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Youth Ministry Booster

Youth Ministry Booster

Hosted by Youth Ministry Booster

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Episodes

333

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Welcome to the Youth Ministry Booster podcast! The most honest and hilarious podcast in student ministry. Hosted by Zac Workun and Chad Higgins. We are the biggest fans of youth ministry leaders like you! We are here for you with the humor and the help to engage, entertain, equip, and encourage. Youth ministry is better together. Learn more @ http://www.youthministrybooster.com

Listen to episodes

60 recent
August 13, 2026Episode 37935 min

Small Groups for a Doomscrolling Generation | Why Students Don't Talk Anymore

Send us Fan MailStudent ministry has always adapted to changing culture.The message never changes.Sometimes the methods need to.In this episode, Zac Workun and Chad Higgins ask an important question:Today's students aren't disengaged...they're simply communicating the way they've been formed to communicate.From AIM away messages and Facebook walls to Snapchat, group chats, Twitch streams, and endless scrolling, every generation learns differently because every generation communicates differently. That reality matters when we gather students into circles and ask them to process the deepest questions of life in real time.Rather than criticizing technology, Zac and Chad explore what youth pastors can learn from it.You'll hear practical ideas for creating healthier discussions, reducing unnecessary social pressure, helping students observe Scripture before performing knowledge, and equipping small group leaders to become guides instead of answer dispensers.The conversation also explores why Twitch and creator culture may actually reveal something hopeful: students still want to learn—they often learn first by watching trusted people model wisdom before stepping into it themselves. That's why one of the greatest opportunities in youth ministry today is inviting students to move beyond consuming content toward creating, teaching, serving, and leading within the life of the church.If you're leading teenagers today, this episode will help you think more carefully about attention, communication, discipleship, and what faithful ministry looks like in a digital age.Episode HighlightsWhy today's communication habits matter for discipleshipThe hidden social pressure inside traditional small groupsAsynchronous communication and why students hesitate to answerPractical discussion techniques that increase participationObservation-first Bible studyWhy co-leaders model wisdom better than lecturesWhat streamer culture teaches us about learningDeveloping student leaders instead of passive spectatorsDiscussion QuestionsHow has technology changed the way your students communicate?What parts of your small group environment create unnecessary pressure?How could you help students ask better questions instead of only giving answers?Where could students move from observing ministry to actually leading it?If this episode encouraged you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another youth pastor or volunteer. Every share helps more ministry leaders find practical, Gospel-centered encouragement for leading the next generation.Support the showJoin the community!

August 6, 2026Episode 37831 min

Time is Pressure In Youth Ministry, Alternate Spiritual Signals

Send us Fan MailTime is limited. Your calling isn't.Camp season leaves most youth pastors physically exhausted, emotionally stretched, and mentally staring at an already-full fall calendar. In this episode of the Youth Ministry Booster Podcast, Zac and Chad  begin with some hilarious camp memories before asking a much more important question:Why do we always feel like we're running out of time?This conversation isn't another productivity episode. We can't help you get more hours in the day. It cannot be done.Instead, it's an honest look beneath the calendar to examine the emotional, mental, and spiritual realities that shape how we lead.We do have practical insights about identifying your biggest time wasters, setting healthy constraints, reusing ministry systems instead of constantly reinventing them, and why technology alone can't solve the deeper issues of procrastination or overwhelm. More importantly, Zac and Chad explore what happens when ministry pressure begins affecting your relationships, your emotions, and your walk with Christ. They discuss fight-flight-freeze responses, protecting your family during busy seasons, inviting trusted friends into your struggles, and recovering the sacred nature of ministry instead of reducing it to a checklist. The challenge at the end is simple:Don't just organize your tasks. Order your day around prayer.Episode HighlightsTransitioning from summer ministry into fallIdentifying obvious and hidden time wastersEscaping perfectionism and unnecessary busyworkSetting constraints that actually create freedomWhy AI doesn't solve internal overwhelmUnderstanding ministry stress through fight, flight, and freezeProtecting your family from ministry spilloverThe importance of trusted friendships in ministryBuilding a prayer-first rhythm for leadershipQuestionsWhat consistently steals the most time in your ministry?Where do you tend to respond with fight, flight, or freeze when ministry pressure increases?What ministry resource could you stop recreating every year?How could prayer become the organizing rhythm of your workday instead of simply opening meetings or events?Subscribe to Youth Ministry Booster for practical conversations that help youth pastors lead healthier ministries and become healthier leaders themselves.Support the showJoin the community!

