Stacking Chairs #81 - Should We Split Youth Group? (Brent Finchum)
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
Release Date: 03/12/2025
Stacking Chairs #94 – Bridging the Gap: Keeping Middle & High School Ministry Connected
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
📅 New episodes drop on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month! 👉 GRAB YOUR FREE 4-PART YOUTH MINISTRY SERIES: Episode Summary: In this episode of Stacking Chairs, Josh and Kyle sit down with Zack Jernigan (High School Pastor) and Josiah Brondyke (Middle School Pastor) from Idlewild Baptist Church in Florida to talk about something every church wrestles with—keeping middle school and high school ministries connected. It’s easy for ministries to become silos. Different schedules, leaders, and rhythms often mean students “start over” when they move up. Zack and Josiah unpack how...
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Stacking Chairs #93 – Escape Survival Mode & Stop Doing Ministry Alone
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
📅 New episodes drop on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month! 👉 GRAB YOUR FREE 4-PART YOUTH MINISTRY SERIES: Episode Summary: In this episode of Stacking Chairs, Josh and Kyle sit down to tackle one of the biggest challenges in youth ministry: loneliness in leadership. Even in a room full of students and volunteers, many youth pastors feel like they’re carrying the weight alone. That’s why we’re diving into Multiply U, a free leadership training platform designed to help you equip your team, grow together, and stop doing ministry solo. We unpack why team-based leadership...
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Stacking Chairs #92 – Pizza Shop to Bible College: Gideon's Journey & Why Youth Ministry Matters
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
📅 New episodes drop on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month! 👉 GRAB YOUR FREE 4-PART YOUTH MINISTRY SERIES: Episode Summary: In this episode of Stacking Chairs, Josh and Kyle welcome Gideon Kohls—a former podcast listener turned Bible Institute student, camp counselor, and future youth ministry leader. Gideon shares his story of growing up in church without a youth pastor, discovering the impact of intentional discipleship, and how Word of Life camp and the Bible Institute helped solidify his calling. From working at a pizza shop to leading campers through real-life conversations,...
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Stacking Chairs #91 – Next Steps in Youth Ministry: Moving Students From Stuck to Growing (with Scott Foreman)
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
📅 New episodes drop on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month! 👉 GRAB YOUR FREE 4-PART YOUTH MINISTRY SERIES: Episode Summary What does it really look like to help students take next steps in their walk with Christ? In this episode of Stacking Chairs, Josh and Kyle sit down with author and Word of Life leader Scott Foreman to unpack how to move students from stuck to growing. Scott explains why next steps are more than slogans, how to equip parents as primary disciplers, and how to assess ministry health with four simple Acts 2 priorities. From “no Scripture, no social media”...
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Stacking Chairs #90 – Stop Winging It: Ministry, Marriage & the Call to Be Intentional
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
🙌 GET YOUR FREE YOUTH MINISTRY SERIES: 📅 New episodes drop the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month! Episode Summary: Let’s be honest—most of us are making it up as we go. In this episode, Josh and Kyle sit down with Phillip and Casey Puett for a raw, encouraging look at what happens when we stop winging it and start leading with intention. From burnout and budgeting to raising kids and serving in ministry as a couple, the Puetts share what they’ve learned (and are still learning) about trusting God with their yes—even when life is messy. Whether you’re married in ministry,...
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Stacking Chairs #89 – What If Church Looked Like Acts 2? w/ Ander Chen
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
🙌 GET YOUR FREE YOUTH MINISTRY SERIES: 📅 New episodes drop the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month! Episode Summary: What if church wasn’t built on programs, but on real community? In this episode, Josh and Kyle sit down with Ander Chen of Acts 2 Network to unpack how their ministry reaches college students, disciples them intentionally, and raises up lifelong kingdom workers—all without a cookie-cutter system. They talk about life-on-life discipleship, bivocational ministry, and why college ministry might be the most overlooked but strategic age group in the church today. Whether...
