Choosing Curriculum with Janessa Aston and Mandy Phillips
Release Date: 05/01/2025
Choosing Curriculum with Janessa Aston and Mandy Phillips
NextGen Conversations
Who really has time to wade through all the available curriculums out there or even write your own curriculum? In this episode of NextGen Conversations, Janessa Aston and Mandy Phillips, youth and children’s leaders from Platte Woods UMC, share practical tips for finding resources that engage kids, equip leaders and reflect United Methodist values — without overloading already-stretched ministry schedules. Whether you’re full-time, part-time or a volunteer, this conversation will help you rethink how curriculum can serve your mission, not the other way around. About Janessa Janessa...
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Safer Sanctuaries with Rev. Shea James
NextGen Conversations
Safe Sanctuaries policies can sometimes feel like one more hoop to jump through when planning programming for kids and youth. Yet, with some planning and creative thinking, how your church implements its policy can be a strength. Rev. Shea James, director of youth and outdoor ministries at the West Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church, shares examples and tips for creating a culture of safety at your local church. Related Resources About NextGen Conversations NextGen Conversations is a podcast that seeks to empower children’s, family, youth and college-aged leaders to...
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Marking Ministry Milestones with Morgan Scott and Rachel Whitmire-Griffith
NextGen Conversations
Whether you call it Launch Sunday, Promotion Sunday or something else, this special day is more than just a date on the calendar. It’s an opportunity to energize your church, engage families and set the tone for the season ahead. In this episode of NextGen Conversations, Morgan Scott, youth director at Cameron UMC, and Rachel Whitmire-Griffith, director of nextgen ministry at North Cross UMC, help us break down how to make a successful transition, whether it’s from second to third grade or moving up from children’s to youth ministry. Related Resources About NextGen Conversations...
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Intentional Discipleship with Chris Wilterdink
NextGen Conversations
In ministry, we talk about discipleship pathways, but what does that practically look like for our youngest disciples? In this episode of NextGen Conversations, Chris Wilterdink from UMC Discipleship Ministries discusses how churches can create intentional discipleship pathways that engage all ages, celebrate spiritual growth and build stronger faith communities. Plus, Chris shares about the faith-formation resources that are available to every United Methodist Church through Discipleship Ministries. About Chris Wilterdink Chris is the Executive Director of Congregational Vitality and...
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Getting Started in Intergenerational Ministry with Rev. Arden Ratcliff-Mann
NextGen Conversations
Intergenerational ministry seems like it should happen naturally, but building strong connections between generations takes intentionality and work. In this episode of NextGen Conversations, Rev. Arden Ratcliff-Mann, associate pastor at Liberty UMC, shares how churches can break down ministry silos and make church a place for all generations. Whether your church is large or small, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how all ages can worship, serve and grow together. About Arden Originally from Franklin, Tennessee, Arden lives in Liberty with her husband, Biff, and their three sons...
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The Volunteer Playbook with Annette Safstrom
NextGen Conversations
Laity is essential to the Methodist movement, and volunteers are the lifeblood of a thriving ministry. But how do you find them and keep them? Annette Safstrom, author and Ministry Architects consultant, shares practical strategies for recruiting, equipping and retaining volunteers. Whether you’re struggling to build a team or looking for ways to strengthen your volunteer culture, this episode is for you. About Annette Safstrom Annette fell in love with children’s ministry in the 1980s and has never looked back. After graduating from Bible college in 1991 with a certification in...
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Easter Without the Egg Hunt with Allie Hillman
NextGen Conversations
Easter is one of the biggest Sundays of the year, but how can local church leaders design meaningful experiences that go beyond the traditional egg hunt? In this episode, Allie Hillman from Waypoint UMC in Waynesville shares how they’re reimagining the family Easter experience. You’ll hear what Waypoint is planning for Easter 2025, and spoiler alert, it isn’t an egg hunt. About Allie Hillman Allie serves as the Family Ministry Director at Waypoint UMC in Waynesville, Missouri. About NextGen Conversations NextGen Conversations is a podcast that seeks to empower children’s, family, youth...
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Impactful Summer Experiences for the Next Generation
NextGen Conversations
Join us as we dive into the 2025 summer activity slate and showcase the exciting opportunities for children, youth and United Methodist churches in Missouri. Discover how day camps, overnight adventures, transformative mission trips, and the epic UNITE students conference are shaping faith, fostering relationships, and empowering the next generation. Related Resources 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...
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Chatting About Culture of Call with Brian Valentine
NextGen Conversations
Explore what it means to create a Culture of Call, an environment where people can discern their God-given gifts and discover their purpose in ministry and beyond. Missouri Conference Recruitment Specialist Brian shares stories of impactful relationships and practical steps to foster meaningful connections in ministry, no matter what age group you work with. About Brian Valentine Brian serves as Recruitment Specialist for the Missouri Annual Conference where he works closely with other Conference leaders in building a system to aid people in discovering their call. His work regularly places...
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Celebrating 2024 in NextGen Ministries
NextGen Conversations
What a holly, jolly year it has been! Join the NextGen Ministries staff as a plus-one to their Christmas gathering, where they celebrate the wins of 2024 and share some Christmas hot-takes. 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...
info_outlineWho really has time to wade through all the available curriculums out there or even write your own curriculum? In this episode of NextGen Conversations, Janessa Aston and Mandy Phillips, youth and children’s leaders from Platte Woods UMC, share practical tips for finding resources that engage kids, equip leaders and reflect United Methodist values — without overloading already-stretched ministry schedules. Whether you’re full-time, part-time or a volunteer, this conversation will help you rethink how curriculum can serve your mission, not the other way around.
About Janessa
Janessa Aston is the Director of Student Ministry at Platte Woods Church, which is a fancy way of saying she works with students in grades 6-12. Student ministry is her jam! After working in student ministry for close to a decade, Janessa knows that working with teenagers is her life’s calling. Her favorite part of her job is seeing students have those “ah-ha” moments when it comes to faith as well as helping students see that church is fun through various special events like retreats, camps and hype nights. In her free time Janessa loves to road trip with her husband, Ty, to national parks and different NHL arenas (Go Kraken!). One of her life goals is to see every national park (so far, she has been to over 20). Janessa’s other hobbies include reading and hand embroidery. Janessa and Ty have two cats, Nimbus and Morticia, who complete their family.
About Mandy
Mandy Phillips is the director of Platte Woods Kids and provides programming for kids from birth through 5th grade. She has worked at Platte Woods Church for well over a decade. She absolutely loves working with kiddos, it is a dream come true! Seeing life through the eyes of kids is the best, even just for a minute or two. Mandy and her husband, Otis, have been married for many years happily. They have two adult children, one son-in-law, and a Black Lab named Lucy. Mandy lived in Omaha, Nebraska, from the time she was born until she was 18 years old. She greatly dislikes coconut, mushrooms, and, worst of all, being cold! Mandy loves to be outside taking walks or training for a triathlon – she has completed several. She also enjoys sewing, reading and family time in general.
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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!