Greetings!! Glad you're back. Are you just "surviving" your youth ministry? It doesn't have to be like that. In today's episode I share my thoughts on youth meetings, why kids are really leaving th...

Jul-17-2019

In my younger days I was not a big fan of policies and procedures. I just wanted to have fun and the kids to have fun and by God's grace, He allowed me to survive. There are situations you need a p...

Jun-25-2019

It's going to happen. If you work with teenagers, there is going to be drama and how we handle drama will make all the difference in how the situation turns out. I found a great article from a teac...

May-02-2019

Everyone thinks they're helping you when they give you advice, but you have to discern the good from the bad. In this episode I share how to filter out the bad advice and how to respond to well mea...

Mar-27-2019

Do struggle with telling your Pastor no? It's a sticky situation to be be stuck in, but today I offer some ways to unstick yourself. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Super Model Serie...

Mar-19-2019

The pressure on teens today is enormous. They're just trying to make it through the school day without freaking out. In this episode I offer a few ideas about ministering to teens during exams and ...

Mar-08-2019

Hey! Welcome back ! Thanks for returning or check out the podcast if this is your first time. One the next few weeks I'll be answering a bout a dozen questions I received over my hiatus and in shor...

Feb-28-2019

I know I said I was taking a few weeks off, but I created something that could give you the best year in youth ministry you have ever had. The new year is coming and you might be thinking of being ...

Dec-12-2018

You know that time your car got stuck in the mud? Who did you call How did they get you out? They probably brought a big rope or chain, tied it to your car, hit the gas and yanked you out. That's e...

Nov-19-2018

Greetings all. I hope you had a fantastic week! If you're thinking about youth camp already, you are in the right head space. You have to book speakers, plan dates, etc, and today's podcast is what...

Nov-11-2018

It has happened. is happening or will happen. That parent is not going to like something you are doing and you are going to have to deal with it. In this episode I share a few thoughts on being emp...

Oct-17-2018

If you have small groups, you have small group leaders. Do the small groups leaders you have care? They may care enough to show up and teach a lesson, but how do you get them to care beyond that? T...

Sep-07-2018

Adversity is not a fad but a fact of life. We all have it at some time or another, but do we run into it or run away from it? If you're going through something right now, this episode may change th...

Aug-31-2018

It's the beginning of a new quarter and you might be thinking, "What am I going to do with these young adults?" This episode throws out some ideas that are worth thinking through and could be the s...

Aug-24-2018

What keeps us from having the youth ministry job we really want? I say it's desperation and gullibility. We take job because we need them or we talk them without really doing our homework. In thi...

Jul-20-2018

Suicide among teens happens far too often, but, as youth workers, we can set up speed bumps to slow down that slow walk to despair until help arrives. If you want the free Discipleship Dilemma ch...

Jun-15-2018

No, this isn't clickbait, I have actually resigned my position after eight years. I go in-depth as to why I made this decision (nothing bad)and what's next. Join me. New Resource: Psalm 119 Volum...

May-18-2018

This episode was inspired, in part, by the Walking Dead character Morgan. He is the loner in the group who does not cope well with loss. Many of us do not cope well with loss. If we lose student, w...

Apr-20-2018

Youth Pastors, and pastors in general, do a lot of communicating. We often have to share hard truths, but we do not have to share them harshly. Let me offer six tips for communication that I learne...

Apr-13-2018

As one who grew up without a father, I appreciated having this conversation but even if you had a dad, I hope this conversation encourages and equips you to reach those who do not. Today I interv...

Mar-30-2018

Have you every felt the pressure to preach like someone else? To meet some unattainable oratory level of perfection? This interview wiht Lane Sebring of preachingdonkey,com is about to set you free...

Mar-16-2018

They say you are either going into, are in, or coming out of a crisis, and in youth ministry the spaces between those seem very short. That’s why I have my new friend Jim Hancock on the show with m...

Feb-23-2018

Let me start by saying, I am a weird kid. I was that kid who was "fairly normal" but leaned "weird". We all have our definitions of weird based on our own experiences, but we can't allow out biases...

Feb-18-2018

My friend Chase Snyder stops by to talk about how he gets his kids stoked to read their Bibles. If you're looking for ideas to connect your kids to Jesus through daily devotions, you've come to the...

Jan-26-2018

This is the last episode in my five part series of The 5 Questions You Should Ask Your Volunteers. I hope you've enjoyed it. Let me know what you think of the series style or the shorter lengths, b...