July 30, 2026Episode 37730 min

How To Build A Sustainable Youth Ministry w/ Dr. Jody Dean

Send us Fan MailWhat if the biggest threat to your youth ministry isn't a lack of volunteers, budget, or attendance... but your own exhaustion?In this episode of the Youth Ministry Booster Podcast, Zac Workun sits down with Dr. Jody Dean (New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary) for an honest conversation about burnout, sustainability, and staying faithful for the long haul. Drawing from decades of ministry, mentoring, and leadership development, Dr. Dean shares practical wisdom for youth pastors who love student ministry but feel like they're running on empty. Together they unpack:Why so many youth pastors quietly wonder if they have "one more year" left.The healthy rhythms and time management practices that prevent burnout.A simple four-season reset framework to replenish your soul before you hit the wall.Why friendship and accountability are essential—not optional—for ministry longevity.How to measure ministry success without becoming enslaved to attendance numbers.The four foundational systems every sustainable youth ministry needs.The warning signs that weariness is becoming burnout.Why faithfulness matters more than chasing ministry success.Whether you're fresh off summer camp, gearing up for another ministry season, or simply feeling tired, this conversation is a timely reminder that God has called you to more than surviving ministry—He has called you to endure with joy.Your labor is not in vain.Support the showJoin the community!

July 23, 2026Episode 37639 min

Youth Ministry Success Means Maturity w/ Dr. Jason Engle

Send us Fan MailWhat if we've been measuring youth ministry by the wrong scoreboard?Attendance matters. Camp decisions matter. Great programming matters. But Jesus didn't commission us to create busy ministries—He commissioned us to make disciples.Recorded live at SBC 2026, Zac Workun sits down with Dr. Jason Engle to explore one of the most important conversations every youth pastor needs to have: What does spiritual maturity actually look like?Drawing from the Great Commission and Colossians 1:28, Jason argues that the true aim of youth ministry isn't simply activity, engagement, or even decisions—it's helping students become mature in Christ.Together we unpack:Why spiritual maturity should become the primary metric for youth ministryHow Paul's prayers reveal a biblical vision for discipleshipThe difference between alignment and attunement in spiritual formationWhy students often open up more side-by-side than face-to-faceHow teaching extends far beyond a sermonWhy fun and theological depth are never enemiesHow to disciple teenagers in an age dominated by distractionPractical ways to cultivate margin, abiding, and spiritual disciplinesWhy students shouldn't graduate dependent on youth ministry—but equipped to pursue Jesus on their ownOne of the most memorable moments comes when Jason shares the story of a student he believed wasn't listening, only to discover years later that God had been working beneath the surface all along.If you've ever wondered whether your ministry is making a lasting difference, this conversation offers both biblical clarity and tremendous encouragement.Key ScripturesMatthew 28:18–20Colossians 1:28–29Ephesians 1:15–23John 15Hebrews 12:1–2Memorable Quotes"The goal isn't students who depend on the ministry. It's students who know how to pursue Christ when the ministry is gone.""You can't microwave spiritual formation.""Spiritual maturity isn't a destination—it's a trajectory.""Students don't just need to hear about abiding. They need to practice abiding."Support the showJoin the community!

July 16, 2026Episode 37529 min

How Youth Ministry Can Help College Students Thrive w/ Paul Worcester

Send us Fan MailWhat if the greatest measure of success in youth ministry isn't getting students to graduation......it's what happens after they leave?Every youth pastor has watched it happen. A student who was faithful all through high school slowly disappears during their first semester of college. Rarely is it one dramatic decision. More often it's loneliness, distraction, isolation, and never learning how to follow Jesus without someone planning their spiritual life.In this episode, Zac Workun sits down with Paul Worcester (North American Mission Board) to explore what college ministry leaders see every fall—and what youth pastors can do before graduation to help students develop a faith that actually lasts.Together they unpack why the first 90 days of college are one of the most important windows in a student's spiritual life, how discipleship must move beyond teaching into training, and why smaller discipleship groups may be one of the missing pieces in modern youth ministry.📘Paul also introduces Thrive, a new Bible study designed to help students navigate the transition from high school to college with a gospel-centered identity and sustainable spiritual habits.If you want your graduates to leave your ministry prepared—not just inspired—this conversation is for you.In This EpisodeWhy the first 90 days of college often determine a student's spiritual trajectoryThe difference between teaching students and training disciplesWhy youth ministry small groups may still be too bigHow accountability changes spiritual growthHelping students learn to feed themselves through Scripture and prayerCreating a better handoff between youth ministry and college ministryWhy every youth pastor should connect graduates to a BCM or healthy collegiate ministry before move-in dayPreparing students for head, heart, and hands discipleship—not just apologeticsHelping students build identity in Christ instead of performanceWhy sanctification is a lifelong journey—not a finish lineGrace-centered discipline versus legalism in a distracted generationSimplifying youth ministry around a wide front door and a deep discipleship coreKey TakeawaysOne of the biggest ideas from this conversation is simple:Students don't simply need more or better sermons. They need better training. Intentional, relational, and personal.Teaching informs.Training transforms.When students regularly practice Scripture, prayer, accountability, evangelism, and spiritual disciplines before graduation, they're far more likely to continue those rhythms when nobody is checking attendance.As Paul says:"More time with fewer people leads to greater lasting Kingdom impact."Support the showJoin the community!

