Redpoint

Welcome to Redpoint - a podcast for Vineyard youth workers (and really any one interested in youth ministry!). Join Christian Dunn, Vineyard's National Youth Director, as he has conversations with Vineyard youth pastors and leaders from around the country about all things youth ministry. Youth ministry can be a lonely place. We hope you will find encouragement, feel part of a larger community, learn and grow as a leader, and maybe even laugh a little!

Ashley Bohinc 12/12/2024

Ashley Bohinc Ashley is the author of "Communicating to Middle Schoolers" and "The Art of Group Talk." She worked for several years as the Director for Middle School Curriculum at Orange, and is currently the Executive Director of Carry 117, a ministry in Ethiopia which focuses on orphan prevention and family preservation by empowering women. In our talk we discuss the ways in which culture is changing for the teens we are working with, and how to see those changes as opportunities rather than obstacles. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/34264815

Chris Sasser 12/04/2024

Chris Sasser Chris is the author of "Bags: Helping Your Kids Lighten the Load," has been in youth ministry for decades, and also works with Ministry Architects helping churches achieve their ministry goals. Chris has a passion to equip and encourage parents to lead their families in faith. His focus in youth ministry takes a unique view: he focused on helping parents as his target. He still meets with teens every week, but his goal is to equip the parents since they really spend more time with the teens. He shares what he's learned over years of doing this, and you can start to apply it to your ministry! /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/34263890

Legacy That Leads: Town Hall with Glen Shroder, Jenna Stepp, and Christian Dunn 11/04/2024

Legacy That Leads: Town Hall with Glen Shroder, Jenna Stepp, and Christian Dunn Listen in to our recent "Townhall" Webinar where three "old heads" of youth ministry talk about some of the roots of Vineyard Youth ministry, and how we can have hope for the future! /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/33776852

Jordan Biere 10/25/2024

Jordan Biere Jordan is the National Director for Youth Alpha. Youth Alpha has been completely redone with youth, by youth, and for youth. It has a heavy emphasis on taking into consideration what teens are actually interested in, and it is done in the voices of their peers. It is a truly global team this time and has been shortened to better meet the demands of youth ministry. It also has been created specifically to be easily led by teens in their youth groups and even their high schools. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/33582507

Mike McGarry Part 2 10/04/2024

Mike McGarry Part 2 In my seond interview with Mike McGarry from YouthPastorTheologian.com we dive deeper into what discipleship means, how we define it, and how that influences what we do with our teens. Specifically we talk about the history and importance of catechism, and how we can learn from that model, and apply it to today. But as we do that, how do we make sure we aren't just reaching teen's minds, but are also deeply reaching their hearts? It's a lot to think about, and Mike does a great job unpacking it. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/33280047

Mike McGarry 09/20/2024

Mike McGarry In our conversation with Mike McGarry we talk about how youth ministry is theological ministry. And how we can work to help our teens not just regurgitate answers, but learn how to think for themselves and discover answers. How do we cultivate that kind of culture in our youth group? Mike is the Founder/Director of Youth Pastor Theologian. He served as a Youth Pastor for 18 years and earned his Doctor of Ministry degree in “Ministry to Emerging Generations” from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Mike is the author of Discover: Questioning Your Way to Faith (New Growth Press, 2023), Lead Them to Jesus: A Handbook for Youth Workers (New Growth Press, 2021), A Biblical Theology of Youth Ministry: Teenagers in the Life of the Church (Randall House, 2019), and was a contributor to Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry: A Practical Guide (Crossway, 2017). /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/33125247

Josh Griffin 09/06/2024

Josh Griffin Josh Griffin is one of the leading voices in youth ministry with 25+ years experience in the trenches, currently serving as the junior high pastor at Mariners Church and before that the High School Pastor at Saddleback Church. He's the co-founder of DownloadYouthMinistry.com, YMUniversity.com and heard in 400+ episodes of the DYM Podcast w/Doug Fields. He's created more than 50 youth ministry resources and authored several books including 99 Thoughts for Small Group Leaders. Josh and his wife Angela have 4 kids, which are now all teenagers! In this episode we talk about the importance of youth ministry especially in today's culture. We talk about discipleship, and how we can disciple teens towards Jesus with all of the competing influences in their lives. And specifically we talk about digital discipleship, and how we can help our teens understand the influence of technology on their faith, and teach them to use it wisely and not be ruled by it. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/32941912

Luke Geraty 07/12/2024

Luke Geraty In my conversation with pastor and theologian Luke Geraty we talk about what it's like to grow up in the Vineyard! Luke recounts the power of individual adults having a positive impact on his faith, and encourages us to remember that one relationship can forever change the trajectory of someone's life. We also talk about low rider cars.....and pets....it gets pretty intense. You won't want to miss it. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/31969987