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Stacking Chairs #88 – Start With One: Discipleship Through Relationship
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
🙌 GET YOUR FREE YOUTH MINISTRY SERIES: 📅 New episodes drop the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month! Episode Summary: In a world focused on speed and numbers, what if the biggest ministry impact comes from just one conversation? Josh and Kyle dive deep into the value of one-on-one discipleship—sharing how they're building relationships with students, earning trust with parents, and prioritizing meaningful connection in a busy ministry world. This episode will leave you challenged, encouraged, and ready to start small for big impact. Key Talking Points: • The power of one-on-one...
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Stacking Chairs #87 - Navigating Bi-Vocational Ministry & Gen Alpha
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
SIGN UP NOW AND CLAIM YOUR FREE SERIES FOR ANY AGE GROUP IN YOUTH MINISTRY: https://multiply.life New episodes drop on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month! Episode Summary: If you’re navigating multiple callings, limited time, or trying to make sense of Gen Alpha’s world (Skibidi what??), this episode will encourage and equip you. In this episode of Stacking Chairs, Josh and Kyle candidly share their own experiences with bi-vocational ministry—what it looks like, the struggles, and the unexpected blessings. They also dive into a timely conversation about the emerging Gen Alpha...
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Stacking Chairs #86 - The Gateway Drug to Deconstruction: Legalism and the Gospel
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
New episodes drop on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month! Episode Summary: What happens when church culture replaces the Gospel with rules? Pastor and podcaster JC Groves joins the show to talk about growing up in a legalistic system—where modesty meant swimming in jeans and salvation meant constant fear. This isn’t just JC’s story. It’s the story of students sitting in your youth group, quietly wondering if they’ll ever be “enough.” And if we’re not careful, legalism becomes the gateway drug to deconstruction. This week on Stacking Chairs, we get honest about spiritual...
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Stacking Chairs #85 - How To Craft A Youth Ministry Plan That Outlives the Leader
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
📅 New episodes drop on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month! In this episode of Stacking Chairs, Josh and Kyle sit down with veteran youth pastor Chris Bowles to tackle the problem of “winging it” on Wednesday nights. Chris unpacks how a clear, written strategy moves students from unreached guests to core disciples and keeps ministry healthy when staff transition. Drawing on decades of local church experience and new tools from Word of Life, he explains how intentional planning frees leaders from burnout, empowers volunteers, and delivers consistent discipleship long after any...
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👉 DOWNLOAD FREE YOUTH MINISTRY LESSONS ARE SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH MILLIONS: https://wol.to/mystory
In this episode of Stacking Chairs, we sit down with Brent Finchum to unpack the pros and cons of different youth group structures. We discuss factors like spiritual maturity, group dynamics, leadership capacity, and church culture that all play a role in deciding what’s best for your ministry.
Key Talking Points:
âś… The benefits and drawbacks of splitting middle school and high school
âś… How group structure affects discipleship and spiritual growth
âś… What to consider before making a change
âś… Practical ways to help students transition between age groups
âś… How to engage older students in mentoring younger ones
Great Youth Ministry Resources:
• Free Youth Ministry Resources: https://multiply.life
Join the Conversation:
How do you handle disruptive behavior in your youth group? Share your thoughts in the comments or send us a message on social media! Let’s learn from one another and grow together.
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Website: youthministry.wol.org
About Stacking Chairs:
Welcome to Stacking Chairs: A Multiply Youth Ministry Podcast. We're here to equip and inspire youth leaders—whether you're running a youth group, a camp, or any ministry that reaches students for Christ. With practical insights and real-life stories, we celebrate those who get there early, stay late, and literally stack the chairs. Join us as we challenge and encourage one another to lead well and impact the next generation. Keep stacking those chairs!
Special Thanks:
This episode is brought to you by Word of Life Youth Ministries. We help churches build deep and engaging youth ministries through coaching, curriculum, and creative Gospel events. Learn more about how we’re on a mission to ensure Every Student, Everywhere Is Growing In Their Walk With Christ at Word of Life Youth Ministries.