July 9, 2026Episode 36025 min

Help For Counseling Overwhelmed Teens w/ Dr. Kristin Kellen

Send us Fan MailTeenagers are drowning in noise, and most of them don’t have the brain bandwidth or life experience to sort it all out yet. From the SBC 2026 exhibit hall, we talk with Dr. Kristen Kellen about what it looks like to counsel teens faithfully when anxiety, comparison, and overwhelm feel like the background music of adolescence.If you've ever wondered:"Am I doing enough for struggling students?""When should I listen...and when should I refer?""How do I help teenagers who feel anxious all the time?"...this conversation is for you.We get specific about emotional health and why it can’t be separated from the rest of life. Sleep, food, hydration, exercise, and screen time matter more than we want to admit, especially for developing bodies and brains. Then we challenge a popular idea that quietly shapes teen culture: the belief that emotions are authoritative and binding. Dr. Kellen gives language that protects kids from shame while still giving them agency, helping them move from “I feel anxious, so I am anxious” to “I’m experiencing anxiety, and I can respond wisely.”For youth pastors and youth leaders, we dig into the difference between helping a student feel better in the moment and helping them become healthy over time. We talk modeling emotional regulation, naming feelings without being ruled by them, and using practical steps that build resilience. We also explore suffering and spiritual maturity, why Scripture assumes hardship, and how patience and the fruit of the Spirit grow through repeated practice, not instant change. If you’ve wanted a clearer framework for Christian counseling and pastoral care with teens, this conversation will give you traction.We talk about why so many teenagers feel overwhelmed and how we can respond with wisdom instead of panic. We lay out practical ways to help students name their feelings, build agency, and grow toward long-term health and spiritual maturity. In This EpisodeWhy so many teenagers feel overwhelmed todayThe relationship between brain development and emotional maturityWhy feelings are real—but shouldn't become our authorityHelping students become healthy instead of simply helping them feel betterSimple counseling principles every youth pastor can practiceWhy modeling emotional regulation matters more than having all the answersBuilding spiritual resilience instead of instant reliefThe role suffering plays in Christian maturityHow youth ministry can become a "laboratory" for practicing the Fruit of the SpiritKnowing when to partner with parents, counselors, and mental health professionalsWhy your faithful presence matters more than you realizeQuotes"If we always focus on the fix, students may never learn the skill.""Teenagers don't just need answers—they need adults who model healthy faith.""Youth ministry is a long game played inside a very short season.""Don't underestimate the ministry of simply being present.""Our goal isn't just to remove suffering—it's to help students meet Christ in the middle of it."Support the showJoin the community!

July 2, 2026Episode 35929 min

How Youth Ministry Can Reach Gen Alpha w/ Dr. Shelly Melia

Send us Fan MailGen Alpha Is Here. Is Your Ministry Ready?The students walking into your ministry today have never known life without smartphones, algorithms, or instant access to the world.They're also asking bigger questions than many churches are prepared to answer.In this episode Zac Workun sits down with Dr. Shelly Melia at SBC2026 to discuss what makes Generation Alpha unique,and why youth ministry may need to rethink some of its biggest assumptions.From AI and biblical literacy to belonging and family discipleship, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom for leaders who want to disciple students instead of simply entertaining them.Why Gen Alpha is fundamentally different from Gen ZThe coming impact of AI on discipleshipWhy biblical literacy is declining faster than many leaders realizeHow COVID shaped students' expectations of faith and sufferingThe importance of teaching lament and resilienceWhy belonging—not attendance—is becoming the key metricHelping parents become disciple-makers at homeMoving from information transfer to transformational dialogueWhy every student needs trusted adults—not just a great youth pastorPractical ways to reduce digital dependence inside your ministry"The whole world is Gen Alpha's neighborhood.""Students are receiving far more discipleship from their phones than from the church.""Stop talking at students. Start dialoguing with them.""Students don't just need to belong. They need to be needed.""The truth is stronger than the questions.""Youth ministry isn't just about entertaining students. It's about empowering disciples."Practical TakeawaysBuild your ministries that prioritize relationships over production.Teach students how to wrestle with suffering before suffering arrives.Assume less biblical knowledge and teach foundational Scripture intentionally.Create environments where questions are welcomed.Equip parents instead of replacing them.Help students practice presence in an age of constant distraction.Shift from event-centered ministry to disciple-making communities.Reaching Generation Alpha — Dr. Shelly Melia & Shane PruittSupport the showJoin the community!

