Youth Ministry Maverick: Hosted by Jeff Harding

After a 60-episode inaugural season...we're back for more! Check out the trailer for our second season, which includes a sneak peak at new YouTube elements we're adding. New guests, new topics, and new resources...all which will hopefully make for better investment in the next generation. We can't wait to get this train moving again. See you Tuesday!

For the 60th episode, and last one before a summer break, Jeff debuted YMM's first-ever video interview with his good buddy and returning guest, Jeremy Carlton (from Episode 21). Jeremy heads up Shepherd at Home, a non-profit organization with a goal of sharing practical tools for building stronger families. This was a joint episode for YMM and Shepherd at Home, so Jeff and Jeremy trade off questions about at-home dynamics and youth ministry. Watch it here on YouTube! Check out Jeremy's Youtube and Facebook for Shepherd at Home here.

No one would argue that teaching apologetics to our students isn't important. However, most youth workers teach students to approach apologetics solely from the standpoint of logical/rational argument. Moreover, they would probably ask, "what other way is there?" Jeff's brother, Ryan, an experienced youth worker and student of apologetics, talks with Jeff about apologetics through the lens of how we were created, remember things, and interact with history: narrative and story. The discussion is largely a review of Narrative Apologetics by British theologian, scholar, and apologist, Dr. Alister McGrath. Click here to visit Ryan's blog.

When talking to our students about marriage, we tend to emphasize the concept of unity and the reality of living together as "one flesh." That is certainly needed and appropriate. However, during the season of engagement, the couple tends to be treated as if they are already united in that manner. The reality is that they are not, and the flood of emotions combined with the shock of multiple decisions needing to be made can not only be overwhelming...but lonely as well. Wedding planner consultant and educator, Amber Anderson, talks with Jeff about this overlooked season of relationships that can cause long-term detriment to mental and emotional health if it's handled poorly. Click here to learn about Amber's business, workshops, podcast, and more.

  Those who grow up in the church and go on to serve as youth workers will inevitably think about the discipleship experience they had as a teenager (or the lack thereof). Moreover, the number of youth workers without a church background, let alone seminary training, is steadily growing. How can we set youth workers up to provide a solid path of discipleship while emphasizing the relational connection with students? Local youth pastor, Cameron Sparks, joins Jeff to discuss how we can make that a reality.   Access Cameron's youth ministry Instagram here, and the sermons he has preached on his church website here.  

We tend to focus solely on spiritual aspects of our youth ministry when assessing its health. Those aspects are certainly important, but practically speaking in terms of daily life, the mental and emotional aspects are just as important. How prepared is the average youth worker to handle and accept the various conditions some students have as they walk through our church doors? Cassidy Ford, a business franchising expert who grew up with Jeff in youth ministry, talks about her own experience of mental health in the church and how she currently promotes self-advocacy in the marketplace. Click here to access Cassidy's LinkedIn profile, and here to listen to her podcast on Spotify.

The arrival of COVID has accelerated the presence of online ministry, which was already growing exponentially. Whether it's social media, personal invitations, small groups, or live streaming, having a green digital thumb is now almost essential. But are we using it in the best ways? Trusted church communication expert, Seth Muse, joins Jeff to talk about how many of us are missing digital opportunities to communicate well. Check out how Seth's team can help you & your ministry with communication here, and his personal website (blogs, podcast, etc.) here. If you're down for some indie rock, check out Seth and Jeff's old group album on Spotify or Apple Music!

We consistently guide our students in living out their identity in Christ. However, the pressure they feel of wanting to fit in, find the best school, choose the best career, and make their parents happy is also consistent. It can seem like the spiritual and practical aspects of life choices are mutually exclusive...but are they? Ali Gentry joins Jeff to discuss her own story, and what students need to see and hear from leaders as they seek the abundant life Jesus said he came to give. Click here to visit Ali's website, and here for her church's website.

One common question youth pastors and workers ask students is, “Where do you see God at work in your life?” When answering that question, we hope that students are not only seeing God work, but also how their life story is developing. Esteemed research professor and author, Dr. Karen Swallow Prior, joins Jeff to discuss the power of story. They talk about why reading classical literature can help our view of Scripture, and why it’s so important to listen to the stories of others.

