Youth Ministry Maverick Podcast with Jeff Harding

18/09/2023

🎉SEASON 4 AND OUR NEW FORMAT HAS ARRIVED🎉

We’re so excited to debut The Monthly Maverick, our new monthly email newsletter that is packed with exclusive content for our Maverick subscribers!

Episode 101 features a great dialogue with the three summer interns that helped Jeff run the youth ministry programming at his church during an interim time/search for a new youth director. They talk about the fun, successes, and persevering moments of the summer, along with advice for young people who are thinking about interning.

For Episode 102, we were thrilled to have Kaitlyn Schiess return to talk with Jeff about her newest book, "The Ballot and the Bible." The book has stellar reviews, and was identified by Publisher's Weekly in their starred review as "A nuanced look at America's legacy of scriptural language." They talk about how power-grabbing, fear-mongering, and a lack of both humility and solid hermeneutics has easily led to both sides of the political aisle essentially hijacking Scripture for their own purposes. They also talk about how youth workers can help their students read Scripture faithfully and with hope.

Barna study material, news headline discussion content, and don’t forget out about game pick of the month from our friends at the Ministry Coach Podcast!

To hear these exclusive episodes and receive these new ministry resources, all you have to do is subscribe to The Monthly Maverick. The last slide has the two main ways to do that. Just click the button in the bio link since you’re on here reading this, and join us for new discussions and methods of investing in students!

Happy Monday, Maverick fam!

14/07/2023

How do we prepare for camp, what do we do during camp, and what is our process for following up and evaluating after camp? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Jeff Harding of the Youth Ministry Maverick Podcast shares some wise tips on preparation, engagement, and follow-up as we dive into the secrets of a successful camp experience.

Listen on your favorite podcast app or the link below.
https://studentministryconnection.com/podcast/110-successful-camp-ministry-with-jeff-harding/

10/07/2023

🚨EPISODE 100 HAS ARRIVED🚨

For Episode 100 and our Season 3 Finale, Jeff welcomes the innovative and solid youth ministry guru – Mark Matlock! Mark starts with describing the beginning of his ministry journey, and how both creativity and wisdom help us pave the way for relevant methods and maximum impact when it comes to investing in the next generations of the church. He also teases the intriguing book project he’s working on in collaboration with Barna and the biggest study they have ever done.

Listen to it now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 100: Unlocking Creativity and Wisdom For Episode 100 and our Season 3 Finale, Jeff welcomes the innovative and solid youth ministry guru – Mark Matlock! Mark starts with describing the beginning of his ministry journey, and how both creativity and wisdom help us pave the way for relevant m...

03/07/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

Summer Camp is a thrilling and effective staple of youth ministry...but for many of us, our format for content delivery might be older than some of those cabin bunks. Promoting life change through Scripture and the Spirit, AND introducing habits and perspectives that help students maximize their daily walk with Jesus means we need to have two-pronged approach to what we present at camp. Listen in as Jeff discusses what it looks like to deliver both the spiritual and practical content elements without sacrificing clarity or purpose.

Listen to it now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 99: Rethinking Summer Camp Content Summer Camp is a thrilling and effective staple of youth ministry…but for many of us, our format for content delivery might be older than some of those cabin bunks. Promoting life change through Scripture and the Spirit, AND introducing habits and perspec...

30/06/2023

🚨🚨🚨EPISODE 100 MILESTONE GUEST & GIVEAWAY DETAILS 🚨🚨🚨

Here it is…the giveaway, special guest, and new format we’ve been teasing for a while now!

We’re doing a huge giveaway with books and resources from:
Mike McGarry (Youth Pastor Theologian) ✅
Dan Istvanik (Youth Ministry Hub) ✅
Mike Haynes (G Shades Curriculum) ✅
Zac Workun (Youth Ministry Booster & LifeWay Students) ✅
…AND MORE ✅✅✅

The way to sign up is by subscribing for free to The Monthly Maverick, which will be the method used to share most of the Youth Ministry Maverick content starting with Season 4 this Fall. Non-subscribers will likely get a new episode every month or two, but subscribers (did we mention it’s completely free?) will receive exclusive episodes, interviews, resources, research articles, small group questions on current headlines, game content, and more in a monthly well-crafted newsletter. No spam. No cost. Just a curated and thorough way to keep providing great insight and resources as we invest in the next generation together.

