Student Ministry
Lifeway Students
The Lifeway Student Ministry Podcast is designed to encourage and inform student ministry leaders at every level. Each episode Ben Trueblood will join with student ministry leaders and guests to talk about issues, both practical and philosophical, relating to student ministry and leadership. Our goal is to encourage student ministry leaders serving in the local church and to share insights learned from the student ministry community at large.
Check out more from Lifeway Student Ministry and join in the ongoing student ministry conversation at studentministry.lifeway.com.
Episode 378: Why Fun is Important for Youth Ministry
Join Ben, Zac, and Nathan on this week’s podcast as they discuss why fun is an important element of youth ministry. Watch the podcast on YouTube here. About Ben Trueblood […]
Episode 378: Why Fun is Important for Youth Ministry
Join Ben, Zac, and Nathan on this week’s podcast as they discuss why fun is an important element of youth ministry. Watch the podcast on YouTube here. About Ben Trueblood […]
Episode 377: Setting Up Student Leadership Teams to Grow Youth Ministry
Join Ben, Zac, Chad, and Nathan on this week’s podcast as they discuss how to build and set up student leadership teams to help grow your youth ministry. Watch the […]
Episode 376: How To Be A Better Speaker
Join Ben, Zac, and Nathan on this week’s podcast as they talk about how to become a better speaker in youth ministry and share what they have learned over the […]
Episode 375: Managing Stress in Youth Ministry
“You are a human and the pastoring that you are doing filters through that. We have to remember that we are a human doing and not just a human being.” […]
Episode 374: Upgraded Pastries and Youth Ministry Conferences
“Try to upgrade your experience whenever you can. That may mean one nice meal or a little nicer hotel, that stays within budget, but this can be great for way […]
Episode 373: Pumpkin Spies
“Ministry doesn’t just happen when you control it” – Zac Workun “If we are not careful we can be calendar busy but not ministerially busy.” – Ben Trueblood About Ben […]
Episode 372: Your Role in Girls Ministry
“Girls ministry should always be a freeing thing.” – Amanda Mejias “Healthy ministry is when we are replaceable.” – Corinne Allen About Ben Trueblood Ben serves as the Director of […]
Episode 371: Building Real Relationships in Student Ministry
“Growing up friendship was easy but community was hard. True community is a group of people who push you and challenge you and call you up.” – Tega Faafa “Relationships […]
Episode 370: Did you know you could bonsai any tree?
“Volunteer recruitment is a premium right now. Spending the final few weeks of the summer focusing on volunteers helps the fall start off feeling really good.” – Ben Trueblood “The […]
Episode 369: Heat Index and a Cold Water Baptism
“Maybe what we see at camp is meant to push our low moments a little bit higher than they were before. Rather than my ministry needs to feel like camp […]
Episode 368: Calling out the Called
“Students connect to stories, so share your story about how God called you into ministry.” – Shane Pruitt “Invite people into your calendar to show them what ministry looks like […]
Episode 267: Start to Finish, a Conversation with Mark Dance
“We need to talk less and listen more.” – Mark Dance “Time management is a big challenge that needs to be a priority in your life.” – Mark Dance Mark […]
Episode 366: Urgent Care
“When the busy is the result of procrastination or the wrong priorities, it makes it hard to get the rest we need.” – Zac Workun “You are measured by who […]
Episode 365: A Conversation with Zach Wyatt
“Finding community with other student pastors is vitally important ” – Zach Wyatt “Student pastors have to focus on more than just their strategic ministry. Their personal walk with The […]
Episode 364: Creating Traditions
“Often students remember serving or time spent in their small group with a leader over coffee or lunch, and it’s those moments that tend to last. What would it look […]
Episode 363: A Conversation with Lee Wilson
“Find someone who you can be accountable to who doesn’t care about your title or your past.” – Lee Wilson “My first ministry is my family.” – Lee Wilson Lee […]
Episode 362: Oklahoma Cepes
“If you have to do ministry with less, then you can do a lot with relationships and being people.” – Ben Trueblood “The challenge in ministry beyond what we say […]
Episode 161: A Conversation with Curtis Zackery
“Spiritual disciplines should be intentional, substantial, and sustainable” – Curtis Zackery “Suffering allows us to see who we are now because of what we have experienced.” – Curtis Zackery Curtis Zackery (CZ) is known […]
Episode 160: A Conversation with Dr. Loritts
“Ethnic unity can only come through relationships. Proximity creates empathy. ” – Dr. Bryan Loritts Dr. Bryan Loritts (D.Min., Liberty University) is the Teaching Pastor at The Summit Church. An […]
Episode 359: A Conversation with Jeff Wallace
“My mom didn’t want me to have a single story perspective. She wanted me to see the heart of the man before I saw the face of the man.” – […]
Episode 358: The Art of Communication
“You communicate not just from stage but also in the way you write emails, train volunteers, budget, and through many other ways.” – Ben Trueblood About Ben Trueblood Ben serves […]
Episode 357: Wake Up Cake
“There are things that frustrate us that we can’t control but I think even in those areas there are things that we can control. When we get stuck on the […]
Episode 356: What’s New?
