End Goals: LCMS Youth Ministry Podcast

KFUO Radio - LCMS

End Goals is the podcast of LCMS Youth Ministry in the Office of National Mission. LCMS Youth Ministry Staff discuss practices for healthy youth ministry and interview practitioners who provide insight for experienced and new youth leaders.

  1. 12/16/2025

    #155. Talking about Politics

    Politics can be a divisive thing to discuss, but it's an important part of engaging in our vocations. Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies comes in to discuss how we can have healthy conversations about politics in our youth ministry.   Bio: Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies is the Vice President for Ministry Engagement with Lutheran Hour Ministries. His work centers around helping the church become more outreach focused by empowering it to share the Gospel with non-churched individuals at more personal levels. His former life as a non-believer provides exceedingly relevant experience for thinking about how to engage with our friends and neighbors outside the kingdom of God. Lakies regularly speaks at national conferences for pastors and church professionals and has published in several journals on the topic of faith and culture. He is the author of How the Light Shines Through: Resilient Witness in Dark Times (Concordia Publishing House, 2024), a guide for helping the church engage in winsome witness while facing the challenges of contemporary culture.  Prior to his time with Lutheran Hour Ministries, Lakies served as department chair and associate professor of religion at Concordia University in Portland, OR. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and psychology from the University of Michigan and an M.Div. and Ph.D. in systematic theology from  Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He and his wife Bethany have two daughters.   Resources: YouthESource Website – youthesource.com  How the Light Shines Through by Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies - cph.org/how-the-light-shines-through-resilient-witness-in-dark-times   The Two Realms and the Separation of Church and State by Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann - cph.org/the-two-realms-and-the-separation-of-church-and-state

    43 min

  2. 12/11/2025

    #154. Talking about War

    War is not a new topic, but it is one our young people may be asking about. In this episode, Mark and Julianna are joined by Rev. Dr. Joel Lehehbauer, the Executive Director of the Commission on Theology & Church Relations (CTCR) for the LCMS to give us a brief understanding of how we talk about war in the church.  Bio: Rev. Dr. Joel Lehenbauer is the Executive Director of the Commission on Theology & Church Relations (CTCR) for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. He has been on the executive staff of the CTCR since 1991, having previously served as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hillsdale, Mich. (1985-1990). He is a frequent speaker at church-related conferences on a wide variety of theological topics, and has a special interest in current issues, challenges, and opportunities in areas involving the intersection between church and culture. Dr. Lehenbauer attended Valparaiso University, Concordia College, Ann Arbor (B.A.), and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo. (M.Div., STM, Ph.D.). He and his wife Hope live in Union, Mo. and have four grown children and five grandchildren.  Resources: YouthESource Website – youthesource.com  Commission on Theology and Church Relations Library - resources.lcms.org/reading-study/theology-and-church-relations-library Holy Resolve Bible Study from Concordia Publishing House - cph.org/holy-resolve-terror-war-today-downloadable End Goals is the podcast of LCMS Youth Ministry in the Office of National Mission. LCMS Youth Ministry Staff discuss practices for healthy youth ministry and interview practitioners who provide insight for experienced and new youth leaders.

    55 min

  3. 11/21/2025

    #153. Talking about Pornography

    We continue our series on hard conversations by talking with Daniel Weiss, executive director of the Sexual Integrity Leadership Summit, about how we approach conversations around pornography with our young people.   Bio: Daniel Weiss is the executive director of the Sexual Integrity Leadership Summit, which supports, equips, and collaborates with Christian leaders to promote Gospel-centered sexuality in the Church.  Daniel and his wife live in the Wisconsin countryside with their five children.  He has co-authored the book Treading Boldly Through a Pornographic World.  This last summer he spoke at the LCMS Youth Gathering in sessions for both youth and adults on the topic of pornography and also attended the event as an adult leader.  The Weiss family are members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Omro, WI.   Resources: YouthESource Website – youthesource.com  Daniel Weiss’ Organization: sexualintegrityleaders.com/   Daniel’s book: amazon.com/Treading-Boldly-through-Pornographic-World/dp/1684511607   Family Technology Covenant: youthesource.com/2023/06/family-technology-covenant/   Conversation Guide on Pornography: youthesource.com/2025/10/start-a-conversation-aboutpornography/

