End Goals: LCMS Youth Ministry Podcast LCMS Youth Ministry & KFUO Radio

New Orleans is a city with a lot of LCMS Youth Gathering history, and we are excited to be there again in 2025. Listen to Mark and Julianna talk about NOLA as we prepare for the next Gathering.
Youth Gathering Resources:
LCMS Youth Gathering Website - lcmsgathering.com
Facebook Page - facebook.com/lcmsgathering
Facebook Group - facebook.com/groups/LCMSYouthMinistry

Most youth ministries use games regularly, but new youth leaders might not know how to best use those games. We are joined by Signe White, Ellie Lutz, and Keith Peters, who all serve in camp ministry, to talk about how to use games for teaching, community building, and more.
Resources in this episode:
National Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Association: nloma.org
Games on YouthESource: youthesource.com/category/free-resources/activities-games
YouthESource Website: youthesource.com
Guests in this episode:
With three decades of service in the LCMS, Signe White is a seasoned ministry leader whose passion for the outdoors and leadership development has shaped her role as Executive Director of Camp Perkins, a thriving outdoors ministry and conference center. Signe blends her passion for nature and outdoor play with her focus on fostering and empowering new leaders through visionary guidance and strategic leadership, both within the organization and the wider church community.
Ellie "Frisbee" Lutz has been a camp professional for 13 years and also served as a church youth leader for 2 years. She has led programs at camps in Wisconsin, Idaho, and her current location, Lakeview Ministries in southern Indiana. Her camp nickname is "Frisbee" because (as she tells the kids) she's fun to play with and good at spinning in circles.
Keith Peters served in various Christian camp ministries and in a parish ministry, prior to joining Lutherhaven’s team as the Director of Summer and Youth Ministry in 2021. During summers at Camp Lutherhoma throughout high school and college he was privileged to learn game leading and has been training others to lead games for two decades. His other interests include teaching adult bible study classes, logging miles either by running or cycling, and drinking good coffee.

DCE Jeremy Becker joins Julianna and Mark for a conversation about how youth leaders can foster community and relationships that build belonging in their youth ministry.
Bio: Jeremy Becker is a Director of Christian Education with over 24 years. He currently serves St. Paul Lutheran Church in Weston, Florida before that, he served at Concordia Lutheran in Kirkwood, Missouri. He was recently awarded the Master DCE award from the National Association of DCEs. He is married to Kristin and has two daughters. 
Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

It’s time to start planning for the 2025 Youth Gathering! Mark and Julianna talk about things to consider as you begin to prepare your congregation, youth, parents and other adults for the Gathering.
Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

The next episode in our second starter pack discusses child safety and risk management. Mark and Julianna talk about what can go wrong and how you can prepare to keep youth and adults safe and healthy.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
The LCMS Youth Ministry resource website: youthesource.com
Ministry Safe: ministrysafe.com/lcms
LCMS Page on Child Abuse/Safety: lcms.org/social-issues/child-abuse

Mark and Julianna are starting a new series of podcasts for those who are starting out in youth ministry. For the first episode, we invite LCMS Youth Ministry Communications Specialist Meredith Smith to discuss communications.
Meredith Smith is the communications specialist for LCMS Youth Ministry, communicating about everything we do at LCMS Youth Ministry, including the Gathering. She is a Houston native, a graduate of Texas A&M, and is married to Pastor Alex Smith.
Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.