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The end is here. The final installment of the podcast! But we have saved one of the best for last... This one is all about that master ministry distracter: HYPE! Is it good or bad? What are the risks? How can we as youth workers not fall to it? All this and more in our series finale! We want to thank all of those that contributed to this one: Mark Davis, Andy Millis, Scott McAllister, and Jim Purtle. If you are interested in reading the sample of Kyle's book that he mentioned please visit: https://linktr.ee/SmallTownYouthMinistryPodcast

What do you do when a family member of a teen calls you to tell you that their student is in serious trouble with the law? What do you say to those in jail? How do you even prepare yourself to minister in these moments? In this special episode your host Kyle Creel shares insights from his own experiences reaching out to youth spending time in correctional facilities. Due to a major part of this podcast's subject matter being of a sensitive nature, and for respect of those in the rehabilitation process, no stories are shared in this episode like we normally do which makes this a rather short recording. To make up for that, we have spent extra time crafting a special resource for our listeners who may be going through this issue. Please be sure to download the Youth Minister Prison Visitation Guide here: https://linktr.ee/SmallTownYouthMinistryPodcast

In this episode Brad Hamilton joins us as we tackle one of youth ministries biggest questions, “Should I split my teens into a different groups for middle and high school?” This is normally not an easy decision for any to make, but it can be extremely complex when working with a smaller ministry. Take a listen as we identify both good and bad reasons to base your decision off of, discuss the different courses of action, and even share how to address the friction others may present when hearing you are deciding to have a mixed group. Check out the “Split Kit” from Orange: https://orangestudents.com/split-kit/ To check out all our FREE resources click here: https://linktr.ee/SmallTownYouthMinistryPodcast

This episode is all about life in the fishbowl (a.k.a. being on display for all to see). When you are in small town ministry it seems like there is never an aspect of your life that seems private, and that can be quite frustrating. How can you silence rumor mongers, protect your character, and have a positive attitude about your lack of privacy? I will be talking about all of this and more with the help of several special guests (Russell Martin, T.J. Lewis, and Christina Fischer). To check out all our FREE resources click here: https://linktr.ee/SmallTownYouthMinistryPodcast

Our friend Mark Davis returns in this month's episode as we talk about dealing with tragic loss within a small community. What things happen? What should you expect? What can you do to help? We discuss all of this alongside our own experiences of loss in both our personal lives and in ministry. To hear more about The Davis family’s experience with the loss of their second child you can search #stellargrace on social media. To check out all our FREE resources click here: https://linktr.ee/SmallTownYouthMinistryPodcast

In this episode my co-host Jessica Jackson and I discuss a strain that is a natural byproduct of the smaller sized church: juggling extra-responsibilities, especially those outside your primary ministry. We talk about our struggles of being part of a small staff, share tips on how to stay organized and help create margin so you can be flexible when necessary, and give a little advice on saying “no” to yourself, leadership, and members of your congregation.

In this episode we return to the discussion of poverty issues in small towns, yet this time around we are not talking just about the realities of your teen’s lives but the interactions you have with their parents. When it comes to people who need help there are lots of questions. How do you learn about the things plaguing your community? What can you do to help? When should you refer to another organization? Is there an appropriate way to handle scammers? All of these things and more are covered in our largest episode to date, so sit down with myself and my Senior Pastor (Mike Mentzer) as we discuss!

In this episode Andy Millis joins me in talking about the struggle of living on a small paycheck. We will discuss tips to stretch your financial compensation further and share a few ideas about making a little extra money on the side. There is tons of practical wisdom here so be prepared to take some notes for your own personal follow through later!

In this episode Jeremy Moyer joins us in discussing the importance and benefits of being involved in a support system of other ministers. Additionally we give some great leads on where to find a tribe when you may be the only youth worker in your town. To check out Jeremy’s “Connect Circles” and the FREE “Thrive Challenges” go to: https://www.youthpastornation.com/ To check out the NNYM database for potential groups in your area go to: https://www.youthworkers.net/network-search.htm

In this episode we talk about the all too unpleasant reality of when small church people make a big fuss about small things. Mark Davis joins us again as we discuss how to identify troublemakers, how to look for guidance before conflicts start, and how to settle things in a way that reflects Christ.

In this episode Mark Davis joins me in talking about the struggle of being content with your ministry. We will discuss practical ways to combat this internal battle which threatens our calling. No matter what it is you may envy, you will be encouraged by this one!

This is the second part of our mini-series addressing challenges in ministering to impoverished students. In this episode Scott Mcallister shares his personal story,  and gives insights as to how youth workers can help these students better understand the gospel and reach spiritual maturity. 

This is the first part of a mini-series addressing challenges in ministering to impoverished students. In this episode Jim Purtle shares with us the inherency of three major insecurities impoverished students face,  and gives us some tools to understand these struggles better as well as how to work through them so we can get these students more involved in our ministries.

In this episode we talk about the struggle of running a successful youth ministry on little to no budget. We cover the do’s and don’ts of fundraisers, how to make the most out of existing resources, and places to look for supplemental support. We also have lot’s of free stuff to give you so you can pull off some awesome events, so make sure you listen and figure out how to get your hands on these resources!

Get to know a little about us and hear about our passion for small town/rural area youth workers! We hope to launch our first full length episode in November 2020 for you, but until then please join our community on Facebook for updates and email us your questions and ministry stories at smalltownyouthminpodcast@gmail.com. https://www.facebook.com/Small-Town-Youth-Ministry-Podcast-101409891755407/