“Continue to challenge yourself to do something new. This does not always have to be something brand new but can be tweaking something to make it better.” – Ben Trueblood […]
Episode 355: Bizzaro World & A Happy New Year
“We need to help our students fight loneliness for themselves but also understand the loneliness epidemic around to help students engage in a lost world.” – Chad Higgins “Creating a […]
Episode 354: Unbound
“Jesus is not content to let Lazarus live his new life in his grave clothes. What would it look like if we removed the grave clothes from our lives and […]
Episode 353: Admin All-Star
“Your administrative ability will become your lid to effectiveness. Those who are able to push through that administrative barrier, develop their skills, and execute the to-do lists of ministry, are […]
Episode 352: Leading before you’re ready
“You don’t have to be an expert on everything, you just need to bring to the table what you are good at.” – Sam Landrith “Learning from mentors, or through […]
Episode 351: Student Ministry and Faith Deconstruction
“Students who have a strong and vibrant faith have a leader who poured into them and invested in them.” – JC Groves “Students need to see faithful adults living out […]
Episode 350: Neck Pillow and Witch’s Fingers
“If you are waiting for the students in the chair to set the energy level for the fun element, it may never come.” Chad Higgins “Is important to connect the […]
Episode 349: Contextualizing the Gospel and Youth Culture
“Contextualization is really about effective communication and making sure what we say is the same thing that is received. I am not changing the message, I am just making sure […]
Episode 148: Next Gen Ministry
“Kids and student ministry leaders need to work together to create a discipleship plan that goes from preschool through high school.” – Crystal Mazzuca “Creating a strategic next gen ministry […]
Episode 347: Out of the Office but in Our Hearts
“Help your leaders manage their time by not putting too many events on their calendar during busy seasons.” – Ben Trueblood “We need to make sure that we get rest […]
Episode 346: Navigating the Holiday Season
“We need to think about the people we are leading and think about their calendar as well. We may be unintentionally filling the ministry calendar, making it difficult for our […]
Episode 345: What Gaming Taught Me About Student Ministry
“Your mission is unchangeable, but the strategy and how you accomplish the mission can be different. Surround yourself with people who think about things in a different way. There might […]
Episode 344: Know Thy Gamer
“Video games become accessible playgrounds in a world where many physical playgrounds are no longer safe. There are dangers in this digital playground and we need to educate ourselves about […]
Episode 343: Following Jesus in a Digital Age
“We need to peel back the layers of how technology is shaping our world view.” – Jason Thacker “The end of the story is written. Technology might change our world […]
Episode 342: Live from a CB Radio
“Communicating with your boss and leaders in their preferred style goes a long way in earning trust and relational credibility with them.” – Ben Trueblood “If we get organized and […]
Episode 341: One Question to Ask Every Parent
“Ask parents this question, how can we partner in how God is working in your teenager?” – Dr. Kara Powell “Parents have more time to influence their kids than youth […]
Episode 340: Fruitful Theology
“We are all theologians because anyone who has thoughts about God is a theologian.” – Ronni Kurtz “A deep contemplation of God and all things in relation to God can […]
Episode 229: Patchwork Potluck
“The big questions is when we feel inadequate, what we do after that feeling. That to me seems to be the marker of how we are handling the situation and […]
Episode 338: High Altitude Berries
“Before you leave the church on Sunday, make sure you look and plan your next week so that you can start well.” – Ben Trueblood About Ben Trueblood Ben serves […]
Episode 337: Rescue A Generation
“Every person in youth ministry needs to know how to do it effectively and remain healthy through the process so that you don’t burn out, punk out, or back out […]
Episode 336: Conversations That Help You Grow
“In our mastermind we would take time to hear how student ministry was going in different areas across the country. It is amazing to see how God is moving in […]
