Youth Ministry For The Longer Haul Podcast

Let's face it... we live in a hyper sexualized culture! Ok, either you're giggling like a middle schooler right now or tempted to close this and move on. Stick with us for a second. Parents are overwhelmed and they need our help navigating everything that they're facing when it comes to their teens dealing with sex. Whether it's having the talk or helping them avoid massive exposure to inappropriate stuff. As youth ministry people, we need to help point them in the right direction. Barrett Johnson from I.N.F.O. for Families can help. In this interview we do a deep dive into how we can partner with parents to help them navigate these often challenging issues. This is a good one and you're gonna wanna stick around to the end for give-a-ways! Links mentioned: The Super Secret Longer Haul Podcast Facebook Group (that you should join) http://www.infoforfamilies.com/ Resources mentioned: Throat Coat Tea The Circle Right Now Media The Talks: A Parent's Guide to Critical Conversations about Sex, Dat

Ah, youth ministry volunteers... Doing ministry by yourself can be a lonely and unsustainable plan long-term. And let's face it, finding youth ministry volunteers can often be incredibly challenging. It's not like people are knocking down our doors wanting to work with teenagers. Here is what we know though, having volunteers is important... SUPER important. And once you find youth ministry volunteers, you have to continue to encourage, equip and value them. In this episode, we take a look at volunteers and answer listener questions from our Facebook Podcast Group. Links mentioned: The Super Secret Longer Haul Podcast Facebook Group (that you should join) Episode 64: Tips for Leading Parent Seminars in your Youth Ministry Episode 62: Essentials for a Youth Worship Service Resources mentioned: Throat Coat Tea SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR! YM360.com YM360 is the premier provider of youth ministry Bible study curriculum, student devotionals, Disciple Now resources, youth leader development, a

Most of our summers are coming to a close and now a new school year of youth ministry is upon us. If you're like us, you're probably feeling a little spiritually spent after a busy summer calendar. Often it's a mixture of feeling blessed because of all the awesome stuff God did in our youth ministry and being worn out from all of the investing you've done in others. In this episode, we take a look at how we can transition from summer youth ministry into YOU ministry and give you some practical helps to make sure you're able to give your best as the school year begins.  Fear not!  We're here to help. Links mentioned: The Super Secret Longer Haul Podcast Facebook Group (that you should join) Chris' Post on Stoked on Youth Ministry Resources mentioned: Habits of Grace by David Mathis Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster TLH055: Youth Camp 101: How to Promote, Prepare, and Participate TLH056: Getting Organized in Youth Ministry Coffitivity.com Spark for iOS Spark or MacOS Edison

Do you ever feel like your ministry is less significant because it isn't as big as others your see? Let's get real, youth ministry has enough challenges on its own without throwing in the struggle of size.  But the truth is that you can be extremely effective in youth ministries of any size. Certainly, youth ministries of all sizes bring unique advantages and challenges.  This week Stephen Hale from the Youth Ministry: Small Church podcast joins the show to specifically look at the advantages and challenges of youth ministry in small churches. Don't buy the lie.  You can absolutely be successful and thrive in youth ministry in small churches, and in this episode we dive into common myths, share experiences serving in small churches, and give some help and practical advice to help navigate unique challenges you find when doing youth ministry in small churches. Links mentioned: The Super Secret Longer Haul Podcast Facebook Group (that you should join) youthministrysmallchurch.com Resources mentioned:

Not everyone loves teenagers. Wait, what??? As youth ministers, it's hard for us to understand how some adults don't like teens. If you happen to be serving in a church who loves teenagers, you know the impact that can have on a student's life. If you happen to be in a church where some or maybe even a lot of adults seem to not like teenagers, you know how hard youth ministry can be. It's like you can't get any traction in your ministry. Hopefully we can help. In this episode, we spend some time-sharing ideas on how to make adults LOVE students. We're not making any promises, because we know that some adults can be pretty grouchy towards kids. We do think though, that there are some great tips in this episode that can help you turn the corner if your church is struggling with this. Links mentioned: The Super Secret Longer Haul Podcast Facebook Group (that you should join) SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR! YM360.com YM360 is the premier provider of youth ministry Bible study curriculum, student devotion

