Youth Ministry Sherpas: Coast To Coast
Welcome to the Youth Ministry Sherpas Coast to Coast Podcast, featuring Brock Morgan, Shannon Dunn, and Steve Anderson. We call ourselves "Sherpas" because we have over 80 years combined experience leading ministries. It's "Coast to Coast" because we serve on opposite ends of the country (Steve in Maryland; Shannon and Brock in California). We love students, we love youth ministry, and we love encouraging youth workers! Vulnerable, winsome, insightful -- think of it like another road trip in a 15-passenger van with your best friends. It's "Youth Ministry with the windows down!" Thanks for coming along for the ride!
Episodes
April 24, 2024 • 62 mins
Today the Sherpas welcome good friend and Download Youth Ministry Co-founder Josh Griffin to the podcast!
We talk with Josh about his unforeseen call to youth ministry as a college student, and his discouraging first job at a small church in the upper midwest. It was during a hard time that he discovered Doug Field’s book, “Purpose Driven Youth Ministry.” That led him on a pilgrimage to Saddleback Church, one of the most influential...
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April 9, 2024 • 48 mins
Smelly Cabins, Snack Shack, Silly Skits, Scary Bus Rides, Smooching Kids – nothing says summer like Summer Camp!
Even after our many years of experience and all the various programs we’ve led, we still believe in Summer Camp. It’s one of the foundations of our ministries. Summer Camp provides the chance to get away, break rhythm, avoid distractions, build relationships, and have significant, life-changing moments with God. There’s n...
Even after our many years of experience and all the various programs we’ve led, we still believe in Summer Camp. It’s one of the foundations of our ministries. Summer Camp provides the chance to get away, break rhythm, avoid distractions, build relationships, and have significant, life-changing moments with God. There’s n...
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March 26, 2024 • 44 mins
Episode 18: The Beauty and Necessity of Contemplative Youth Ministry With anxiety at an all-time high and attention spans at an all-time low, how can youth pastors help our students experience God in deeper and more meaningful ways? Is it more than music, games and messages?
On this episode, Shannon, Brock and Steve talk about the value and beauty of contemplative practices in youth ministry. Whether it’s the Prayer Labyrinth Steve’...
On this episode, Shannon, Brock and Steve talk about the value and beauty of contemplative practices in youth ministry. Whether it’s the Prayer Labyrinth Steve’...
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March 19, 2024 • 42 mins
Sadly, we are missing Shannon today, but Brock and Steve got together the day after they both preached in their churches’ main services to talk about our experiences with preaching. It can be a big deal for youth pastors. We both get to do it regularly, and we’ve seen the benefits our time in the “pulpit” has brought to our ministry within the congregation. Whether you preach once a year or once a month, preaching is a great way to...
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March 12, 2024 • 56 mins
Today, we talk about money. It’s a sore subject in youth pastor circles. Many youth pastors and youth workers feel underpaid, unappreciated, and undervalued. What’s worse; talking about it or asking for more feels unspiritual. Aren’t we just in it for the kids? Well, yes, but what can we do to improve our financial viability so we can take care of our families, build church health, and achieve longevity in youth ministry?
Dan Navarr...
Dan Navarr...
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February 27, 2024 • 37 mins
Brock is back from sabbatical, if you can call it that. A month off–albeit with two interruptions, a speaking engagement, and painful back issues. But there was also a trip to San Diego, another trip to London, and some sweet time with God. So, in hindsight, what did Brock learn about himself, about his identity in Christ, and what it is that keeps us in youth ministry? How do we do what we do without letting it be who we are? Late...
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February 20, 2024 • 52 mins
Our first-ever interview guest is Brad Griffin, Senior Director of Content and Research for the Fuller Youth Institute, and co-author of their new book, Faith Beyond Youth Group.
It has been nearly 20 years since Sticky Faith brought to light the troubling truth about Millennials leaving the church. Those same problems–exacerbated by accelerating technology, anxiety, and a worldwide pandemic–are affecting Gen Z. What can youth worke...
It has been nearly 20 years since Sticky Faith brought to light the troubling truth about Millennials leaving the church. Those same problems–exacerbated by accelerating technology, anxiety, and a worldwide pandemic–are affecting Gen Z. What can youth worke...
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February 13, 2024 • 38 mins
It's February and we're still Brock-less. However, Shannon and Steve got together to talk about Valentine's Day, the Super Bowl, and more importantly -- Youth Ministry. What happens when our students surpass their parents in spiritual maturity? Sometimes it's students from nonChristian backgrounds, but it can also be students from within the church. How do we challenge them to keep growing and pursuing Jesus but not undermine their...
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January 30, 2024 • 35 mins
Brock is still on sabbatical, but Shannon and Steve connect for a great conversation about tradition, innovation, and who should be playing in the Super Bowl this year.
Youth Ministry is usually on the cutting edge of church culture, which means we are always up for trying something new. At the same time, creating stability and traditions for our students can be a valuable gift. How do we know when to change it up, and how do we kno...