Episode 335: Boost Your Student Ministry
“The health of you as a minister is vital. Your health will be less if you do not surround yourself with others who can support you, who you can learn […]
Episode 334: An Oxford Shirt and an Ogden
“Do not lose heart student ministers. Students improve year over year and not always Wednesday to Wednesday” – Zac Workun “When you go to sporting event for students, realize that […]
Episode 333: Theology in Student Ministry
“Youth pastor theologians need to be able to take something that is complicated and show you how simple it is to help students understand it better.” – Mike McGarry Mike […]
Episode 332: A Conversation with Levi Lusko
“Jesus spent time with people and we must not forget to minister that way.” – Levi Lusko “The number one thing I have been praying for is for salvations.” – […]
Episode 331: Attacking Apathy
“Create a community among volunteers where they can’t imagine doing anything else.” – Dr. Allen Jackson Dr Allen Jackson is the Senior Pastor at Dunwoody Baptist Church. He returned to […]
Episode 330: Leading a Team of Leaders
“Make sure that your leaders understand the mission, vision, and culture of your ministry and that everything funnels through that.” – Jason Mick “You have to have everyone on the […]
Episode 329: Is Hot Tubbing the Same Thing as Bathing?
“In student ministry there will be moments when things do not go the way you expected. Being able to take your strategy and adjust so that you can still achieve […]
Episode 328: Developing Students Who Lead
“To truly develop leaders in your ministry, you have to give them opportunities where they might fail. Train them well, but you still have to give them enough freedom to […]
Episode 327: Ministry in a Rural Area
“Work to connect with parents on an authentic level. Be honest and share who you are. Those relationships are fundamental to success in a rural ministry.” – Nick Hartman Nick […]
Episode 326: Youth Ministry Booster Season 4
“We want to ask questions that get to the heart of the minister. Not only do we want to ask how are you helping students worship, but to also ask, […]
Episode 325: The Skit Guys: Featuring Tommy Woodard and Eddie James and their new movie Family Camp, in theaters May 13th
“We are probably busier than God intended us to be. Family gets be left behind if we are not intentional with what we are doing.” – Tommy Woodard WEBSITE AND […]
Episode 324: Things All Student Ministries Have In Common
“Relational ministries and teaching ministries are not in opposition to each other but must live in the tension of both. We must work to build relationships that are based on […]
Episode 323: Creating An Inviting Space for Ministry
“Your space doesn’t have to be new or flashy, but it needs to be welcoming and inviting.” – Brent Squires “If you want to attract students then they need to […]
Episode 322: Curiosity Doesn’t Disciple
“You have to know the difference between behavior modification and transformation of the heart and soul.” – Sean Nelson “I can not disciple everyone but I can create a culture […]
Episode 321: The Real Cost of Social Media
“The technology is designed to deliver us more of what we like. The algorithms are not designed to deliver us from our desirers but deeper into them.” – Chris Martin […]
Episode 320: The Future of Parent Ministry
“One dynamic of parent ministry may look like equipping a student to be a missionary in their house.” – Ben Trueblood “One of the things we should look into the […]
Episode 319: The Student Ministry Podcast on the Road
“We need to think strategically about how we reach people. Our metric has to be sending our students to people, and not asking new students to be the missionaries and […]
Episode 318: Learning How Students Learn
“Always reflect after you teach a lesson or message and think about your learning and teaching style and ask what you need to improve upon.” – Dr. Jones Dr. Kevin […]
Episode 317: A Framework for Innovation
“The question we need to ask is are our current methods actually accomplishing our mission? If yes, then innovation is improving upon what is already working. If the answer is […]
Episode 316: Ministering to Parents of Seniors in Their Last Semester
“Help parents by connecting them and their student with a college campus ministry.” – Andrew Wade “Don’t just raise up seniors to attend, but raise up seniors to serve.” – […]
Episode 315: Who is Gen Alpha and How Can We Prepare?
