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. 1d ago ·  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!

  2. 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!

  3. 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!

  4. 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!

  5. 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!

  6. Jul 16 ·  Video

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

    Send us Fan Mail What 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 Episode Why 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 Takeaways One 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 show Join the community!

  7. Jul 9 ·  Video

    Help For Counseling Overwhelmed Teens w/ Dr. Kristin Kellen

    Send us Fan Mail Teenagers 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 Episode Why 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 realize Quotes "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 show Join the community!

  8. Jul 2 ·  Video

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

    Send us Fan Mail Gen 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 Takeaways Build 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 Pruitt Support the show Join the community!

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4.3
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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
    334
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Youth Ministry Booster
  • Show Website
    Youth Ministry Booster

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