Youth Ministry Booster

Youth Ministry Booster
  • 4.3 (157)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

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

  1. Oct 15 ·  Video

    Building A Biblical Worldview For Teens In An Algorithm Age w/ Daniel Kinkade

    Send us Fan Mail Your students already have a worldview. But is it being shaped by Scripture or by the scroll? Every teenager is building a foundation for how they understand the world. The question is whether that foundation is being formed by God's Word or by algorithms, friendships, feelings, and whatever shows up next in their feed. Zac Workun sits down with Daniel Kinkade from Lifeway Students to explore what it actually takes to build a biblical worldview in teenagers. They tackle the gap between knowing Scripture and living Scripture, why students need space to wrestle with difficult questions, and how youth leaders can make the most of increasingly limited time with students. Along the way, Daniel shares the unforgettable observation from a middle schooler: "Jesus didn't play Minecraft." It's funny, but it reveals a serious discipleship challenge: Are we helping teenagers connect ancient biblical truth to their everyday lives? You'll hear practical encouragement for: Moving students from Bible knowledge to biblical convictionAsking application questions that lead to transformationHelping parents navigate digital discipleshipCreating small groups where students can wrestle honestlyLeading faithfully when the results aren't immediately visibleThe takeaway: Youth ministry isn't just about teaching students what to believe. It's about helping them become people whose lives are shaped by what they believe. Listen, subscribe, and share this episode with a youth ministry leader who needs the encouragement. Support the show Join the community!

  2. Oct 1 ·  Video

    What If Your Youth Ministry Outlived You? w/ Broke Church Van

    Send us Fan Mail A broke church van is funny until you realize it might be the perfect picture of youth ministry: underfunded, wildly creative, occasionally held together with duct tape, and somehow still getting students where they need to go. Live from Nashville, Zac sits down with Blake and Rico from the Broke Church Van Podcast to talk about the stuff only youth pastors understand, and the surprisingly serious ministry lessons underneath it. Why does fun matter so much in youth ministry? How do you lead students who have already spent eight hours being told to sit down and pay attention? And what happens when you're expected to be the game guy, Bible teacher, counselor, event planner, comedian, and spiritual leader all in the same night? But also, Are you building a youth ministry that can survive without you? Blake and Rico share what they've learned about moving beyond personality-driven ministry, developing volunteers, sharing leadership, and building a student ministry that belongs to the whole church, not just the youth pastor. The friends we make along the way!  We also talk about the relationships that make longevity possible: ministry friends who can tell you the truth, spouses who keep your priorities straight, shared calendars, family rhythms, and learning that you don't have to carry the whole ministry yourself. Plus: dodgeball theology, Waffle House warning signs, terrible church vans, Matt Flanagan casting choices, and Diet Mountain Dew. The goal isn't to build a youth ministry that needs you forever. It's to faithfully build one that can outlast you. Support the show Join the community!

  3. Sep 24 ·  Video

    Youth Ministry Burnout, Mental Health & Finding Your Life Again with Dane Leake w/ Dane Leake

    Send us Fan Mail Youth ministry can feel like a holy adrenaline rush. Packed rooms. Camp. Baptisms. Students responding to the gospel. The next Wednesday night is always coming. But what happens when you start needing the ministry as much as the ministry needs you? Dane Leake joins Zac for an unusually honest conversation about burnout, mental health, identity, and the hidden cost of chasing the next ministry high. Dane shares the story of his 2023 collapse, years of overwork, lack of sleep, caffeine, unprocessed grief, and tying too much of his identity to ministry outcomes eventually caught up with him. After camp, his body and mind effectively shut down. What followed included hospitalization, stepping away from a ministry he loved, and a long season of rebuilding his life. But this isn't just an episode about burnout. It's about learning another way to lead. Zac and Dane talk about the dopamine cycle built into ministry, the warning signs Dane wishes he'd noticed earlier, why a bad Wednesday can ruin your entire week, and the danger of confusing ministry success with personal worth. They also get intensely practical about what changed: real Sabbath, honest friendships, clear personal values, slower rhythms, letting go of outcomes, and learning to lead from conviction rather than KPIs. And the conversation eventually turns toward our students: if we're trying to disciple an anxious, screen-saturated generation, maybe our ministries can't simply offer them another adrenaline hit. This one is for the youth minister who loves ministry—but is beginning to wonder what ministry is doing to them. In this episode: • Why youth ministry can become emotionally addictive • The warning signs of burnout we tend to rationalize • Dane's 2023 mental health crisis and road toward recovery • Why your identity cannot rise and fall with Wednesday night • Sabbath as structure, delight, and resistance • Conviction vs. outcomes in ministry leadership • Why ministers need people who can see the “storm conditions” before the storm • Programming for an anxious generation without manufacturing emotional response • How to work hard without losing your soul Youth minister, you don't walk alone. YMB isn't just a podcast. It's a place to belong. Join a community of folks that share your calling. Support the show Join the community!

  4. Aug 20 ·  Video

    Busyness Isn't Good For Youth Ministry Business

    Send us Fan Mail “We’re good, just busy” might be the most common sentence in American family life, and it’s reshaping what people can realistically say yes to.  It's become the default answer for families, pastors, and church leaders. And when everyone feels stretched thin, youth ministry can easily respond by either adding more programming or blaming sports, school, and extracurricular activities for stealing students away. But what if that's not the whole story? Maybe youth ministry doesn't need more things on the calendar. Maybe the things already on the calendar need to matter more. In this episode, Zac Workun and Chad Higgins explore the difference between being busy and being intentional. Families demonstrate all the time that they're willing to make significant commitments when they understand the value. Sports have practices, specialized training, games, and clearly defined wins. Meanwhile, churches can accidentally fill calendars with gatherings that all feel vaguely similar—and therefore increasingly missable. That leads to a challenging principle: If everything is for everyone, eventually it feels like it's for no one. What if every gathering in your student ministry had a clearer purpose? An outreach event doesn't have to accomplish the entire discipleship process. A small discipleship gathering doesn't need the attendance of your biggest event. Some environments are designed to invite. Others help students practice. Others should give students opportunities to lead. Or, as Zac and Chad put it: pep rallies, practices, and games. The conversation moves beyond programming into a bigger vision for student discipleship. Instead of measuring success primarily by how many teenagers attended, what would happen if churches became clearer about the kind of disciples they're trying to form? Could students graduate from youth ministry knowing Scripture, understanding core theology, experiencing meaningful Christian community, serving the church, sharing their faith, and increasingly teaching others to do the same? That's a much more compelling goal than simply keeping the calendar full. And it might help us rethink the supposed competition between church and everything else in a teenager's life. The goal isn't simply getting students into more church activities. It's forming students who know how to follow Jesus everywhere else. If your fall youth ministry calendar is already packed, this episode will help you ask a better question than “What should we add?” What is all of this actually for? This Episode Will Help You Think About Youth ministry programming and calendar strategyStudent discipleship pathwaysFamily ministry and parent partnershipMeasuring spiritual growth beyond attendanceOutreach versus discipleship environmentsDeveloping student leadersBiblical literacy and theological formationEvangelism training for teenagersEquipping students to live on missionCreating meaningful next steps for studentsYouth Ministry Booster exists to encourage and equip youth pastors and student ministry leaders for healthier, more intentional ministry. Subscribe to the podcast, share this episode with another youth ministry leader, and leave a review to help more youth pastors find the conversation. Support the show Join the community!

  5. Aug 13 ·  Video

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

    Send us Fan Mail Student 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 Highlights Why 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 Questions How 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 show Join the community!

  6. Aug 6 ·  Video

    Time is Pressure In Youth Ministry, Alternate Spiritual Signals

    Send us Fan Mail Time 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 Highlights Transitioning 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 leadershipQuestions What 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 show Join the community!

  7. Jul 30 ·  Video

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

    Send us Fan Mail What 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 show Join the community!

  8. Jul 23 ·  Video

    Youth Ministry Success Means Maturity w/ Dr. Jason Engle

    Send us Fan Mail What 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 Scriptures Matthew 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 show Join the community!

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4.3
out of 5
157 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Youth Ministry Booster
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    337
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Youth Ministry Booster
  • Show Website
    Youth Ministry Booster

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