Youth Ministry Booster

Predicting Youth Ministry 2026: Win Lose Meme

Send us a textCleaner, Braver, More Effective: Youth Ministry in 2026In this episode of Youth Ministry Booster, Zac and Chad lay our cards on the table, personal stakes, ministry wins we’re chasing, habits we’re cutting, and the simple shifts that actually build momentum with teenagers.🌦️ Cultural Forecast: Where Teen Attention Is Really GoingTeen culture is shifting—and the old plays aren’t working like they used to.Teens are less platform-hopping and more rooted in one primary laneThe “grow your Instagram” for the sake of reach is a strategy that is losing effectivenessVanity metrics are fading; trusted circles are winningIf reach is fragmenting, trust is the new algorithm.🏆 The Big Youth Ministry Win for 2026: Practical EvangelismThe most effective move forward is surprisingly old-school:Teach students how to share their faith simply and confidently.We break it down into repeatable tools:A 2-minute personal testimonyOne gospel verse every student memorizesThree conversation-opening questions for real-life momentsPair that with a program shift:Less content, more confidenceProverbs over lecturesMake the move to Coaching over InfluencingEnd every gathering, every week with one crystal-clear action step students can actually live out this week.🔄 From More Content to More ConfidenceInstead of piling on teaching:Build repeatable prayers and rhythmsReinforce the same tools until students own themMeasure success by clarity and courage, not coverageConfidence compounds when expectations are clear and doable.🎮 Rethinking Games, Hangouts, and ConnectionLet’s be honest—forced mixers and tired screen games aren’t doing the work anymore.We suggest:Structured hangout time instead of awkward programmatic icebreakersSimple competitions with small stakesLeader-led engagement that models participationConnection grows when leaders go first and environments feel safe, playful, and intentional.Support the showJoin the community!

Merry Christmas Adam & Eve Everyone! Youth Ministry's Gift of Presence

Send us a textMerry Christmas Adam & Eve everyone! The holiday calendar swirls, the phone notification buzzes, and suddenly December is deciding everything for you. We pressed pause to talk about the real pressure of ministering well at church and home.Our gift this year to share is presence. Chad and Zac share practical ways to build margin without dropping what matters. There’s a tender side to all this too. The holidays carry joy and grief in the same pew. We talk about walking slowly enough to notice the first Christmas after a loss, the newcomer who needs a name remembered, and the family who only shows up in December. With clear expectations at home and a plan for attention—yes to phone-free days—you can serve your church without sacrificing your people• mapping service schedules and roles before crunch time• choosing “Christmas Adam” and micro-traditions to free family time• weekly and twice-weekly family meetings for clarity• device boundaries, batching messages, phone-free days• moving prep earlier to be present with people• shifting from the booth to visible shepherding• noticing grief and first holidays without loved ones• simple follow-ups that turn holiday hellos into care“Please drop a comment and tell us how you drink your coffee”Support the showJoin the community!

Multicultural Student Ministry

Send us a textunderstand your words. We sat down with the Champion Forest student team to unpack how a “one church, two languages” model becomes one student ministry that actually belongs to everyone. If your context includes Spanish-speaking parents, English-dominant teens, and first-generation families navigating two worlds, this conversation offers a blueprint that’s both practical and hopeful.We share how one student ministry serves Spanish-speaking families and English-dominant students without splitting community. From staffing to services, we explain the model, the mistakes, and the practical moves that make unity real.• one church in two languages with one student ministry• culture valued over vocabulary in programming• integrated Wednesdays with bilingual worship moments• Sunday hours aligned with adult services for families• intentional staffing across student, admin and production• communication to parents in both languages at once• planning events together to avoid silos• defining success as connection, not room counts• honoring family traditions and calendars• giving leaders courage to try and learnWe’ll drop emails in the show notes below or folks that have questionsSupport the showJoin the community!

Lessons For First Year Youth Ministers

Send us a textWhat if the fastest way to build a strong student ministry isn’t a bigger stage, but a crowded living room? We pull back the curtain on our biggest do-overs: why we’d start with relationships, not programs; why a right-sized room beats a flashy setup; and why coaching volunteers weekly will outperform any event on your calendar.• starting in homes to build belonging• coaching volunteers rather than just filling roles• using the 80 percent rule for room choice• fast handoffs from staff to leaders and peers• connecting new families to adult community quickly• becoming the storyteller to senior adults• reframing criticism with real student wins• choosing joy and hospitality as strategyMake sure to drop a comment below or email us at chad.higgins at lifeway.com your stories of what it's like to be ministry in the new place that you are, or the wisdom that you would give to be featured on an upcoming episodeSupport the showJoin the community!

Ten Years, Still Showing Up For Youth Ministry Games & Taco Bell

Send us a textTen years in and we’re still showing up, still laughing about late-night Taco Bell runs, and still fighting for youth pastors to feel seen on that drive home after midweek. We rewind to the After Nine roots—two friends comparing notes before weekend trainings—and trace how a simple idea to be a caring voice turned into a decade of community, practical help, and honest talk about the inner life of ministry.We mark ten years by tracing our start as a late-night voice for youth pastors, then share honest, practical ways to celebrate volunteers and students without adding noise to busy calendars. The thread is clear: what we honor out loud is what our ministries become.• origin of After9 and the late-night drive home vibe• why healthy ministers create healthy ministries• celebrating too quietly and how to fix it• practical leader appreciation ideas that scale• milestone moments for teens with simple spiritual markers• training your heart to notice wins, not just problems• building community with low-cost, high-meaning gatherings• choosing meaning over more events in busy familiesThank you guys so much for being with us in this journeySupport the showJoin the community!