Want a bonus entry for the giveaway? Comment below and tag a friend in youth ministry. Want another bonus entry? Share this post in your story. The drawing will happen LIVE on Friday, July 14th at noon central, so no entries will be counted past 11am that morning.

We can’t forget to highlight our incredible Episode 100 guest…the one and only Mark Matlock! Mark and Jeff had a fantastic conversation about two concepts Mark has spent his life and ministry perfecting and teaching: creativity and wisdom. He also teases something special he is working on. Tune in on July 10th for that milestone episode!

SUBSCRIBE for free through our website or bio link to register for the giveaway.
COMMENT/TAG, SHARE for bonus entries.
GET PUMPED for Episode 100, Mark Matlock, and the new format of the podcast.

Here’s to the future! Let’s get it, fam.

30/06/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE FRIDAY🚨

As we approach the end of Season 3 and the milestone of Episode 100, Jeff shares some exciting news about a special guest, a big giveaway, and the new format for the podcast starting with Season 4 this fall. Watch/listen for details, and check the next social media post for giveaway details!

Listen/watch it now through the bio link. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

19/06/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

For this special Juneteenth episode, Jeff reflects back on Episode 6 when he was able to talk with Mikiala Tennie and Karli Loving about the then-recent killing of George Floyd and conversations of racial tension that were enveloping the national headlines. He shares some brief thoughts about what he has learned and observed in the last three years before revisiting that conversation.

Listen to it now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 97: Reflecting on Racial Tension For this special Juneteenth episode, Jeff reflects back on Episode 6 when he was able to talk with Mikiala Tennie and Karli Loving about the then-recent killing of George Floyd and conversations of racial tension that were enveloping the national headlines. H...

05/06/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

How can we set up a healthy and consistent annual rhythm for our youth volunteers? You might prefer more frequent and shorter meetings, longer monthly meetings, a blend of the two, or something totally different. But there is a good structure that allows your volunteers to feel prepared, recognized, and cared for...and it's still one that affords flexibility depending on your ministry context and number of volunteers. Catch these components and formats for establishing a solid rhythm for your youth volunteers!

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 96: A Healthy Rhythm For Your Youth Volunteers How can we set up a healthy and consistent annual rhythm for our youth volunteers? You might prefer more frequent and shorter meetings, longer monthly meetings, a blend of the two, or something totally different. But there is a good structure th...

29/05/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

Happy Memorial Day! This weekend essentially marks the beginning of summer. How can you make this summer effective and beneficial for you and your students? Listen in as we discuss 3 ways to capitalize on this unique and wild season of youth ministry.

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 95: 3 Ways To Capitalize On Your Summer How can you make this summer effective and beneficial for you and your students? Listen in as we discuss 3 ways to capitalize on this unique and wild season of youth ministry. Watch this episode on YouTube

22/05/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

With hyper middle school students, and technology and social media affecting attention span and ability to impress all students, we need solid methods for connecting with our students during programming. These 5 methods should give you a good starting rotation that you can tweak and add to over time.

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 94: 5 Hacks To Capture & Keep Students’ Attention With hyper middle school students, technology and social media affecting attention span and ability to impress, we need solid methods for connecting with our students during programming. These 5 methods should give you a good starting rotat...

15/05/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

Youth ministry roles are always the most plentiful on church job boards, and ever since COVID, it seems more difficult to land a role and/or find the right person to fill a role. Once that massive hurdle is cleared, you have several smaller hurdles that combine into another massive one...the first year on the job. How long should you wait to implement change? What about the upperclassmen who probably aren't thrilled to have you hijack their last year or two? What happens when you fail at something? Take 14 minutes and listen in on these three ways to maximize your first year in a new spot.

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the bio link. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

15/05/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

Youth ministry roles are always the most plentiful on church job boards, and ever since COVID, it seems more difficult to land a role and/or find the right person to fill a role. Once that massive hurdle is cleared, you have several smaller hurdles that combine into another massive one...the first year on the job. How long should you wait to implement change? What about the upperclassmen who probably aren't thrilled to have you hijack their last year or two? What happens when you fail at something? Take 14 minutes and listen in on these three ways to maximize your first year in a new spot.

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 93: 3 Ways To Maximize Your First Year On The Job Youth ministry roles are always the most plentiful on church job boards, and ever since COVID, it seems more difficult to land a role and/or find the right person to fill a role. Once that massive hurdle is cleared, you have several smaller h...

