Youth Worker On Fire Podcast

Justin Cox is a brilliant musician, songwriter, and former youth student of mine. The band he is in, Fireflight, performed for student ministries in our area churches and later would become a worldwide name in the music industry.   He volunteered in our student ministry program, went on mission trips, and many of our other student retreats. All of this after he graduated from college. His story keeps going on but now, instead of Florida, he resides in the state of Michigan with his wife and 2 children… with another on the way! His parents were educators and his older brother is brilliant in his own right. Justin became a believer in Jesus Christ at a young age and was consistent in our student ministry.   He was so much fun and relatable with his peers that when it was announced that he was valedictorian of his high school, people were shocked! Students rushed to the school office demanding an explanation as to how that could possibly be, because surely this funny guy could not be as smart as them…but he was!

Warning: This episode contains movie spoilers. You might need to know this. If you do, it most probably will take you by surprise. When a student dies it’s unnatural… It’s unexpected… It’s unsettling… It shakes a community. It will shake you up as well, but you are who many will look to for comfort, answers, and strength. What do you say? What’s right to say? More importantly what are the wrong things to say? #1 rule… Pray!  #2 rule… Just show up and keep showing up! People seldom remember what we say unless we say something inappropriate. Mostly they remember who was there in difficult times for them. They remember if we were selfless, if we were kind, and if we LISTENED to them instead of talking over them. You don’t have the answers, but God does. Remember to ask for His wisdom as you face the unknown. Loving a family when they have lost their child and that child’s future and dreams is a place of honor… but it will not feel like it. It will be painful, scary, unnerving, and so much more. When it’s about

Not what I expected! We should never be surprised at how God shows up and shows off but I still get surprised. Margot looked like any churched student and she hung out with those who were. But at one breakfast meeting I got more than I expected. God doesn’t wait for us to be ready. He inserts Himself and His miracles at the right time and at the best we should expect a Holy Surprise at any moment in our life. There are students and adults like Margot all over the world and right in your presence wherever you are. They don’t have a sign on them that says “Hey, look at me!!! I have questions and I am ready to encounter God through Jesus Christ Right Now! Ask me anything about God because I know nothing, but I am desperate inside! Hey, over here…I don’t know what to ask or how to ask but I am RIGHT HERE!!! Please See Me!” They aren’t wearing signs. They blend in and they look like they have it all together. Margot was a senior at the top of her class, but she was desperate for an encounter with God. She asked me

Billy and Ashley are a boy and a girl that do not know each other. They are more than a decade apart in age, lived in 2 different cities, and from 2 separate ministries I was in charge of. They both had encounters with God in different ways, but the results were similar. The way they came to know Christ was more of an encounter with Jesus Christ and less about a conventional church experience. Jesus was about leading people to himself as he was on his way somewhere. What do you mean, you may be asking…Well, like the woman at the well, her whole community came to know Christ because of his unconventional, unacceptable conversation about water at the well. 10 diseased men called out to him, he healed them all, and only one came back to say thank you. Jesus is an “on the way” God and teacher. The best encounters with God are “on the way”. Billy and Ashley experienced this “on the way” Jesus in our ministry and I experienced these God sightings “on the way” as well. My hope is that God will inspire you to see cl

Chad stands 6 foot 3 inches and is built like a pro wrestler. When he walks in a room you know it! He is no nonsense and unconventional for a student ministry volunteer. He didn’t usually smile or just say hi to new students. He stood tall looked down at them and asked, “What’s your name?”… still no smile. The middle school boys would try to take him down every week without success. He was their discipleship leader, he was at their sporting events, their graduations from middle school and later on high school. Chad always showed up and the students he led knew it! Normally I would get to know a person interested in volunteering for at least a year before inviting to them volunteer with our students, Chad was 4 months! He soon became a very big part of our middle school staff team and remained a long term volunteer staff member. He would consistently let me know by signaling from the back of the room that I had spoken to long, which was ok with me. I wanted to know and sometimes I would stop… sometimes. (ha ha