John Elmer 06/26/2024

John Elmer John Elmer is one of our SUPER regional leaders and so we were SUPER excited to have him on the podcast this month! In this episode we have a wonderful discussion about whether there really is a tension between discipleship and evangelism in youth ministry. We also spend a lot of time talking about leadership development and releasing our teens into ministry especially missional ministry. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/31904867

Joel Seymour 06/04/2024

Joel Seymour Joel is on of the Vineyard's Super Regional Leaders. In this episode we discuss leadership and leadership transitions. We also talk about the long game of youth ministry, how to minister to families in travel ball, and what Joel hopes to see in Vineyard youth ministry. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/31598297

Preparing Teens' Faith for College with Claire Hart of Fusion USA 04/15/2024

Preparing Teens' Faith for College with Claire Hart of Fusion USA Teens prepare for college in all sorts of ways: academically, socially, practically...but how do we help them prepare their faith for college? Are your teens ready to step away from their support network? Do they know how to find a local church? Are they ready for the cultural shift of going to college, moving away from home, interacting with more people who may disagree with their beliefs? In this episode we talk about the important of preparing teens' faith for college. Claire Hart is the Prep for College Manager at Fusion USA, who comes to us with decades of experience working with college age teens. We are also offering two trainings coming up April 22 and May 8th with Claire. See our website at vineyardyouthusa.com to learn more! /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/30828693

Matt Stoudt 02/02/2024

Matt Stoudt Matt Stoudt volunteers with the youth at the Vineyard Church of Holly Springs in North Carolina, and is also the Regional Mobilizer for the Southeast Region. In our conversation Matt opens up about his story of adoption and how that has shaped much of who he is today. We also discuss changing from full time ministry to volunteer and learning to do ministry in different contexts and roles, while still keeping your identity. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/29611713

Samuel Worden 01/23/2024

Samuel Worden Samuel Worden is one of the youth pastors at Vineyard Church of Central Illinois as well as one of the Regional Youth Mobilizers for the Midwest Central Region. Samuel opens up about how a miracle in his childhood, and tragedy in his teenage years, led to a life of ministry and a passion for teens. We discuss holding the tension of believing in a miracle making God while also walking the road of suffering, and the need for a robust theology of suffering that holds hands with a robust theology of the Kingdom. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/29610983

Jason Patrick 01/05/2024

Jason Patrick Jason Patrick pastors The Oasis Vineyard Church in IL with his wife Betsy. He’s been doing youth ministry for over 20 years and is currently the Youth Mobilizer for his Midwest North Region. We take an in depth look at the corrupting influence of power in the lives of leaders. How can we avoid being corrupted? Why do leaders fall? What can we do to prevent that in our lives? /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/29340443

Brad Schnizlein 12/18/2023

Brad Schnizlein Brad Schnizlein is the youth pastor Vineyard Church of Bloomington Normal IL. Brad was raised in the Vineyard, got saved at a Vineyard youth group, and continues to have a passion for youth ministry decades later. He is passionate about creating environments for teens to feel welcome, to participate, and to be discipled. We discuss the lengths he goes to in order to do this, some cool ideas for reaching new people, and some thoughts he has around the best ways to communicate with teens! /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/29133598

Jordan Pelphrey 11/24/2023

Jordan Pelphrey Jordan Pelphrey is the Student Revival Pastor at Vineyard Northwest in Cincinnati, OH, and is also one of our Regional Youth Mobilizers for Vineyard USA in the Great Lakes Region. In this episode Jordan and I discuss what training teens in their own discipleship looks like. Specifically, how do we model and impart a passion for living out the spiritual disciplines? We specifically talk about Sabbath, how it has changed Jordan's life, and how he thinks it could be powerful for teens. We then spend some time talking about screen time and how it can be an obstacle to discpleship not just for teens, but also for us leaders. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/28566733

Michael Gay 11/10/2023

Michael Gay Mike is the youth pastor at Vineyard Gilbert Comunity Church in Gilbert, AZ, and he is also the co-youth mobilizer in the Mountain Region. In this episode we cover two major topics. First, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of having a large representation of middle schoolers in your youth group. Second, we talk about the stigma of staying in youth ministry for a long time. Why does it feel like if you stay too long, you are doing something wrong? Can someone be called to youth ministry over the long haul, and if so, how do we do that without feeling like we've missed something? /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/28554437

Project Timothy with Dave and Christian 10/20/2023

Project Timothy with Dave and Christian In this episode Dave Paolozzi of Tehachapi Vineyard turns the tables on Christian and interviews him about Project Timothy. We discuss the origin story of PT, why we think it is so valuable to teen leaders, and what we are trying to accomplish with each camp. We also talk about the importance of creating spaces for teens to own their faith, to step into leadership, and how to do that even on a very small scale. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/28375661

Keirstyn Worden 09/29/2023

Keirstyn Worden Keirstyn is the youth pastor at Vineyard Church of Central Illinois, and is also the regional youth mobilizer for the Midwest Central Region. This episode is a far ranging conversation about leadership. We touch on specifically leading in the Vineyard, as well the importance for being grounded and humble, the power of sin, and the need for boldness as we present the truth to a generation desparately in need. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/28177325

