If you’ve ever hoped that there were more volunteers on your youth ministry team then today’s conversation is for you! Even though recruiting other volunteers isn’t something you might feel responsible for, if you’d consider a few simple steps it could make a massive difference in your youth ministry.   As a volunteer youth worker you can… Own The Gap: If you see the need in your ministry, you can own filling that gap Make A List: You know the people you want to serve with – make a list of people you think would be a great fit for serving in your youth ministry  Make the Ask: There m ..read more

Whenever new research comes out, we try to make it meaningful and accessible for you to know if and how it affects your ministry. Join today’s conversation with Rick and Lindsay from the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada’s Center of Research on Church and Faith as they dive into one aspect of the brand new Parenting Faith Research Study.    When asked how much Christian parents agreed with the following statement: “I want my children to make their own religious choices, without pressure from me,” 73% moderately or strongly agreed. What does that mean for the way parents are thinking a ..read more

As much as we believe that every follower of Christ should be serving their community in some capacity there are times a volunteer leader needs to step down. If you’ve ever wondered how to tell if someone should step down or what your role could be if someone is in the process of doing so, this episode is for you! Join Rob from Briercrest and Jeremy as they share frameworks from decades of experience, both as volunteer leaders and point leaders.    There are generally four main categories of why a volunteer leader needs to step down, and defining it will allow you to engage better. I ..read more

If small group time hits and you start to wonder if you’ll ever have a real conversation with your students, this episode with Steve and Jeremy is for you!   It can feel like getting through the question sheet is the goal as a small group leader, but sometimes the questions just aren’t working. Or there’s not enough. Or they just aren’t connecting with where your students are at. Whatever the struggle, be encouraged in knowing that the mark of a successful small group time is actually not just getting your students talking. But when you want to generate more conversation, listen in to lea ..read more

When you discover ways to make the most of every part of your program (check out episodes 134-142 if you’d like more about that!) you’ll probably also end up assessing what parts are most effective. That’s usually when youth workers recognize that so much life change for your students is happening in your small groups. That’s what happened for Miles Barnes and then his ministry decided to make some dramatic shifts. Join Miles and Jeremy as they talk about how Miles’ ministry made the shift to a small group model, and what they’ve seen come of it!   Connect with Miles on Instagram! instagr ..read more

Going to church can sometimes get lost in the midst of all the other responsibilities in our world today. That can be especially true for students when they graduate and have to decide to attend on their own (maybe even in a new community that they’ve moved to). But the act of going to church doesn’t have to feel like another thing on a checklist of things to complete. It doesn’t have to be regulated to a low priority. Join today’s conversation with guests Jon Berends and Sydney Sequillion as they talk about what church attendance can look like for students in your ministry (and beyond)!   ..read more

In this episode, Jeremy and Sid discuss how to coach other small group leaders in both informal and formal settings. They emphasize the importance of fostering a culture of teachability and asking questions to spark curiosity and learning. They also suggest defining a fixed time for coaching sessions and setting clear expectations for the coaching relationship. The hosts encourage veteran small group leaders to take on the role of coaching and supporting younger leaders, recognizing the impact they can have on the next generation.   Check out the Next Steps Awards from Power to Change - S ..read more

Looking for the Coalition? Details are available at youthworker.community/coalition   Want to chat about youth ministry? Give us a shout by emailing jeremy@youthworker.community Takeaways Youth workers have the power to shape the future of their students by speaking truth and providing a vision for their lives. Youth workers should see themselves as conduits of truth, communicating the messages of Jesus and helping students discover their unique gifts and potential. There is a hesitation among youth workers to exercise their influence due to fear of getting it wrong or pushing students a ..read more

Looking for the Coalition? Details are available at youthworker.community/coalition   We’re coming to Ontario! Join us February 24, 2024 at Today’s Teens Conference   Are you a youth pastor? You should join us for the Canadian Youth Pastor Summit! We’ll be in Ontario in the year and you can find more information at youthpastorsummit.ca March 5-7, 2024 - Canadian Youth Pastor Summit East   Want to chat about youth ministry? Give us a shout by emailing jeremy@youthworker.community ..read more

Learn more about Meisha at the following links:   Hey Meisha! Her Instagram My Single Story A special thanks to our partners and sponsors that make this podcast possible… Christar is a global missions organization that cares deeply about your ministry to the next generation here in our country. So whether it’s leveraging their wisdom to craft ethical mission trips or connecting with them to catch a vision for what God is doing in hard to reach places, your ministry should connect with our friends at Christar. Trinity Western University has been a long time supporter of the Youth Worker Co ..read more