Lauren had a Winterfest outreach event. Tom's youth ran a camel themed night of youth group. You can get Before it Starts here: https://takelove.org.au/pages/before-it-starts If you have a question, or suggestion, email us: hello@youthgrouppodcast.com Get more podcast resources at https://tomfrench.com.au/youthgrouppodcast Find more from Tom at https://tomfrench.com.au. AI went all out on the description this week: Youth group chaos meets real ministry insight in this episode, where Tom and Lauren unpack what happens when you hand the room to teenagers and let them run with it. From a giant youth-run youth group in Melbourne to a Winterfest rethink in Sydney, this conversation is full of practical takeaways for anyone trying to build youth ministry that actually works. Tom shares the wild, funny, and slightly terrifying story of a youth-run night that included camel-themed chaos, a returning book review feature, and a near-miss with an unsecured pipe organ. Lauren reflects on Winterfest, the challenges of balancing outsider-friendly events with insider in-jokes, and why she’s thinking hard about what should stay, what should change, and what might need to be retired altogether. You'll discover: why giving young people freedom often produces more imitation than innovationhow to tell when a long-running youth event needs a refreshwhat Lauren is changing in a four-week domestic abuse prevention programwhy small-group discussion and case studies are getting the most timehow shifting online gender rhetoric is affecting the way teens hear prevention materialTom and Lauren also dig into the bigger question behind all of it: when do you keep a ministry format because it’s useful, and when do you change it because the culture, the kids, or the purpose has moved on? They explore how youth leaders can create space for teenagers to lead while still guiding them toward fresh ideas, better safety, and better formation. Lauren is a youth minister and baker in Sydney, and Tom is a youth minister, author, and speaker in Melbourne. Together they bring honest, funny, and deeply practical reflections on the realities of youth ministry, from event planning to safeguarding to gospel clarity. Essential listening if you lead teenagers, plan youth events, or want to think more carefully about how ministries stay faithful, flexible, and actually worth showing up for.
