Youth Ministry Podcast

Veteran youth workers Erik Ullestad and Jake Bouma have close to 30 years of youth ministry experience. They also work as product developers for Sparkhouse, giving them a unique perspective on youth ministry topics.

Episode 105: Greatest Hits 11/29/2019

Episode 105: Greatest Hits After 104 episodes, it's time for the Youth Ministry Podcast to release its Greatest Hits album. Today, Jake and Erik discuss their favorite episodes from the past two years and say "farewell" (for now) to this podcasting endeavor. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/12201824

Episode 104: If Only I'd Known 11/22/2019

Episode 104: If Only I'd Known They say hindsight is 20/20. Today Jake and Erik look through the lens of their combined 30 years experience and ruminate on what they would've told their younger selves when they were starting out in youth ministry. Also, Jake asks listeners for some help. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/12129071

Episode 103: Design in Ministry 11/15/2019

Episode 103: Design in Ministry You have a lot to think about as a youth minister, and most of it is related to what's in front of your face every day: registration forms, staff meetings, lesson planning, receipts, and the clogged sink in the youth room. Who has time to consider things like user experience and graphic design? YOU, that's who! Today Jake and Erik offer some suggestions for how to step away from the daily grind and design meaningful ministry moments at your church. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/12035498

Episode 102: Leaving Gracefully 11/08/2019

Episode 102: Leaving Gracefully Departing from a congregation is almost never easy, and yet most ministry professionals will say “goodbye” to several churches during their career. In this episode, Jake and Erik discuss ways to leave a church with grace for yourself and grace for your congregation. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/11950502

Episode 101: Digital Catechism 11/01/2019

Episode 101: Digital Catechism Teens spend an average of nine hours online each day. Social media is ubiquitous. Young people and figuring out their online and in-person identities on the fly every day. How can the church support young people and their parents as they encounter the complicated and wonderful world of social media? In this episode Jake and Erik talk about their recent interactions with parents and teens on the topic of social media and offer suggestions for how to facilitate these conversations at your church. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/11827935

Episode 100: 100th Episode Lock-In Spectacular! 10/25/2019

Episode 100: 100th Episode Lock-In Spectacular! Live, from Sparkhouse Headquarters in Minneapolis, MN – it’s the 100th episode of the Youth Ministry Podcast! In this very special episode, Erik and Jake are joined by members of the Sparkhouse team to give you a look behind the scenes of the ministry of publishing. Plus they’ll give you a recap of all the shenanigans that took place during their outrageous lock-in. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/11770517

Episode 99: Shared Ministry 10/18/2019

Episode 99: Shared Ministry Youth ministry isn’t something you do alone. Not only do you have leaders in your congregation to support you, but you can partner with other church youth groups for all kinds of activities. Jake and Erik discuss their experiences with shared ministry events and offer suggestions for things to consider when planning these outings, retreats, and trips. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/11693723

Episode 98: Talkin' TikTok 10/11/2019

Episode 98: Talkin' TikTok If you’re around young people, you’ve probably heard of TikTok. In a little more than a year since it was launched, TikTok has become one of the fastest growing and most popular apps in the world. Today Jake and Erik discuss the ways youth are interacting with this video app. Then they bring on their resident expert, Erik’s teenage daughter Anna, to answer their questions and to set her father straight on a few things. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/11590862

Episode 97: Road Trip 10/04/2019

Episode 97: Road Trip Jake and Erik took a road trip to Sparkhouse HQ to prepare for the 100th Episode Spectacular. In today’s episode they rehash what they discussed in the car, including; establishing healthy boundaries with youth, what to do when holidays conflict with church programming, and when to perform background checks for mentors. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/11500994

Episode 96: Education, Continued 09/27/2019

Episode 96: Education, Continued Youth Ministry is an ever-changing vocation. It’s important for adults to learn new ways of teaching, relating, and leading young people. There are countless ways to develop new skills for ministry—events, conferences, conventions, books, coaching, consultants, and cohorts—but which ones are right for you? In this episode Jake and Erik discuss the anatomy of a great professional development experience and offer some questions to ask before attending your next continuing education event. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/11407070

Episode 95: Classroom Management 09/20/2019

Episode 95: Classroom Management Youth ministers like to think of ourselves as a lot of things—mentors, spiritual leaders, teachers, event planners, etc. It can be tough to consider that we need to be disciplinarians at times. Jake and Erik discuss the topic of classroom management and offer some tips for how to effectively (and graciously) curtail unhelpful student behavior. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/11304212

Episode 94: Ministry Mailbag 09/13/2019

Episode 94: Ministry Mailbag It’s time, once again, for Jake and Erik to open up the ministry mailbag and discuss the topics you’ve suggested. Today they chat about social anxiety, parent motivation, and how to relate to the tough, perhaps bothersome kid who always shows up at youth group. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/11214734

Episode 93: Bible Study 09/06/2019

Episode 93: Bible Study The more Bible study changes, the more it stays the same. Or does it? For a few thousand years faithful people have been studying Scripture. There are many different ways to approach this important task, but often times youth ministers feel ill-equipped to lead these conversations. Jake and Erik offer their thoughts on ways to do Bible study, but only after Jake recommends a video and Erik dives into some listener feedback. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/11136230

Episode 92: Hypothetically Speaking 08/30/2019

Episode 92: Hypothetically Speaking Youth Ministry often occurs in the everyday tasks of studying, teaching, leading, and relating. Every once in a while it’s good to step away from reality and imagine a different way of doing ministry. In this episode Jake and Erik ask each other some hypothetical questions about programming, facilities, and money—and one of them considers joining a monastery. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/11043533

Episode 91: Back to School 08/23/2019

Episode 91: Back to School Parents and children are getting ready to head back to school. The church program year is also starting to ramp up, which means sending out schedules, training volunteers, while preparing all the great lesson and activities. Jake and Erik check in regarding their thoughts around the back-to-school season and discuss an important article about 21st century parenting. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/10943837

Episode 90: Grieving with Mike Stavlund 08/16/2019

Episode 90: Grieving with Mike Stavlund Why do bad things happen to people? Where is God in the midst of difficult times? How do youth ministers grieve along side people who are suffering…or are suffering themselves? Pastor Mike Stavlund joins Erik and Jake to discuss these and other profundities of pastoral care. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/10890499

Episode 89: Live from Churchwide Assembly 08/09/2019

Episode 89: Live from Churchwide Assembly The ELCA held Churchwide Assembly this week. Erik had an opportunity to speak with some of the youth voting members about their hopes for the future. They have some important things to say to pastors and youth ministers about what it's like to be a young leader in the church. Enjoy listening to their perspective! /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/10824629

Episode 88: Feelin' Campy 08/02/2019

Episode 88: Feelin' Campy Church camp provides a special opportunity for young people to grow in faith, meet new people, and learn about themselves. It’s also a place where the next generation of church leaders will discover their calling in ministry. Jake and Erik wash off the bug spray and check in from Lutheran Lakeside Camp to discuss the ways congregations can make outdoor ministry an important part of their program. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/10726520

Episode 87: Pop Culture Crossover 07/26/2019

Episode 87: Pop Culture Crossover Ministry doesn’t happen in a cultural vacuum. Every day we are surrounded by people, art, and media which can inform our work with young people. For this reason, Erik and Jake are once again doing a Pop Culture Crossover. This time, they discuss the remake of Disney’s “The Lion King” and its implications for youth ministry. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/10655081

Episode 86: Origin Story - Part 2 07/19/2019

Episode 86: Origin Story - Part 2 In the previous episode, Erik shared stories of how he discerned a call in youth ministry. This week, it’s Jake’s turn. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/10496690

