Youth Worker On Fire Podcast

Doug Edwards
  • 4.9 (11)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Today's youth need youth pastors, mentors, teachers, volunteers, and most of all, they need YOU! Youth Worker On Fire is designed to give you the knowledge and inspiration you need to be the best youth worker possible. Youth Worker On Fire podcast is full of valuable information from people who work with youth on a daily basis. It is also packed with interviews with former students (years later) in their adult life and how student ministry, or the lack of it, effected their future. Many are are changing their world and the world at large because of the influence of youth workers in their adolescent years. Listen as they share their stories of mentoring and positively influencing adolescents in today's world.

  1. 5 Ways Summer Camp Changes Students Forever

    1d ago

    5 Ways Summer Camp Changes Students Forever

    Summer camp is more than games, music, cabins, and memories. In this episode of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards shares five powerful things God often does through youth ministry summer camps, student ministry retreats, mission trips, and Christian camp experiences. Whether you are a youth pastor, student ministry volunteer, parent, grandparent, or someone praying for students this summer, this episode is a reminder that camp can become a life-changing place where students encounter Jesus, hear God's calling, find healing, build Christian community, and return home ready to live on mission. Doug shares stories from student ministry camps, mission trips to Mexico and Guatemala, and a recent conversation with Lance Kramer, an Eskimo pastor serving 36 miles above the Arctic Circle, who was preparing for camp with students in Alaska. In this episode, you'll hear about five great things that happen at summer camp: • Students surrender their lives to Jesus Christ • Students hear God's calling on their lives • Broken lives experience healing and freedom • Friendships become Christian community • Students return home ready to change the world Doug also reminds listeners to pray for youth pastors, camp leaders, volunteers, and their families. Summer camp may only last a week for students, but for youth workers and leaders, the preparation, spiritual weight, emotional investment, and recovery often last for months. One week at camp can redirect a student's life. One mission trip can shape a calling. One moment with God can impact generations. If you have a summer camp story, mission trip testimony, or student ministry moment that changed a life, email Youth Worker on Fire at youthworkeronfire@gmail.com. Share this episode with a youth pastor, parent, volunteer, or student who needs to be reminded that God still changes lives at camp. Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _________________________________________________________________________________ 📬 Stay connected: Email: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Rate ★★★★★ & share with youth workers who dream big for the Kingdom. Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book "Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder's Guidebook" here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy  Edited by: Secret Roots Music House PODCAST EPISODE TOPICS: Youth Ministry, Summer Camp, Christian Summer Camp, Student Ministry, Youth Camp, Youth Pastor Encouragement, Student Ministry Camp, Christian Camp, Youth Ministry Volunteers, Students Giving Their Lives To Jesus, Student Salvation, Ministry Calling, Mission Trips, Youth Mission Trip, Christian Community, Healing and Freedom, Youth Worker On Fire Podcast, Next Generation Ministry, Lance Kramer, Alaska Ministry, Mission Discovery, Guatemala Mission Trip, Mexico Mission Trip, Christian Parenting

    9 min
  2. Start Here: Evergreen Youth Ministry Stories, Parenting Help, and Student Leadership Wisdom

    Jun 24

    Start Here: Evergreen Youth Ministry Stories, Parenting Help, and Student Leadership Wisdom

    Looking for encouragement, wisdom, and real-life stories to help you lead, parent, teach, or serve the next generation? In this episode of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards reflects on more than 300 episodes of conversations, stories, and teaching designed to encourage youth pastors, student ministry volunteers, parents, teachers, coaches, counselors, and anyone working with adolescents. Over the years, Youth Worker On Fire has featured youth pastors, ministry leaders, teachers, doctors, psychologists, school leaders, parents, grandparents, FCA leaders, public servants, and everyday people with stories that connect back to students, families, and faith. Doug shares why these episodes are "evergreen"—still useful, still searchable, and still ready to encourage people in different seasons of life. Whether you are looking for help with youth ministry, parenting teenagers, student leadership, health challenges, faith conversations, school life, or stories of perseverance, there may be an episode in the archive that speaks directly to your situation. This episode also highlights powerful stories from the podcast's history, including the impact of Johnny Cash on Youth for Christ and Campus Life, conversations with doctors and leaders, and episodes that continue to help people long after they were first released. If you work with students, raise children, lead in a school, volunteer in ministry, or know someone who needs encouragement, this episode is a reminder: There is a story here for you and probably one you need to share with someone else. Search the Youth Worker on Fire archive, find the episode that fits your season, and pass it along to someone who needs hope, wisdom, or encouragement today. Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _________________________________________________________________________________ 📬 Stay connected: Email: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Rate ★★★★★ & share with youth workers who dream big for the Kingdom. Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book "Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder's Guidebook" here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy  Edited by: Secret Roots Music House PODCAST EPISODE TOPICS: Youth Ministry, Youth Worker On Fire Podcast, Student Ministry, Christian Parenting, Parenting Teenagers, Youth Pastor Encouragement, Student Leadership, Ministry Volunteers, Christian Education, FCA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Youth for Christ, Campus Life, Johnny Cash, Christian Leadership, Helping Teenagers, Working With Students, Evergreen Podcast Episodes, Next Generation Ministry, Faith Stories

    5 min
  3. Be Strong, Be Courageous, Be Kind: How God Builds Leaders Who Lift Others

    Jun 17

    Be Strong, Be Courageous, Be Kind: How God Builds Leaders Who Lift Others

    What does it really mean to be strong and courageous? In this episode of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards shares a powerful message about Christian courage, kindness, confidence, generosity, and leadership. Through stories from Theodore Roosevelt, Bear Grylls, Michelle Monaghan, Tony Robbins, and personal moments from his own life, Doug points us back to a biblical truth: God calls His people to stand strong, speak truth, care deeply, and trust Him with the outcome. This episode explores how simple actions can shape the people around us, offering a genuine compliment, showing respect, giving generously, staying content, standing up for others, and choosing courage even when fear is present. Doug also reflects on Joshua 1:9 and Jeremiah's calling, reminding us that God does not call us to live timid, passive lives. He puts His words in our mouths, gives us His strength, and sets us apart for good works prepared in advance. In this episode, you'll be encouraged to: • Be strong and courageous in your calling • Use your words to build people up • Practice sincere kindness and encouragement • Lead with humility, confidence, and faith • Give generously even when it feels costly • Learn contentment in the place God has you • Fight fairly for what is right without losing grace Whether you are a youth pastor, student ministry volunteer, parent, grandparent, Christian educator, or leader investing in the next generation, this episode will challenge you to become someone others can trust, follow, and depend on. God may have set you apart to encourage the overlooked, stand up for the average person, speak life into students, and lead with strength that comes from Him. Be strong. Be courageous. Be kind. _________________________________________________________________________________ 📬 Stay connected: Email: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Rate ★★★★★ & share with youth workers who dream big for the Kingdom. Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book "Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder's Guidebook" here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy  Edited by: Secret Roots Music House PODCAST EPISODE TOPICS: Youth Ministry, Christian Leadership, Be Strong and Courageous, Joshua 1:9, Student Ministry, Youth Pastor Encouragement, Christian Courage, Kindness and Leadership, Parenting Teens, Ministry Encouragement, Christian Confidence, Spiritual Growth, Faith and Generosity, Jeremiah Calling, Youth Worker On Fire Podcast, Next Generation Ministry, Leadership Development, Christian Character, Encouraging Others, Faith in Action