08/05/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

Caesar Kalinowski - Everyday Disciple joins Jeff for a "part two" discussion going off their conversation from Episode 91 about introducing a new perspective and model for youth ministry. No matter what your youth ministry structure is, these 6 rhythms are a fantastic method to improve how you cultivate relationships in a community of any size and shape for your betterment and the spreading of the gospel.

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 92: 6 Rhythms For Living in Missional Community Caesar Kalinowski joins Jeff for a “part two” discussion going off their conversation from Episode 91 about introducing a new perspective and model for youth ministry. No matter what your youth ministry structure is, these 6 rhythms are a f...

01/05/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

What if the way local churches did youth ministry was to pour most of their efforts into discipling parents so they can establish missional communities that youth workers can attend and support? Caesar Kalinowski - Everyday Disciple joins Jeff to talk about an interesting approach that he has taught, trained, and replicated in cities across the country.

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 91: Won’t You Be My Neighbor? What if the way local churches did youth ministry was to pour most of their efforts into discipling parents so they can establish missional communities that youth workers can attend and support? Caesar Kalinowski joins Jeff to talk about an interesting approac...

26/04/2023

Our colleague in ministry and repeat guest, Mike Haynes, is releasing a book meant to help us see through the lens of the gospel. It will release June 22 on Amazon, and we think it could be transformative for anyone exploring or following Jesus!

24/04/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

When it comes to our online world, we're usually just concerned about content. But what about habits, and how our students are mentally, emotionally, and physiologically affected or "trained" while just trying to grow up AND learn what it means to follow Jesus well? Dr. joins Jeff to discuss a perspective of discernment and awareness we might not be actively pursuing when it comes to digital discipleship.

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the bio link. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

24/04/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

When it comes to our online world, we're usually just concerned about content. But what about habits, and how our students are mentally, emotionally, and physiologically affected or "trained" while just trying to grow up AND learn what it means to follow Jesus well? Dr. John Dyer from Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) joins Jeff to discuss a perspective of discernment and awareness we might not be actively pursuing when it comes to digital discipleship.

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 90: Life and Ministry Beyond the Algorithm When it comes to our online world, we’re usually just concerned about content. But what about habits, and how our students are mentally, emotionally, and physiologically affected or “trained” while just trying to grow up AND learn what it mean...

17/04/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

While this could easily be about Jeff's mistakes (of which there are plenty), Dan Istvanik from Youth Ministry Hub joined Jeff to graciously and honestly list his top 5 mistakes from almost 30 years of youth ministry. Listen in as they talk through each mistake, what was learned, and the importance of adapting that knowledge before repeating those mistakes in your own ministry.

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 89: Learning From My Top 5 Youth Ministry Mistakes While this could easily be about Jeff’s mistakes (of which there are plenty), Dan Istvanik from Youth Ministry Hub joined Jeff to graciously and honestly list his top 5 mistakes from almost 30 years of youth ministry. Listen in as they tal...

10/04/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

Whether it's basic tenants of our faith like the divinity and resurrection of Jesus, creedal confessions like the Apostle's Creed, or more in-depth issues like pneumatology or ecclesiology...thinking about how you incorporate good theology into your youth ministry discipleship is important for students to flesh out their beliefs. Mike McGarry joins Jeff to discuss different approaches for implementing a theological rhythm, and why it should be a factor in anything we're teaching students.

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 88: Theology In Youth Discipleship Whether it’s basic tenants of our faith like the divinity and resurrection of Jesus, creedal confessions like the Apostle’s Creed, or more in-depth issues like pneumatology or ecclesiology…thinking about how you incorporate good theology into your you...

03/04/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

We certainly want to have results and benchmarks that can be measured in our ministries, but we can’t let those overshadow a healthy long-term approach to investing in our students. Mike Haynes joins Jeff to discuss how focusing too hard on results (especially in the short-term) can distort the necessary process-orientation youth ministries need for the long haul.

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 87: Results-Oriented Ministry VS Process-Oriented Ministry We certainly want to have results and benchmarks that can be measured in our ministries, but we can’t let those overshadow a healthy long-term approach to investing in our students. Mike Haynes joins Jeff to discuss how focusing to...

01/04/2023

Happy 3rd Birthday to YMM!