“The key to ministry in the future is through connection.” – Dr. Shelly Melia “The need for connection is going to trump the need for technology and everything else we […]
Episode 314: Pastoring in the Midst of Crisis
“When someone is going through a major issue, don’t ask what you can do for them but pray about what God is putting on your heart to do for someone.” […]
Episode 313: Transitioning Successfully from Kids to Student Ministry
“There should be a strong, strategic relationship between the kid’s pastor and the student pastor. The credibility of the student pastor can be shown to parents by the proverbial handshake […]
Episode 312: Youth Ministers Must Be Lifelong Learners
“Recognize areas where you need to grow and look down the road to where God is calling you. You can not minister with one foot out the door but you […]
Episode 311: Events That Build Ministry Culture
“You need to create a culture of credibility. Credibility is the currency of leadership.” – Derik Idol “I like to bring in another staff member to have fresh eyes on […]
Episode 310: Perseverance in Light of Disappointment
“We don’t have the choice of whether we walk through disappointment. One thing The Lord has taught me over the years is that its ok to feel disappointed but it’s […]
Episode 309: Discipling Parents, Is It Your Job?
“A great way to grow student ministry is to serve parents well because they will talk to other parents and tell them to get their students there.” – Chad Higgins […]
Episode 308: Closing the Gap on Parent Ministry
“If we can help parents grow, read their Bibles, pray, and get connected with a small group. When Jesus Christ transforms their hearts there will be a natural outflow of […]
Episode 307: Learning to Lead as a Disciple of Jesus
“As a follower of Jesus our influence is granted to us and we are called to be a steward of it .” – Brent Crowe “We were created for influence. […]
Episode 306: Do Events Really Matter
“My job is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. If God has called me to pastor high school students in this season then he has called […]
Episode 305: The Value of Separate Student Worship
“True worship is discipleship among the believers in the room and evangelistic among those who are not yet believers.” – Brett Perkins “The student pastor is the biggest influencer of […]
Episode 304: Small Groups with Big Impact
“If discipleship is the most important part of your ministry, then how is your ministry structured to support that statement?” – Justin Knowles “Vision casting and training leaders must be […]
Episode 303:Are They Really Paying Attention to Your Sermon?
“Preaching is an avenue that helps students unpack the amazing gift of the Gospel.” – Nick Person “Be who you are and use the tools God gave you when you […]
Episode 302: Handling Criticism in Ministry Leadership
“Friends in ministry helps to absorb criticism. We need friends who share the same context as us and can relate to us.” – Ben Trueblood “The challenge in dealing with […]
Episode 301: Give Away Your Social Strategy
“We need to use social media to capture, highlight, and showcase the glory of God.” – RJ McCauley “We want people to see God working and moving in students lives, […]
Episode 300: Managing Expectations in Your Role
“Frustration happens with a lack of clarity. The best thing to do is to seek guidance from your leaders.” – Anthony Vargas “The best way to lead up and to […]
Episode 299: Anxiety and Our Everyday Opportunity
“We need to fight our anxiety on a daily basis. Being intentional with our walk through the Word and prayer is crucial to fighting every day.” – Scarlet Hiltibidal “Community […]
Episode 298: Caring for Gen Z in a Post Pandemic World
“Social media is this thing in their lives that is necessary but insufficient. They can’t imagine a world without it but realize that it is not enough and need in-person […]
Episode 297: A Conversation About Ministry and Mental Health | Subtitle: A LAUNCH Recap
“Jesus healed people and met a lot of needs, but he didn’t meet every need. There were moments when he walked away from them to spend time with a smaller […]
Episode 296: What Volunteering Taught Me About Ministry
“Giving our volunteers time to talk with me and other volunteers has been one the biggest blessings in our ministry. They talk about life, give advice, help each other out, […]
Episode 295: A Volunteers Perspective
“You have to know your volunteers and what their gifts and talents are. Students get to see adults use their gifts for the Kingdom. ” – Y Bonesteele “Volunteers need […]
Episode 294: Helping New Students Transition Into Your Ministry
“We need to meet students where they are in terms of energy. Make it a more gradual transition.” – Kristen Lascola “Take time to meet new students who will be […]
Episode 293: Healthy Ministry Habits Part 4: Saying No
