35. From Outsider to Insider: Ministering to Preteens with Purpose and Compassion

Preteens are in one of the most complex seasons of life. They’re not quite kids anymore, but not yet teenagers. Too old for the playground, too young for youth group. And often, this “in-between” stage can leave them feeling like they don’t fully belong anywhere—not at school, not in culture, and sometimes, not even at church. In this episode, we pause to consider: What if our ministries could be the place where preteens feel most seen, most known, and most valued? What if we could help them move from feeling like outsiders to becoming confident insiders in both faith and community?In this powerful conversation, Crystal Mazucca and Kayla Stevens joins Chuck Peters to unpack the unique opportunities and challenges of engaging preteens in faith and culture. The episode highlights the critical importance of this transitional phase—where identity is being formed and belonging is deeply sought.Together they introduce the “outsider in” methodology, a relational approach that focuses on creating psychological safety, inclusion, participation, learning, and contribution. These pillars help ministry leaders guide preteens from the margins to the center—allowing them to engage meaningfully, ask hard questions, and begin owning their faith in a safe, intentional environment.Listeners will come away with a renewed sense of urgency and compassion for this age group, along with practical strategies for building bridges between faith and belonging. If this conversation sparked new ideas or encouraged your heart, we’d love for you to rate, review, and share this episode with fellow ministry leaders. Together, we can build ministries where every child feels seen, safe, and spiritually supported—right when they need it most.SHOW LINKS: Flip the Script HyfiRegister for ETCH Conference 2026Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry