Freedom Talks

Freedom for Youth Ministries

We talk about OUR ministry so you can find Freedom in YOURS. We’ll share praise reports and program updates; dig into scripture; share the good, the bad, and the ugly of youth ministry; and talk about the partners, volunteers, donors and servant leaders who help make Kingdom work possible. Freedom Talks is a podcast of Freedom for Youth Ministries. Learn more at freedomforyouth.org. Our intro music is "Funkorama" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

  1. 07/22/2024

    Episode 18: Time Management in Youth Ministry

    In this episode about time management, Mark says "You can make more friends, you can make more money, but you can't make more time." Jess defines time management as "the means and methods to manage your time," but we know it's never that simple. Jess and Mark discuss tips to manage your time well and warns us what happens when we don't accomplish that goal, and then uses a Priority/Time Management Matrix (free sign in required) to help us understand and manage those things that seem to fill our schedule, and clarfies the axiom "Another person's urgency should not become my emergence." Once you go to the Iowa Christian Youth Network, let us know you're there and join us for additional resources for YOUR ministry.

  2. 07/15/2024

    Episode 17: Enlightening Students in Youth Ministry

    In this episode, Mark and Jess outline the steps to enlightening students in your ministry, comparing and contrasting training, educating, indoctrinating, and developing. Training is defined as teaching or developing other skills or knowledge. Educating means to give instruction or to teach, train, or inform. Indoctrination is teaching someone to accept a set of beliefs without questioning them. Development is the process in which someone or something grows or changes to become more advanced. Training plus education equals development. Drop your questions or comments in an email to podcast@freedomforyouth.org or in the comments section. For additional resources, visit the Iowa Christian Youth Network at ICYN.org. To learn more about OUR ministry, Freedom for Youth, visit freedomforyouth.org.

  3. 07/08/2024

    Episode 16: Safety in Youth Ministry

    Hopefully, we all have a place where we feel safe. In this episode, Jess and Mark discuss how to make youth ministry a safe place, discussing physical, emotional, and spiritual safety. Situational awareness, being aware of what's happening around you, is the key to physical safety. If there's a fire, for example, do you know where to go, where the exits are, and if they are kept free of clutter so you can use them? Is your parking lot well lit? Have you done a walkthrough to evaluate and plan for emergencies? The pair talk about emotional safety, focusing on empowering, connecting, and correcting in a way that sets youth up for success through authentic relationships built on common language and correcting out of love. Finally, Jess and Mark discuss spiritual safety, with the emphasis on Biblical accuracy while building trusted relationships. Check out the Iowa Christian Youth Network (icyn.org) for resources to help you ensure YOUR ministry is safe.

  4. 07/01/2024

    Episode 15: Dealing with the Problem Child in Youth Ministry

    In this episode, Jess and Mark debunk the label "problem child" because we don't want to write off or label a child "bad" (or even "good") when dealing with people with a sinful nature. As adults, we must teach young people and give them the tools to address behavioral issues. We discuss how best to serve children who may have more difficult behavior. It begins with understanding the individual and is best navigated from within an authentic relationship. "No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship." - Ruby Payne, as quoted in A Framework for Understanding Poverty. Please email us your thoughts and questions to podcast@freedomforyouth.org, visit the ⁠Iowa Christian Youth Network ⁠to learn from others; or see what we're doing at ⁠Freedom for Youth Ministries⁠ in Des Moines.

  5. 06/24/2024

    Episode 14: Making Connections that Count in Youth Ministry

    Mark and Jess spoke with Brian Patterson, executive director of Freedom for Youth Ministries, about the importance of building meaningful connections in the ministry. Since joining Freedom for Youth, Brian has emphasized connections to share the work of God through the ministry. Whether it's soul care or fundraising, Brian has focused on building genuine connections with volunteers, donors, and other stakeholders whose support, prayers, and intentional actions help the Ministry impact the community. Brian highlights eight ways in which strong, trust-based connections benefit non-profit ministries: 1. Building trust by being transparent in connections. 2. Understanding the needs of both the organization and the community. 3. Creating support networks that include volunteers, donors, prayer partners, and other stakeholders. 4. Increasing awareness and visibility to open minds and hearts to the ministry. 5. Collaborating on solutions by working with like-minded entities toward aligned goals. 6. Seeking feedback to ensure the ministry is moving in the right direction. 7. Strengthening relationships to survive challenging times and celebrate achievements. 8. Ensuring sustainability by continuously evaluating services and programs to meet the needs of a changing world.

  6. 06/17/2024

    Episode 13: Growing Youth Spiritually (Part 2 - Programs)

    Mark and Jess continue their conversation about the programs used to grow youth spiritually. Program is defined as structure and framework, and they cover a variety of components that can help grow students spiritually, from small groups, mentoring, and memory verses to intentional curriculum, serving, and (bonus) worship! Jess references this quote from Biblical Worldview by Josh Molvihill: A biblical worldview equips children to serve God using the gifts he has given them. God didn't just save us from something, he saved us for something - to resume the task for which we were originally created. We bring him glory when we reflect his character to others. Running a business, teaching students, or managing a home are not secondary activities, but doing God's work in the world. A child's future vocation is not something he or she does for God; it is a way to participate in God's work.  Send us an email to podcast@freedomforyouth.org to share what you're doing in your program, visit the Iowa Christian Youth Network to learn from others; or see what we're doing at Freedom for Youth Ministries in Des Moines.

  7. 06/10/2024

    Episode 12: Growing Youth Spiritually (Part 1 - People)

    In this episode, Mark and Jess discuss growing youth spiritually, starting with building relationships and understanding where the young person is spiritually and then building a growth plan. They discuss the value of understanding if you're evangelizing or discipling the student. They remind us that sometimes, we won't see growth during our time with the student and that's okay because it takes time -- God's time! We're her to plant the seed. God does the rest. In this episode, Mark and Jess talk about the importance of nurturing spiritual growth in young people. They emphasize the significance of building a strong relationship with the youth and understanding where they are spiritually before formulating a growth plan. Mark and Jess also highlight the difference between evangelizing and discipling the youth and the importance of identifying which one is needed in each situation. Furthermore, they remind us that growth may not always be visible during our time with the youth, but that's okay because it takes time - God's time. Our role is to plant the seed, and God does the rest.

  8. 06/03/2024

    Episode 11: Growing Youth Numerically in Youth Ministry

    In this episode, Mark and Jess talk about watching the raw numbers in youth ministry. They remind us that it's okay to have objectives, but God does the work, and in His time. When God blesses a ministry numerically, it's good to celebrate and give Him the glory. We can't, however, make achieving the number another idol in our lives. You might want to listen to episode #9 on record keeping again to understand which numbers are important and why, and episode #8 on volunteers so see when numbers can impact your program. Be sure to learn more about the resources available through the Iowa Christian Youth Network at icyn.org. You can learn more about Freedom for Youth Ministries at freedomforyouth.org.

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About

We talk about OUR ministry so you can find Freedom in YOURS. We’ll share praise reports and program updates; dig into scripture; share the good, the bad, and the ugly of youth ministry; and talk about the partners, volunteers, donors and servant leaders who help make Kingdom work possible. Freedom Talks is a podcast of Freedom for Youth Ministries. Learn more at freedomforyouth.org. Our intro music is "Funkorama" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Information

  • Creator
    Freedom for Youth Ministries
  • Years Active
    2024
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Freedom for Youth Ministries
  • Show Website
    Freedom Talks