Posted by | Jan 2, 2026
Distractions are a normal part of student ministry—but that doesn’t mean they have to derail your night. In this episode, Brooklyn and Damean are joined by Charlie Conder to talk about how distractions show up differently in middle school and high school, and how to lead well when focus is already hard to come by. From adjusting your teaching style to equipping small group leaders with practical tools, this conversation is full of realistic ideas for creating space where all students can engage.
Ask a Question:
Have a youth ministry question you want us to talk about? Send it in at YMA.show and your question might be featured in a future episode!
Subscribe & Review:
Subscribe to Youth Ministry Answers on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen for practical ideas, leadership tools, and conversations you can use right away. If this episode was helpful, leave a quick review to help other leaders find the show.
Posted by | Dec 23, 2025
Merry Christmas from the Youth Ministry Answers team! In this short holiday episode, Brooklyn and Damean take a moment to say thank you, wish you a merry Christmas, and share a quick preview of what’s coming up next on the podcast.
Whether you’re wrapping up a busy season of ministry or finally getting a chance to rest, we hope you’re able to slow down, celebrate, and enjoy time with the people you love. We’ll be back soon with more practical conversations and ideas for kids ministry leaders.
Ask a Question:
Have a youth ministry question you want us to talk about? Send it in at YMA.show and your question might be featured in a future episode!
Subscribe & Review:
Subscribe to Youth Ministry Answers on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen for more practical ideas, creative activities, and ministry tools you can use right away. If this episode was helpful, leave a quick review to help other leaders find the show.
Posted by | Dec 8, 2025
Christmas is one of the biggest seasons in student ministry—and coming up with fresh ideas every year isn’t always easy. In this episode, Damean and Brooklyn team share 10 of our favorite Christmas ideas for youth ministry, straight from the Stuff You Can Use team.
Ask a Question:
Have a youth ministry question you want us to talk about? Send it in at YMA.show and your question might be featured in a future episode!
Subscribe & Review:
Subscribe to Youth Ministry Answers on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen for more practical ideas, creative activities, and ministry tools you can use right away. If this episode was helpful, leave a quick review to help other leaders find the show.
Resources Mentioned:
Christmas Bundles from Grow Students — Each bundle includes a teaching series, an event, and an original Christmas song from Grow Music. Available at growcurriculum.org
Posted by | Nov 24, 2025
Volunteers are the heart of your kids ministry — but celebrating them consistently (and creatively) can be tough. In this special crossover episode, Elle Campbell, co-founder of Stuff You Can Use, joins Damean and special co-host Dr. Linda Moon of the Kids Ministry Answers podcast to share practical and meaningful ways to appreciate your team all year long. You’ll learn how to celebrate volunteers for what they do and for who they are — without breaking your budget or burning yourself out.
What We Cover:
How to celebrate volunteers annually, monthly, and weekly
Creative ideas that build culture (not just hype)
Why “boring but consistent” matters more than big gestures
Ask a Question:
Got a question you want answered? Send it in at yma.show — your question might be featured in a future episode!
Subscribe & Review:
Subscribe to Youth Ministry Answers on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen for youth ministry ideas, small group strategies, and ministry tools you can use right away.
If this episode was helpful, leave a quick review to help other leaders find the show.
Resources Mentioned:
Volunteer Kick-Off
Volunteer Tools
Volunteer & Parent Celebrations
Posted by | Nov 17, 2025
Making genuine connections with students isn’t always easy. Awkward silences, dead-end questions, and the pressure to sound “cool” can make conversations feel more forced than fun. In this episode, Brooklyn and Damean share four types of questions you can ask to build real connections with your students!
What We Cover:
How to move past surface-level conversations with students
Simple questions that build trust and open the door to deeper connection
Why curiosity and listening are more powerful than perfect answers
Ask a Question:
Got a question you want answered? Send it in at yma.show — your question might be featured in a future episode!
Subscribe & Review:
Subscribe to Youth Ministry Answers on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen for more youth ministry ideas, small group strategies, and relationship-building tools you can use right away.
If this episode was helpful, leave a quick review to help other leaders find the show.
Resources Mentioned:
Grow Students Curriculum: Every week comes with discussion questions to help you lead conversations with your students!