Jan-24-2018

Welcome to question number four in our series on questions we should be asking our new volunteer or as a way to re-evaluate our old volunteers. This question, posed right and plumbed well, will rea...

Jan-22-2018

Back with question three in the five part series on questions we should ask our volunteers. Today is all about mission. How do you get your volunteer on mission? I share a few thoughts on what I am...

Jan-19-2018

Welcome to question two in my series on questions we should ask our volunteers. In this episode I ask you to ask your volunteers (and yourself)about their passion level and how to take it up a notc...

Jan-17-2018

And now for something new. This week kicks off a five part series on the five questions to get the most from your volunteers. These questions are valuable for recruiting, evaluation, or re-evaluati...

Jan-16-2018

Does setting goals feel like a trip to the dentist? Do you dread it? Feel pressured by it? In today's episode, my co-author of Prepared For Impact, Ryan Latham and I interview each other. We each s...

Jan-03-2018

How prepared are you to make an impact on the students you serve? Preparing to make an impact is more important than the actual event, message, or outreach we employ. Today I offer you an interview...

Dec-22-2017

Not gonna lie. This episode is going to blow your mind. Today I interview Ryan Schmall and he shares so many good things about how we can navigate the toughest relationships in the church. To get...

Dec-19-2017

Whether you're a Christian who happens to game, a parent looking for some insight on video games, or a youth pastor wondering about the best system for your youth room, there is something for every...

Dec-12-2017

Happy December everyone! Today I share a few of my God Adventures from the National Youth Workers Conference that was held in Memphis this year. I share a few stories and some exciting news about m...

Dec-05-2017

Incredible discussion today with best selling author Jeff Goins. Jeff is the author of five books including the bestselling Art of Work and his latest Real Artists Don't Starve. You can buy Jeff'...

Nov-02-2017

Are live streaming your youth services? If your not your missing out on some valuable opportunities. In today's episode I offer you a few reasons why I have started live streaming our youth service...

Oct-20-2017

It happens to us all. We can get into a cycle of studying and preaching without absorbing the word for ourselves. If we hope to stay in ministry, long term, we have to be able to take care of our o...

Oct-09-2017

Alone is a word youth workers understand to well. We sense the aloneness in leadership, when we make tough calls, or when we are just feel out of place in the church. That's way this conversation w...

Sep-28-2017

Want more time to do what you are good at and empower others to do what they are good at? Then you are going to need to develop some delagating skills. Good thing this is what this episode is abo...

Sep-22-2017

It usually hits us the day after our youth meeting, the blahs. The blahs are the that nagging voice telling us about all the things we didn't get right at the youth meeting and it can be a serious...

Sep-15-2017

I loved having Amber Gaddis on the show today. Amber is down to earth and has put in the work. I hope you enjoy the tips she shares about showing up and pease forgive us if it sounds like we're hav...

Aug-25-2017

Its that time of year again! Summer is over and kids have gone back to school, can I get an amen! Today I want to share with you seven of my rules for heading back to school. Enjoy. If you would ...

Aug-15-2017

I am back from Honduras and wanted to share some of my post mission trip rituals with you so you can make an impact with your missions trip story. Here's the links I mentioned in the podcast Lay...

Jun-14-2017

It is graduation seasons once again and I am asking the question, "Did I spiritually prepare these graduate enough to face the world ahead? " Join me to hear how I have broadened my idea of creatin...

May-11-2017

Are you wanting to re-brand your youth ministry? Our maybe you just want t now how to plan better to meet kids needs. This episode covers the three main questions I asked my youth ministry and how ...

Apr-28-2017

I got an interesting Facebook invite from one of my students to a private group to talk about a band from the early 2000's. Weird? Not so much. In this episode I talk about my own personal musical ...

Apr-08-2017

Teaching Kids To Love The Process by

Apr-03-2017

This is the last in my series of The Ten Excuses Youth Pastor Make (And How They're Killing Your Youth Ministry). Let me be clear, we cannot and should not attempt to do ministry without prayer. Wh...

Mar-24-2017

Almost to the end of the Excuses series. This is Excuse #9, It's Not Perfect. Are you holding back the imperfect because of critics? Then you're robbing us of your best stuff. Listen how to overcom...

Mar-20-2017

Are you thinking about quitting? Don't just yet. There are a few things you may still have a few things to learn. Quitting is the easy way out and an excuse that stunts our growth. Don't forget to...

Mar-18-2017