    15 min
  4. Justin Terry: Remember Your Calling and Trust the Process

    Jun 10

    Justin Terry: Remember Your Calling and Trust the Process

    What do you do when ministry gets heavy, life gets complicated, and your calling feels harder than you expected? In this interview episode of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards talks with Justin Terry, Experience Pastor at Journey Church in Colorado, for a powerful conversation about discipleship, calling, ministry leadership, burnout, family, and the faithfulness of God. Justin shares how God met him as an angry middle school student after his parents' divorce, how intentional discipleship changed the direction of his life, and how mentors like Scotty Priest, Hugh Kirby, and his dad helped shape his faith and future. In this episode, you'll hear about: • How Justin came to faith in middle school • Why discipleship and accountability changed everything • His journey from wanting to be a sports broadcaster to serving in ministry • What it was like serving in Alaska and later moving to Colorado • How ministry, parenting, church leadership, a house fire, and the pandemic nearly emptied his tank • Why leaders need spiritual disciplines, counseling, rest, and honest support • How the book of Jonah reveals God's grace, pursuit, second chances, and patience • Why Justin still carries a heart for Alaska, the UK, and spiritual renewal in America Justin also shares a phrase that has helped him through difficult seasons: Remember your calling and trust the process. Whether you are a youth pastor, student ministry volunteer, church leader, Christian educator, parent, or someone trying to stay faithful through a hard season, this episode will encourage you to keep walking with God one step at a time. ✨ God is still working in the silence, the unknown, and the process. _________________________________________________________________________________ 📬 Stay connected: Email: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Rate ★★★★★ & share with youth workers who dream big for the Kingdom. Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book "Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder's Guidebook" here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy  Edited by: Secret Roots Music House PODCAST EPISODE TOPICS: Justin Terry, Youth Ministry, Christian Leadership, Ministry Calling, Trust the Process, Remember Your Calling, Student Ministry Leadership, Youth Pastor Encouragement, Ministry Burnout, Discipleship, Journey Church Colorado, Christian Parenting, Faith and Family, Jonah Bible Study, Spiritual Growth, Church Leadership, Alaska Ministry, Youth Worker On Fire Podcast, Next Generation Ministry, Christian Interview

    35 min
  5. Before God Elevates You, He Clears the Room: Trusting Your Wilderness Season

    Jun 3

    Before God Elevates You, He Clears the Room: Trusting Your Wilderness Season

    What if the separation you're feeling is not rejection... but preparation? In this episode of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards shares a powerful message about calling, wilderness seasons, spiritual preparation, and trusting God when people, opportunities, or familiar places seem to disappear from your life. After hearing a simple but profound statement, "Before God elevates you, He clears the room", Doug reflects on how God often prepares leaders by creating space, removing distractions, and drawing them closer before the next assignment. In this episode, Doug unpacks: • Why God sometimes separates you before He elevates you. • How Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness prepared Him for ministry. • Why David had to spend time in hiding before becoming king. • How seasons of loss, transition, and confusion can become preparation. • Why seeking God's kingdom first changes everything. • How God can redirect your life into a calling you never saw coming. • Why wilderness seasons are often where leaders are formed. Doug also shares from his own journey—how a music career path suddenly disappeared, how that season felt confusing and painful, and how God used it to prepare him for decades of student ministry. Whether you are a youth pastor, ministry volunteer, Christian educator, parent, or leader walking through transition, this episode will encourage you to trust that God may be doing more in the quiet than you realize. ✨ Sometimes God clears the room not to punish you—but to prepare you for what He has already planned. _________________________________________________________________________________ 📬 Stay connected: Email: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Rate ★★★★★ & share with youth workers who dream big for the Kingdom. Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book "Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder's Guidebook" here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy  Edited by: Secret Roots Music House PODCAST EPISODE TOPICS: God's Calling, Wilderness Season, Christian Leadership, Youth Ministry, Youth Pastor Encouragement, Student Ministry, Ministry Encouragement, Spiritual Preparation, Purpose and Calling, Trust God's Timing, Before God Elevates You, God Clears the Room, Christian Devotional Podcast, Youth Worker On Fire Podcast, Next Generation Ministry, Faith in Transition, Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 2:10, Romans 8:18, Matthew 6:33

    10 min
  6. Kids Learn More From What We Do Than What We Say: Teaching Faith That Lasts

