It’s Move Up Season in youth ministry. There are new families moving their oldest child into a youth group for the first time. There are freshmen moving into high school. And of course, seniors graduating to the next thing, whatever that may be.
For youth pastors, navigating these changes is a big challenge. We have to communicate well, help people feel comfortable in their new setting, ensure nobody gets lost in the shuffle, and handle the calendar, often in a compressed period of time. All that, while dealing with our own emotions of seeing beloved students graduate. It can be physically and emotionally exhausting.
Multiply that by a billion if your own kids are graduating. Steve has lived it three times! (Yes, Shannon, someday that will be you!)
Transitions and Move Ups are truly madness, but it’s an important part of shepherding people and taking good care of your ministry. We hope this episode is helpful, even if we don’t have all the answers.

Today the Sherpas welcome good friend and Download Youth Ministry Co-founder Josh Griffin to the podcast!
We talk with Josh about his unforeseen call to youth ministry as a college student, and his discouraging first job at a small church in the upper midwest. It was during a hard time that he discovered Doug Field’s book, “Purpose Driven Youth Ministry.” That led him on a pilgrimage to Saddleback Church, one of the most influential churches in the country. His future was forever changed by the relationships he formed there.
Now the Jr High Pastor at Mariners Church, Josh shares about the challenges of large church ministry (5 youth services on Easter!),  the formative days of Download Youth Ministry (which was almost named Digital Youth Ministry), the democratization of youth ministry resources, and how optimism is the only way forward in these troubled times.
We also find out how our own Brock Morgan was selected as a trainer for the National Day of Volunteer Youth Ministry Training!
Josh is a generous spirit and we are grateful for his friendship and encouragement. It’s a great conversation.

Smelly Cabins, Snack Shack, Silly Skits, Scary Bus Rides, Smooching Kids – nothing says summer like Summer Camp!
Even after our many years of experience and all the various programs we’ve led, we still believe in Summer Camp. It’s one of the foundations of our ministries. Summer Camp provides the chance to get away, break rhythm, avoid distractions, build relationships, and have significant, life-changing moments with God. There’s no substitute.
Despite its long-standing history and value, we’ve also seen an increasing reluctance on the part of parents to send their kids to camp. Mix that in with travel sports and the financial costs, and it’s not an easy thing to get kids to go!
But we still love it, still sold on it, and are still taking our kids this summer. Hear our reasons, and do likewise!

Episode 18: The Beauty and Necessity of Contemplative Youth Ministry With anxiety at an all-time high and attention spans at an all-time low, how can youth pastors help our students experience God in deeper and more meaningful ways? Is it more than music, games and messages?

On this episode, Shannon, Brock and Steve talk about the value and beauty of contemplative practices in youth ministry. Whether it’s the Prayer Labyrinth Steve’s group just experienced, or Lectio Divina in Shannon’s ministry, or a chance to get prayed for every week in Brock’s ministry, we think we’re onto something significant. These aren’t new ideas–– in fact, most of the practices are centuries old–but modern churches often forget how powerful they can be. We’ve made them part of our regular ministry rhythm, and we hope others might do the same. Our students crave it.
Who knows, maybe our ideas will even work upwards into “big church?”
This is an episode your students need! You probably do, too.

Mark Yaconelli’s bookhttps://www.amazon.com/s?k=contemplative+youth+ministry&hvadid=580750104392&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9008050&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15997339013655376092&hvtargid=kwd-2809949768&hydadcr=22568_13493238&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_7izs79mno6_e
We are proud members of the Download Youth Ministry Podcast Network https://www.downloadyouthministry.com Watch us on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@youthministrysherpasC2C Follow us on Instagram!Email us at youth [email protected]

Sadly, we are missing Shannon today, but Brock and Steve got together the day after they both preached in their churches’ main services to talk about our experiences with preaching. It can be a big deal for youth pastors. We both get to do it regularly, and we’ve seen the benefits our time in the “pulpit” has brought to our ministry within the congregation. Whether you preach once a year or once a month, preaching is a great way to gain credibility, speak into the culture of our church, and celebrate the Next Generation. But it also brings some challenges, like time management (we still have to plan for youth group that week), staying humble (“I like it when YOU preach!), and not trying to sound smarter than we are. Preaching is really important, yet probably less important than we make it.
The most important question is this: pulpit, podium or music stand? 
It’s Episode 17: When Youth Pastors Preach

We are proud members of the Download Youth Ministry Podcast Network https://www.downloadyouthministry.com Watch us on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@youthministrysherpasC2C 
Follow us on Instagram!Email us at youth [email protected]

Today, we talk about money. It’s a sore subject in youth pastor circles. Many youth pastors and youth workers feel underpaid, unappreciated, and undervalued. What’s worse; talking about it or asking for more feels unspiritual. Aren’t we just in it for the kids? Well, yes, but what can we do to improve our financial viability so we can take care of our families, build church health, and achieve longevity in youth ministry?

Dan Navarra is our guest. Dan is the creator and curator of the Annual Youth Pastor Compensation Report. https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/resources/compensation-youth-pastor-2023/
Dan is passionate about helping workers earn what we’re worth. He has a wealth of experience working with youth pastors, churches and leaders, and offers some powerful advice for us. The news isn’t all good – we have a long way to go – but being informed enough to advocate for ourselves is an important step.