Youth Ministry is usually on the cutting edge of church culture, which means we are always up for trying something new. At the same time, creating stability and traditions for our students can be a valuable gift. How do we know when to change it up, and how do we kno...
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January 18, 2024 • 37 mins
Our first episode of 2024, and we're already Brockless! Brock is on sabbatical and will miss a couple episodes, but Shannon and Steve are back to kick things off.
Steve went to the Passion Conference in Atlanta the first few days of the year (along with 55,000 college students) and while it was awesome, it also got him thinking about worship, emotions, and their role in youth ministry. How do we strike a balance between bringing st...
Steve went to the Passion Conference in Atlanta the first few days of the year (along with 55,000 college students) and while it was awesome, it also got him thinking about worship, emotions, and their role in youth ministry. How do we strike a balance between bringing st...
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November 21, 2023 • 37 mins
The Youth Ministry Sherpas met for the very first time ever at Mariner’s Church in sunny SoCal at the Download Youth Ministry Conference. Not only did we have fun together, we also spent some time with some of the most amazing youth workers on the planet. Five of them – with a combined 140 years experience – are featured in this episode. When did they want to quit, and what got them through? The answers are honest and encouraging.
W...
W...
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November 7, 2023 • 45 mins
We've all experienced the outreach gone wrong. (Hint: It usually involves a lock-in.) In this episode, we talk about some recent outreach events we've done and share nightmares from the past. Then we back up and talk about the reason for doing them in the first place. What is the purpose and what is the win when it comes to outreach?
In the bigger picture, in this day and age when "church" isn't always a good word to outsiders and c...
In the bigger picture, in this day and age when "church" isn't always a good word to outsiders and c...
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October 24, 2023 • 50 mins
In an age of rising mental health awareness, constant connectivity, and youth sports worship, it has become increasingly common for parents to care more about protecting their kids from struggles than developing their character. As youth pastors, we can sometimes get caught in the spinning blades of helicopter parents. How can we encourage parents to permit the proper amount of discomfort to exist in their kids' lives? And for us w...
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October 10, 2023 • 47 mins
On today's episode, we discuss this generation's infatuation with authenticity. Is the fear of being.a hypocrite keeping kids from following Jesus, and if so, are we doing enough to teach grace? Fittingly, we also have an authentic conversation about how to be a pastor when we don't feel worthy ourselves. Is it hypocritical to stand up and teach when we have doubts and struggles of our own? How do we power through and honorably ser...
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September 26, 2023 • 50 mins
Episode 6 is probably what you need right about now! With the fall season ramped up, it's easy to focus on "doing" instead of "being." When life as a youth pastor takes on breakneck speed, how do we keep ourselves spiritually healthy and serve from overflow instead of overwork? Then we talk about authors who have influenced our spiritual journey. Hint: most of them are dead. Lastly, in the world of youth ministry, senior pastors ge...
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September 12, 2023 • 47 mins
Episode 5 might be our most fun -- and honest -- yet. Brock and Shannon survive the "Great California Hurriquake" of 2023, right before Fall Kickoff (always fantastic). There's nothing quite like that early momentum and seeing all our kids come back for another year together. But as much as we love students, we have to admit some are harder for us to like than others. Following up on our conversation last week about people who don'...
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August 29, 2023 • 40 mins
It’s our fourth episode, and we keep learning more about each other. We discover that there are actually people (at least one) who don’t like Brock. Or Steve. (Of course everyone loves Shannon.) How do we handle the inevitability of not being liked by everyone? Next, with school starting back up, we talk about the school choices church families make. Is there a difference between homeschool, private school and public school kids? D...
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August 22, 2023 • 46 mins
It's the 3rd episode of the Youth Ministry Sherpas ** Coast to Coast ** and we are having a great time together! The Barbie Movie is all the rage. Steve and Shannon think it's hilarious. Any good youth pastor (sorry Brock) should have seen it by now. What does it teach us about this cultural moment and issues facing our students, and should we re-think how we do ministry to the girls in our group? We also share what the perfect nig...
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August 22, 2023 • 43 mins
It's the second episode of the Youth Ministry Sherpas ** Coast to Coast **! As we redirect our thinking toward the fall, we stop to celebrate the iconic moments of Summer Camp 2023! But first, we have to address the pressing question on the minds of youth workers everywhere (especially Shannon): Are Aliens real, and what in the world (or outer space) do we tell our students about them? Then it's back to talking about the Fall, with...
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August 22, 2023 • 41 mins
It's the inaugural episode of the Youth Ministry Sherpas *Coast to Coast* Podcast, featuring Brock Morgan, Shannon Dunn, and Steve Anderson. We call ourselves "Sherpas" because we have over 80 years combined experience leading ministries. It's "Coast to Coast" because we serve on opposite ends of the country (Steve in Maryland; Shannon and Brock in California). We love students, we love youth ministry, and we love encouraging youth...
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