The analog world is all but in the rear-view mirror, and it means that our children and teenagers now have brains literally developing in a new way. The main results are what we see now with dependence on devices, addiction to porn, and a completely new social paradigm. Chris Kaspar, founder of Techless and creator of the Wisephone, talks with Jeff about how we help the next generation start off on the foot of discernment when it comes to phones.

We aim to partner with parents. We hope to teach and show students wisdom and discernment as they move toward high school graduation and entering college/career life. We try to teach stewardship. So, why haven't we made concerted efforts to jointly exercise all three of those elements in a streamlined way? Hannah Moore, CFP, CFT joins Jeff to discuss how we can help parents and students have intentional conversations about financial independence by tempering expectations and demonstrating wise choices. If we truly want to invest in the next generation, we need to be wholistic and not myopic. Click here to access Hannah's website, and see what resources she has to offer as learning tools or consulting.

For this episode of The Youth Worker Enneagram Project, Danielle Allen co-hosts as the Enneagram Coach to discuss what working in youth ministry looks like with our Enneagram 8 guest, Cassi Cox. They talk about strengths along with areas of need and focus, and conclude by highlighting the effects of a wing 7 or a wing 9.  Click here to take a free Enneagram assessment. Click here to access Danielle's website.

For this episode of The Youth Worker Enneagram Project, Ainsley B co-hosts as the Enneagram Coach to discuss what working in youth ministry looks like with our Enneagram 7 guest, Zac Workun. They talk about strengths along with areas of need and focus, and conclude by highlighting the effects of a wing 6 or a wing 8.  Click here to take a free Enneagram assessment. Click here to access Ainsley's website. Click here to see more about Youth Ministry Booster, which Zac helps oversee.

This is the first episode of our eleven-episode series on how youth ministry workers can capitalize on their Enneagram classifications for the sake of their personal lives and ministry. For this intro episode, Jeff is joined by the two Enneagram coaches that will take turns co-hosting during this series - Ainsley and Danielle. After getting to know the coaches, the three of them discuss the origins of the Enneagram, what all of the numbers mean, and how this tool can be helpful for those investing in the next generation.

For the final installment of this series on connecting with parents, Jeff talks about the importance of employing long-term strategy to secure a solid system of interaction. Our culture mirrors these younger generations in prioritizing immediate satisfaction and vain accomplishment over quality development, which requires patience and failure. We need to be distinct from those practices, and establish good habits to set us, parents, and our students up well for how we can grow in faith and discipleship together. 

This special bonus episode features prominent Bible teacher, author, preacher, and podcaster, Kat Armstrong. Kat joins Jeff to discuss her latest book, The In-Between Place: Where Jesus Changes Your Story. The book contains Kat's personal experiences with hardship, questions, and seeing how Jesus meets us where we are - all of which is drawn from the captivating story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4.  Click here to buy Kat's book on Amazon. Click here to access Kat's website. Click here to access Kat's podcast. Follow Kat on Instagram here, or Twitter here.

We discussed the reasons and importance of connecting well with parents in the first episode of the series. Jeff continues in this episode by talking about methods of solid communication with parents in a culture where the options are perhaps too plentiful.

Most in youth ministry generally acknowledge the importance and priority of parents, and how they have more time and influence than we ever could. But what does that look like practically? How do we intentionally craft our ministry vision and structure to demonstrate that? Jeff talks through some of that in this first of a three episode series on connecting with parents.

Happy 2021, YMM fam! Jeff shares some exciting elements coming to the podcast over the next several months. The centerpiece is a huge announcement about something no other youth ministry podcast - and perhaps any ministry podcast - has ever attempted! Don't miss the details!

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that 2020 has been the catalyst for several paradigmatic shifts in our world, our culture, our politics, and our ministry. For this year in review episode, Jeff goes through five things that will change how we teach and invest in students moving forward.

While this year has brought forth many wretched things, Jeff is grateful that this podcast brought some refreshing levity when it started in April. This compilation and reflection certainly doesn't contain all of his favorite moments, as that would be much too long! So, why not go with a holy number? Here are seven of Jeff's favorite podcast episodes/moments from 2020. 

