NextGen Conversations

NextGen Ministries
  • 5.0 (3)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

NextGen Conversations is a podcast that seeks to empower children's, family, youth and college-aged leaders to create dynamic, Christ-centered ministries. Every episode features a conversation with a ministry leader and covers innovative solutions to common problems faced in churches today. We want to give you practical steps to transform the way you do ministry. It's time to get in on the conversation!

  1. Building an Ability-Inclusive Ministry with Rev. Katrina Drew

    12/12/2025

    Building an Ability-Inclusive Ministry with Rev. Katrina Drew

    What does it mean to welcome people of all ages and abilities in your ministry? Rev. Katrina Drew, senior pastor at Mt. Zion UMC in St. Louis, chats with host Josh Schaller and Rev. Mona Candea about starting Embrace, a women's ministry for moms of kids with medical challenges or disabilities, and the impact is has had on both the community and the congregation. About NextGen Conversations NextGen Conversations is a podcast that seeks to empower children's, family, youth and college-aged leaders to create dynamic, Christ-centered ministries. Every episode features a conversation with a ministry leader and covers innovative solutions to common problems faced in churches today. We want to give you practical steps to transform the way you do ministry. It's time to get in on the conversation!

    35 min
  2. Collaborative Ministry in Action with Janessa Aston and Rev. Cory Williams

    11/13/2025

    Collaborative Ministry in Action with Janessa Aston and Rev. Cory Williams

    When churches work together, everyone wins. In this episode, we chat with Janessa Aston from Platte Woods UMC and Rev. Cory Williams from Liberty UMC about the Northland Fall Retreat, a longstanding connectional event for Kansas City-area youth and churches. Janessa and Cory detail how multiple churches collaborate to pull off a meaningful weekend and share how your region can start a similar event. About NextGen Conversations NextGen Conversations is a podcast that seeks to empower children's, family, youth and college-aged leaders to create dynamic, Christ-centered ministries. Every episode features a conversation with a ministry leader and covers innovative solutions to common problems faced in churches today. We want to give you practical steps to transform the way you do ministry. It's time to get in on the conversation!

    44 min
  3. Reimagining Sunday Mornings with Amanda Bond and Paige Turner

    10/30/2025

    Reimagining Sunday Mornings with Amanda Bond and Paige Turner

    What happens when a growing church decides to completely rethink its Sunday mornings? At New McKendree in Jackson, two campuses came together to create one united Sunday morning experience. Executive Director Amanda Bond and Family Ministries Director Paige Turner share how a children's ministry challenge sparked a full-scale reimagining of discipleship, worship and community. In this conversation we discuss data-driven decisions, building consensus, and the bold move that strengthened engagement across all generations. About NextGen Conversations NextGen Conversations is a podcast that seeks to empower children's, family, youth and college-aged leaders to create dynamic, Christ-centered ministries. Every episode features a conversation with a ministry leader and covers innovative solutions to common problems faced in churches today. We want to give you practical steps to transform the way you do ministry. It's time to get in on the conversation!

    48 min
  4. All About Big Worship, Little Disciples

    10/16/2025

    All About Big Worship, Little Disciples

    In this episode of NextGen Conversations, join the Missouri Conference NextGen Ministries staff as they dive deep into our new program called Big Worship, Little Disciples. Hear the "why" behind the program, the desired outcomes and how your church can get involved in 2026. Resources Big Worship, Little Disciples Webpage About NextGen Conversations NextGen Conversations is a podcast that seeks to empower children's, family, youth and college-aged leaders to create dynamic, Christ-centered ministries. Every episode features a conversation with a ministry leader and covers innovative solutions to common problems faced in churches today. We want to give you practical steps to transform the way you do ministry. It's time to get in on the conversation!