Chantal Perrone 09/15/2023

Chantal Perrone As we kick off our new season, we welcome back Chantal Perrone. She is the youth pastor at the Vineyard Community Church in Prosper TX, and is also the regional youth mobilizer for the Gulf Coast Region. Chantal and I discuss how we saw God moving in the youth at the national conference this summer, how to avoid burnout when doing ministry and balacing life and work, and how to better build bridges between youth ministry and kids ministry. It's a great conversation, I think you'll find it super helpful. Welcome back to Redpoint! /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/28031331

Adama Diakhaté 06/30/2023

Adama Diakhaté Adama is the youth pastor at the Evanston Vineyard. In our conversation we talk about the benefits of having a multi-cultural youth group. Specifically, how our differences can serve to enrich each other’s faith. Adama also talks about as leaders, how we can learn to check our biases that may influence who we minister to. And lastly, we discuss being willing to have uncomfortable conversations about race and ethnicity. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/27238260

Becca Buntjer and Danna Ortiz 06/23/2023

Becca Buntjer and Danna Ortiz Becca is the Youth and Children's Pastor at River Heights Vineyard in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. Donna is a young adult leader in her youth group. Together we discuss the challenges and realities of leading a multicultural youth group. They share some of the ways they have proactively worked to make the group a welcoming place for anyone regardless of their ethnicity or language. It’s been challenging, but it’s been so rewarding, and their joy is evident in this wonderful conversation! /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/27238221

Alex Schwartz 05/17/2023

Alex Schwartz Alex is the Student Union Director at Vineyard Cincinnati Church. In this episode we talk about how to change culture in a youth ministry to see a turnaround, the importance (and difficulty) of delegation, empowering teens, and making decisions people don’t like. It’s a full episode! We also cover the secret truth of deep dish pizza that no one in Chicago is talking about. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/26870490

David Quaid 04/28/2023

David Quaid David is the youth pastor at the North Phoenix Vineyard in Phoenix AZ. In our conversation we talk about how to keep connection with teens at the core of our youth culture, regardless of the size of the group. We also talk a lot about creating culture, working together with volunteer leaders, and how preparation can facilitate the work of the Spirit. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/26681808

Santos Chaparro 04/18/2023

Santos Chaparro Santos is the High School Youth Pastor at Vineyard Columbus. In our conversation we talk about the challenges and benefits of leading a large youth group. We talk about recruiting adult leaders, and empowering teen leaders. We spend time talking about how to make sure you don’t get stuck on stage, not knowing any of your teens. We also spend a lot of time discussing how to create a youth ministry that Gen Z wants to attend: how to create space for teens to feel free to share their thoughts and beliefs even if they aren’t lining up perfectly with Scripture yet. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/26575389

Jordan Miller 04/03/2023

Jordan Miller Jordan is the Youth Director for Vineyard Lake Charles in Lake Charles, Louisiana. In this episode we talk about the power of smaller groups to produce a family atmosphere that is so needed in the lives of teens, and the obstacles he faces as he tries to facilitate that. We also talk about discipleship, not giving up, and the internal struggle of watching kids “not get it.” /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/26421687

Miriam Swanson 03/17/2023

Miriam Swanson Join us for a special episode as we interrupt our normal schedule to sit down with Miriam Swanson, the Director of Fusion USA. Fusion and Vineyard Youth are building a patnership to help high school seniors better transition into college AND to help churches embody the discipleship of Jesus to college freshman in their towns. You don't want to miss this! /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/26256429

Danica Colin 03/03/2023

Danica Colin Danica is the Youth & Young Adult Pastor at Faith Vineyard in Kearney, MO. She has had the unique experience of pastoring both large (over 100) and small (under 20) youth groups. In this episode we talk about why there are advantages to smaller groups. We also spend time talking about how important it is for leaders to be flexible, and why risk taking can lead to some great adventures with God if we can just say yes. /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/26117289

Tyler Tulowitzky 02/17/2023

Tyler Tulowitzky Tyler is the Youth Director at CityLight Vineyard Church in Newark, Delaware. In this episode we talk about how to do Holy Spirit ministry in the context of a smaller group that meets in people’s homes, the benefits of personal relationships with your teens, and how to balance being bi-vocational and starting a family! /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/25964097

Amy Maddy 02/03/2023

Amy Maddy Amy is a wife, mom of 2 girls, worshiper, and Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Hood River Oregon's Children Pastor and Youth Director. In this episode we discuss what it looks like to really be present, the sacrifices it takes, and why having a smaller group actually might make deeper discipleship more likely. We also discuss the challenges of being married with little kids AND doing ministry, as well as the miracle that is “take and bake” pizza. You won’t want to miss it! /episode/index/show/4635e75d-d380-4659-923c-00eb1ee73b84/id/25820766

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