Typically, we all approach Advent in a similar way each year. We go through the birth story, highlight the four themes, and discuss how to personify them in the new year. But after enduring 2020, there's a better approach we can take with Advent that can set a new template for how we recognize Advent for years to come. Jeff talks about using the themes of Advent as a lens to reflect on this tumultuous year, and why it's up to us - not circumstances - to set the tone for 2021.

What comes to mind when someone says the word sexuality? Disgust? Confusion? Anger? Discomfort? The evangelical approach to sexuality has hardly included anything resolving dialogue, and as a key part of being made in God's image, sexuality deserves rich dialogue. Our understanding of it also needs to adapt in a world where the subject has taken on a lot of nuance. Dr. Sandra Glahn and Dr. Gary Barnes from Dallas Theological Seminary discuss the topic with Jeff via their new book. This great discussion is a preview regarding one of the most important books ever written on understanding and expressing healthy Christian sexuality - that's no exaggeration, but perhaps an understatement. Don't miss out on hearing this conversation or purchasing the book! You can get the book here, access Dr. Glahn's website here, and look up more about both of their publications, podcasts, and chapel sermons on the seminary's website here.

There's usually just one thing in mind when we talk to students about their peers who belong to other faiths/religions: conversion. Conversion is the general desire we have for those we interact with who are not yet in Christ. However, what about a relationship? How can caring for someone beyond giving a gospel presentation give students affirmation of their faith while also creating more opportunities to share it? Keith Hileman joins Jeff to discuss an organization of interfaith dialogue he helped create, and why we in youth ministry should broaden our context of evangelism. Here is Keith's chapel message on FFG he gave at Dallas Theological Seminary. Here is the website and the Facebook page for Friends For Good, the aforementioned interfaith group.

We aim to mentor and disciple students in our ministries, but they need others to fill that role as well - both now and later in life. Moreover, we as "spiritual authorities" also need to be mentored. Many recognize this, but few know how to fulfill this need. Courtney Lowman from The Journey Of Ruth Podcast joins Jeff to talk about the importance of mentors and discipling for the individual believer and the Church overall. Click here to access Courtney's mentor discovery worksheet.

We're not just supposed to teach and hang out with our students. We're supposed to help them pursue what God has for them, which could be a call to ministry. "I can't do it...I can't afford it...I'm not qualified....The Bible says I'm not allowed," are things we might hear from the ladies in our ministries. Regardless of complementarian/egalitarian stance, how can we help them step out in faith and use their position and abilities for God's glory and helping others? Rebecca Carrell from KCBI joins Jeff to discuss her own journey, and how she would approach it as a teenager trying to find her path. Click here to check out Rebecca's morning radio show, and here for her website.

Jeff sat down with Jacob Vandenbark, and talked about how he came to develop the Near Journal. It's a unique approach to daily quiet times and journaling, and combines several different resources all within one simple and clean outline. Hear more about it through Jacob's story, and how it could benefit your ministry. Plus, you'll get a promo code at the end for a discount on any order! Click here to check out and buy a Near Journal from Jacob's website.

When it comes to addressing hard topics and areas of our faith, our approach with students is usually outward-driven for purposes of evangelism and witnessing to the world. However, when it comes to engaging with other believers, our hostility over the last decade has grown. Many Christians now tend toward approaching one another with a finger on their theological/sociopolitical triggers, waiting for someone to express something they disagree with so they can either fire back verbally or dismiss silently as the opposition. Returning guest, Robert Wagner, talks with Jeff about how often we mistakingly "draw lines in the sand." Check out Robert's website here

This episode is being released on Election Day here in the United States. It's the beginning of the end for this long and arduous campaign trail in the most polarizing presidential election we've likely ever seen (and hopefully will ever see). Unfortunately, it's been especially polarizing for the Church. How can we direct and guide our students in the art of heartfelt and intentional conversation that demonstrates love and grace toward the other person? Dr. Darrell Bock joins Jeff to discuss how his latest book, Cultural Intelligence, helps dissect that process. We need to stop talking past each other, and start loving others well in our dialogue. Buy Darrell's book on Amazon here, and check out The Table Podcast from Dallas Seminary (which he hosts) here.

