Okayest Youth Ministry Podcast

Hunter, Jeremy, and Michael discuss how they decide which events they are planning and how important each event is in each ministry.

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter discuss the ways they measure growth in their ministries. There are so many ways to measure growth in your youth ministry!Tell us how you measure your growth!Register for the M2Y conference here:https://www.m2yconference.com

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter have all experienced different feelings about the graduating class of 2026. Our youth groups change every year. How do we keep the good times rolling? Tune in and find out!

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter talk about their summer in 2026. WELCOME BACK!!Special Guest: Sawyer Intern!!

Michael and Jeremy missed Hunter, but were able to talk with Steven Hovater. Steven is the preacher at Central Church of Christ in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is an app developer and you should check out his stuff!!

Michael, Jeremy, and Michael discuss planning for the fall before it's too late! You don't want to find yourself in the middle of camp with parents asking what your fall plans are before they start planning family trips!!

Jeremy and Hunter sit down with Jennifer Watson, a fellow youth minister, and discuss the Lads To Leaders Convention while at the Nashville Lads to Leaders Convention 2026!

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter discuss the importance of teaching your students to love JESUS.

Michael and Jeremy have their best guest on the show today. While Hunter is out running and swimming and riding bikes. . . Michael and Jeremy are bringing you some important info with Lincoln Crowe (Jeremy's son.)

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter start a new series on common myths in youth ministry. Numbers don't always represent success. The Okayest Youth Ministers discuss what that means and how that works.

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter discuss burnout and mental health. Every minister thinks about leaving the ministry at some point in their lives. You're not alone. We hope you find encouragement in our discussion.

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter discuss their youth ministry fails and how they led to being better prepared.

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter discuss hard decisions and cuts in your budget and your program!Follow us on instagram and facebook!

Jeremy, Hunter, and Michael discuss an unfun topic. If you're in ministry, you're going to experience a student walking away from God. It's a tough place to be, and we hope this episode walks you through a better way of dealing with it. www.OkayestYouthMinistry.com

Hunter, Michael, and Jeremy discuss games they enjoy playing with their students and ways to use them for ministry. Youth Ministry is hard to do without games to get students engaged!Check out our website:www.OkayestYouthMinistry.com

Sam Umstead joins Jeremy and Hunter to talk through how they became ministers and what it's like to be in ministry. Sam is the youth minister at Benton Church of Christ in Benton, KY. Sam is a great dude and even better minister, and we're thankful we got to talk with him while at the M2Y Conference.**Some guys managed to get our sound board while at the M2Y Conference, Sam being one of them, and we played our favorite sound bite at the end... Sorry... kinda.

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter talk about their favorite Christmas gifts they received as kids. We hope you have the Okayest Christmas ever!!

Michael, Hunter, and Jeremy discuss how to manage grief and hard times in youth ministry. It's a tough discussion that is needed. We hope your ministry is blessed!

Da Boizzz interview Chris Fry about mission trips and the work that he does. Chris is an amazing resource. Everyone should get to know him and the work he does!

The boyz discuss their favorite parts of M2Y and why YOU should attend next year.

The guys discuss things they are thankful for in their ministry and also their Iron Bowl predictions.

Jeremy and Hunter sit down with Jared McCormick to discuss the joys and frustrations of ministering outside the bible belt. This is a huge blessing to anyone serving in any ministry capacity.

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter talk about the last year of recording and creating!!

Michael, Jeremy, Hunter are joined by their good friend Sam Welsh (Youth Minsiter at Beltline Church of Christ,) and discuss confession. Sometimes it is tough to find a trusted person that you believe would hear you when you need it. Being a minister can feel VERY lonely at times. It's always good to find someone you can be open with and confess your sin and let God take over.Check out our website:www.OkayestYouthMinistry.comCheck out Ministry League!www.MinsitryLeague.comRegsiter at the M2Y Conference:www.M2YConference.com

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter sit down with the wisest of youth ministers.... JERRY ELDER! Jerry has been doing youth ministry for over 40 years! You NEED to hear what he has to say! Check us out:www.OkayestYouthMinistry.comRegister here:www.M2Yconference.com

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter discuss ways to use your budget effectively. Sometimes we have limited resources and using the resources you have effectively in paramount to being an effective youth worker!Check out and Register for the M2Y Conference:www.m2yconference.comCheck out our website:www.OkayestYouthMinistry.com

We interview Lucas Dial and discuss the M2Y Conference coming November 6-9!Check Out Our Website!!www.OkayestYouthMinistry.comRegister Today!www.m2yconference.comCheck out the Ministry League!www.MinistryLeague.com

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter discuss the book edited by Kirk Brothers, President of Heritage Christian University. We hope you enjoy it!Check out our Website:www.OkayestYouthMinistry.comPurchase "In Christ's Image" NOW!https://www.hcu.edu/product/in-christs-image-a-guide-to-youth-and-family-ministry-edited-by-w-kirk-brothers/Check out the M2Y Conference!!www.m2yconference.com

Jeremy, Hunter, and Michael discuss prioritizing parts of your ministry. If we don't manage our budgets correctly, it can be devastating. The Okayest Youth Ministers hope to help you through the journey of budgeting for your youth ministry in the years to come.Register Today!m2yconference.comCheck us out!www.OkayestYouthMinistry.com

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter discuss the importance of budgeting. Budgets are an important tool for youth ministry. It can really make or break your ministry. Always be learning.Check out our website:www.OkayestYouthMinistry.comCheck out the M2Y Conference!www.m2yconference.com

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter talk about things they want in their youth groups and the importance of cultivating a culture in your youth group!Check out our website at: www.okayestyouthministry.com

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter discuss their School Year's Resolutions™. How do you transition back into the school routine after the summer break? They discuss what that looks like and ways they navigate it successfully.

