Do for others what you want them to do for you.” Have you ever had someone hold a door open for you when your hands or arms were full? Felt pretty good knowing someone cared. How many doors have you held open for people? Some of those doors you opened were emotional, spiritual, life changing, job or vocation changing doors. This episode includes a NASA scientist, his 3 interns, and a 75 year study on relationships and love. Lastly, it includes 2 young business ladies who talk about the lies taught to their generation. Opening Doors will change your life! _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at http

Mackenzie Balmer was a girl who grew up without the church. When she encountered Jesus, she found out that God had a wonderful plan for her life already in place. She and her husband Zane have a unique love story and they both have a ministry profession. Mackenzie is with Apex Missions for students with the EFCA (Evangelival Free Church of America). She helps youth pastors and their youth groups get onto the national and international mission field. She also works with Apex's Mission and Leadership Team and their "TEN:Two Team", so students can serve Christ and His Church during the summer. Listen in as we dive into Mackenzie's story!   ____________________________________________________   You can learn more about Apex Missions here: www.apexmissions.org You can connect with Mackenzie and the Apex Team at: apex@efca.org   ____________________________________________________   Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook” here

This episode is about taking action! Especially, acting like (aka modeling) the person you want your children and/or students to be like. “Do what I say and not what I do!” Was an old saying. It didn’t work when it was popular and it doesn’t work now. What do you want your children, grandchildren, students, volunteer staff to be like? Whatever that is... you need to be modeling exactly that. You will start seeing the results! Jesus modeled to his disciples, family and friends who he wanted them to be. You do the same and you will see the results. _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.l

25 years seems like a long time until you compare it to history. We overestimate what we can accomplish in a year and under estimate what we can accomplish in 10 years. Time and longevity matter! Invest in teenagers and your personal future will change. Life changing events happen. Students grow up and in a few years after school, they are making decisions that change all of our lives. When you plant the seeds... God grows the people like compounding interest. Trust that God is doing a good work!   _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : 

How does an Oncologist end up on a podcast like this? Why would she take her precious time to give to us her knowledge and kindness? Great questions!    Dr. Sarah Friend (formally Sarah Cooke) was a student in the youth ministry I was the pastor of. She gives great credit to my wonderful wife, Colleen, for disciplining her during high school. She talks highly of our adventurous mission trips and student ski trips. She gives her time to us, because we gave our time to her when it counted most during her teenage years.   What I consistently told our volunteer staff and church was that the students we poured our life into deserved to be respected and treated as though they were world changers. I said much more about the things and leaders our students would become and Sarah is a great example of why long term commitment to student ministry in one place, for as long as God wants you there, is important and necessary.   In this episode, Sarah shares about her time in student ministry, about her journey to becomin

Having fun with students is hard work... Gettting students to laugh along with you and/or making them smile is even harder! Why does it matter? When you get students to laugh or smile it raises their IQ levels... no joke! According a study, it makes a person 31% smarter.  When you make someone smarter, they feel better about themselves... and about you. That’s why you hear most public communicators tell a joke or a funny story. They are engaging the crowd. They are winning the crowd over.  Youth Workers have to win the crowd over every time they meet with students. It’s not a one time thing... it’s an every time thing. The Apostle Paul said that, “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible… I have become all things to all people, so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessing.” - 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NIV We laugh with them and engage with them, so that they might hear w

Organizations and churches want to save money, so they try to hire people for one thing and put too many hats on them... that way they don’t have to spend more on staff. As a result, they complain about everything, because you are doing "little to nothing" well. That responsibility lies on those who hire without the faith to believe that God wants to do more. It’s your responsibility to say “No” to everything you are not called to do. If you say yes, it will not end. You will not be able to do anything with excellence for long. So... NICHE DOWN! If you are new in a ministry, focuse for the first 2 years on what you do best. Work most with the type of staff and students that you relate most with. Focus on that type of student... such as the leadership types, art lovers, sports enthusiasts, academic thriving, technology driven, music performance, mechanical, social media aware, homeschooled, private schooled, public school. Not all of those… but one of those at least one day a week. When that works, then start

Breaking Strong Holds… Maybe you have been praying for someone or for a certain person to have an encounter with God. An encounter life changing that it would have them seeking to ask Jesus Christ personally in their heart. Has it maybe seemed like it’s taking forever? Not even a sign of hope? Jim Halstead (Founder of Go and Tell Ministries) asked Jesus into his heart in 1976. He started praying for his family to ask Jesus in their heart in 1977.... this brings us now to 2024. This is how long it took for his sister to ask Jesus into her heart. We discuss in this episode how each and every person has a different timetable when it comes to their spiritual change. Why do some people take so long? Why do some people seem to accept this life changing moment so quickly? When strong holds are broken with one person, it sets off a ripple effect, strongholds are broken with not just one person, but many people! Learn more about Go and Tell Ministries at: https://goandtellministries.org/ ______________________________

During a recent interview between Erika from "Erika Taught Me" and Chris Voss (Author of "Never Spilt The Difference" and a former FBI Hostage Negotiator), she asks this question: Chris, how do you use these special communication methods that you've developed during your time as a hostage negotiator in your every day life? We dive deep into these every day methods and practices in this episode! John Chapter 4 - Jesus, talks to “the woman at the well.” A very well-known Jesus encounter and community transformation. He saw her and let her know that he knew who she was. He brought out her true feelings. She felt seen and heard. Verse 15: The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” Verse 16: He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back. Verse 17: “I have no husband,” she replied. She was  amazed that he actually saw her, knew who she was and still treated her as though she still mattered. She was so taken back that she told her enti