“When you say yes and have to retract, it hurts everyone.” – Zac Workun “The inability to say no is a relationship problem. We often think of it as a […]
Episode 292: Elements of Healthy Ministry Life: Part 3 Rest
“We don’t rest well when we don’t work well.” – Zac Workun “There is a difference between work and worry and until we figure that out we are searching for […]
Episode 291: Elements of Healthy Ministry Life: Part 2 Friends
“Friendships take time, effort, and even risk, to become a close friendship that lasts.” – Zac Workun “Finding people who have walked through similar situations, can offer advice, have fun […]
Episode 290: Elements of Healthy Ministry Life: Part 1 Family
“Ministry family is a crucial part of being a healthy minister.” Zac Workun “Having a ministry family brings a kind understanding with each other by linking arms in the kind […]
Episode 289: Maintaining Summer Energy
“Camp is a place where they can disconnect from the noise the world puts in front of them and they can slow down enough to sense God’s grace in their […]
Episode 288: The Value of a Ministry Mentor
“It is important to surround yourself with those who are better at you in your areas of strength and you want to spend a lot of time around those who […]
Episode 287: Finding Friendships in Ministry
“You need true, meaningful friendships to make it through ministry.” – Zac Workun “Busyness is the enemy of transparency, you need to take time for true friendships.” – Zac Workun […]
Episode 286: Don’t Believe Your Eyes
“Everyone is asking the question, ‘am I loved?’ and that is what the point of this whole book is. ” – Brock Gill “The greatest thing in the world is […]
Episode 285: Fall Small Group Panel Discussion
“Sitting down with parents at the end of the year and letting them know where they have grown and where they still have areas to grow in spiritually get parents […]
Episode 284: Raising Next-Generation Disciplers
“Start with prayer and fasting, and cast vision clearly and strategically. ” – Justin Hall “Disciple parents so that they can disciple their students.”- Justin Hall Justin Hall serves as […]
Episode 283: 3 Ways Parents are Your Greatest Asset
“With some intentionality, having parents around all the time doesn’t just mean the church but around in the community and to invest in other parents.” – Ben Trueblood About Ben […]
Episode 282: Avoiding Volunteer Leader Burnout
“It’s a powerful thing when you can empower someone and give them ownership because then they are involved and bought in because they have a stake in it.” – Brain […]
Episode 281: Making the Most of Your Bible Study
“When you look at the overall picture of a curriculum, and that application is not driving your student to understand scripture and apply scripture in a practical way in their […]
Episode 280: Your First 100 Days
“You cant play the short game in student ministry” – Jeff Borton “You can’t just think just a few weeks ahead and not think about what are we going to […]
Episode 279: Engaging Parents in Home Discipleship
“I wonder what would have shifted if I would have equipped my volunteers to shepherd students and I focused on volunteers and the parents.” – Daniel Im Daniel Im is […]
Episode 278: Staying Faithful During Ministry Job Loss
“So much of who I was as an individual was wrapped up in the ministry. In these seven months, I was able to pull back and say I don’t have […]
Episode 277: The Art of Disagreeing
A rule of thumb is to never devalue someone just to make your point. The moment I devalue another human being, I am not firmly planted in biblical conviction, – Brent […]
Episode 276: The Significance of Grad Season
We need to change the way we do student ministry for our seniors than what we do for our juniors. We need to engage them. – Brian Mills Help prepare seniors for […]
Episode 275: Gen Z and Next Steps
Join Ben and the podcast crew as they talk with Allison Yandell of Feed. an initiative of OneHope, and Andrew Prescott, youth pastor at Oaks Church in Red Oak TX, […]
Episode 274: Gospel Care and Discipleship
Join Ben and the podcast crew as they talk with Jaslyn Dixon, Gospel Care Director at Reality Church LA. Jaslyn talks about her passion for providing Gospel Care to everyone […]
Episode 273: Collaboration over Competition
Join Ben and the podcast crew as they talk with Chris Cox, Youth and Young Adult Pastor at C3 church in Hampton Virginia. Chris talks about how connecting with other […]
Episode 272: Challenging a Generation to Rise Up with Mike Taylor
Join Ben and the podcast crew as they talk with Mike Taylor, Executive Director of UK-USA Ministries, about how to challenge a generation to make disciples and spread the Gospel. […]
Episode 271: Connecting Students to Counseling with Jason Gibson
Join Ben and the podcast crew as they talk with Jason Gibson, leading US Counselor and director of the Babb Center for Counseling, about how to connect students to counseling. […]