    40 min

  4. 10/07/2025

    #152. Talking about Divorce

    In a new series, we discuss how to approach and talk about difficult topics in our youth’s lives. In this episode, DCE Rebecca Duport shares her story and how we can talk about divorce in Youth Ministry.   Bio: Rebecca Duport has served her alma mater, Concordia University Irvine, as the Director of the DCE program since 2014. A DCE for 26 years, Rebecca has worked with children, youth, families, and older adults. She brings a wealth of experience and a passion for equipping and inspiring the next generation of leaders in the church.  She is a proud DCE mom to four boys alongside her husband of 26 years. Resources: YouthESource Website – youthesource.com

    44 min

  5. 09/18/2025

    #151. Gathering Finishing Pack – Between Now and 2028

    In our final episode of the Gathering Finishing Pack, we talk about what happens between now and the 2028 LCMS Youth Gathering.  Resources: YouthESource Website – youthesource.com  LCMS Youth Gathering – lcmsgathering.com

    31 min

  6. 09/16/2025

    #150. Gathering Finishing Pack – Impact of the Gathering

    The Gathering has an impact far beyond what happens in your congregation. Hear DCE Zeal Beale and Kari Benson talk about the impact of our service at the 2025 Youth Gathering.  Bio: Zeal Beale is the mother of two adult children and one rescue chiwennie dog named Trisk. Since her return twelve years ago from South Africa as an LCMS missionary, she has served as DCE at St. Paul in the heart of New Orleans. Loving God and His people, she also became a profession chaplain and works part time with a hospice company.  Kari Benson is from Ruskin, Ne and has been the connections Director at Trinity Lutheran Church, Grand Island, NE since 2018. She is wife to Tim and mom to sons Cayden and Cale. She enjoys gardening, canning, camping, and Jeep adventures with her family.  Resources: YouthESource Website – youthesource.com  LCMS Youth Gathering – lcmsgathering.com  Resources from the LCMS Gathering - youthesource.com/lcms-youth-gathering LCMS Servant Events - lcms.org/how-we-serve/youth/servant-events Building Empathy through Technology article with Play Spent - youthesource.com/2020/10/developing-empathy-even-with-technology Plarn Mat Instructions - youthesource.com/2020/09/plarn-service-project-and-devotion

    34 min

  7. 08/28/2025

    #149. Gathering Finishing Pack – Community Post-Gathering

    Rev. Dr. Peter Nafzger joins Mark and Julianna to talk about our theme of community and how we can carry it forward in healthy youth ministry.   Bio: Rev. Dr. Peter Nafzger is an Associate Professor of Practical Theology and Director of Student Life at Concordia Seminary here in St. Louis.  He served a congregation in Minnesota before coming to the Seminary. Peter has served on our Theological Advisory Team for several Gatherings and wrote the thematic paper for the 2025 Gathering.  Resources: YouthESource Website – youthesource.com  LCMS Youth Gathering – lcmsgathering.com

    43 min

  8. 08/22/2025

    #148. Gathering Finishing Pack – Staff Reflections

    The LCMS Youth Ministry staff reflects on the 2025 LCMS Youth Gathering and celebrates what God did during our time together in New Orleans.  Resources: YouthESource Website – youthesource.com  LCMS Youth Gathering – lcmsgathering.com  End Goals is the podcast of LCMS Youth Ministry in the Office of National Mission. LCMS Youth Ministry Staff discuss practices for healthy youth ministry and interview practitioners who provide insight for experienced and new youth leaders.

    41 min
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11 Ratings

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End Goals is the podcast of LCMS Youth Ministry in the Office of National Mission. LCMS Youth Ministry Staff discuss practices for healthy youth ministry and interview practitioners who provide insight for experienced and new youth leaders.

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