    26 min
  5. Healthy Hiring Practices with Rev. Diannah White

    10/02/2025

    Healthy Hiring Practices with Rev. Diannah White

    Hiring for NextGen ministry roles is no small task. And once you've found the right person, how do you set them up for success? In this episode, Rev. Diannah White, executive pastor at Good Shepherd UMC in Kansas City, shares about the challenges of hiring, the expectations placed on new staff and how churches can better support their employees. About Rev. Diannah White Diannah's role at Good Shepherd allows her to be involved in operations for both of Good Shepherd's campuses and to serve as a campus pastor for the N Oak location. Providing strategy, encouraging staff culture and ensuring financial integrity are only a few of the ways she gets to take care of the business of the church. However, her greatest love is to connect with people and hear the story of God alive in their life. Prior to joining the staff team in 2012, Diannah spent 19 years working for Special Olympics Missouri where she fell in love with bringing out the best in people. She and her husband Jeff have one adult daughter, Jenna, and two dogs. They love spending time at Lake of the Ozarks, adding stamps to their passports and traveling to Mizzou for sporting events. Resources Lead Like Jesus Contact Diannah at dwhite@goodshepherdkc.com Good Shepherd KC About NextGen Conversations NextGen Conversations is a podcast that seeks to empower children's, family, youth and college-aged leaders to create dynamic, Christ-centered ministries. Every episode features a conversation with a ministry leader and covers innovative solutions to common problems faced in churches today. We want to give you practical steps to transform the way you do ministry. It's time to get in on the conversation!

    47 min

  6. 09/18/2025

    Advent for All Ages with Rev. Sarah Jo Adams-Wilson

    Christmas comes every year. How do we keep it both fresh and meaningful and welcoming for families? In this episode of NextGen Conversations, Rev. Sarah Jo Adams-Wilson, associate pastor at Missouri UMC in Columbia, share ideas and tips for reimagining church Advent traditions with an intergenerational lens. About Rev. Sarah Jo Adams-Wilson Sarah Jo is a cradle United Methodist born and raised in Mississippi. She previously served at Decatur UMC in Decatur, Mississippi, alongside her clergy husband, Jake. Sarah Jo graduated from Duke Divinity School in 2014 and was ordained an elder in 2017. Her ministry passions include planning and leading worship, supporting students of all ages, and connecting the church and community. Sarah Jo enjoys traveling, reading both theology and fiction, and live music. Resources Sarah Jo's kid-friendly worship bulletins: Christmas Eve Back-to-School Sunday Ash Wednesday Maundy Thursday Pentecost Sunday Glow in the dark candlesticks From the Manger series from Illustrated Ministry Missouri Conference Curriculum Discounts Contact Sarah Jo at sarahjo@moumc.org About NextGen Conversations NextGen Conversations is a podcast that seeks to empower children's, family, youth and college-aged leaders to create dynamic, Christ-centered ministries. Every episode features a conversation with a ministry leader and covers innovative solutions to common problems faced in churches today. We want to give you practical steps to transform the way you do ministry. It's time to get in on the conversation!

    36 min
  7. Competing with Sports with Rev. Chandler Landis

    08/30/2025

    Competing with Sports with Rev. Chandler Landis

    On this episode of NextGen Conversations, we chat with Rev. Chandler Landis, associate pastor at First UMC in Sikeston, about the reality of youth ministry in a world packed with sports, activities and extracurriculars. Chandler shares creative, practical ways to build trust with families, partner with parents and make ministry happen beyond the church walls and between touchdowns. About NextGen Conversations NextGen Conversations is a podcast that seeks to empower children's, family, youth and college-aged leaders to create dynamic, Christ-centered ministries. Every episode features a conversation with a ministry leader and covers innovative solutions to common problems faced in churches today. We want to give you practical steps to transform the way you do ministry. It's time to get in on the conversation!

    32 min
  8. Fresh Starts and Fresh Produce with Madison Westermier and Emily Pikaard

    07/22/2025

    Fresh Starts and Fresh Produce with Madison Westermier and Emily Pikaard

    In the final installment of our special pitch episodes of NextGen Conversations, we welcome Emily Pikaard and Madison Westermier as they pitch ways to reveal a newly updated ministry space and raise a few additional funds. Emily dreams up a scavenger hunt-style launch event to help young families explore a newly renovated children's space, complete with unstructured play, classroom introductions and a strategic welcome back to church. Madison pitches a year-round church farm stand stocked with garden goods and homemade jams offered by donation and run in part by kids. It's a creative way to feed the community while supporting children's ministry. About NextGen Conversations NextGen Conversations is a podcast that seeks to empower children's, family, youth and college-aged leaders to create dynamic, Christ-centered ministries. Every episode features a conversation with a ministry leader and covers innovative solutions to common problems faced in churches today. We want to give you practical steps to transform the way you do ministry. It's time to get in on the conversation!

    30 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

NextGen Conversations is a podcast that seeks to empower children's, family, youth and college-aged leaders to create dynamic, Christ-centered ministries. Every episode features a conversation with a ministry leader and covers innovative solutions to common problems faced in churches today. We want to give you practical steps to transform the way you do ministry. It's time to get in on the conversation!

Information

  • Creator
    NextGen Ministries
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 Missouri Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
  • Show Website
    NextGen Conversations