Episode 270: The Impact of Local Ministry Partnerships with Yasmine Woods
Join Ben and the podcast crew as they talk with Yasmine Williams Woods about how partnering with local organizations can have an incredible impact on your ministry and can help […]
Episode 269: Leading an Intentionally Diverse Ministry with Chris Bacon
Join Ben and the podcast crew as they talk with Chris Bacon, Lead Student Pastor at First Baptist Orlando, about how to intentionally lead a diverse student ministry. Creating a […]
Episode 268: What’s Next for the Podcast
Join Ben as he talks about whats next for the podcast! The Student Ministry Podcast by Lifeway (name change!) now posts on Tuesdays instead of Thursdays! This week’s episode charts […]
Episode 267: Team Building Insight with Pat Williams
Join Ben as he talks with Pat Williams, NBA Hall of Famer, and author, as they discuss what it takes to build a team. Pat Williams has led many teams […]
Episode 266: The Secret To Successful Campus Ministry
Join Ben as he talks with Jose Rodriguez, founder, and CEO of Rescue a Generation Inc. as they talk about what it takes to reach a school campus and how […]
Episode 265: Becoming Everyone’s Favorite Teammate
Join Ben as he talks about how to become everyone’s favorite teammate. Student Pastors serve in a unique role where they lead a team and serve on a team as […]
Episode 264: Year In Review
Join Ben and Zac Workun as they take a reflective look back at 2020 and remember some of the most meaningful lessons they learned. Show Notes and Quotes: What were […]
Episode 263: Student Ministry Reindeer
Join Ben and John Paul as they talk about different kinds of students in your ministry and how they are like some of the reindeer. Show Notes and Quotes: When […]
Episode 262: Keeping a Missions Mindset
How do you keep the Great Commission at the forefront of your ministry when you can’t go? Dave MacNeill, Manager of Student Partnerships and Ministry for Operation Christmas Child, and […]
Episode 261: Foundations For Student Ministry
Join Ben and John Paul as they talk with Wil Moore, Global Student Pastor at Long Hollow Baptist in Nashville, TN. about Foundations for student ministry and how their discipleship […]
Episode 260: Like It or Spike It: Thanksgiving Edition
Join Ben, John Paul, and Zac Workun on this fun Thanksgiving episode of Like It or Spike It as they like or spike everything from cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, to […]
Episode 259: Sexual Purity and Student Ministry
Join Ben and John Paul as they talk with William Cumby, Minister of Youth at Fountain of Praise in Houston TX, as they talk about sexual purity and student ministry. […]
Episode 258: Teenagers, Love, Sex, Gender, and Relationships Part IV: Your Role
Join Ben and John Paul as they talk with Dr. Sean McDowell about teenagers, love, sex, gender, and relationships and Dr. McDowell’s new book and study, Chasing Love. Show Notes […]
EP 257: Teenagers, Love, Sex, Gender, and Relationships Part 3: Partnering With Parents
Join Ben and John Paul as they talk with Dr. Sean McDowell about teenagers, love, sex, gender, and relationships and Dr. McDowell’s new book and study, Chasing Love. Show Notes […]
EP 256: Teenagers, Love, Sex, Gender, and Relationships Part 2: Equipping Yourself
Join Ben and John Paul as they talk with Dr. Sean McDowell about teenagers, love, sex, gender, and relationships and Dr. McDowell’s new book and study, Chasing Love. Show Notes […]
EP 255: Teenagers, Love, Sex, Gender, and Relationships Part I
Join Ben and John Paul as they talk with Dr. Sean McDowell about teenagers, love, sex, gender, and relationships and Dr. McDowell’s new book and study, Chasing Love. Show Notes […]
Episode 254: Every Pastor Needs a Pastor
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk about the importance of finding someone to mentor you, hold you accountable, and point you closer to Christ along your journey in […]
Episode 253: Trick or Treats of Student Ministry
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk about the trick or treats of student ministry. Join them for a fun episode discussing things they have been tricked into doing […]
Episode 252: Lessons Learned the Hard Way
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk about the posture and attitude one should have when faced with challenges and setbacks. Everyone has lessons to learn and sometimes you […]
Episode 251: Discipleship Through Guys Ministry
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk about what discipleship looks like in the context of guys ministry. Join them as they discuss several ways in which you can […]
Episode 250: The Value of Events in Discipleship
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk with Amanda Mejias, Lifeway Girls brand specialist, about how events can add value into your discipleship strategy. Show Notes and Quotes: Planning […]