We all know that youth ministry has its fair share of challenges. We also know that youth pastors LOVE teenagers. All teenagers. Teenagers with special needs creates unique challenges that most youth pastors are ill equipped to handle without some help. In this episode, we ask Lynn Wilkerson some hard questions about how to effectively work with students that have special needs and how to work with parents of special needs children and teenagers. This is a GREAT and MUCH NEEDED episode for all of us. Links mentioned: The Super Secret Longer Haul Podcast Facebook Group (that you should join) Resources mentioned: Kids in the Syndrome Mix of ADHD, LD, Autism Spectrum, Tourette's, Anxiety, and More! Special Needs Ministry for Children: Creating a Welcoming Place for Families Whose Children Have Special Needs SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR! YM360.com YM360 is the premier provider of youth ministry Bible study curriculum, student devotionals, Disciple Now resources, youth leader development, and summer

Clay Scroggins, lead pastor of North Point Community Church, joins us on the show this week to talk about how to lead when you're not in charge.  Most youth pastors we've met have a pretty heavy dose of leadership built-in to who they are. With that leadership gifting comes the struggle of often being way down the leadership org chart and wishing we could make more decisions than we're currently allowed to make. We get it! It's not like people are knocking on our door asking what the youth pastor would do in any particular situation. Clay has been there and has written a book on it. In our most recent podcast episode we're able to have a great conversation about his book, How to Lead When You're Not in Charge. In this episode we ask him the question most youth pastors really want to know... how do I lead when I'm really, really, really not in charge. Links mentioned: ClayScroggins.com The Super Secret Longer Haul Podcast Facebook Group (that you should join) Resources mentioned: How to Lead When Y

Parent meetings & seminars can be one of the most effective ways to impact the life of a teenager. Trust us! As parents of teenagers, we know how challenging it can be and how we need all the help we can get. Doing them well and getting parents to show up, however, can be a challenge... a big challenge. In this episode of the Longer Haul Podcast, we share ideas from our 20+ years of failing and succeeding in doing meetings & seminars with parents. We share tips, how to do them when you're not yet a parent of a teenager and some very specific 'what not to dos'. Links mentioned: The Super Secret Longer Haul Podcast Facebook Group (that you should join) Resources mentioned: Must Haves for your Parent Meetings Ridgecrest Conference Center Screenflow Camtasia In this particular episode, you will learn: What to do if you're not a parent How to actually get parents to show up to your parent seminar What to do when you have a lot of parents in your ministry who aren't believers HELP OTHER YOU

Chris is back this week and is joined by his lovely wife Wendy.  After just celebrating 25 years of marriage they're giving wisdom they've learned along the way by way of 25 tips from 25 years of marriage while serving in youth ministry. In this episode you'll hear honest and transparent keys that Chris and Wendy have learned over the years.  Whether you're married, want to be one day, know people who are, or just have seen people on TV who are married you'll find these 25 tips to be useful. Links mentioned: The Super Secret Longer Haul Podcast Facebook Group (that you should join) Resources mentioned: Conclave Consider This: A Youth Pastor's Guide to Longevity In this particular episode, you will learn: Key principles for a healthy marriage How to navigate the unique challenges that marriage and ministry present HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS! If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any future episodes, and please share it. Also, please leave an ho

Chris Trent is away this week celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary so...Ed Braswell and Phillip Higginbotham, who are a couple of youth pastors from the Super Secret Longer Haul Podcast Facebook Group join the show this week to tackle the topic of essentials for a youth worship service. In this episode we cover what you must have for your youth worship services, paying worship leaders, and how to make the most of your worship times with your students.. Links mentioned: The Super Secret Longer Haul Podcast Facebook Group (that you should join) Resources mentioned: It by Craig Groeschel In this particular episode, you will learn: What are the must haves for youth worship Do you have to pay someone to lead worship and if so how much? Is it ok if your Wednesday night activities aren't your larger outreach driven ones? Quotables: "You can do youth ministry without a guitar." "Youth ministry is not about ministering to youth.  It's about teaching youth to minister." HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTO

Chad Poe joins the Longer Haul Youth Ministry Podcast this week to talk about effectively communicating with teenagers.  Chad brings a ton of knowledge to the table this week all while keeping you laughing. In this episode we cover what it takes to really communicate well, what it is really like to be a full-time speaker, why illustrations matter, and the four keys every sermon and lesson should have. Links mentioned: The Super Secret Longer Haul Podcast Facebook Group (that you should join) ChadPoe.com @chadpoe Resources mentioned: Clear Conference In this particular episode, you will learn: The key to illustrating well The real challenges to being a full-time speaker The four keys every sermon should include What Jody and Chris think is always in a green room HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS! If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any future episodes, and please share it. Also, please leave an honest review for The Longer Haul Youth Ministry 

This week we're diving into the subject of youth ministry interns.  Maybe you have an intern or a few interns, but just don't know what to do with them.  Maybe you just feel you could be doing better with utilizing your interns.  Well, we've got you covered in this week's episode all about youth ministry interns. In this episode we cover how to go about hiring an intern, what to do with an intern once you've hired them, some must haves for your interns, and some words of caution.  PLUS we give you a way to utilized interns even if you have zero budget to put towards having them. Links mentioned: The Super Secret Longer Haul Podcast Facebook Group (that you should join) Resources mentioned: Evernote Google Docs Trello Ring Doorbell In this particular episode, you will learn: How to hire the right intern What to do with your intern once you've hired them What to do if you have no budget to pay an intern HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS! If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to the po

The importance of a youth ministry network and community for your longevity can't be overstated.  Ministry can be a lonely place and having others around you who get where you are and what you're dealing with can be extremely helpful. So we're doing a deep dive into networks with why they're important, do's and don't for them, and how to start one if there isn't one near you.  We also let you in on a little secret...announcement if you will toward the end so make sure you stick around and check it out Links mentioned: The Super Secret Longer Haul Podcast Facebook Group (that you should join) In this particular episode, you will learn: Why networks are important for longevity How to start a network if there isn't one in your area Do's and Don'ts of a network An announcement of something new at the Longer Haul to help you have community Show Sponsor: 52 Threads & Fund the Nations -REALLY. AWESOME. SHIRTS. HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS! If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast

In this episode Dr. Richard Ross joins us to talk about maturing as a youth pastor. Our primary aim is to help you as a youth pastor stay in youth ministry for the longer haul.  To do this means navigating maturing as a youth pastor. And when it comes to this topic, there's no one better to bring wisdom than Dr. Richard Ross.  He's the real deal and you'll quickly tell that he has forgotten more about working with teens than most of us will ever learn. So sit back and enjoy the ride today kids, because Dr. Ross is taking us to school. Links mentioned: RichardARoss.com Youth Ministry Lab Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Resources mentioned in this Podcast: The Senior Pastor and the Reformation of Youth Ministry In this particular episode, you will learn: Key steps to take if you're wanting to stay put for the long haul Does seminary education really matter for the youth pastor? Why working with teens really makes a difference And...why you shouldn't actually honk your horn like Chris s

Great resources for youth ministry can be the difference between an effective youth ministry and a struggling one.  With so many out there is can be difficult to navigate them and find ones that are really helpful. In this episode we're here to help with some of our top resources that we use in our ministries.  We love finding new and helpful tools and resources to use so we'll be doing some of these with updated tools from time to time. For now we know you'll enjoy these and find them helpful. Links mentioned: Episode 002: Youth Ministry App Resources mentioned in this Podcast: Pensieve App MinHub App The Last Arrow by Erwin McManus ScreenFlow (Mac) Camtasia (PC) Jing Maxpedition Sitka Born to Perform Card Magic Sponge My Pet Boris In this particular episode, you will learn: Chris and Jody's recent experiences with horn honking Great apps and practical tools and resources to help your youth ministry Magic...yeah for reals this time Show Sponsor: 52 Threads & Fund the Nations -REALLY. AW

