Youth Worker On Fire Podcast

Hurricanes, murder, betrayal, and acceptance. It’s all in this interview! Pepe's story will inspire you to keep moving forward even in the worst of moments. Pepe Mesa was born in Cuba then family left and moved to Miami. He became a Campus Life Director in Miami Youth For Christ under great leadership Jim Green and later Andy McDaniel. Pepe was my room mate in intern School at Wheaton College in Illinois. We served separately in Campus Life. Pepe in Miami and me in Orlando.

B.U.R.N. UP! BELIEVE UNDERSTAND RECONCILE NURTURE! When others burn out and quit, you can keep running. That’s what my book is about. How to never give up until you have finished running, walking or climbing... maybe even crawling the race that God has designed for You and Only You to do according to Ephesians 2:10. Order this book on Amazon or Kindle today if you are working with teenagers or have a teenager in your life or have been a teenager. Its a must have for raising or understanding teenagers and those who work with them or who are them.

The Imposter Syndrome plagues many people through out the world and through out time and history. These answers will help people get beyond their fears of being found out when in reality they are even more than they think they are in their area of expertise and experience. Others have made it through to success by doing some of these action points listed in this episode. I did not know for many years what I had been fighting all my life until someone put a label on it, The Imposter Syndrome. Now we know. Now we have no reason to hold back knowing that our feelings of this syndrome are a lie. Is facing it daily still difficult? Yes!!! But now you and I can face the once unknown enemy. Its time to succeed and be who you were meant to be. Lets get to it! Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 3:20.

Just when you feel you are in a good position, good job, or anything that you have prepared well for in life... it hit's you. I don't belong here! How about when you are in a place where you're getting paid well or acknowledged, but you feel like you're an imposter and someone is going to find out you are not all they think you are. That's the imposter syndrome!

Isolation? Now? This problem is WORLD WIDE...this is Crazy! So...What's happening in your world and mine? What Comfort is there for us? What does God have to say about this through the ancient writings of the Old Testament and New Testament authors? That's what I will talk about here. Peace, Hope, Love. "Be Strong and Courageous..."

Rachel unknowingly launched a life long non-profit business (GlamourGals)as a junior in high school. She is an NYC resident, a mom of 2 young children, and wife. She and her husband navigate life in the city together. She has almost 1,500 volunteers in 18 states. This our 2nd interview, but we are releasing this one 1st. Is it possible that you might see the Super Hero in her that I see? Find out and maybe let her know as well! GlamourGals SUPER G.R.D. with D.E.

Lenita Is from Sydney, Australia and founder of Youth Biz. As a Former school teacher, she became a youth minister, a personal coach to students, parents and other youth leaders. She’s a kick boxer, author, and has a world wide coaching and speaking business. She projects and teaches key ideas to build up students which you can watch on Instagram, Facebook and other social media groups.

Secrets are intriguing and draw us in. Especially when someone says to us quietly, "Do you want to hear a secret?" The more time we spend alone with God, the more intimate our relationship with Him becomes. When we spend time with God, He knows He can trust us with His secrets and mysteries. If anyone needs to hear God’s secrets to life, it is youth pastors, youth workers and volunteers. Jesus revealed these secrets and mysteries to his closest disciples, because He knew they would use these revelations to further the kingdom. God trusted Joseph and Daniel to interpret mysteries within dreams, because of their relationship with Him. He had a plan for their lives and He has a specific plan for yours. Wanna hear a secret? Listen to this episode.

Adventure is a byproduct of student ministry and in this interview with Chase Allen there’s no exception to that rule. From student ministry intern to veteran Youth pastor, Chase and his wife Taylor mean business. They’ve been in a cage facing sharks and praying down the tsunami in the Pacific ocean. This life is a unique adventure because God wants us to have more than we could imagine or ask for. Ephesians 3:20

Prayer is a conversation between you, or me, and God. This is my journey with my family and friends over the last 3 years to present. Seems like you are praying but some people are getting "Yes" answers to their prayers while your prayers seem to be getting no response. How are people getting yes answers? Mark Batterson pastor in Washington, DC who wrote the book Draw The Circle ( The 40 Day Prayer Challenge ) says his batting average in prayer is no better than yours. He just asks for more, more often. A.S.K. = "Ask...Seek...Knock..." Those are Jesus Christ's words not mine. These are my personal encounters. If you choose to listen I pray it will bring the answer you are looking for.

Looking at life events that brought me to a career in student ministry. How I ended up in student ministry. Looking at life events that brought me to a career in student ministry. The best things sometimes come in from your blind side. That’s what happened to me. I had a music career finally taking off and life changed. I moved to Orlando, FL. after being hired by Youth For Christ to help develop Campus Life programs in Central Florida. YFC has to train me over the next few years and rehear the way I think about many things in ministry and a career ministry as born.