Michael and Jeremy are missing Hunter while they discuss their summer and past summer activities! Check Out Our Website!www.OkayestYouthMinistry.com

Michael, Hunter, and Jeremy discuss the importance of taking a vacation and using your off-time wisely. God has called us to rest and given us thorough examples of what rest looks like. Why don't we rest more?

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter discuss what it's like being a youth minister. They discuss the pros and cons of youth ministry as a career.

Jeremy and Hunter discuss the Lads to Leaders program and convention with one of the Nashville Convention Assistant Directors, Charles Elliott.

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter discuss how to recover from burnout and how to rebuild after "Church Hurt.". Check out our website at:www.OkayestYouthMinistry.com

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter talk about their love of ministry and how to start at a new place. Maybe it's your first time in ministry, or maybe its the third church you've worked at, either way its important to have a plan and make sure that plan works out.If you are starting a new ministry this episode is for you!Check out our website:www.OkayestYouthMinistry.com

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter discuss their experience at Maywood Christian Camp and why taking your students to a camp is important.Don't forget to tell us some things you wish you had known! Email us at: [email protected] out our website at:www.OkayestYouthMinistry.com

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter get back to the studio! We decided to go a little lighthearted with this episode of the Okayest Youth Ministry podcast. We discuss graduation, Fortnite baptisms, and prayer journals.Walmart is not a sponsor, but this is the notebook Hunter uses for his prayer journals.https://www.walmart.com/ip/Moleskine-Classic-Notebook-Hard-Cover-Large-5-x-8-25-Ruled-Black/8401813?classType=VARIANT&athbdg=L1600Check out our website:www.OkayestYouthMinistry.com

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter are back together again! They discuss what it's like to team up with your students in your youth ministry. We also briefly discuss our summer plans and camp memories!Check out our website:www.OkayestYouthMinistry.comCheck out Ministry League:www.MinistryLeague.com

Jeremy and Hunter talk about Christian Education with Steven Dewitt. Steven Dewitt is an Admissions Representative for Crowley's Ridge College. We met Steven at REVIVAL this year and got to spend a lot of time with him. Then we saw him at Lads to Leaders and HAD to get an interview!! We couldn't think of anyone better to discuss the importance of Christian Education than Steven! Check out Crowley's Ridge College's website at: www.CRC.eduAlso check out our website at:www.OkayestYouthMinistry.com

Jeremy and Hunter discuss the importance of worship in youth ministry with MATT PARKER of Infusion Ministries about what value worship moments bring to your students. Check out Infusion Ministries here:www.InfusionMinistries.comCheck our website: www.OkayestYouthMinistry.com

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter discuss what its like to work with elders as a youth minister. Gary Johnson did youth ministry for 27 years before becoming an elder last year. The guys discuss what it's like to team up with your elderships and work together to serve your students better.Check out our website:www.OkayestYouthMinistry.comCheck out ministry league:www.MinistryLeague.com

Jeremy and Hunter talk with Chris Pressnell at Lads to Leaders about what teaming up with your fellow minister is like. Hunter and Chris work together in ministry and share some details of how they work together! Check out Lads to Leaders!!www.Lads2Leaders.comCheck out our website!www.OkayestYouthMinistry.comCheck out Ministry League!www.MinistryLeague.com

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter discuss what its like to team up with your deacons! We have a special deacon guest, Patrick Caffey, on the show to discuss what it's like having to work with Jeremy. Thanks Patrick!!Check out Our Websitewww.OkayestYouthMinistry.com

Jeremy, Hunter, and Michael discuss what it's like to team up with the folks that are in your community. Also Bell's Diner burned down. Sad day.

Hunter, Jeremy, and Michael discuss teaming up with people in your ministries. It's important to always find someone to co-labor with you. It can be parents, volunteers, students, elders, deacons, and we can keep going.Check out our website:www.OkayestYouthMinistry.comCheck out Ministry League:www.MinistryLeague.com

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter discuss internships with Eli Cobb, a Faulkner student ready for another internship! We discuss strategies to have an effective internship at your congregation! How to approach the internship question and what interns are looking for in an internship.Check out our website:www.OkayestYouthMinistry.comCheck out Ministry League:www.MinistryLeague.com

Michael, Jeremy, and Hunter sit down with a good friend to close out our Disciple Series. Kyle Butt, author of over 50 books, joined us to discuss the importance of Apologetics in our youth ministries. You don’t want to miss this episode!Kyle Butt is an incredible guy! He has written over 40 books. He is a speaker at almost every conference or lectureship in the southeast. He speaks to churches, schools, benefit dinners, college campuses, and other countries, and now he can add podcasts to his resume 😎. We are extremely lucky and thankful he took the time to speak with us about the importance of Apologetics in our youth ministries. His single greatest accomplishment is, of course, being a friend of Michael Deese.Check out more of Kyle’s work at:www.ApologeticsPress.comCheck out our website at:www.OkayestYouthMinistry.comCheck out the Ministry League Website:www.MinistryLeague.com