    May 27

    Kids Learn More From What We Do Than What We Say: Teaching Faith That Lasts

    What are students and children actually learning from us? It may not be our sermons. It may not be our advice. It might simply be the way we live. In this episode of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards shares a simple but powerful story from dinner with his grandchildren and a reminder that faith is often caught before it is taught. After inviting his family to pray over a meal, Doug watched something unexpected happen: His grandchildren stepped forward and wanted to pray. Not because they were asked. Not because they were prepared. But because prayer had become natural to them. That moment became a powerful reminder: Students and children are watching us more closely than we realize. 🎯 In this episode, you'll discover: • Why children respond more to what we live than what we say. • How everyday moments shape lifelong faith. • Why prayer should become natural—not performative. • How parents and youth leaders create environments where faith grows. • What Jesus meant when He said to let the children come. • Practical ways to build authentic faith into ordinary life. Doug also reflects on powerful biblical truths from: • Philippians 4:13 — Strength through Christ • Ephesians 2:10 — God prepared good works in advance • Joshua 1:9 — Be strong and courageous • Jeremiah 29:11 — Hope and a future This episode is especially valuable for: ✔ Youth pastors ✔ Student ministry volunteers ✔ Parents and grandparents ✔ Christian educators ✔ Anyone investing in the next generation One of the biggest reminders from this conversation: 👉 Children don't need perfect examples. They need real people who love Jesus and make room for faith to grow naturally. ✨ Teach truth. Live truth. Give truth away. 💭 Reflection Question What are the students and children around you learning from your life this week? _________________________________________________________________________________ 📬 Stay connected: Email: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Rate ★★★★★ & share with youth workers who dream big for the Kingdom. Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book "Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder's Guidebook" here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy  Edited by: Secret Roots Music House PODCAST EPISODE TOPICS: Youth Ministry, Christian Parenting, Passing Faith to Children, Student Ministry Leadership, Teaching Faith at Home, Raising Christian Kids, Youth Pastor Encouragement, Discipleship, Family Faith, Christian Leadership Podcast, Youth Worker On Fire Podcast, Next Generation Ministry, Prayer with Children, Spiritual Legacy, Authentic Faith, Christian Family Values, Biblical Parenting, Faith That Lasts

    9 min
  7. Lance Kramer: From Survival to Revival - Reaching the Next Generation in Alaska (Part 2)

    May 20

    Lance Kramer: From Survival to Revival - Reaching the Next Generation in Alaska (Part 2)

    What happens after revival fades? How do you rebuild faith in a place where generations know about God, but fewer truly follow Him? In Part 2 of this special interview series on Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards continues his conversation with Lance Kramer, missionary, and ministry leader serving near the Arctic Circle in Kotzebue, Alaska. After exploring the spiritual history of Alaska in Part 1, this conversation shifts to something even more personal: Lance's own journey of faith. From surviving a near-fatal hunting accident… to discovering Christ… to planting churches, discipling students, launching youth camps, and building sustainable ministry models in one of the most remote places in North America—this episode is packed with practical wisdom for anyone reaching the next generation. 🎯 In Part 2, you'll discover: • Lance's powerful story of coming to faith in Christ. • How one life-changing moment redirected his future. • Why discipleship—not attendance—is the key to lasting faith. • What youth ministry can learn from the early church. • How house churches and relational ministry create deeper impact. • Creative ways churches can become sustainable and mission-focused. • Why reaching students early changes entire communities. Lance also shares: • How youth camps became a major ministry strategy • His vision for reaching rural Alaska and the circumpolar north • Lessons from church planting and indigenous leadership • Why ministry must move beyond programs and toward disciple-making This episode is especially valuable for: ✔ Youth pastors and student ministry leaders ✔ Mission-minded church leaders ✔ Parents discipling students at home ✔ Volunteers investing in the next generation ✔ Anyone passionate about revival and discipleship One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation: 👉 Revival may start with one generation… …but discipleship is what helps faith endure. 🎧 If you missed Part 1, start there first: Lance Kramer: Ministry Near the Arctic Circle & The Rise and Fall of Faith (Part 1) Then come back to hear how the story continues. ✨ Real ministry isn't built through comfort—it grows through faith, relationships, and multiplying disciples. _________________________________________________________________________________ 📬 Stay connected: Email: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Rate ★★★★★ & share with youth workers who dream big for the Kingdom. Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book "Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder's Guidebook" here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy  Edited by: Secret Roots Music House PODCAST EPISODE TOPICS: Lance Kramer, Alaska Missions, Arctic Circle Ministry, Youth Ministry Leadership, Christian Missions Podcast, Discipleship, Church Planting, Youth Camps Ministry, Student Ministry Leadership, Christian Leadership, Next Generation Ministry, Indigenous Ministry Alaska, Christian Testimony, House Church Movement, Revival and Discipleship, Mission Strategy, Evangelism and Discipleship, Remote Ministry, Part 2 Interview