Episode 249: Maintaining Consistency in the Midst of Uncertainty
In this episode, Ben and John Paul discuss how to maintain consistency in the midst of uncertainty. Show Notes and Quotes: Prioritizing a wise discipleship plan helps maintain consistency and […]
Episode 248: 3 Current Cultural Trends
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk about three current cultural trends that students are facing right now. Show Notes and Quotes: Being able to talk about current cultural […]
Episode 247: How to Make Online Discipleship a Success
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk with SouzyLive, Twitch Streamer, and Pastor at God Squad Chruch, about how to make online discipleship groups a success. SouzyLive has been […]
Episode 246: Leading in a unique and everchanging environment
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk with Jason Gaston, Family Pastor at The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, about how to lead in an everchanging environment. Show […]
Episode 245: Better than Life: How to Study the Bible and Like it
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk with Caroline Saunders, author of Better than Life, How to Study the Bible and Like it, a new Bible study for teen […]
Episode 244: 7 Ways to Kill Your Credibility
In this episode, Ben and John Paul discuss 7 ways to kill your credibility. More than likely you have never tried to kill your credibility but not taking these seven […]
Episode 243: Knowing When to Quit or Stay
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk about how to know if you should quit or stay in your current ministry post. Knowing when to quit or stay in […]
Episode 242: How to Manage Expectations
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk about how to manage expectations during difficult seasons. This fall will be filled with many challenges and managing the expectations will be […]
Episode 241: The Continuing Impact of Self Development
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk with LeVar A. Jones, Minister of Youth & Young Adults of The New Macedonia Baptist Church in Southeast Washington, DC, about the […]
Episode 240: The Booster Community Advantage
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk with Cheryl Johnson, student minister at Westview Bible Church in Montreal Canada, about how being a part of the Youth Ministry Booster […]
Episode 239: Making Time for Soul Care
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk with Adam Kuntz, student pastor at Liberty Christian Fellowship in Liberty Missouri, about making time for soul care. Show Notes and Quotes: […]
Episode 238: Continuing the Work: Race and Student Ministry
In this episode, Ben, John Paul, and Julie talk about what they have been learning over the last six weeks and how we must continue the work of race and […]
Episode 237: Student Ministry Hot Seat with Larry Davis
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk about student ministry with Larry Davis. Larry Davis serves as the Student Pastor at The Journey Church in Lebanon, TN. He’s been […]
Episode 236: What it takes to truly reach students who don’t know Christ
In this episode, Ben and Julie talk about what it takes to truly reach students who don’t know Christ. Show Notes and Quotes: When lost students are in your ministry, […]
Episode 235: Dispelling 5 Seemingly Great Ministry Intentions
In this episode, Ben, John Paul, and Julie talk about five ministry intentions that seem great at first but do not always work out as intended. Show Notes and Quotes: […]
Episode 234: Race Conversation in Student Ministry
In this episode, Ben talks with A.C. Sanford about how to have race conversations in student ministry. Show Notes and Quotes: Teenagers in our ministries want and need to talk […]
Episode 233: How to Change a Ministry Culture
In this episode, Ben, John Paul, and Julie talk with Brian Mills, the senior pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Yukon OK, about how to change a ministry culture successfully. […]
Episode 232: Partnering with Parents
In this episode, Ben and John Paul, take a look at the new Parent Partnership resource by Lifeway Students and how student pastors can partner with parents in the discipleship […]
Episode 231: Creating a Truly Relational Student Ministry
In this episode, John Paul, and Julie talk about how to create a truly relational student ministry. Students are longing for relational discipleship, especially in this season more than ever. […]
Episode 230: Avoiding Screen Fatigue: How to Maximize Your Digital Teaching Time
In this episode, Ben, John Paul, and Julie talk about how to avoid virtual fatigue and maximize your digital teaching times. Students spend a large amount of time in a […]
