God Goes Before You: Starting the New Year with Courage, Prayer, and Peace
Youth Worker On Fire Podcast
A new year brings pressure, expectations, deadlines—and often fear. But what if you started this year knowing, without a doubt, that you are not alone? In this New Year episode of Youth Worker on Fire, Doug Edwards encourages youth pastors, volunteers, parents, and student leaders to step into the coming year with confidence, peace, and courage, grounded in the truth of Deuteronomy 31:8—that God goes before you, walks with you, and will never abandon you. Doug reminds listeners that Jesus understands our pressure because He lived it Himself—and that through Christ, our prayers go...
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The Power of Saying No: Protecting Your Family While Serving in Youth Ministry
Youth Worker On Fire Podcast
How do you serve God faithfully in youth ministry without sacrificing your family in the process? In this heartfelt Christmas-week episode of Youth Worker on Fire, Doug Edwards reflects on decades of student ministry and shares one of the most important lessons he’s learned the hard way: every yes comes with a cost—and sometimes the most spiritual word you can say is “no.” Rooted in powerful Christmas Scriptures like Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:21, and John 3:16, Doug reminds youth pastors, volunteers, parents, and grandparents why this season is ultimately about Emmanuel—God...
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Christmas Season Retreats
Youth Worker On Fire Podcast
What if some of the most life-changing moments in youth ministry don’t happen in the chruch building—but on a mountain, in the snow, or around a shared experience? In this Christmas-season episode of Youth Worker on Fire, Doug Edwards reflects on 35 years of student ministry and shares why retreats, trips, and shared adventures have consistently been one of the most powerful tools for evangelism, discipleship, and long-term spiritual impact. Starting with the Christmas story from Luke 2:8–14, Doug reminds youth pastors, volunteers, and parents that the message of Jesus brings great...
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When God Says “Not Yet”: What Waiting Teaches Us in Life and Youth Ministry
Youth Worker On Fire Podcast
Why does God make us wait—especially when the prayer seems good, urgent, and necessary? In this Christmas-season episode of Youth Worker on Fire, Doug Edwards explores one of the hardest spiritual disciplines for leaders, volunteers, students, and parents: waiting on God’s timing. Drawing from Acts 1:4, prophetic anticipation before Jesus’ birth, and insights from Mark Batterson’s Draw the Circle, Doug unpacks why “not yet” is often God’s path to deeper faith, clarity, and spiritual power. Through personal stories and student ministry memories, Doug reveals how waiting forms...
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When God Invites You Somewhere Unexpected
Youth Worker On Fire Podcast
How do you help students understand prophecy and the end times—without overwhelming them? In this unique episode of Youth Worker on Fire, Doug Edwards joins us from Israel, where he and 1,000 pastors, youth pastors, Christian educators, and influencers were invited to gather for the historic Ambassadors Summit 2025. Doug explains why blessing Israel matters, why Scripture repeatedly points us back to God’s promises over His people, and how these truths deeply impact the next generation. Watch the nightly broadcasts from the trip: Drawing from his own middle-school experience learning...
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The Least Likely Leader: Why God Uses Overlooked People to Change the World
Youth Worker On Fire Podcast
Do you ever feel unqualified, overlooked, or “not the one” God would choose? Then this episode will speak directly to you—and to every student you serve. In this powerful episode of Youth Worker on Fire, Doug Edwards shares why God consistently chooses the least impressive, least equipped, and least likely people to accomplish His greatest work. Drawing from Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson, the story of Gideon, and the extraordinary life of George Müller, Doug reveals how God delights in using ordinary, insecure, underestimated people to confound the wise. Through Scripture, real...
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The Season to Give: Teaching Students Generosity, Stewardship, and Eternal Impact
Youth Worker On Fire Podcast
How do you teach teenagers to give, serve, and see beyond themselves—especially during the holidays? In this episode of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards breaks down practical, biblical, and transformational ways to lead students into a lifestyle of generosity. From serving homeless families to partnering with local agencies and government programs, Doug shares real, field-tested ideas you can use right now in your youth ministry, small group, classroom, or family. Drawing from Proverbs 3:9–10, Doug unpacks six timeless principles that help students understand: ✅ God owns...