Sure, we took some breaks (including one that lasted 10 months), but it’s been a blast to talk with so many people about methods and topics that will help youth workers invest better in their students.

Most top-of-mind youth ministry podcasts have numbers that are ten-fold compared to ours. But to know that thousands of people on dozens of platforms in dozens of countries have watched, listened, and hopefully benefitted is more than enough to be grateful. Thank you for all who have joined us and for all who have watched/listened!

Stay tuned every Monday for new episodes. 🔥👂💻

27/03/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

Talking with our students about finding their identity and purpose is good, but you can’t talk about those things without talking about the practical approach to living out their faith. Kate Boyd returns to YMM to talk with Jeff about how to help students think about the process of who they’re becoming, instead of only thinking about right belief and right practice. They also talk about Kate’s new book, which you can pre-order through the bio link, show notes, or YouTube description.

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 86: Helping Teenagers Joyfully Practice Their Faith Talking with our students about finding their identity and purpose is good, but you can’t talk about those things without talking about the practical approach to living out their faith. Kate Boyd returns to YMM to talk with Jeff about how...

20/03/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

We want our students to find their identity in Christ, and a critical step in determining what that means for their life is to help them discover their purpose as new creations in Christ. Brad Griffin, Senior Director of Content & Resources for the Fuller Youth Institute, joins Jeff to discuss how youth workers can help teenagers in this process using the Holy Spirit, Scripture, and community.

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 85: Helping Teenagers Find Their Purpose We want our students to find their identity in Christ, and a critical step in determining what that means for their life is to help them discover their purpose as new creations in Christ. Brad Griffin, Senior Director of Content & Resources for the Fu...

13/03/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

Recruiting volunteers for your ministry? Important. Keeping their involvement and investment fresh, and retaining them long-term? Crucial! joins Jeff to talk about how to make sure we have healthy and solid volunteers for front line ministry.

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the bio link. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

13/03/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

Recruiting volunteers for your ministry? Important. Keeping their involvement and investment fresh, and retaining them long-term? Crucial! Charlie Conder joins Jeff to talk about how to make sure we have healthy and solid volunteers for front line ministry.

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 84: How To Recruit, Rejuvenate, and Retain Youth Volunteers Recruiting volunteers for your ministry? Important. Keeping their involvement and investment fresh, and retaining them long-term? Crucial! Charlie Conder joins Jeff to talk about how to make sure we have healthy and solid volunteers...

06/03/2023

🚨NEW EPISODE MONDAY🚨

Season 3 resumes with a discussion about networking. We’ve heard about networking before, along with the general benefits. But where do you begin? What about different size groups/ministries? Is it realistic? Is it worth it? Jeff goes over 3 ways that networking can refresh your ministry, and explains how they’re best taken in consecutive steps.

Listen to it or watch it on YouTube now through the link below. It’s also available wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode 83: 3 Ways That Networking Can Refresh Your Youth Ministry We’ve heard about networking before, along with the general benefits. But where do you begin? What about different size groups/ministries? Is it realistic? Is it worth it? Jeff goes over 3 ways that networking can refresh your mini...

13/02/2023

The second half of Season 3 resumes on Monday, March 6th! Brand new weekly episodes with relevant topics and incredible guests coming your way on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. Subscribe now through our bio link!

30/12/2022

It’s the last Friday of the year, and we’re wrapping up 2022 with another Fantastic Friday Five on YouTube!

For the final (and only) Five of the year, Jeff recaps his shocking and painful first 24 hours in Florida back in college.

You can watch it now through the link below. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

For this year-end edition of FFF, Jeff takes us back to his first 24 hours in Florida that ended in hitting rock bottom (you'll catch the reference :-D).Than...

19/12/2022

*ADVENT THROWBACK*

Our winter recording break has begun, but I wanted to share an appropriate throwback during this last week of Advent. When 2020 came to a close, it certainly provided an opportunity to think about our perspective in light of the themes we celebrate during Advent. I shared how to think through this different take on Advent with students, but it’s also useful for personal self-reflection every Advent. Enjoy this 15 minute reflection piece available through the bio link, and have a Merry Christmas!

Episode 32: The Advent Lens Typically, we all approach Advent in a similar way each year. We go through the birth story, highlight the four themes, and discuss how to personify them in the new year. But after enduring 2020, there’s a better approach we can take with Advent that can set a new templ...