Getting and staying organized in Youth Ministry can literally be the key to staying put for the longer haul. Since it is so important we're giving you some practical and helpful tips on getting organized in youth ministry.  For some of us (Chris) organization comes pretty easy.  For others (Jody) it doesn't. But just because it doesn't come natural doesn't mean you get a pass on being organized.  It's okay though, we're here to help.   Links mentioned: Youth Ministry Lab Episode 39: Staying Organized in Youth Ministry with Evernote Resources mentioned in this Podcast: Evernote Pensieve App Unroll.me In this particular episode, you will learn: Why being organized matters Why not being naturally gifted with organization isn't an excuse for not being organized Helpful tips for getting and staying organized Show Sponsor: 52 Threads & Fund the Nations -REALLY. AWESOME. SHIRTS. HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS! If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any futur

Youth camp is an essential part of any youth ministry.  Getting camp right can make all the difference for your ministry. But it is the small things that can make or break you.  Since camp is so important, we've brought in the big guns on this episode! Roger Davis from Generate Camps over at YM360 joins us today to talk ALL about youth camp.  We both seriously came away with a ton of personal notes on this one. This episode is a bit longer, but it is PACKED with goodness.  You're going to want to give this one a couple listens. Links mentioned: @jrogerdavis Generate Camps Resources mentioned in this Podcast: The Foundation Bundle from YM360 Games 4 Youth Ministry In this particular episode, you will learn: Keys to getting the most out of camp Should you bring your family to camp with you? Crucial things you MUST consider when planning your youth camp HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS! If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any future episodes, and please sh

Youth Ministry games are what makes youth ministry well...youth ministry.  So in this episode we're giving you our list of top 10 youth ministry games. These games are our favorites for sure.  We're giving you our best and doing our best (well trying at least) to give you the down low on how to play these go to youth ministry games.  We're also giving you our tips and tricks for leading games successfully. Give these a try with your group and let us know how they go. Links mentioned: @jodylivingston @christrent Resources mentioned in this Podcast: Longer Haul Resource Page Games 4 Youth Ministry Download Youth Ministry Games 9 Square in the Air BossJock App In this particular episode, you will learn: Our List of Top 10 Youth Ministry Games Tips and Tricks for Leading Games More Effectively HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS! If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any future episodes, and please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of

In this episode Bubba Crowder joins us to talk fundraising for mission trips. Let's face it.  Fundraising and Youth Ministry often go hand in hand.  Fundraising for mission trips is almost always a need. So what are some ways to effectively fundraise for mission trips?  What are some things to consider when choosing fundraising for mission trips? Bubba Crowder knows this subject well and joins us to dispense his wisdom as we dive into this important topic. Links mentioned: fundthenations.com 52treads.com  Resources mentioned in this Podcast: 12 Ways your Phone is Changing You by Tony Reinke In this particular episode, you will learn: Who the third best looking guy born on July 23rd is? What are some important things to consider when fundraising for mission trips? What are some practical ways to fundraise for mission trips? HELP OTHER YOUTH PASTORS! If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any future episodes, and please share it using the social m

In this episode Maina Mwaura joins us for an honest and direct conversation about racial diversity in youth ministry. Since racial diversity is an increasingly important issue both in youth ministry and in our culture, knowing how to navigate this issue is crucial.  In this interview you'll hear both honest questions seeking understanding, and honest answers to help us all be better in the area of racial diversity in youth ministry and beyond. In addition, we just have to say that this episode is so full of good insights, healthy perspective, and encouragement to not only help you be better in youth ministry, but better as a believer.  Regardless of your context in ministry, you'll find this episode to be really helpful as you lead and guide the teens in your influence. Links mentioned: The Longer Haul Mailing List mainaspeaks.com Acts 29 panel on Racial Reconciliation Video with David Uth Black Girls Interview Resources mentioned in this Podcast: Priceless Curriculum/ DNow Priceless: A DNOW Stud