Episode 85: Origin Story - Part 1 07/12/2019

Episode 85: Origin Story - Part 1 “You’re in ministry? Interesting! How did you get started?” People often wonder how and why someone would enter into the vocation of ministry. Some ministers can identify a major milestone which pointed them on their career path. (See: Luther, Martin) For others, the discernment came with slightly less fanfare. In this episode Jake interviews Erik about his ministry origin story and invites listeners to reflect on how they got involved in ministry as well. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/10483202

Episode 84: Trip Chaperones 07/03/2019

Episode 84: Trip Chaperones Youth trips and retreats are special times for young people and adults to connect with one another and with their faith. A great adult chaperone can make a huge impact on the overall success of the trip. How do you go about selecting and training the right adults for this mountaintop experience? Erik and Jake have some thoughts! /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/10394561

Episode 83: Volunteers 06/28/2019

Episode 83: Volunteers Youth ministry rarely happens without the support of volunteers. Your ability to equip these volunteers will profoundly impact young people for the rest of their lives. No pressure, right? Fortunately, Jake and Erik are here to offer their insights on how to recruit, train, and retain the adults who participate in your ministry. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/10299068

Episode 82: Pre-Event Butterflies 06/21/2019

Episode 82: Pre-Event Butterflies Everyone feels a little nervous energy before a big event. Youth ministers are no exception. It may look like we thrive on chaotic events, meaningful service projects, and severe sleep deprivation – but there are a lot of logistics that go into preparing for these experiences. Sometimes the details of a big event are still in flux days (or hours) before go-time. In this episode Jake and Erik discuss the ways they’re getting their mind, body, and spirit ready for upcoming events. And one of us forgets how to spell the other guy’s name. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/10223669

Episode 81: VBS 06/14/2019

Episode 81: VBS Vacation Bible School is one of the most high-profile events of summertime ministry. It’s an opportunity for the church to connect with young families and teach Bible stories in fun and creative ways. What does VBS Week mean for youth ministers? How might churches modify their VBS experiences to better meet the needs of the community? In this episode Jake and Erik take a deep dive into all things VBS and figure out how long this cultural phenomenon has been around. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/10141261

Episode 80: The Dark Forest 06/07/2019

Episode 80: The Dark Forest Summer is here, which means Jake and Erik have a little extra time to read and reflect. In this episode they discuss an article called, “The Dark Forest Theory of the Internet” and its implications for youth workers. They also suggest some ways to assess the recently concluded program year. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/10065899

Episode 79: Youth Ministry Pro Tips 05/31/2019

Episode 79: Youth Ministry Pro Tips Jake and Erik have been in youth ministry for a while—more than 25 years between them. In that time they’ve developed some habits, mindsets, and practices which have enhanced their professional experience. In this episode they offer ten pro tips for people in all stages of life and ministry. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/9985493

Episode 78: Apps for Ministry 05/24/2019

Episode 78: Apps for Ministry There are more than 2 million mobile apps available to the public. Many of these can be used to make your ministry life easier and more efficient. But how do you know which ones to use or how to use them? Jake and Erik (to be honest, mostly Jake) discuss some of their favorite apps and offer some practical tips for how to use these apps to enhance your ministry. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/9882125

Episode 77 : Mission Trips 05/17/2019

Episode 77 : Mission Trips Summer is only a few weeks away. For many youth ministers, summer means Mission Trips. No matter if this is your first or twenty-first trip, you have a lot to keep in mind before, during, and after this experience. Jake and Erik offer their insights on effective pre-trip communication, engaged leadership during the mission trip, and healthy recuperating after you come home. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/9798395

Episode 76 : Pastoral Care & Confidentiality 05/08/2019

Episode 76 : Pastoral Care & Confidentiality Being in ministry often means accompanying people during difficult times in their lives. It’s an honor to be invited into these circumstances because it means you’ve earned the trust of the people in your community. But not everyone in ministry is sufficiently trained to handle all pastoral care circumstances. Jake and Erik discuss the joys and challenges of this kind of ministry, how to maintain integrity and healthy boundaries, and when it’s time to reach out for extra help. /episode/index/show/sparkhouse/id/9706064

Youth Ministry Podcast

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