Free Refills Podcast

Our theme this month is about Prioritizing our physical health in ministry. This comes during the Easter season in which we celebrate new life, so we thought we would talk about possible new priorities. In youth ministry it can be difficult to prioritize our physical health with the late nights, pizza, Mountain Dews..etc. We asked Jacob to sit with us today to share about his personal journey in prioritizing his health along with some practical tips we can apply today if we choose. ----- Connect with Jacob Email: jacob.eckeberger@youthworks.com Serve Local with YouthWorks ----- Book Mentioned Inside the Box ----- Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks  ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review. For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org

Building the best team is essential to any successful vision. It's especially true when volunteers are needed. Recruiting volunteers is often a top need, but requires the most energy from us as it is not our favorite part of ministry.  In this conversation with Jon Brown, we discuss practical steps to implement a recruiting strategy for building the best volunteer ministry team. Jon has over 20+ years of vocational ministry many of them at the same church! ----- Connect with Jon @pjon ----- Books Mentioned Chasing Vines The Slight Edge Hero Maker ----- Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks  ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review. For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org

Our theme this month is Building Better Teams. This is key to creating culture, carrying out the vision of the ministry, and impacting our community. Not only is this an important aspect to focus on for staff hires but also for volunteers as well. Maggie and Boss have a chat about leading with both genders. ----- Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks  ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review. For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org

Our theme this month is Light in the Darkness. We are focusing on mental health within youth ministry. Not just students, but us as leaders. The winter months can be difficult as seasonal depression is on the rise, we are still currently in a pandemic, some of our jobs security is uncertain, and a list of other stressors in life affect us daily. Today we talk with Lenia Queen about how mental health and our faith journey connect, the impact of mental health within the Black community, and practical steps we can take to cope productively. ----- Connect with Lenia @leniaslovenotes ----- Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks  ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review. For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org

Season 3 is HERE! We are back with an exciting season of Free Refills.  Today's episode you will meet the voices behind the mics. Boss sits with Dusty, Nick, Maggie, and Orlando as they share what God has placed on their heart for this coming year.  ----- Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks  ------ Connect with the Voices Boss Hogge Dusty Bratzler Nick Damonte Maggie Johnson Orlando Hale ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review. For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org

Here we are, it's 2021, and not much has changed. Is it another year, yes. Is it odd to say 2021, yes. You know what it isn't different: our mission. It has not reset, it has not quit. it has not stalled. It is the same today as it was in 2020: to reach EVERY student in our community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. ------ Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks  ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review. For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org

2020 has been a ride, to say the least. It wasn’t what any of us expected or planned. Our 2020 vision campaigns wound up being so blurry on what actually happened. However, God was and is not surprised by this. He is still working; he never stopped. When we allow ourselves to let go of what we hoped to happen and see where God has us planted right now, the opportunities will arise.   We invited AJ Gonzalez and Lynn Ault to share about their perspective and realities of this year as they led in ambiguity.   -----  Connect with AJ  @ajgonzaleziv   Connect with Lynn  lynnault@empowerhope.org  -----  Follow us on Instagram  @youthminnetworks  ------  Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review.   For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.or

A heart of gratitude and thanksgiving changes our leadership. It is something we strive to have but uncertain times can create our heart to want more than we have. This is turn impacts the way we lead in every aspect of life.   Steve Cullum sits with us to discuss how he has established a rhythm to be grateful daily.   ----- Connect with Steve Website The Student Ministry Podcast ----- Watch this conversation on YouTube Subscribe to our new channel! ----- Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review.  For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org

Secondary discipleship is the reality of people discipling people after they have been discipled. When we get down to it, it's simply discipleship as it was intended.   Our returning guest today, Mike Hickerson, has made an effort at applying this within his church community and helping other churches implement it into their culture.  -----  Connect with Mike  -----  Watch this conversation on YouTube Subscribe to our new channel! ----- Follow us on Instagram  @youthminnetworks  ------  Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review.  For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org

Secondary discipleship is the reality of people discipling people after they have been discipled. When we get down to it, it's simply discipleship as it was intended.  Our guest today, Reverend Jonathan Z Queen, has made this the foundation of ministry his entire ministry life.  ----- Connect with Jonathan 1 of Them ----- Check us out on YouTube!  Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review.  For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org

What if momentum could be achieved another way than we are accustomed to doing? What if our vision for how that is played out is not big enough? What if it wasn't that hard in the first place? Anne Wilson sits with us today to share her experience in her context as her vision for youth ministry broadened before COVID, which then changed everything for COVID. ----- Connect with Anne ----- Check us out on YouTube!  Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review.  For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org

Momentum is what many of us strive to find in ministry. It proves we are moving towards our goal. COVID paused our momentum. It's time now that we redefine momentum as life has changed drastically from what we have known.  As leaders, it is on us to define the metrics we rate in order to find patterns and goals to progress. We all want it. We have an opportunity to reimagine momentum.   -----  Books/Resources mentioned  The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer  The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows by James Bryan Smith  Church/organizational health - Intentional Churches  -----  Connect with Mike  -----  Check us out on YouTube!   Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks  ------  Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review.  For more information about the Nationa

