Youth Ministry For The Longer Haul Podcast

Want to be in your ministry for a long time?  You'll need to know this. In every Youth Ministry there are certain seasons that can be expected.  Knowing what these are and being prepared for them when they come can make or break you.  If you are not prepared for these when they come; you will find yourself looking for greener pastures quickly. Regardless of whether you are new to Youth Ministry or a Youth Ministry veteran, you'll benefit from knowing these six seasons in your ministry. Links mentioned: Why Youth Pastors leave around the 2-3 year mark 3 Reasons You Should Stay in Your Current Youth Ministry Position TLH006: Crafting Vision For Your Ministry Resources mentioned in this Podcast: The Ministry of Nurture (How to build real-life faith into your kids) Raising the Bar: Ministry to Youth in the New Millennium In this particular episode, you will learn: What the key seasons are in your ministry so you can be prepared What to look for and how to survive difficult points in ministry When you ca

Balancing family and Youth Ministry is an impossible task.  Today my guest is my amazing wife Sarah Livingston.  We give you an honest inside look at how we manage our family and Youth Ministry.  We share what works...what hasn't always, and give you some practical advice on making it all work. Links mentioned: Dear Youth Pastor, Stop Fighting For Balance The Key to REAL Influence In Youth Ministry @sarahlivingston https://instagram.com/livingladydesigns Resources mentioned in this Podcast: Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try-Hard Life Graceful (For Young Women): Letting Go of Your Try-Hard Life In this particular episode, you will learn: How we manage our family and Youth Ministry Helpful advice for making it all work The challenges we face in our family and ministry Show Sponsor: Audible.com - Free 30 trial and your choice of a free book.   Support the Show

Having a team around you is SO IMPORTANT.  Those Youth Leaders that serve alongside you have things that they need from their Youth Pastor.  What are they?  Matthew Hart shares from his years of Youth Ministry experience to help you invest well in your Youth Leaders and learn what Youth Leaders need from Youth Pastors. Links mentioned: When You Want To Stay and Can't (part 1) When You Want To Stay and Can't (part 2) Communicating with Parents (and what your biggest problem probably is) Communicating with Parents (6 FREE ways to do it more effectively) @RidingPastor Resources mentioned in this Podcast: Youth Ministry Tracker App Slack.com Anonymous: Jesus' hidden years...and yours Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry: A Personal and Practical Guide to Starting Right Refuel: An Uncomplicated Guide to Connecting with God In this particular episode, you will learn: What Youth Leaders expect from Youth Pastors How to build community among your Youth Leaders How to defend your call to Youth Ministry bibli

It is crucial that we prepare the students in our Youth Ministry to defend their faith.  Where do you start?  What are the most important issues?  Dr. Jamie Dew gives practical advice to make sure your students' faith doesn't get washed away when they leave your ministry.  Put on your thinking caps, in this episode we're taking you to school...and it is SO good. Links mentioned: Southeastern Seminary The College at Southeastern @JamieDew Resources mentioned in this Podcast: Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith New Dictionary of Christian Apologetics In this particular episode, you will learn: Why teaching apologetics is important Where to start with apologetics The major issues most students struggle with Show Sponsor: Audible.com - Free 30 trial and your choice of a free book. Please take a few minutes to subscribe and write a review on iTunes. Support the Show

Should you focus on teaching doctrine and theology in Youth Ministry?  In this episode David Hanson, from TheYouthMinistryBlog.com, and I tackle why you should, how to go about it, and where to start.  You'll also hear about David's fascination with pulling teeth on mission trips and how God used a Chemistry class to call him to Youth Ministry. Links mentioned: TheYouthMinistryBlog.com @YMinBlog @DavidHanson1 thelongerhaul.com/itunes Resources mentioned in this Podcast: Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine Willmington's Guide to the Bible 30th Anniversary Edition In this particular episode, you will learn: Why Jody could never be a dentist, and how David almost was Why teaching theology in Youth Ministry is important Where to start and some practical helps with teaching theology in Youth Ministry Show Sponsor: Audible.com - Free 30 trial and your choice of a

While it may sound a little wrong, or even feel a little funny to say, there is a real need to market your Youth Ministry to students.  With so many options and so little time, how do you effectively market your ministry to students?  That's what Amber Cassady from Simply Youth Ministry and Group Mission Trips tackles in this episode of the podcast.  This episode is packed with helpful tips, practical (and many free) tools, and encouragement to be able to market your ministry effectively. Click Here to Download The Top 5 Tools I Use To Manage My Youth Ministry Links mentioned: SimplyYouthMinistry.com GroupMissionTrips.com Simply Youth Ministry on Instagram @youthministry @groupmissions acassady@group.com thelongerhaul.com/itunes Resources mentioned in this Podcast: Instagram Canva.com CreationSwap.com Schedugr.am Meet Edgar Hootsuite BufferApp Tweriod Unsplash.com NoMoreClipArt.com Simply Youth Ministry Tools Simply Youth Ministry Communicate Rode smartLav+ Lavalier Microphone for iPhone and Smartphones Joby

