ETCH with Chuck Peters
The ETCH NextGen Podcast is your go-to resource for inspiration, practical advice, and spiritual encouragement tailored specifically for those leading the next generation. Whether you're a pastor, youth leader, Children's Ministry director, or a volunteer passionately investing in young lives, this podcast is designed to equip and empower you for impactful ministry to kids, students, and families. Each episode features insightful conversations with seasoned leaders, experts, and influencers who share their wisdom on relevant topics. Join us as we explore how to navigate the enormous needs of Gen Z and Alpha, and the unique challenges and opportunities of next-generation ministry leaders.
Episodes
49 episodes
48. Discipling the Next Generation in a Digital Age: Courage, Boundaries, and Countercultural Leadership with Jesse and Sarah Siegand
Screens are everywhere, but sacred spaces are disappearing. In a world where digital noise dominates our attention, how do we help the next generation hear the voice of God?In this powerful episode Jesse and Sarah Siegand dive deep into ...
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42:10
47. Loving Your Community Well: Ministry, Schools, and Student Engagement with Justin Holcomb
What happens when ministry leaders see their schools, neighborhoods, and everyday rhythms not as obstacles — but as mission fields?In this live episode recorded at the ETCH Next Gen Ministry ...
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33:00
46. How Great Leaders Grow: Jeff Wallace on Vision, Integrity, and Developing Others
What separates leaders who maintain ministries from those who multiply them? In this episode, Jeff Wallace joins Chuck Peters for an honest and insightful conversation on the habits that define effective leadership...
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52:56
45. Serving That Transforms: Building a Healthy Volunteer Culture in Kids and Family Ministry with Steve Hample
What if the most spiritually transformative thing happening in your church isn’t on stage, but in a classroom, holding a goldfish cracker?In this episode, Chuck Peters and Steve Hample unpack the real impact of volunteering in c...
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39:24
44. How to Equip New Ministry Leaders: Training, Trust, and Team Culture for Next Gen Ministries with Amanda Mejias and Delanee Williams
Stepping into ministry can feel like being handed a map… with no directions. Whether you’re a brand-new leader or guiding others who are, the early stages of ministry are filled with both calling and chaos. In this episode, Chuck Peters is join...
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50:12
43. The Real Jesus: Confronting Cultural Misconceptions in Next Gen Ministry with Shane Pruitt
Who do your students really believe Jesus is? In a culture filled with half-truths, memes, and mixed theology, even well-meaning young people can end up following a version of Jesus that doesn’t actually exist. In this episode, Shane P...
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56:15
42. Stop Doing It All: How Ministry Leaders Delegate, Empower, and Build Strong Teams with Brian Daniel
If ministry is starting to feel heavy, it’s probably because you’re carrying what God never designed you to hold alone. In this episode, we tackle one of the most difficult growth barriers for any leader: delegation. If you’ve ever struggled to...
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37:37
41. Building a Healthy Ministry Team: Trust, Culture, and Collaborative Leadership with Lee Hotchkiss
Healthy ministry doesn’t happen by accident, and neither do healthy teams. In this episode, we explore what it truly takes to build, lead, and sustain a thriving ministry team. Whether you lead staff, volunteers, or a mix of both, this conversa...
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39:03
40. The Power of Vision in Ministry Leadership: Clarifying Your Why and Leading with Purpose with Jana Magruder
Every leader knows the power of vision. But in the busyness of ministry, it’s easy for vision to drift, blur, or get lost in the noise of daily demands. Without clarity, leaders risk aiming at the wrong targets, making decisions that miss the m...
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45:14
39. Spiritual Warfare in Ministry: Finding Strength, Joy, and Hope in the Battle with Kevin Jones
Ministry is full of incredible moments of joy and impact—but it also comes with challenges we don’t always anticipate. Today, Chuck and Kevin Jones dive deep into the reality of spiritual warfare, exploring how the enemy seeks to distract, disc...
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41:36
38. Leadership Lessons from Gideon: Bold Faith in Next Gen Ministry with Chuck Peters
Leadership in ministry rarely looks like a straight path. More often, it feels like walking forward with limited clarity, unexpected turns, and a constant call to trust God’s leading. The story of Gideon reminds us that even the most hesitant l...