Episode 229: Ministering to Volunteers
In this episode, Ben, John Paul, and Julie talk about how to minister to volunteers during this season of ministry during Covid-19. Many volunteers may be experiencing a lack of […]
Episode 228: Maintaining a Missional Mindset During Social Distancing
In this episode, Ben, John Paul, and Julie talk about how during this time of social distancing it can be difficult to maintain a missional mindset. The Gospel compels us […]
Episode 227: Serving 12th Graders and Their Families Well
In this episode, Ben, John Paul, and Julie talk about how to serve families of 12th graders well during this season. With the uncertainty of graduations, proms, and many milestones […]
Episode 226: 10 Games You Can Play Online to Build Community
In this episode, Like It or Spike It, Ben, John Paul, and Julie discuss which games you can play online to help build community with your students. Show Notes and […]
Episode 225: Parent Ministry During a Pandemic
In this episode, Ben, John Paul, and Julie talk about parent ministry during a pandemic. Show Notes and Quotes: Parent ministry may look different than it did a few weeks […]
Episode 224: Unprecedented Circumstances Require Unprecedented Leadership
In this episode, Ben talks with Zac Workun about the unprecedented times that we are facing right now. The landscape of student ministry has changed drastically in the past two […]
Episode 223: Faith in an Anxious World
In this episode, Ben, John Paul, and Julie talk with Kara Powell of the Fuller Youth Institute about the rise of anxiety among students. You can find more information and […]
Episode 222: Responding in a Time of Crisis
In this episode, Ben, John Paul, and Julie talk about how to respond in a time of crisis. Show Notes and Quotes: Showing and modeling how to respond to a […]
Episode 221: How to Create Culture
In this episode, Ben, John Paul, and Julie talk about the importance of taking time to plan and be intentional about the culture that you create. Show Notes and Quotes: […]
Episode 220: Habits of Highly Effective Leaders
In this episode, Ben, John Paul, and Julie talk about the habits of highly effective leaders and give three action steps that leaders can take today to improve their effectiveness. […]
Episode 219: Calling Students Up and Not Out
In this episode, Ben, John Paul, and Julie talk with Ryan McDermott about calling students up and not out. This may seem like a subtle difference at first but has […]
Episode 218: Challenging a Generation to Greatness
In this episode, Ben, John Paul, and Julie talk about how to challenge a generation to greatness. Gen Z students are longing to get involved with a cause, make a […]
Episode 217: Counseling is for Everyone
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk with Katie Wylie about how vital counseling can be to ministry and life. Ben Trueblood Ben serves as the Director of […]
Episode 216: 6 Key Leadership Competencies
In this episode, John Paul talks with producer Nathan about six key leadership competencies that ministry leaders need in order to be better leaders. Click the link below to download […]
Episode 215: Completing Difficult Tasks
In this episode, Ben, John Paul, and Julie talk about how to complete difficult tasks, revisit unfinished tasks, and how to prioritize the tasks that need to be accomplished in […]
Episode 214: Creating a Family Mission Statement
In this episode, Ben, John Paul, and Julie Plunk talk about creating a family mission statement and how it can impact families. Ben Trueblood Ben serves as the Director […]
Episode 213: Equipping Parents: Engaging Spiritually
In this episode, Ben and John Paul alongside Andy McLean talk about how to equip parents to engage spiritually with their children. Ben Trueblood Ben serves as the Director […]
Episode 212: The Vault: Most Listened to Podcast of 2019
In this episode of the winter edition of Like It or Spike It, Ben and John Paul decide what fun winter traditions they want to keep and which ones they […]
Episode 211: Like It or Spike It
In this episode of the winter edition of Like It or Spike It, Ben and John Paul decide what fun winter traditions they want to keep and which ones they […]
Episode 210: Pray Like Jesus
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk with Jeff Belcher about his Bible Study, Pray Like Jesus, and about what Jeff learned while writing the study. Ben Trueblood […]
Episode 209: Black Friday Student Ministry
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk about Black Friday and how it relates to student ministry. Black Friday is all about big items at huge discounts, but what […]
Episode 208: Leftover Thanksgiving Games
In this episode, Ben and John Paul talk about their favorite leftover Thanksgiving foods and what student ministry games could be played with all of the leftovers. Ben Trueblood […]