Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What if the fastest route to a healthier youth ministry isn’t writing more, but shepherding more? We sit down with Anne Wilson, Next Gen Pastor at Traders Point Christian Church, to learn the value of buying curriculum, then spending your reclaimed hours pastoring students and training volunteers. Anne shares a practical, month-ahead workflow for taking a solid, gospel-centered series from download to stage—assigning a rotating editor, contextu...
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Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What if the fastest route to a healthier youth ministry isn’t writing more, but shepherding more? We sit down with Anne Wilson, Next Gen Pastor at Traders Point Christian Church, to learn the value of buying curriculum, then spending your reclaimed hours pastoring students and training volunteers. Anne shares a practical, month-ahead workflow for taking a solid, gospel-centered series from download to stage—assigning a rotating editor, contextu...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What if the fastest route to a healthier youth ministry isn’t writing more, but shepherding more? We sit down with Anne Wilson, Next Gen Pastor at Traders Point Christian Church, to learn the value of buying curriculum, then spending your reclaimed hours pastoring students and training volunteers. Anne shares a practical, month-ahead workflow for taking a solid, gospel-centered series from download to stage—assigning a rotating editor, contextu...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! A freshman gets baptized by his friends. A mom weeps because her child—wounded by past violence—finally steps out to a church event. Teenagers run cameras, lead songs, read Scripture, and help with communion. The thread tying it together is simple and bold: there’s no junior Holy Spirit, and students don’t need a separate church—they need a real place in the church. We sit down with Jordan Francis of Reframe Youth to unpack why intergeneration...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! Want teens to feel seen, speak up, and stick around? We dig into the power of student-only spaces with Family Ministries pastor Tito Lozano and uncover how comfort, agency, and relationship-driven environments lead to deeper faith and smoother integration into the wider church. Tito walks us through a simple but game-changing redesign—turning a stage into a lounge with couches and beanbags—and how that shift invited vulnerability and richer sma...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What if the most powerful way to reach today's youth isn't through carefully crafted topical messages, but through teaching them to dig into Scripture verse by verse? Jeremy Stevenson, formations pastor at Christ Church in Jacksonville, believes we're facing a generation hungry for authenticity—one that needs skills to engage with God's Word directly rather than depending on a youth pastor's clever packaging. In this thought-provoking conversa...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What approach should you take when teaching in a post-Christian context? DJ Rodeffer, Youth Director at Collective Church in Frederick, Maryland, makes a compelling case for topical teaching in this thought-provoking conversation. Speaking from his experience in one of America's most unchurched regions, DJ explains why topical teaching creates powerful entry points for students who've been burned by the church or have no religious background w...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! Ready to challenge your youth ministry assumptions? Season 5 of Beyond the Event returns with a fresh format designed to make you think deeply about practices you might have packed away in the attic of your brain. This season introduces paired episodes presenting both sides of common youth ministry debates. Each debate features experienced youth ministers who've previously appeared on our podcast, ensuring authentic perspectives from people cu...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! How do we maintain spiritual, emotional, and relational health during our most demanding seasons? Lane Moss, Director of MOVE at Christ in Youth, opens up about the real challenges of summer ministry life when routines are regularly disrupted by constant travel. Lane draws an important distinction between routines (which often crumble under pressure) and rhythms (which can sustain us regardless of circumstances). "Bible before pho...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! How do we move students from sporadic volunteer projects to living lives of Kingdom Work? In this conversation, Christ’s Church of Oronogo’s Local Impact Minister Maggie Schade reveals the transformative approach that's reshaping how youth engage with community needs. Maggie shares a compelling vision where service isn't just something students do, but fundamentally shapes who they're becoming. Drawing from years of experience connecting stude...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What if the key to extraordinary youth ministry growth isn't flashy programming but something far more fundamental? In this conversation, Mike Branton shares how Sun Valley Community Church transformed their student ministry by focusing on relationships, staff retention, and intentional leadership development – resulting in over 300% growth in just four years. Mike reveals the counterintuitive approach that set them apart: rather than pushing ...