To our listeners, you are the reason this podcast exists. We appreciate each person who listens and shares these episodes with others who need to know what they can do to love, coach, teach, disciple, encourage, lead, and volunteer to help teenagers grow in spirit and truth through Jesus Christ. Thank you for never giving up and always showing up when those in need of guidance are present. We hope you continue to find value and encouragement through this podcast. It takes a TEAM to produce and distribute this podcast. My wife who pays the bills, my son Ryan who edits, creates visuals, and assists with distribution through Libsyn worldwide. Thanks to Michael Helms (Michael the Sound guy Podcast) for introducing me to podcasting and editing for my first 2 years. Mike Ligler and his high school class videoing the first 2 years of episodes. In Memory of: My Mom, Joe Ann Edwards: Thank you for always Listening, Encouraging and Caring. Steve Troesch, 27 years of Student Ministry Associate Staff: Words can not ex

Top Pilot, “Vader One” Captain Chuck Mingonet considers himself a small town Florida boy, but if you know this Florida boy he is all Man. He entered into pilot training in 1984 with the United States Navy and was the distinguished graduate for his class. He received his Navy wings in 1985 and began a 25-year career with the navy, which included Commander of a combat carrier squadron 2004-2005, Electron Warfare Office for Central Command Head Quarters 2005-2006,  Congressional Navy Liaison for Naval Warfare Director 2006, Commander of a Naval Air Station 2007-2010. His awards include Air Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit. Chuck married the love of his life, Sandy. After a semester in Seminary, he and Sandy moved back to Eustis, Florida to take care of his dad after his dad’s heart surgery. He helped his mom with the family business while becoming a youth pastor for 4 years at a local church.  After retiring, he is a father to his 2 children. He and Sandy are grandparents to 12 gran

Ryan is my first born of 3 children, married to his wife Brittney of 10 years, and lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music producer specializing in the TV/Film industry, multi-business owner, and avid adventurer. His entire life from birth through his high school years were lived within the environment of a youth pastor’s home. Our family was based at one church for 29 years (which is very unusual). We chat about the good, the bad and the ugly of that lifestyle. We also dive into the  opportunities that came along with remaining in the same community all of those years. We navigate through some of his most memorable travel stories within the music industry, missions, and personal adventurers. Ryan toured musically both nationally and internationally throughout the USA, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Canada. He also has personally traveled throughout many regions of Europe. Including, leaving Spain the day the World was officially being sh

"Love makes the World go round!" is a saying I heard growing up. At least in Lisa and Chase's case it does make their world go round  along with their now teenage girl. God's Love for us created a world and a Universe whether it, "technically", made the world go round or not, Love has certainly been a main theme through out the Bible. Love was why God sent His only Son to earth to live a humble but powerful life. Love is why God let him die for your sins and mine. But, Love, is why he created us to Love him but also saw that Mankind needed a Love relationship. Adam and Eve was God's idea. He intended for us to fall in Love. And Lisa and Chase fell in Love. Here is their story.  Credits: Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 (Listen to more here: the808music.com) Edited by: Doug Edwards Recorded by: Doug Edwards

This Part 2 of my interview with Jim and Pat is very short and to the point. If you want to be in the right place, make God decisions and stay where God puts you then 1. Pray 2. Pray 3. Pray. If you need to change that habit that has followed you all of your life, then get a personal coach or trainer. the most successful people in the world use personal coaches to navigate what they cannot see. The Ferguson's will explain what all of this means in this 9 minute final words of their interview.

Jim and Pat met in South Florida. She was a cheerleader, he was a football player. Sounds like an all American love story and it was. But there were a lot of twists and turns through out the years. They would later be some of my wife's volunteer youth workers all before I met her in Lake County Florida, the back door to Disney World. Their 2 children Matt and Kim would be a part of our student ministry almost 10 years later. Jim and Pat would become a force in foreign missions taking people from the USA, our student ministry included. Their children and grand children would be a major part of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC and Franklin Graham/s Ministry Samaritans Purse in Boone, NC as time keeps moving forward. Here is a normal American family that has done some Extraordinary works for the Kingdom of God because they would keep saying yes to God and their family learned to follow in their parents and grandparents footsteps. This is NOT a sweet little story. this story was born out of pain, failures, blood

This Part 2 about Chase McAllister Retired United States Air Force but NOW working full time as a Campus Life Director from the same military base he spent his last years at as a soldier. This is a closer look at how he followed God's calling on him to ministry. How can his story help you? How can Youth Worker On Fire help you? Included are several ways you can get in touch with Chase in Honolulu, Hawaii. Also included is how you can support him and his family as they reach children of military families. There is more to Chases story. Do you want to hear more? It takes time, effort and money to do these interviews and edit them in a quick and timely manner. Wanna' Help us help you and others, like you, around the world? Then pray for God to fund us in a way that only He can do through others who are gifted and talented. Pray that God will send the resources to continue this work. youthworkeronfire@gmail.com   I would love to hear from you. Your thoughts and feed back about each episode is important. 