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Unseen Miracles In Filmmaking: Julie Castro on Obedience, Faith, and Creating I Am Life—Wonderment in the Womb
Youth Worker On Fire Podcast
What happens when God gives you a vision that no one else understands? In this powerful interview episode of Youth Worker on Fire, Doug Edwards talks with author, producer, and filmmaker , whose radical obedience to God’s call led her to create the unique and spiritually moving film—. Julie shares her incredible faith journey, from writing her first book to producing the TV series —and now stepping into the world of filmmaking to celebrate life through interpretive dance, music, and divine dialogue. In this inspiring conversation, Julie and Doug discuss: ✅ How God turns obedience...
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Pressure Is a Privilege: How God Uses Challenges to Prepare and Empower You
Youth Worker On Fire Podcast
Pressure isn’t punishment — it’s purpose. In this inspiring episode of Youth Worker on Fire, Doug Edwards unpacks what it means when God allows pressure in your life and ministry. Drawing lessons from Steve Irwin’s family, Luke’s precision as a gospel writer, and James 1:2–4, Doug reminds youth pastors, volunteers, and parents that pressure is evidence of God’s trust in you—not His disappointment. From the early struggles of student ministry to discovering God’s power in weakness, Doug shares how to: ✅ Recognize pressure as preparation, not failure ✅ Stay faithful when...
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Standing in the Gap: The Hidden Legacy of Youth Workers
Youth Worker On Fire Podcast
You may never see the full impact of your ministry—but heaven does. In this episode of Youth Worker on Fire, Doug Edwards unpacks what it means to stand in the gap for students, families, and communities. Drawing from Ezekiel 22:30 and Galatians 6:9, Doug reminds every youth pastor, volunteer, and parent that faithful, unseen ministry is holy work—the kind that changes generations. Through personal stories of students who became pastors, thriving churches, and spiritual legacies years in the making, Doug shares how: ✅ Your influence outlasts your season of ministry ✅ “Standing...
info_outlineWhat if some of the most life-changing moments in youth ministry don’t happen in the chruch building—but on a mountain, in the snow, or around a shared experience?
In this Christmas-season episode of Youth Worker on Fire, Doug Edwards reflects on 35 years of student ministry and shares why retreats, trips, and shared adventures have consistently been one of the most powerful tools for evangelism, discipleship, and long-term spiritual impact.
Starting with the Christmas story from Luke 2:8–14, Doug reminds youth pastors, volunteers, and parents that the message of Jesus brings great joy—and that joy can be experienced through generosity, service, and intentional ministry moments beyond the walls of the church.
In this episode, Doug breaks down:
✅ Why Christmas is the perfect season to refocus students on generosity and service
✅ How organizations like Samaritan’s Purse help students live out their faith
✅ Why retreats and trips create spiritual openness students rarely experience elsewhere
✅ Practical timing strategies for middle school, high school, and college retreats
✅ Why convenience and excitement matter more than being “as cheap as possible”
✅ How ski trips, winter retreats, and mission experiences led countless students to Christ
✅ Why your enthusiasm as a leader directly affects student buy-in and transformation
Doug also shares behind-the-scenes wisdom from decades of organizing winter retreats in places like Colorado, Gatlinburg, West Virginia, and the East Coast, offering realistic insight for leaders considering trips in the future.
Whether you’re a youth pastor, volunteer, educator, parent, or grandparent, this episode will challenge you to think differently about how students encounter Jesus—and why some of the most meaningful ministry happens when you simply get them out of their normal environment.
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EPISODE CREDITS
Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com
Hosted by: Doug Edwards
Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ
Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy
Edited by: Secret Roots Music House
PODCAST EPISODE TOPICS:
Youth Ministry
Student Ministry
Youth Pastor Life
Ministry Encouragement
Leadership Skills