What if the average tenure of a youth pastor at one church was almost a decade? What if every youth pastor in your city was part of a small group of other youth pastor's in their area for camaraderie, sharing of resources, and keeping one another from burnout? Kevin Miles joins Jeff to talk about the organization they are both a part of - the National Network of Youth Ministries - and how we are truly better together. Check out how you can support Kevin on his NNYM page.

Ministry in the era of COVID not only has each of us scrambling to reorient our programming and development, but it has youth ministry organizations also rethinking how they equip and partner with youth workers. How can we change and improve upon the way we collaborate with one another in this new ministry paradigm? Crystal Chaing from Orange Students joins Jeff to discuss this new direction, and also give a preview of her session at the YMX Conference!

In the era of COVID, ministry longevity is even more admirable than usual. A few studies have shown that the ongoing circumstances might result in a large number of pastors and ministers resigning from stress and burnout. How do we continue in the call God has given us, especially in the midst of these difficult variables? After getting the chance to interview one of his youth pastors (Jim in Episode 19), Jeff talks with his other youth pastor, Mark Julian, about what it looks like to keep moving forward after decades in ministry.

If there was ever a more tumultuous time than right now to begin your vocation as a youth pastor, I can't think of one! Aside from the pandemic and social unrest (as if you can really put those aside), there are less youth pastors receiving higher education/seminary training, and they need a road map. Justin Herman joins Jeff to discuss what people entering the youth ministry vocation need to know. Check out Justin's junior high ministry podcast, Controlled Chaos, and other info about him on his website.

We teach and encourage our students to have faith during hardship, and to trust that God is present and working our good. But when we go through intense seasons of hardship, do we practice what we preach? Jeremy Carlton joins Jeff to talk about the recent season of adversity in his life and ministry, and what it looks like to trust God when all signs point to hopelessness.

There is an abundance of resources and chances for ministry partnerships accessible to youth workers, but some are still hesitant to use them for various reasons. Also, getting job support from people outside your ministry might seem counterintuitive, but it's actually more of a necessity than you might think. Zac Workun joins Jeff to discuss the evolution and betterment of these resources and partnership opportunities, and why they're important to the longevity of our co-laborers in Christ.   Check out more about LifeWay Students and Youth Ministry Booster here.

Dr. Andy Root talked with us about joy and establishing a narrative-shaping experience as the purpose of youth ministry. So what does that look like practically as we implement ministry methods based on Scripture? Dr. Jim Graham joins Jeff to describe and present a process that can work with any ministry aiming to make disciples within the next generation. Click here to get the discipleship diagram and description mentioned in the episode.

We're kicking off our new podcast segment by talking with Tyler Smith, the author of Searching For Seven: The Journey of Seeking God Seven Days a Week. Complete with small group questions and outlines, this book is a great resource for students to explore how God is writing and using their story each day. These interviews will be more concise and easier to digest.  Check out more details about Tyler and how to buy his book at SearchingForSeven.com.

If we encourage our students to ask questions, wrestle, doubt, and learn how to depend on God more within their church community to grow in their faith...why do we typically discourage the same process with politics? We either identify one view on a policy as the singular Christian view, and label all other views as evil, or we avoid the issues (that have real-life implications) altogether. Kaitlyn Schiess joins Jeff to discuss her new book, and why we need a better model of engaging in politics for the next generation. Buy the book on Amazon, or anywhere else you purchase books! 

Have you ever had students ask you if only Christians can do good? Not spiritual worth or currency, but just basic acts of good. It's a question that comes up, and in this polarized culture, stating that those who aren't Christians can't partake in anything good would be a pretty thick line in the sand. If something good doesn't directly point back to or credit God, either the act itself or because the doer is sealed with the Holy Spirit, is it good? What do people mean when they say someone is a good person? Jesus said only the Father is good when he was addressed as a "good teacher." Jeff discusses the concept of good with his friend and returning guest, Josh Daniels.