June 18, 2026Episode 35827 min

Youth Ministry That Lasts w/ Dr. David Odom

Send us Fan MailThis episode wraps up our three-part conversation with Dr. David Odom on Deconstructing Youth Ministry and offers a timely reminders for youth ministry friends.The future of youth ministry doesn't hinge on doing more. It depends on becoming the kind of leader who can faithfully serve for longer. 🎙️ In this episode:Why working harder isn't the answerThe hidden cost of ministry without marginRed flags that reveal you're running too close to emptyThe power of honest accountability and trusted friendshipsWhy every youth ministry leader needs a place to be a person, not just a the persona of pastorHow confession and failure are tools for spiritual growthWhat long-term success in youth ministry actually looks likeCelebrating spiritual victories instead of only event victoriesPractical ways to rest without feeling guiltyWhy debriefing camps and mission trips may be more important than planning themAbout David OdomDr. David Odom serves as a leader, researcher, and professor with decades of experience in student ministry. His book, Youth Ministry Deconstructed: Rethinking Your Ministry to Build Lasting Faith in Students, challenges churches to evaluate the assumptions behind modern youth ministry and reimagine discipleship for the next generation.Support the showJoin the community!

June 11, 2026Episode 35733 min

Rethinking Relational Youth Ministry w/ Dr. David Odom

Send us Fan MailBefore we know it, youth ministry can become really good at running events—and not as effective at making disciples.In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. David Odom and Deconstructing Youth Ministry, we tackle one of the biggest questions facing churches today.How do we build student ministries that produce lasting faith, not just busy calendars?We explore why teenagers today are both different and surprisingly the same. Students still wrestle with identity, belonging, purpose, and faith, but they’re doing it in a world shaped by social media, digital overload, and increasing isolation. That’s why relational youth ministry matters more than ever.Dr. Odom shares two powerful truths every youth leader should remember:✅ True discipleship happens in the context of relationships.✅ The leader is the lesson.We also unpack Dr. Odom’s research into the three arenas of effective youth ministry:🔹 Teenagers in the youth group🔹 Teenagers and their families🔹 Teenagers in the congregationWe discuss practical parent ministry strategies, helping students connect to the larger church, creating meaningful service opportunities, mentoring teenagers into leadership, and avoiding the trap of measuring success by attendance, events, and programming alone.🎙️ In this episode:• The future of youth ministry• Gen Z and Gen Alpha discipleship• Relational ministry vs. attractional ministry• Student leadership development• Parent ministry strategies that actually work• Building intergenerational church connections• Why students need to be known, not just entertained• Youth group trends worth keeping—and retiringAbout David OdomDr. David Odom serves as a leader, researcher, and professor with decades of experience in student ministry. His book, Youth Ministry Deconstructed: Rethinking Your Ministry to Build Lasting Faith in Students, challenges churches to evaluate the assumptions behind modern youth ministry and reimagine discipleship for the next generation.Support the showJoin the community!

June 6, 2026Episode 35438 min

Youth Ministry Presence Over Hype w/ JP Black

Send us Fan MailWhat actually makes a youth ministry fruitful? Bigger crowds? Flashier events? Viral moments? In this episode  Zac sits down with JP Black to wrestle honestly with those questions: presence, not popularity.From the moment you walk into JP’s student building—covered in photos, memories, and a “Trophy Wall of Awesome”—you can feel a culture of belonging. But the real transformation didn’t come from décor. It came from a deliberate shift away from event management toward spaces where students encounter God.JP shares how the post-COVID reset forced his team to rebuild from the ground up. Instead of chasing attendance as proof of “anointing,” they began measuring spiritual fruit through markers like confession, repentance, prayer, and resilient discipleship. The result? A ministry less driven by hype and more shaped by genuine transformation.One standout example is their redesigned Venture Weekend, now treated as a modern “stone of remembrance.” Students participate in a powerful concert of prayer, laying down idols and naming what’s holding them back.Fruitful youth ministry isn’t built on popularity, it’s formed through presence, repentance, prayer, and patient discipleship.• history and community markers in the student space• why the Trophy Wall of Awesome matters for belonging• JP’s calling story and long obedience• post-COVID reset of metrics and motives• presence of God as the ministry north star• redesigning Venture Weekend for encounter• splitting middle school and high school for depth• testing hype vs transformation through repentance• practical ways to bring camp home weekly• modeling humility and pressing on from Philippians 3• concert of prayer and a seventh grader’s salvation• how to connect with JP BlackFirst Rockwall Students on Facebook and Instagram Instagram: @JPBlack_Support the showJoin the community!

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