    44 min
  8. Lance Kramer: Ministry Near the Arctic Circle & The Rise and Fall of Faith (Part 1)

    May 13

    Lance Kramer: Ministry Near the Arctic Circle & The Rise and Fall of Faith (Part 1)

    What does ministry look like 36 miles above the Arctic Circle and what happens when an entire region moves from revival… to spiritual decline? In this powerful Part 1 interview of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards sits down with missionary Lance Kramer, who serves in Kotzebue, Alaska—a remote hub city surrounded by isolated villages and accessible only by air. From breathtaking landscapes filled with whales, polar bears, and endless wilderness… to a deeply spiritual story of faith, prophecy, and cultural transformation—this episode reveals a side of ministry most people have never seen. 🎯 In Part 1, you'll discover: • What life and ministry are like near the Arctic Circle. • The fascinating history of how Christianity first reached this region. • The story of an indigenous man who foretold missionaries carrying the "black box" (the Bible). • How faith once spread rapidly across Alaska—transforming entire communities. • Why early revival did not lead to lasting discipleship. • How a region that was once 90% Christian is now experiencing deep spiritual decline. Lance shares the powerful reality that: 👉 Knowing about God is not the same as following Him. And highlights one of the biggest challenges facing the next generation: 👉 A lack of true discipleship. This episode is especially valuable for: ✔ Youth pastors and student ministry leaders ✔ Mission-minded leaders and global thinkers ✔ Parents raising the next generation in faith ✔ Anyone interested in revival, culture, and discipleship ✨ This is more than a story about Alaska—it's a warning and a lesson for every generation. 🎧 Be sure to listen to Part 2, where Lance dives deeper into the current reality of ministry and what it will take to reach the next generation. _________________________________________________________________________________ 📬 Stay connected: Email: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Rate ★★★★★ & share with youth workers who dream big for the Kingdom. Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book "Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder's Guidebook" here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy  Edited by: Secret Roots Music House PODCAST EPISODE TOPICS: Lance Kramer, Alaska Missions, Arctic Circle Ministry, Youth Ministry Leadership, Christian Missions Podcast, Discipleship Crisis, Faith Decline, Revival and Discipleship, Student Ministry, Youth Worker On Fire Podcast, Next Generation Ministry, Indigenous Ministry Alaska, Christian Leadership, Global Missions, Evangelism and Discipleship, Faith and Culture, Church Decline, Remote Ministry, Interviews

    27 min
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4.9
out of 5
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About

Today's youth need youth pastors, mentors, teachers, volunteers, and most of all, they need YOU! Youth Worker On Fire is designed to give you the knowledge and inspiration you need to be the best youth worker possible. Youth Worker On Fire podcast is full of valuable information from people who work with youth on a daily basis. It is also packed with interviews with former students (years later) in their adult life and how student ministry, or the lack of it, effected their future. Many are are changing their world and the world at large because of the influence of youth workers in their adolescent years. Listen as they share their stories of mentoring and positively influencing adolescents in today's world.

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