Caleb Turner is the Youth Director at Factory Church located in Concord, North Carolina, USA (a suburb of Charlotte, North Carolina). Caleb has been in full time student ministry for a little over one year at the time of this recording and we cannot wait to share with you his life story here on the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast! Saved by his adoptive mother first and then saved eternally by Jesus, Caleb was mentored by his Sunday school teacher Andy Williamson, who is now his senior pastor at Factory Church. Andy had a vision that Caleb was to be the Youth Pastor at Factory Church. Listen as Caleb's story unfolds in this podcast episode, as we dive into how his student ministry and life journey are just beginning. God has already and still is creating good works for Caleb to do in Christ Jesus! _______________________________ Connect with Caleb on social meda here: https://www.instagram.com/c_turner56/ Learn more about Factory Church here: https://thefactorychurch.com/about/ Check out Factory Youth here: https

Jeff Bezos, the founder owner of Amazon, understands and believes in the difference between a Calling and a Career. If a great business man believes in a calling, how much more should we? Are you called to serving others and adventure? Or are you stuck, because you can’t see beyond a pay check? Jesus said an earthly father knows how to give good gifts to his children. How much more does your Heavenly Father give good gifts beyond imagination to his children?  Ask God for His passion with in and His Calling for you in this world. Ephesians 2:10 and Psalm 139 Jesus said “Greater works will you do…..” _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One a

Andy McDaniel... Leader... Ripple... Tsunami!   What is a tsunami? A tsunami is a series of extremely long waves caused by a large and sudden displacement of the ocean, usually the result of an earthquake below or near the ocean floor. This force creates waves that radiate outward in all directions away from their source, sometimes crossing entire ocean basins.   Andy McDaniel was born and raised in poverty in Alabama, USA (or Bama as he would say). He was 1 of 5 children. In high school, a girl he liked invited him to a Campus Life Club, which is a division of Youth For Christ. That was the first RIPPLE. This young lady had no idea that she had awakened a sleeping Giant of a Leader! She simply did the right thing.   His Campus Life Director led him to Jesus and discipled him... RIPPLE #2 has now begun! Andy feels called to Campus Life Ministry with YFC and thus the ripple becomes an EARTH SHAKING event that has occurred, but no one has yet identified. He becomes a Campus Life Coordinator for Clearwater and l

Lenita Abouchabake is from Sydney, Australia and the Founder of Teen Coach Academy. This is her second interview on the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast. Lenita's business is helping adults who already serve teenagers and their families become teen life coaches. That may seem odd to some of you, but life coaching has been around for quite a while... and this is even better! Youth workers need to make a living and they are seldom paid what they are worth. In fact, they are well undervalued in churches who should be pouring the bulk of their resources into their Youth & Family Pastors, students, and their families.   Why? Because we say that students are our future, but what many unfortunately mean by this is students are our future... as long as it doesn't cost us too much.   If we were to pay workers what they are worth and build a budget to support these future leaders, then we would see frequent worldwide changes in our society. Instead, with the exception of a small percentage of churches and schools world

Most people really do not know why they believe what they believe. Many of us who do, need to be refreshed, so that we can fight spiritual warfare more effectively. But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect. - 1 Peter 3:15 (Amplified Bible) "A Ready Defense" by Josh McDowell is a book I gave out to seniors at our church as we honored them for their right of passage out of high school. I knew only some of them would use it and a close friend of mine, currently is getting ready to go through this a page a day over the next year.  You will have to listen to this podcast episode to learn why this almost 500 page reference book is so key to our faith and especially our students. It can be used as a "Bible Book Study" to prepare students for life... especi

While you may be teaching, coaching, raising or leading adolescence it is important that you pay the most attention to your young children while doing the work. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest. - Luke 9:48 When children are present you must be mindful of them. You must look them in the eyes, listen to them, and tell them how much you love them. The rest of the world will be changed by the way you love your family. Your children and spouse are watching and paying attention. But the world around you is especially watching... They recognize how you treat your own. _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq ____

COMFORT... IS IT A TRAP? Most of us "work forward" -> to being comfortable, but comfort can kill you or at the least make you lose the ability to achieve or live up to the purposes God has made you for in this life. Too much comfort slows creative juices down. To much comfort can set you up for moral failures as it did for King David. "Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.” - Jeremiah 42:3 Stanley Tam - US Plastics Company: Gave God 100% control as Senior Partner over his company. Stanley took only a salary for himself. Why? Because Stanley knew God would do more with the money than he could. He also knew that the treasures in heaven would last through eternity so Stanley said that he was just paying it forward. A little comfort is good for renewal. A lot of comfort is good for destruction. Choose wisely! _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook” 

YOU MATTER… Everything You Do Counts… Everyone You Meet Is Important! You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body. - 1 Corinthians 6:20 (Amplified Bible) For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. - Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified Bible) All the above and much more is what I am talking about on this episode. God does not make mistakes and has already pre-arranged and set in motion your events and intersections with people, places and good works.  Keep in mind that every person good, sad, happy, glad, mad and annoying are important. God is using them to give you opportunities. He is also giving you for them for th