End Goals: LCMS Youth Ministry Podcast LCMS Youth Ministry & KFUO Radio

Mark and Julianna continue their series on the book Connected for Life with DCE Mark Cook. They discuss his chapter on building Christian community in youth ministry one teen at a time. Find Connected for Life at cph.org/p-31891-Connected-for-Life-Essential-Guide-to-Youth-Ministry.aspx. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

DCE Mark Cook

Bio: Mark Cook is a graduate of Concordia Nebraska and is in his 12th year serving as DCE at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN. He serves mainly in the areas of youth ministry, confirmation, and children’s ministry. He enjoys playing with his kids, music, camping, backpacking, and anything that involves being outdoors and going on adventures with his wife Libby and three children, Micah (4) and Karis (2) and baby on the way. 

We continue our series on topics from Connected for Life.  In this episode, Dr. Deb Arfsten returns to talk about the importance of developing a support system for youth ministry in your congregation.  This network of the church goes beyond volunteers and parents, and helps increase the focus of the family of God on the next generation.   

Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Get your copy of Connected for Life at cph.org/p-31891-Connected-for-Life-Essential-Guide-to-Youth-Ministry.aspx. Find Four Devotions for Ministry Teams at youthesource.com/2021/01/28/four-devotions-for-ministry-teams-encouragement-from-paul.

Bio: Dr. Debbie Arfsten is the professor of Christian Education, DCE Program Director, and Synodical Placement Director at Concordia Chicago. In addition to teaching and administration, she serves as coordinator of all field experiences including supervision of internships. Dr. Arfsten’s has a Ph.D. in leadership from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. She has also written for various publications on these same topics, most recently contributing a chapter to “Connected for Life: Essential Guide to Youth Ministry.” Dr. Arfsten has served the LCMS Youth Gathering since 1992, most recently as the manager for international participants. She also is currently serving as the chair of the wellness committee at the LCMS Northern Illinois District, and is part of the Ministerial Care Coalition of the LCMS. 

Our end goal of young people who are disciples of Jesus Christ for life is not exclusive to the young people who are already in our church. Mark and Julianna talk with Rev. Derek Broten about how to reach out with the Gospel in Community Focused Youth Ministry. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Get your copy of "Connected for Life" at cph.org/p-31891-Connected-for-Life-Essential-Guide-to-Youth-Ministry.aspx.

Bio: Rev. Derek Broten served for 20 years as a Director of Christian Education (DCE) in Wichita, KS and Woodbury, MN and as a Campus Pastor at Woodbury Lutheran.  Derek comes with a wealth of expertise from the congregation and has experience leading at the LCMS Youth Gathering and 14 different mission trips.  He has also served on the staff of LCMS Youth Ministry. 

Young leaders are important to the heath of the church, but they need support and mentoring to be successful and stay Christ centered. For 40 years, LCMS Youth Ministry has equipped and trained young leaders through YouthLead. Hear more about the program and the value of young leaders in your church. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Learn more about YouthLead on the LCMS Youth Ministry homepage lcms.org/youth-ministry/youthlead and read about YouthLead in the LCMS Reporter at blogs.lcms.org/2020/meet-youthlead-lutheran-youth-fellowship-gets-new-name.
Joanna Shaw is from Millersville, MO, and is a freshman at Concordia Irvine studying to be a Lutheran teacher. She serves on YouthLead’s Executive Team representing the Central Region.  
Ally Graves is from Cincinnati, OH, and is a freshman at Lipscomb University studying to become a dietitian. She currently serves on YouthLead’s Executive Team representing the Great Lakes Region.   

In our continued look at the authors in Connected for Life, Dr. Mark Blanke joins Mark and Julianna to talk about the importance of strategic planning for youth ministry including how young people can be engaged in service and leadership as a part of that process.

Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com.

Bio: Dr. Mark Blanke is the DCE Program Director, Director of Strategic Planning and University Institutes, and Director of the Institute for Religious Education at Concordia University, Nebraska. He also teaches courses in confirmation ministry, adult education, leadership development and DCE practicum.

Dr. Blanke earned a B.S.Ed. and M.A. in Parish Education from Concordia Nebraska, as well as an M.S. in Counseling and Guidance from California Lutheran University and an Ed.D. in Adult Education from Northern Illinois University.

Prior to coming to Concordia Nebraska in 1995, Blanke served as a DCE and Lutheran elementary school principal in California and taught at Concordia University Chicago.

In our continued series on topics from Connected for Life, we talk about the importance of recruiting, involving, and supporting volunteers in youth ministry. DCE and classroom instructor Darius “Bo” Chapman joins us to provide insight and wisdom from his experience of working alongside and learning from volunteers in ministry.
Find Connected for Life at cph.org/p-31891-Connected-for-Life-Essential-Guide-to-Youth-Ministry.aspx. 
Volunteer Longevity: youthesource.com/2018/10/23/volunteer-longevity
The Spiritual Care and Nurture of Volunteers: youthesource.com/2012/05/15/the-spiritual-care-and-nurture-of-volunteers
LCMS resources on Child Abuse Protection: lcms.org/social-issues/child-abuse 
Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. 
Bio: Dr. Darius “Bo” Chapman serves as a Theology teacher at Faith Lutheran High School in Las Vegas, Nevada.  He received his DCE Certification from Concordia University Texas and also holds a Doctorate in Human Resource Development from the University of Texas at Tyler.  Before teaching in Las Vegas, he served as the Director of Student Ministries at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Macomb, MI.  He and his wife April have been married for 17 years and have two beautiful children.   
He loves listening to music (especially 80's hair bands) and looks forward to attending concerts, travelling with his family once COVID is over, and enjoys ending the evening with a really good book.