There are two realities in our world: the pandemic of the novel coronavirus and the pandemic of racism. We must face them both. In order to do that, we must be active listeners to the perspectives of others that are different than our own. It will not always be easy. It will most likely be uncomfortable. Yet we must gain understanding in order to advance.  Our guests today are Tommy Nixon, CEO of Urban Youth Workers Institute, and Mike De Vito, the Southwest Regional Coordinator for NNYM.  ----- Books/Resources mentioned Blur: A New Paradigm for Understanding Youth Culture by Jeff Keuss The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer 1 Million students raised in Christian homes are disaffiliating from Christianity each year. -The Great Opportunity : The American Church in 2050 ----- Connect with Tommy Connect with Mike ----- Check us out on YouTube!  Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspod

What pushes us to action? What kept us from action before this moment?  We will unpack these personal questions in our episode with Randy Davis, NNYM CEO, regarding the national events of racial justice and injustice. We must, as leaders and people, identify what has kept us from speaking out and standing in the gap for the marginalized in order to move past our inaction. Black lives matter. This is not a trendy phrase we are jumping on to be relevant; we believe this and act accordingly. We commit to listening and doing better because the Gospel depends on it. ----- Read Randy's email sent to our staff here. ----- Check us out on YouTube!  Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review.  For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org

Comparing ourselves to others is nothing new. It's more prevalent than ever during the quarantine due to everyone's ministry being online.  Our guest, David Grant, shares a personal God experience which provided him freedom from the comparison trap he found himself falling into regularly.  ------ Books Mentioned The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer ------ Check us out on YouTube!  Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review.  For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org

Let's be real: this time during the Great Quarantine has made us rethink many aspects of life and ministry. Everything has been different. A crisis is the ultimate revealer; it amplifies the good and the not so good.  Today we sit with Heather Flies as we discuss what God has revealed in us during this time of crisis along with what we will keep and let go in the re-opening of life.  ------ Connect with Heather @heatherflies heather.flies@wooddale.org ------ Heather's Soft Drink Recipe (in order) 52 oz Cup 3/4 Crushed Ice 1/3 Diet Coke 1/3 Cherry Coke 1/3 Diet Coke ------ Check us out on YouTube!  Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review.  For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org

Youth ministry during a pandemic is not a season of ministry anyone ever wished for or expected. The impact on our daily, weekly, or monthly routines has changed the landscape of ministry now. Was it the needed change for youth ministry? Will it last? Only time will tell. Our guest, Vince Parker, sits down with us to discuss what he is learning through this quarantine as well as what he sees as needed changes in the youth ministry world.  ------ Connect with Justin @vincelparker Vince.Parker@Life.Church Books Mentioned The Motive by Patrick Lencioni The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker ------ Check us out on YouTube!  Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review.  For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org

SPECIAL EPISODE! Live studio audience edition.  This happens a lot. With our current reality of stay-at-home orders in place to flatten the curve of the spread of the novel coronavirus, it's happening more. Churches are making decisions to cut youth leaders because of the drop in giving. Our conversation with our guest today, Randy Davis - CEO for National Network of Youth Ministries, has two different transitions: resigning and being let go. Randy speaks about how these two moments in his ministry journey have shaped his prayers for ministering to youth leaders across the nation.  ------ Connect with Randy rdavis@nnym.org ------ Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review.  For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org

This happens a lot. With our current reality of stay-at-home orders in place to flatten the curve of the spread of the novel coronavirus, it's happening more. Churches are making decisions to cut youth leaders because of the drop in giving.  Our conversation with our guest today, Justin Knowles, was scheduled before all of this happened. However, it's relevant and more prevalent in our community. Justin shares with us about how he navigated the reality of being let go, yet stayed in youth ministry.  ------ Connect with Justin @justinknowles3 justinkknowles@gmail.com Youth Ministry Hacks Podcast ------ Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review.  For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org

Ever have those moments where you feel the weight or burden of ministry and family responsibilities keeping you from moving forward? You might have a sense that nothing can be done because there is so much to be done.  Us too. In our second part of our series on Managing Ministry Overwhelm, we invited Elle Campbell from Stuff You Can Use to share her journey in finding her inner peace, ministry hacks, and rhythms to continue in ministry when this feeling sets in.  ------ Connect with Elle Campbell Socials: @stuffyoucanuse or @ellllllllllle Stuff You Can Use ------ Follow us on Instagram @youthminnetworks ------ Did this conversation resonate with you? We want to hear from you! Write us at freerefillspodcast@nnym.org Help us grow the community! Subscribe, share, and leave a review.  For more information about the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) or to find a community of leaders in your area: www.nnym.org