Memes are a foundational part of internet communication and culture. It's a language in which students are fluent. But they're more than just something to make us laugh...they present thoughts, opinions, presuppositions, and even strong beliefs. Can they be used for ministry? Michael Moore, better known as the Honest Youth Pastor, talks with Jeff about how the meme world is actually drawing people to Christ.

The biggest concern for many youth workers right now is how to engage students well during the ongoing social restrictions caused by COVID-19. How do we gauge what is successful? How do we adapt our ministry approach in a world rocked by pandemic fallout? How can we take a breather when we're already putting all we have into keeping the worn attention of our students? Hector Martinez joins Jeff to discuss how we can make our way through this unique time in ministry.

**Explicit Content Warning** While Jesus said that his yoke is easy and burden is light, ministry involves working with students who experience trauma that no one would characterize in those terms. Paul Ward joins Jeff to discuss the very real and devastating presence of trauma in the lives of those in our ministry, some of which we're not even aware. How can we help them beyond well-intentioned conversations? There are references to some dark realities students face, so please listen with discretion and awareness. Check out Paul's website, prward.com, to see more about his ministry. Click here to receive Tim's eBook on trauma ministry for free! It's also on his website.

One of the many things heightened in a life restricted by COVID-19 is the already-present concept of doubt within ministry. Perhaps it already had a strong presence before pandemic life for you, but with limited methods and the general loss of intimate gatherings, it probably feels overwhelming. Dr. Andy Root joins Jeff to discuss his latest book, which aims to discover what youth ministry is really for in a culture that increasingly moves it into the periphery of scheduling priorities.   Buy The End of Youth Ministry? by clicking here.

The challenges Gen Z faces amidst the barrage of technology and susceptibility for anxiety/depression makes the difficult adolescent struggle for identity even more complex. What does it mean to root our identity in Christ? Do trends within the modern church ease or add to that complexity? Chris Staron joins Jeff to discuss what students and churches in 2020 are faced with on a daily basis.

Mission trips are a staple in youth ministry programming. Traveling to different places is a great experience, but mission opportunities where we live often get overlooked. How can we engage in local opportunities beyond the traditional approaches of soup kitchens and clothing drives? Tim Carpenter joins Jeff to discuss a multi-faceted approach to local missions that benefits the servers just as much as the ones being served.

The natural progression of biology and mental/emotional growth is hard on teenagers, especially when it comes to self-esteem. But spiritual growth comes through dedication and faith, so combining the pursuit of Jesus with adolescent transformation can be heavy. Coy Poitier joins Jeff to talk about growing up in the shadow of important men, and how God can use setbacks as opportunities for growth and ministry otherwise unrealized.

As youth workers, we teach students what God says and desires for us. But when we all engage online, we often forget that how we dialogue is just as important as the content. In short, we need to educate instead of shout down. Robert L. Wagner joins Jeff to discuss what that dialogue looks like, as they respond to the recent conversation between Louie Giglio, Dan Cathy and Lecrae.

Big youth retreats, summer camps and mission organizations often have multiple churches together, but what would it look like for local churches to combine on their own for reasons beyond convenience or meeting a capacity quota? Jeff discusses networking and ministry collaboration with three of his youth ministry cohorts, and they use their own multi-year partnership as a possible template for others to follow.

A good youth ministry can be a great youth ministry when it's within a healthy and unified family ministry. Kari Jane Smith joins Jeff to discuss how discipleship should progress as a child grows older, and what they have to done to streamline their church's family ministry.

This special off-week episode was produced so as to not wait one week longer to start another source of dialogue regarding the teaching and discussing of racism and prejudice with our students. Jeff was honored to have Mikiala Tennie and Karli Loving join him in an enlightening conversation composed of three family ministry workers in the local church.  Mikiala has served at First United Methodist Church of Stuart, FL for six years and currently has the role of Director of Discipleship and Student Ministries. Karli serves as the Youth and Children's Pastor at Zoe Christian Center in Lawton, OK.  Here is a short but powerful article Mikiala wrote a few years ago as a supplement to our discussion: https://wordsbetweenpunctuation.com/2016/03/21/the-din/