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45:31
37. VBS - A Key Next Gen Strategy That Isn't Just For Kids with Melita Thomas
In a rapidly changing culture where ministry strategies come and go, some methods continue to stand the test of time. Vacation Bible School (VBS) is one of those deeply rooted traditions that still holds transformative power for the church. In ...
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46:01
36. Preteen Ministry Strategies: Guiding Faith, Belonging, and Resilience in a Changing Culture with Kayla Stevens
Preteens are standing on the edge of two worlds—no longer children, but not yet teenagers. They’re asking big questions, feeling deeply, and shaping a worldview that will guide them into adulthood. For those of us in next generation ministry, t...
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35:26
35. From Outsider to Insider: Ministering to Preteens with Purpose and Compassion
Preteens are in one of the most complex seasons of life. They’re not quite kids anymore, but not yet teenagers. Too old for the playground, too young for youth group. And often, this “in-between” stage can leave them feeling like they don’t ful...
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56:26
34. Define the Relationship: Partnering with Parents for Lifelong Faith with Chad Higgins and Zac Workun
In the world of next generation ministry, it’s easy to focus all our energy on the kids and students who show up week after week. We pour into them, plan for them, and pray over them. But what if the greatest impact we can make isn’t just in th...
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44:29
33. Leading with Purpose in Next Gen Ministry with Kristoff Hart
In ministry, it’s easy to get caught up in what’s next. The next event, next age group, next building phase. But what if we slowed down long enough to truly see the opportunities God has placed right in front of us? What if collaboration wasn’t...
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44:54
32. Bridging the Methodological Gap Between Kids and Student Ministry with Landry Holmes and Brett Buckland
As ministry leaders, we’re not just teaching lessons - we’re shaping lives. And the way we teach matters just as much as what we teach. From coloring sheets and object lessons to small group discussions and personal reflection, kids and student...
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50:25
31. One Mission, Many Ages: Closing the Philisophical Gap with Jay Barbier
It’s easy for ministries within a church to drift into silos, each one focusing on its own age group, calendar, and curriculum. But when we forget that kids and student ministries are part of a larger discipleship journey, we risk creating disj...
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41:52
30. Bridging the Educational Gap in Next Gen Ministries with Jay Strother
Every child’s faith journey is a story in progress, but far too often, our ministry strategies treat it like a series of disconnected chapters. When there’s no alignment between kids and student ministries, we risk losing spiritual momentum at ...
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41:18
29. Syncing the Calendar and the Mission: Closing the Schedule Gap with Tristan Meza and Randy Craft
In ministry, calendars fill up fast. Between planning events, training volunteers, and caring for families, the pressure to “just get it all done” can pull ministry leaders in different directions. And when kids and student ministries aren’t al...
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43:02
28. Guiding Kids Through Meaningful Transitions Heidi Hensley
Ministry to the next generation isn’t just about meeting kids where they are, it’s also about helping them get where they’re going. As children grow, they encounter major shifts: socially, emotionally, spiritually, and developmentally. These tr...
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40:51
27. Building Relationships That Unite Next Gen Ministry Teams with Jeremy Echols
In ministry, we often talk about strategy, curriculum, and programming - but beneath all of it is something even more essential: relationships. Without trust and connection between leaders, even the best ministry plans can fall flat. As childre...
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48:37
26. Bridging the Gap: Connecting Kids and Student Ministries for Lifelong Discipleship with Zach Workun and Jana Magruder
One of the most pivotal seasons in a young person’s spiritual journey is the transition from kids ministry to student ministry. It’s a season filled with excitement, change—and often, challenges. As ministry leaders, we want to see continuity a...
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46:34
25. Leading Under Pressure: Managing Stress in Ministry with Lee Hotchkiss
Ministry is a calling filled with joy, purpose, and deep meaning—but it can also carry a heavy weight. Behind every sermon, every program, and every conversation is a leader who is pouring out their heart, often while carrying their own unseen ...
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49:44
24. Building Bridges: Unifying Kids and Student Ministry in the NextGen Model
Have you ever found yourself asking, “What could ministry look like if we truly worked together across every age and stage?” In many churches, kids and student ministries operate in silos—running strong but disconnected. But what if we...
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43:32