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! When conflict arises in your ministry, how do you respond? Tim Hester, Executive Pastor at Southeast Christian Church, offers a biblical framework for restoration that focuses on healing rather than punishment. Drawing from decades of experience shepherding both church staff and congregation members, Tim walks us through the delicate process of addressing sin and repairing broken relationships. The conversation provides practical wisdom on pre...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! When a student confides they've been self-harming, what's your role as a youth pastor? Where does spiritual care end and professional intervention begin? Licensed counselor and youth pastor Jordan Francis unveils the complex reality of youth mental health today, offering wisdom that both relieves and challenges ministry leaders. Jordan discusses how today's students are learning the world is evil at much younger ages through constant digital e...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! Get ready to explore the vibrant world of youth ministry with a special lens on Gen Alpha. Join us as we welcome the Emmy Award-winning preteen pastor Josh Celestin and CIY Director of SuperStart Korey Klein to unpack some extraordinary moments from this SuperStart tour. Listen as we detail the dedication of our ministry teams who balance the demands of full-time work while passionately energizing preteens for their spiritual journeys. Our con...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! Dr. James and Ginger Dellaripa take us on their journey of creating The Family Core, offering insights into the unique challenges faced by blended families and the critical role youth pastors play in their lives. Alongside some lighthearted banter with my boss's boss, Eric Epperson—from reminiscing about past improvisation antics to chatting about the NBA All-Star game—this episode is a fun one. From the Dellaripas: When we chose to build our ...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! Through her inspiring personal story, CIY Director of Digital Resources Katelyn Adams shares how a high school camp experience ignited her calling to serve, and how the mentorship from her youth minister shaped her spiritual path. This episode promises insights on how to create supportive environments where students can confidently discuss their ministry aspirations with parents and mentors, and highlights the growing importance of digital lite...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! Join us as we celebrate a major milestone in our journey—our 50th episode of Beyond the Event! With CIY President Jayson French, we reflect on the last 50 episodes of helping you maintain momentum between the mountaintops. We're also diving into the core of what makes CIY (and youth ministry) thrive: a vibrant organizational culture. Continuous learning and self-education take center stage as we discuss the fine art of choosing resources that...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What if your church could create a stronger bond with families and youth through a unified ministry approach? Learn how two experts in next-gen ministry, John Luzader and Anne Wilson, are paving the way for spiritual growth and support. John, CIY’s Vice President of Experiences, shares his invaluable insights drawn from years as a youth pastor and parent. He emphasizes the necessity of a cohesive church team dedicated to providing continuous sp...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What if the key to enriching your spiritual journey lies in subtraction, not addition? In our latest episode, I reconnect with my good friend Lane, who shares his enlightening reflections from his sabbatical. Instead of adding new routines, Lane discovered the power of letting go. This revelation sets a reflective tone for our episode, as we chat with John Lee from Northeast Christian Church about nurturing cohesive family ministries that span ...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What happens when the environments that are supposed to nurture and protect our youth fall short for those with special needs? Join me, Brad Warren, and my insightful guest Bekah Behnke, as we dive deep into this crucial discussion. Together, we provide practical strategies for creating a safe and inclusive space within youth ministry, designed to support and celebrate students with disabilities. Reflecting on a year of growth and change, we ...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! On this episode of Beyond the Event, we sit down with DJ Rodeffer, a student pastor from Frederick, Maryland. DJ walks us through the trials and triumphs of evolving from leading a small group to managing the growing congregation at Collective Church. His insights shed light on the dynamic roles within youth ministry and the art of fostering a community that feels both expansive and intimate. By sharing personal experiences, DJ offers listeners...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! Meet Tom Hahn, the "everything pastor" at Restoration Christian Church, who shares his journey of dedication and community engagement. Tom's story is one of faith and resilience, detailing how he transformed a modest church gathering into a thriving community with limited resources. We also chat about the upcoming SuperStart 2025 tour, celebrating 20 impactful years of preteen ministry. Finding quiet amidst the chaos of bustling church even...
Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us! What if the fastest route to a healthier youth ministry isn’t writing more, but shepherding more? We sit down with Anne Wilson, Next Gen Pastor at Traders Point Christian Church, to learn the value of buying curriculum, then spending your reclaimed hours pastoring students and training volunteers. Anne shares a practical, month-ahead workflow for taking a solid, gospel-centered series from download to stage—assigning a rotating editor, contextu...