The Youth Ministry Sherpas get pretty fired up over this one. You will, too.
You can find Dan Navarro here in most Youth Pastor Facebook Groups or here:https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/team/

We are proud members of the Download Youth Ministry Podcast Network https://www.downloadyouthministry.com Watch us on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@youthministrysherpasC2C Follow us on Instagram!Email us at youth [email protected]

Brock is back from sabbatical, if you can call it that. A month off–albeit with two interruptions, a speaking engagement, and painful back issues. But there was also a trip to San Diego, another trip to London, and some sweet time with God. So, in hindsight, what did Brock learn about himself, about his identity in Christ, and what it is that keeps us in youth ministry? How do we do what we do without letting it be who we are? Later, we talk about what we consider “success.” In a time when youth ministry is harder than ever–when so many students walk away (see last week’s episode) and the cultural forces are working overtime against us and our students–how do we know it’s not all in vain? Where do we define the win, and where do we find it? The answer may surprise you.
Welcome back, Brock. We are Brockless no more!

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Our first-ever interview guest is Brad Griffin, Senior Director of Content and Research for the Fuller Youth Institute, and co-author of their new book, Faith Beyond Youth Group.

It has been nearly 20 years since Sticky Faith brought to light the troubling truth about Millennials leaving the church. Those same problems–exacerbated by accelerating technology, anxiety, and a worldwide pandemic–are affecting Gen Z. What can youth workers, parents, and church leaders do to stem the tide of young people abandoning the church?

Steve and Brad have a great conversation around the unique characteristics of America’s largest generation, and how we can foster true Christ-like character to create a better generation of Christians than the ones they are following.

Mentioned in this episode

Sticky Faith
https://fulleryouthinstitute.org/stickyfaith/parents

National Study of Youth and Religion
https://youthandreligion.nd.edu/
Carey Nieuwhof Podcast (Kara Powell)
https://careynieuwhof.com/episode628/
Reggie Joiner/Orangehttps://thinkorange.com/

Dallas Willardhttps://dwillard.org/books/divine-conspiracy
Skye Jethanihttps://www.holypost.com/
Youth Leader Check Uphttps://fulleryouthinstitute.org/




We are proud members of the Download Youth Ministry Podcast Network https://www.downloadyouthministry.com Watch us on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@youthministrysherpasC2C Follow us on Instagram!Email us at youth [email protected]

It's February and we're still Brock-less. However, Shannon and Steve got together to talk about Valentine's Day, the Super Bowl, and more importantly -- Youth Ministry. What happens when our students surpass their parents in spiritual maturity? Sometimes it's students from nonChristian backgrounds, but it can also be students from within the church. How do we challenge them to keep growing and pursuing Jesus but not undermine their parents? We also talk about the painful reality of when students we know and love suddenly drop off the face of the earth. Every youth worker experiences this. How do we strike a balance between pursuing the kid who's ghosting us, but letting them go for our emotional preservation? Shannon also gives another plug for the Barbie movie, while Steve recommends a classic Robin Williams movie, and another movie about... chess? We also give a teaser for our first-ever Sherpa interview, coming later this month. It's Episode 13 of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Coast to Coast, so roll down the windows and let's get started! We are proud members of the Download Youth Ministry Podcast Network https://www.downloadyouthministry.com Watch us on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@youthministrysherpasC2C Follow us on Instagram! Email us at youth [email protected]

Brock is still on sabbatical, but Shannon and Steve connect for a great conversation about tradition, innovation, and who should be playing in the Super Bowl this year.

Youth Ministry is usually on the cutting edge of church culture, which means we are always up for trying something new. At the same time, creating stability and traditions for our students can be a valuable gift. How do we know when to change it up, and how do we know when "We've Always Done It That Way" is the right answer?

Our second segment is about our ability to "Wing It." Knowing ourselves and our youth ministry brethren, we wonder if procrastination is a curse or necessary part of the youth pastor gene? How does that impact our effectiveness, and what can we do about it?

By the time you hear this our hopes will be either realized or dashed, but nevertheless we make our wishes known for the Super Bowl. Despite what she says, Shannon is clearly letting a certain Pop Star determine her fandom.

It's time for Episode 12 of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Coast to Coast!

We are proud members of the Download Youth Ministry Podcast Network
https://www.downloadyouthministry.com
Watch us on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/@youthministrysherpasC2C
Follow us on Instagram!
Email us at youth [email protected]

Our first episode of 2024, and we're already Brockless! Brock is on sabbatical and will miss a couple episodes, but Shannon and Steve are back to kick things off.

Steve went to the Passion Conference in Atlanta the first few days of the year (along with 55,000 college students) and while it was awesome, it also got him thinking about worship, emotions, and their role in youth ministry. How do we strike a balance between bringing students into a transcendent experience but not making "the experience" the point? What is the role of worship in faith development for today's generation?

Our "Get to Know Your Sherpa" segment highlights the differences between the East and West Coast (related to fireworks), and we chat about the role of laughter, games and silliness in youth ministry as well. Maybe laughter and tears aren't so far removed from each other.

Episode 11 of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Coast to Coast!

We are proud members of the Download Youth Ministry Podcast Network
https://www.downloadyouthministry.com
Watch us on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/@youthministrysherpasC2C
Follow us on Instagram!
Email us at youth [email protected]