Stacking Chairs #85 - How To Craft A Youth Ministry Plan That Outlives the Leader
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
Release Date: 05/14/2025
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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Stacking Chairs #84 – Answering the Call in Leadership
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
📅 New episodes drop on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month! 👉 DOWNLOAD FREE YOUTH MINISTRY LESSONS AND SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH MILLIONS: https://wol.to/mystory Episode Summary: In this episode of Stacking Chairs, Josh and Kyle welcome back Ethan Warren—a former assistant camp director turned behind-the-scenes operations leader at Word of Life. Together, they explore what it means to “answer the call” in ministry when the job you’re doing isn’t exactly the one you signed up for. From leadership lanes to filling gaps to letting go of your way of doing things, this...
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Stacking Chairs #83 – Overcommitted: How to Balance Ministry, Family & Side Gigs Without Burning Out
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
📅 New episodes drop on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month! 👉 DOWNLOAD FREE YOUTH MINISTRY LESSONS AND SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH MILLIONS: https://wol.to/mystory Episode Summary: In this episode of Stacking Chairs, Josh and Kyle share real-life stories of juggling ministry demands, family responsibilities, and even side jobs—all without losing their minds (most days!). They explore what happens when you’re spinning more plates than you can handle, how to identify when you’re genuinely “overcommitted,” and why setting boundaries sometimes feels so difficult. Along the...
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Stacking Chairs #82 – Leaving Well: How to Exit Ministry Roles with Grace & Integrity (Mike Bream)
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
📅 New episodes drop on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month! 👉 DOWNLOAD FREE YOUTH MINISTRY LESSONS AND SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH MILLIONS: https://wol.to/mystory Episode Summary: In this episode of Stacking Chairs, we’re joined by ministry veteran Mike Bream to talk about something most leaders don’t think about until it’s too late—how to leave your ministry role well. Whether you're transitioning out of a healthy team, navigating a toxic environment, or just passing the baton to the next leader, how you exit matters. We unpack what it looks like to leave with grace,...
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Stacking Chairs #81 - Should We Split Youth Group? (Brent Finchum)
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
New episodes drop on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month! 👉 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: ✅ The benefits and drawbacks of splitting middle school and high school ✅ How group structure affects discipleship...
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Stacking Chairs #80 - How To Handle Disruptive Kids In Youth Group
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
👉 DOWNLOAD FREE YOUTH MINISTRY LESSONS ARE SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH MILLIONS: Navigating disruptive behavior in youth ministry is no easy task. From getting kids to pay attention during sermons to addressing behavior that might require asking a student to step away temporarily, these situations can feel overwhelming. But they’re also an opportunity to lead with grace, truth, and a focus on restoration. In this episode of Stacking Chairs, hosts Josh Paulhamus and Kyle Gray are joined by guest Eric Gill to discuss real-life scenarios and practical strategies for managing disruptive behavior...
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Ep. 79 His Mom Made Him do It
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
Kyle talks with a student who started coming to camp because his mom made him and is now a Bible Institute student at Word of Life. Find all things Stacking Chairs at
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Ep. 78 Texting Language & Disunity
Stacking Chairs: A Youth Ministry Podcast
We play a game to start the episode seeing how well we know the texting lingo of the day. We then talk about disunity amongst students in your youth ministry. Find all things Stacking Chairs at
info_outline📅 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 one pastor leaves.
Key Talking Points:
✅ Four levels of student growth – unreached, uncommitted, committed, core
✅ Personality driven ministry versus plan driven ministry
✅ Simple calendar hacks that ensure weekly touch points beyond Wednesday night
✅ Training volunteers to disciple so the pastor is not the bottleneck
✅ Metrics that matter more than attendance
✅ How Word of Life coaching and resources give churches a ready made roadmap
Great Youth Ministry Resources:
✅ Youth Ministry Curriculum & Tools (start for free): https://multiply.life
🔗 Find all things Stacking Chairs at: https://linktr.ee/StackingChairsPod
📱 Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1371987896934818
📸 Instagram: @wol.youthministries
👍 Facebook: facebook.com/wolyouthministries
▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@wolyouthministries
🌐 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 run 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 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 are on a mission to ensure Every Student, Everywhere Is Growing in Their Walk With Christ at Word of Life Youth Ministries.