While coming out of a media class room where I produce this podcast and video at a public school, I hear this voice, "Doug Edwards is that you?" I replied yes to turn around and See Breah Croak who is now married and is Breah Hooper. We reminisced and she graciously accepted to come to class the next day at her free period, she is a teacher, to record this episode. Breah has 2 adolescent children now and has taught at the school for 2 years and I had never seen her until that day. Breah's story is a great example of why longevity in a community in student ministry makes a major impact. Breah has always had a kindness about her but she has a spirit of adventure and a drivenness to make a difference in this world. You won't believe what this high schooler did in high school to change the parts of the world she could change to make the world a better place at the sacrifice of her own comfort and safety while she was in high school. To this day she and her family are making a difference. This episode will tell th

He played football for the University Florida Gators for a year then played for Bobby Bowden with the FSU Seminoles for his remaining college under grad years. He has worked with telemedicine and been an investment banker. He to this day works out like a body builder and yet he still had a fight with cancer but he's back working out again. He serves God through working with a non-profit christian foundation. In all these things He gives credit for his success to his Lord, Jesus Christ and secondly to his family who have been his biggest cheerleaders his entire life. Find out how his worst and best times in life can encourage you to keep moving forward no matter your adversity.

Jessica Hurley is from St. Augustine, Florida. She had a very bad mentor to make her loose and a Great Mentor that turned her life around radically, but it wasn't easy. It took a lot of time and years to keep Jessica believing she was worth more than she could ever believe.  She had been arrested multiple times as a teen because of the influence of a cousin. She now has her Masters Degree and helped run AMIKids in Tampa, Florida. She is a podcaster and podcast developer for others. She was designed by family never to go to college. Her mentor stuck by her for more than 4 years and made college a reality for Jessica.  To Youth Pastors. We talk about her encounter with the church. Jessica, a non-churched teen that felt like an alien and an outcast when she went to church with friends. It took Young Life and direct encounters from God to help her, because the church often gets in its own way when it comes to the unchurched. This episode is an incredible guide and gift on how to actually help those who have no cl

I met Clean Ears Podcast Co-Hosts Simone Brown and Seretha Collins at Podfest 2018 Orlando, Florida along with their Program Director Courtney Pledger. They were gracious enough to give me an hour of their busy schedule at this incredible conference to tell me their story. one of them was born and still lives in Atlanta. One grew up in California with a few years in OKC, Oklahoma on her way to a life in Atlanta. One of them grew up in Jamaica before her move to Atlanta and was in a music carrier before developing together the Clean Ears Podcast in Atlanta. They call themselves The Collective. Their Editor who I have not personally met is Darryl and their Co-Editor is LeighAnn.  In this episode we talk about the affects of their adolescence on their future, their spiritual growth, student ministry, music ministry, why they do what they do, how they find all of these known and unknown Christian Hip Hop and Rap Artist, such as Lecrae. We have a lot of fun. we laugh a lot and we talk about food. Yes food. Jesus d

Maury Buchanan, Founder of Mission Discovery, speaks to youth pastors about how student missions helps build their students spiritual growth. You will hear about one student mission trip that was a surprise encounter for a student artist engaging with a local community.  Maury grew up the son of a war hero who was a POW. He tells about how God lead Him to salvation in college and about how long it took to start and continue healing from the emotional pain of family conflict in his life. You will then hear how his wife, Ann, led his father to a relationship with Christ Jesus. I asked him if he had had any angel experiences and he had. He shares that experience in this episode. He tells about the life journey that led him to start Mission Discovery and the mentors that taught him how to build a short term student mission nonprofit. Maury took his 1st sabbatical 2 years ago because his board members told him to. We look at the effect of long term rest and his hike through Spain with a little help from his friend

Sam Collier was on the Steve Harvey Show because his twin sister asked Steve to help find their biological mother. Now a speaking pastor at North Point Church where Andy Stanley is the lead pastor in Atlanta, Ga. Sam's new book is called Find Your Voice. It is a book written for teens and young adults about influence and leadership. But there is MORE as Doug Edwards asks questions that allows Sam to talk about how "His Story and God's Story together Create a Greater Story."

Darryl Perry, spent 24 days in heaven. Sudden death syndrome. No rhyme or reason as to why. He died four times and was revived. His wife and children wanted him back on earth and so did God. After 24 days in a coma, against doctors beliefs, he is back and he even rides a bicycle but he's also on a mission. He's a former University of Florida Gator football fullback who blocked for his best friend Emmett Smith. Today both of their sons play football for the Florida Gators. Kevin Laczko is a former Florida Gator football player who is also a friend of mine and a friend of Darryl's. Listen as he helps Darryl tell his story as his physical trainer at Kevin's gym, Journey Fitness in Longwood, Florida. I am thankful and amazed at the story and excited to share it with you. Check out Darryl's website at DarrylTheMiracleManPerry.org

Nicole Keene Dean is a woman of great surprises. She came with a friend to the student ministry where I was pastor. And after about a year I get a phone call and Nicole says excitedly, "I got it! I got it!" To which I said, "Got what?" Listen and find out. Valedictorian, Honors Graduate University of Florida. Surprise, Nicole became a 2 time missionary to Amsterdam. She became a volunteer in our ministry. And the story goes MUCH Bigger! You are going to LOVE this interview! It's PACKED with VALUE FOR YOUTH PASTORS and amazing to everyone else. Listen NOW!!!

Finding volunteers to help out with your youth program can be a challenge. Often you inherit existing volunteers when you start working with a new organization. Sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes it's not. But the important aspect of using volunteers to their full potential is to make sure they're in the right place. If they don't want to work with a certain age group then find another area for them to utilize their skills where they'll be happier. Listen now as Doug Edwards shares his experience finding the right volunteers.