Sparkhouse Youth Ministry Podcast

We’ve all had days when ministry programs don’t go according to plan. Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate, too few students show up, too many students show up, or maybe you didn’t have enough time to adequately prepare. This is why it’s important to have an imaginary "Youth Ministry Fanny Pack" with some no-prep, timeless tools at your disposal. In this episode Jake and Erik discuss the games, movies, and Bible study techniques they utilize when they’re in a pinch. Jake also offers insights on ways to create and organize your own youth ministry “pan-pan” list.

Liturgy gets a reputation for being archaic and boring, especially among young people. Church has a long history of creating traditions, rituals, and spiritual practices. Is there a place for such things in youth group? What could that look like? Jake and Erik discuss ways liturgy principles can create meaningful youth ministry experiences. They also circle back to last week’s conversation about love and discuss some recent news articles about purity culture.

Love is in the air! With Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s time to talk about love in youth group. What are some of the best (and worst) ways to tackle this topic? How can you include all the kids in this conversation, not just the ones interested in dating or romance? Grab your favorite translation of 1 Corinthians 13 and join Erik and Jake for a discussion that’s all about love.

For many church workers, winter brings two things: nasty weather and continuing education events. This week, Jake and Erik discuss both of these topics—Jake’s experience at the ELCA Youth Ministry Network’s 2019 Extravaganza event and the recent stretch of bad weather across the country. They also reflect on establishing appropriate boundaries in youth ministry and how to employ humor (or not) in youth group.

Ministry doesn’t happen in a cultural vacuum. Every day we are surrounded by people, art, and media which can inform our work with young people. For this reason, Erik and Jake are trying out an every-once-in-a-while episode format called Pop Culture Crossover. This week they identify six insights for ministry in the documentary, “Michael Jackson’s This Is It.” You don’t need to have seen the movie to follow along with the conversation, and you just might find yourself singing along more than once.

Young people aren’t just the church’s future, they are the church’s present. Congregations can benefit from the passionate enthusiasm youth have to offer. But not every church is nimble enough to enact the kind of speedy changes young people demand. How can youth ministers empower young people to lead? What are some ways congregations can be open to the ideas offered by their young members? Erik and Jake consider these questions and offer their thoughts on how youth can make their voices heard by church leaders.

Public opinion of clergy has plummeted in recent years. Fewer than 40% of Americans believe pastors are honest or have high ethical standards. What does that mean for youth ministers? How can you earn the trust of your students, parents, staff, and church members? Erik and Jake (after some hand-wringing about the state of the church) offer several ways you can convey honesty and integrity in your ministry.   Nurses Again Outpace Other Professions for Honesty, Ethics   Religion Considered Important to 72% of Americans   Youth Ministry Podcast: Child Safety Policies

Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Baccalaureate…the church performs many important rituals for young people. But what about the person who isn’t ready at the same time as their peers? How can youth ministers celebrate meaningful milestones while remaining flexible? Jake and Erik talk about ways they practice sacred traditions in their congregations. They also have a few ideas for moving milestones out of the church and into the home, neighborhood, and school.

It’s time to make New Year’s Resolutions. What are your goals for 2019, and what are the odds you’ll keep these in the forefront of your thoughts for more than a few weeks? In this episode you’ll hear Jake and Erik talk about their personal and professional aspirations for the coming year. They’ll offer ways to make reasonable resolutions and suggest strategies for avoiding the mid-February flameout.

As the year draws to a close, it’s time for Erik and Jake to look back at some of the more indelible moments from 2018.  How have their experiences on summer youth trips continued to bear fruit into the winter months? What are the ways popular culture influenced their youth ministry? Which apps, websites, podcasts, and books helped them connect with kids? And, is Fortnite going away anytime soon?  (Spoiler: no, it’s not.)

In the pantheon of Christmas songs, one song rises above all other songs. In this episode, Erik and Jake take a deep dive into the carol “O Holy Night.” Prepare to immerse yourselves into a wellspring of knowledge about the greatest Christmas song of all time. You can also check out Erik’s Christmas music playlist at https://blog.wearesparkhouse.org/christmas-music-playlist-all.

‘Tis the season to be jolly. But not everyone feels merry and bright this time of year. Jake and Erik have a complicated relationship with the seasons of Advent and Christmas. It’s a time of wonder and hope, but it can also be a time of heightened anxiety and depression. In this episode, they offer suggestions to help overwhelmed youth ministers keep their heads above water and help busy kids stay connected. Also found in this episode: coffee puns and Lutheran college choir nerdery.

People who are called to Youth Ministry wear many different hats. We are event planners, theologians, teachers, counselors, carpool drivers, pizza-ordering experts, janitors, preachers, musicians, and role models. It’s easy for parents and church members to not fully understand the complexity of our work. Today you’ll hear a dozen youth workers answer the question, “What’s one thing you wish people understood about your job?”

What does urban youth ministry look like, and how is it different from ministry in other contexts? Jose Rodriguez and Sean Fenner, two youth workers from California who work with inner-city teens, sat down with Erik during National Youth Workers Convention to share some of the strategies they use to help urban kids in need. You’ll hear Sean and Jose discuss the joys and struggles of ministry, how to find the resources they need to reach kids, and the ways they partner with schools and other community organizations to fulfill the purposes of their ministries.

We’re coming to you live from National Youth Workers Convention in St. Louis! Erik and Carla chatted with people from all over the country during the first night of the conference. If you’re attending #NYWC18 you’ll hear from several of your fellow attendees. Listeners who aren’t at the conference will get a taste of the excitement which comes when people who are passionate about youth ministry come together for education, fellowship, and renewal. Thanks to everyone who stopped to talk with us.

This week Erik is joined by Jake Bouma to tackle the topic of prayer. They offer some ideas for how to demythologize this spiritual practice with young people. Topics include: null curriculum (8:00), “practice makes practice” (16:00), doodle prayer (19:00), acrostic prayer (21:30), Help, Thanks, Wow (24:20), and the Divine Hours (35:50).

Erik is joined by two Sparkhouse colleagues, Ben Gieseke and Kelly Bakalich, who will talk about their experiences working with kids.  Ben served a couple of two-year stints in congregations while he was seminary. Kelly is a former volleyball coach and youth volunteer who led a small group in her church.  Both of them discuss their motivation for getting into youth ministry, the ups and downs of church life, and what they miss most about their regular encounters with young people.

All Saints Day is a Christian festival that celebrates and honors saints living and dead, known and unknown. The saints we encounter in youth ministry are volunteers, fellow ministry colleagues, parents, and even students. They make the way a little clearer, a little easier. In this episode, Bryan and Erik lift up the saints from their ministries.

Everybody makes mistakes. However, the mistakes we make in youth ministry can sometimes feel…unique. In this special “It’s almost Halloween” episode, Bryan and Erik talk about their scariest moments in youth ministry and wonder how they still are allowed to do this job.

Youth ministry doesn’t work (or at least, doesn’t work well) with a solo, lone wolf approach. You want (need?) parents to be involved in your youth ministry. But what does that look like? How much do you collaborate? When do you take the lead? In this episode, Bryan and Erik discuss the pros and cons of having parents connected to your ministry.