In this episode you'll hear from Aaron Helman of SmarterYouthMinistry.com.  We talk about how students in our ministries are overworked, under-slept, and overstressed more than ever before.  We tackle the approach we normally take to addressing this issue, and how it is wrong, along with what we should be doing. Links mentioned: SmarterYouthMinistry.com The one-sentence mantra that could change your youth ministry forever @aaronhelman Resources mentioned in this Podcast: The Essential Time Management Course For Youth Workers Play It Away: A Workaholic's Cure for Anxiety by Charlie Hoehn Leading On Empty by Wayne Cordeiro In this particular episode, you will learn: How to approach the issue of business in students How to talk with parents about the business of their families How to deal with students who aren't present at Youth Events more effectively Support the Show

In this episode you'll hear from Steve Parr, author of The Coffee Shop That Changed A Church, among other books.  Steve shares about his recent research on why those that stay in church after graduating from the Youth Ministry, stay in church rather than stray from their faith. This may be the most important content I have shared to date in any format.  Whether you are a Youth Pastor, Youth Worker, Parent, or other staff member, you will find this episode SUPER helpful and informative.  It is packed with great actionable items that are backed with credible research. Links mentioned: 6 Benchmarks in Your Youth Ministry Why Youth Pastors Leave Around the 2-3 Year Mark 3 Reasons You Should Stay In Your Current Ministry Position 5 Reasons You Struggle To Get Along With Your Pastor SteveParr.net @SteveRParr Resources mentioned in this Podcast: How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie The Coffee Shop That Changed A Church by Steve Parr In this particular episode, you will learn: Major factors th

In this episode you'll hear from Nate Turner of Creative Grid Partners.  Nate walks us through the process needed to craft a realistic and powerful vision for your Youth Ministry.  This is a must listen.... Links mentioned: 5 Characteristics We Want In Our Students Setting Goals In Your Ministry creativegridpartners.com @NateJTurner Resources mentioned in this Podcast: Sustainable Youth Ministry byMark Devries Advanced Strategic Planning by Aubrey Malphurs In this particular episode, you will learn: The difference between "Mission" and "Vision" The process for finding and creating a vision in your youth ministry How to set realistic goals in your ministry HOW TO GET A FREE 1 HOUR CONSULT ON CRAFTING YOUR OWN VISION (deadline March 31, 2015) Mission > Values > Vision > Strategy > Goals Support the Show

In this episode you'll hear part 2 of the interview with Author and Professional Counselor Joy Anisa.  Joy shares what things Youth Pastors and Youth Workers must do and must consider when dealing with a hurting student, as well as a little about her life and her book. Links mentioned: swoutfitters.com joyanisa.com Identity Crisis by Joy Anisa Four People Every Youth Ministry Should Know Resources mentioned in this Podcast: Faithful and True Ministries Identity Crisis by Joy Anisa In this particular episode, you will learn: Why labels given to you aren't necessarily bad How to help students who are in a mess How God uses the difficult and painful for His glory Support the Show

In this episode you'll hear from Author and Professional Counselor Joy Anisa.  Joy shares what she is seeing in teens from counseling thousands of teens and hundreds of Youth Pastors each year.  This is part one of a two-part interview with Joy. Links mentioned: swoutfitters.com joyanisa.com Resources mentioned in this Podcast: Faithful and True Ministries In this particular episode, you will learn: The number one issue Joy is seeing in teens right now How to help students who are in a mess How to attack purity so that it has a lasting influence in the lives of teens Support the Show

In this episode you'll hear from David LeRoy a Youth Pastor who is just over one year into his first ministry position.  He shares Youth Ministry lessons learned this far, advice for other new Youth Pastors, and some great advice for Veteran Youth Pastors as well.  He also shares a major change he made in his ministry (one he did without getting fired by the way...always a good thing), and the importance of calling. Links mentioned: wpcyouthgroup.com Resources mentioned in this Podcast: Giving Up The Gimmick by Brian H. Cosby In this particular episode, you will learn: Does calling really matter after-all? Help to start out right in a new ministry. The number one thing I tell those wanting to be a Youth Pastor. Support the Show

In this episode you'll hear from Kurt Libby, co-creator of the Youth Ministry Tracker App.  He shares his journey into Youth Ministry, why he built the app, how it works, and how it will help your Youth Ministry. Congratulations to Terry Huey on winning the free download of the Youth Ministry Tracker App! Links: Youth Ministry Tracker App YouthMinistryTracker.com slack.com trello.com @misterlib @MinHubApp Resources mentioned in this Podcast: Youth Ministry Tracker App for iOS Slack for helping you manage your team. Trello for managing to-dos and tasks with your team.   In this particular episode, you will learn: How Kurt went about building and creating an app How to be more effective in following up and connecting with students HOW TO WIN A FREE COPY OF THE APP! Support the Show

In this episode you'll hear my personal journey into Youth Ministry, the best advice I have ever received in regards to ministry calling, and what to expect from future episodes of the podcast.  You'll also hear a little of why The Longer Haul exists and why I'm launching the podcast. Links: The #1 Thing I Tell Those Who Want To Be A Youth Pastor How I got here and why I stay Items mentioned in this Podcast Asthma Camp (yeah, for real, there really is an Asthma Camp. The power of persistence and prayer in students. In this particular episode, you will learn: More about (me) Jody Livingston and why I'm in Youth Ministry Why The Longer Haul exists What is coming next... Support the Show