Chase is 20 years retired military with the US Air Force. 2 years of his military career he was working with Campus Life on base. Now he is a full time Campus Life Director for the Military Base ministry. @chazzymacirl on Instagram and @yfcclmilitaryhi will lead you to YFC Campus Life-Military Hawaii on Facebook. You can communicate with Chase and support his ministry that reaches countless teenagers and their families in the military. Chase’s bio in this episode speaks for itself. You will learn about his childhood, teen age years, and how they almost burned down his hometown with his youth pastor. But not to worry, his mom was ready with a garden hose to save the day, just in case. In this episode, Chase explains how he was led to the Campus Life Youth for Christ Military ministry. He discusses his worst moment in ministry, which was a combo of multiple dramas and events that took place in a single week. Chase also discusses his best time in student ministry. The Replace and Not Cancel philosophy is part of

Hurricanes, murder, betrayal, and acceptance. It’s all in this interview! Pepe's story will inspire you to keep moving forward even in the worst of moments. Pepe Mesa was born in Cuba then family left and moved to Miami. He became a Campus Life Director in Miami Youth For Christ under great leadership Jim Green and later Andy McDaniel. Pepe was my room mate in intern School at Wheaton College in Illinois. We served separately in Campus Life. Pepe in Miami and me in Orlando.

B.U.R.N. UP! BELIEVE UNDERSTAND RECONCILE NURTURE! When others burn out and quit, you can keep running. That’s what my book is about. How to never give up until you have finished running, walking or climbing... maybe even crawling the race that God has designed for You and Only You to do according to Ephesians 2:10. Order this book on Amazon or Kindle today if you are working with teenagers or have a teenager in your life or have been a teenager. Its a must have for raising or understanding teenagers and those who work with them or who are them.

The Imposter Syndrome plagues many people through out the world and through out time and history. These answers will help people get beyond their fears of being found out when in reality they are even more than they think they are in their area of expertise and experience. Others have made it through to success by doing some of these action points listed in this episode. I did not know for many years what I had been fighting all my life until someone put a label on it, The Imposter Syndrome. Now we know. Now we have no reason to hold back knowing that our feelings of this syndrome are a lie. Is facing it daily still difficult? Yes!!! But now you and I can face the once unknown enemy. Its time to succeed and be who you were meant to be. Lets get to it! Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 3:20.

Just when you feel you are in a good position, good job, or anything that you have prepared well for in life... it hit's you. I don't belong here! How about when you are in a place where you're getting paid well or acknowledged, but you feel like you're an imposter and someone is going to find out you are not all they think you are. That's the imposter syndrome!

Isolation? Now? This problem is WORLD WIDE...this is Crazy! So...What's happening in your world and mine? What Comfort is there for us? What does God have to say about this through the ancient writings of the Old Testament and New Testament authors? That's what I will talk about here. Peace, Hope, Love. "Be Strong and Courageous..."

Rachel unknowingly launched a life long non-profit business (GlamourGals)as a junior in high school. She is an NYC resident, a mom of 2 young children, and wife. She and her husband navigate life in the city together. She has almost 1,500 volunteers in 18 states. This our 2nd interview, but we are releasing this one 1st. Is it possible that you might see the Super Hero in her that I see? Find out and maybe let her know as well! GlamourGals SUPER G.R.D. with D.E.

Lenita Is from Sydney, Australia and founder of Youth Biz. As a Former school teacher, she became a youth minister, a personal coach to students, parents and other youth leaders. She’s a kick boxer, author, and has a world wide coaching and speaking business. She projects and teaches key ideas to build up students which you can watch on Instagram, Facebook and other social media groups.