Vitals for Youth Ministry
Welcome to the Vitals for Youth Ministry Podcast. Vitals for youth ministry is a biblical framework based out of Acts 2:42-46, developed by Lead The Generation that trains youth leaders to build a local church youth ministry focused on developing students into healthy disciples.
In this podcast we will focus on the topics and issues most relevant to leadership in Youth Ministry. The Vitals for Youth Ministry Podcast is hosted by Eran Holt, founder of Lead The Generation & Caleb Leake, Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Episodes
51 episodes
Preparing for Gen Alpha, Discipling Digital Natives, & Quiet Revival in Youth Ministry
In this episode, we sit down with Sam McCollough from Feed.Bible to explore hopeful trends in youth ministry and equip next generation leaders to guide students toward lasting faith. We unpack what it means to be “emerging ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 20
•
1:04:45
Why Intimacy with God Gets Lost in Ministry w/ John Zick
A heart-first kickoff to season two on the power of abiding in Jesus, why confidence flows from intimacy with God, and how to diagnose fruit to find the root. We talk with John Zick about honest stories, simple rhythms, and practical boundaries...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 19
•
59:08
.png)
Finding Leaders in Any Church, the Playbook for Leader Development, & the Third Voice
We share a field-tested playbook for building a healthy youth leadership team, from recruiting people who care to training them with simple rhythms that last. Ashton Peters unpacks “The Third Voice,” showing how mentors help students from unchu...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 18
•
37:45
.png)
Long-Game Leadership & Building a Ministry That Can Sustain Growth
We pull back the curtain on youth ministry insecurity, comparison, and the pressure to make every Wednesday hinge on one person, then map a better way—equipping leaders, planning with purpose, and building systems that last. Gabby O’Rourke shar...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 17
•
51:02
Making the Gospel Tangible, Turning Moments into Eternal Impact, & Inspiring Everyday Faith
We sit down with Reggie Dabbs to explore how presence, scripture, and bold invitations move students from passive listeners to active disciples. From back-row handshakes to altar calls, we unpack a simple, focused path to help students live on ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 16
•
41:46
.png)
A Blueprint for Small Groups, Practical Leader Habits, & Creating a Culture of Belonging
We talk with Carrie Brooks about building a safe, Jesus-centered community where students can belong while they figure out what they believe. From a hilarious living-room play to a practical playbook for small groups, this is a master class in ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 15
•
47:08
.png)
Why the Church's Future Isn't Innovation & How to Reclaim Biblical Depth
We explore how authority from God creates confidence without ego and why rebuilding Bible literacy is the safest path back to health in youth ministry. John Rush shares stories, practical tools, and a call to play the long game: disciple deeply...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 14
•
50:43
Igniting Evangelism, Modeling the Call, and Cultivating a Missional Culture
Phil Johnson shares how to create a youth ministry culture centered on missional living by modeling authentic evangelism and celebrating students who live out the Great Commission in their daily lives.• Discipleship and evangelism shoul...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 13
•
50:12
.png)
Mobilizing Missional Leaders, Volunteer Recruitment Strategies, and Building Pipelines That Multiply
Joseph Kellogg shares his strategic approach to leadership development in youth ministry, focusing on how to mobilize leaders for a missional youth movement. His four-year strategy prioritizes multiplication at every level, creating systems tha...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 12
•
52:30
The Gospel Beyond the Altar Call, Turning Messages into Mission, and Igniting Root-Level Transformation
We explore how gospel fluency should be at the center of youth ministry, extending beyond just the moment of salvation to transform every aspect of students' lives and propel them into mission.• Gospel fluency is often overlooked becaus...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 11
•
53:31
The Necessary Shift in Youth Ministry, Attractional vs. Missional Models, and Making Disciples That Last
Terry Parkman shares how youth ministry is fundamentally shifting from attractional to missional models, requiring leaders to focus on transforming students rather than merely entertaining them.• Youth ministry is at a tipping point whe...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 10
•
48:02
.png)
Leaning Into the Mess, Releasing Your Grip, and How to Coach Young Leaders
Reggie Hill, Young Adults Pastor at Journey Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin, shares his expertise on leadership development in youth ministry and how to avoid becoming "the lid" to your own ministry.• Shifting from being the superhero who ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 9
•
40:41
.png)
The Discipline That No One Sees, Seasons of Stretching, & the Platform You Didn't Pray For
Ever notice how you can tell when someone has been with Jesus? There's something different about them—a presence, a peace, a perspective that stands out in our chaotic world. In this transformative episode of Vitals for Youth Ministry, National...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 8
•
49:31
.png)
Leadership Pain, Personal Growth Plans, and a Lifestyle of Development
Micah Mac joins us to vulnerably share how a painful season of ministry—feeling inadequate, discouraged, and even depressed—became the catalyst for his most significant leadership growth. With remarkable transparency, Micah reveals the exact mo...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 7
•
53:34
The Power of Daily Denial, Dying to Dreams, & Following Up Encounters with Action
Spiritual transformation begins with teaching students to deny themselves before they can truly follow Jesus. We've often emphasized the "follow" part without properly teaching the denial that must come first.• The importance of denying...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 6
•
53:34
The Troubling Level of Biblical Literacy in Students, Bible Study in Small Groups & Praying Through Scripture
What if the most effective youth ministry strategy isn't flashy, innovative, or complicated—but actually stunningly simple? In this revealing conversation with 20-year youth ministry veteran Elisha Garcia of Grace Church in Houston, we uncover ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 5
•
54:45
Leading Indicators, Dealing with Criticism, and Asking the Right Questions in Youth Ministry
Is your youth ministry measuring the right things? When attendance numbers become your primary success metric, you're setting yourself up for an emotional rollercoaster that's entirely out of your control.Andy Lynn, NextGen Director, Ne...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 4
•
49:19
Discipleship Beyond the Numbers
What if the pathway to effective youth ministry isn't about chasing every good idea, but focusing on clear targets that produce lasting disciples? Tim Smith, Next Gen Director at Faith Church in South Carolina, reveals how establishing five cor...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 3
•
51:44
Ministry mistakes, Behavior Correction Traps & the Tension of Events vs Discipleship
What if the transition from high school to college didn't have to mean a crisis of faith for our youth? Join us as we unpack the pivotal difference between heart transformation and mere behavior modification in youth ministry. With insights fro...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 1
•
53:04
Digital Strategies to Grow Your Ministry w/Steve John
Special thanks to our guests for this episode - Steve JohnConnect with Steve on Instagram HEREConnect with Eran HERE.Co...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 7
•
44:57
Tackling Tough Issues In Student Ministry w/Jeremy Donovan
Special thanks to our guests for this episode - Jeremy DonovanConnect with Jeremy on Instagram HEREConnect with Eran HERE....
•
Season 3
•
Episode 6
•
1:00:13
Building Endurance in Your Leadership w/ Mike Miller
Special thanks to our guests for this episode - Mike Miller, Lead Pastor, Nova ChurchConnect with Mike on Instagram HEREConnect with Eran
•
Season 3
•
Episode 5
•
53:15
Helping Your Students Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit w/Ty Buckingham
Special thanks to our guests for this episode - Ty Buckingham, EvangelistConnect with Ty on Instagram HEREConnect with Eran HERE...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 4
•
50:41