PODCASTS

Tag: #faith development
Youth Ministry – Inspiration for Congregations – 9/30/24

Youth Ministry – Inspiration for Congregations – 9/30/24

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Youth Ministry -What is most effective in the 21st Century?

Inspiration for Congregations

Patterns of congregational youth ministry which were emphasized 20 and 30 years ago are not as effective these days to engage with teens, children and young adults now. Research has shown what church leaders and volunteers ought to emphasize now. The measurement they used:  what was distinctive in churches where students were still active in a congregation five to ten years later, long after they “graduated” from youth ministry.

The Rev. Mark Kiessling is director for the national Youth Ministry Office of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. He tells Family Life News that ministry with young people which are geared mostly toward events and programs are not having the same impact with the current young generation. What is especially strong to influence

He says many smaller and midsized churches fret over not having much of a traditional “youth program”, if they even have one at all. However, smaller congregations actually have an advantage they can leverage: they are already good at relationships and personal connections.

Listen to this conversation from the podcast player here, and consider sharing it with decision-makers in your congregation or regional network.

–     –     –     –

Their research and recommendations are contained in “Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry” which includes these priorities:

+ Every congregation offers Warmth, Challenge, and Grace

overview & video:  youthesource.com/2019/07/healthy-congregations-have-warmth-challenge-grace/

+ Every young person should be intentionally connected with 5 Supportive Adults

overview & video:  youthesource.com/2019/07/healthy-congregations-have-supportive-adults/

+ Every parent is supported, so they can engage effectively with these daughters and sons

overview & video:  youthesource.com/2019/06/healthy-congregations-have-engaged-parents/

+ Every young person is helped to discover their identity in Jesus Christ, as well as their unique calling and vocation

overview & videos:  youthesource.com/seven-practices/

 

 

For further information:

* Website     * Handout     * Video     * Book

The LCMS is partnered with 194 congregations in New York, 81 in Pennsylvania, and about 6,000 across the nation.

This is a podcast in our new series “Inspiration for Congregations” with insights from local, regional and national experts, to provide information and motivations for leaders and members of local churches.  Today’s host is Family Life news producer Greg Gillispie.
Back to Church Weekend – Casey Jones – 9/12/24

Back to Church Weekend – Casey Jones – 9/12/24

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“Back to School” season is now followed by Back to Church Sunday.

 

Today’s podcast offers you a preview of what several congregations in our listening area are doing this weekend.

Casey Jones is the executive director of Allegany Hope, a Belmont-based network of Christian congregations in Allegany County. They are not only participating in localizing this weekend’s Back to Church Sunday annual emphasis; they also cooperate with a number of prayer, social and mission-oriented projects together.

One of those areas of emphasis is the community of Friendship, New York. Churches there have planned free community lunches there, both Saturday and Sunday. (Sept. 14-15, 2024)

 

Back to Church Sunday happens on the third Sunday of September, after people are back to school and back from Labor Day Weekend. This is the 15th year of the national emphasis. There are paid and free resources available to churches each year, to help with their efforts to re-motivate their members and to invite neighbors in. They also have options available to promote a Back to Church Weekend for congregation which offer worship and events on Saturdays.

 

 

 

 

 
Inside Out – Making Friends, Being a Friend, at Church – 9/11/24

Inside Out – Making Friends, Being a Friend, at Church – 9/11/24

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The “Inside Out” podcast, from Family Life

Making friends at church can be hard, but it’s both important and possible, and we can grow in the process.

 We want to find community at church, but it can be hard.

One of the challenges, according to writer and blogger Paige Pippin, is that many of us show up on Sundays already exhausted. “Getting to church can feel weirdly taxing at times,” she says. “And maybe it’s our personality–maybe we’re more introverted. Maybe we’re in a very hectic season. Maybe we’re getting our gaggle of young children to church. Or, maybe it’s genuinely heavy or life-altering circumstances, like a sickness or disability. So we show up to church and we already feel tired.”

Pippin’s the author of The Gospel Coalition article Help! I Want to Make Friends at Church. Pippin says that in addition to feeling spent when we arrive, we often feel uncertain.

“How do I engage?” Pippin asks. “This feels risky and out of control. Perhaps I’m believing others don’t want to be approached, or maybe it’s too much work, or maybe I believe the lie that it just doesn’t really matter.”

Our reasons for hesitating may be heart-felt, but the opportunity in front of us is a great one.

“We, as believers, are ambassadors of the Gospel, and we have this rich opportunity in front of us,” she says. “Accepting that means I have an opportunity to pray for my attitude–my openness–to others before I even enter the sanctuary. And maybe even to start leaving more margin in my coming and going on Sunday morning.”

Pippin encourages us not only to seek out friendships, but to seek them out with Christians who are different from us. We’ll likely grow deeper as disciples–and more amazed with God.  “Our awe for Him should be expanding as we see Him work in people who think differently than us, or who have walked different roads than us. God is that big, and He’s that able.”

None of this is easy. But God supplies everything we need for His Church to be unified.

“We, as Christians, have a leg up on friendship, because of the Spirit in us,” she says. “This should give us great confidence in pursuing other Christians. Because we know that this is what the Lord has and so we know that it’s not up to us to muster this strength, or to manufacture chemistry. The Lord wants it. He will show us how.”

 

Join us for our 14-minute conversation by listening to the podcast.

You can also read Paige Pippin’s article “Help! I Want to Make Friends at Church”.

Paige Pippin is a Christian author, blogger. and stay-at-home mom.

Inside Out with Martha Manikas-Foster is one of the Wednesday news features on the air and online. Hear it during our Noon Report, 5 O’Clock Report, and our “Family Life News” podcast feeds.

#InsideOut

 
A Missionary to Our Politicians – The Word on the Hill – 9/10/24

A Missionary to Our Politicians – The Word on the Hill – 9/10/24

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A Missionary to Our Politicians

A special Family Life Interview

Steve Amerson and his wife traveled to Washington D.C. as weekly worship services returned to the halls of Congress. Since 2014, he has gone to Capitol Hill twice a month to meet with Senators, Representatives and Congressional staffers. Each time, he brings 200 handwritten notes with Scriptural encouragement and words of hope — that adds up to 37,000 handwritten notes across ten years.

His “The Word on the Hill” Ministries offers signs of spiritual renewal among all who work on Capitol Hill. Democrats, Republicans and Independents all get visits, prayers, and caring attention for the realities of their lives — amid the loneliness and stress of their government work, and the everyday crises and problems of their personal lives. While the ministry to elected Members of Congress has great value, this interview also includes the story of a young woman who works in a Capitol Hill

Bob Price asked Amerson to talk about his evangelistic and pastoral work, and the spiritual state of our Seat of Government. Tap the podcast player button to hear our interview.

You can discover more about Steve Amerson and the mission successes of The Word on the Hill Ministries from their website and in this video.

 

 

  “Of all the voices in government, God’s voice should be the loudest”

 

 

 
Bible2School – Time Out from the School Day for Faith Development -9/03/24

Bible2School – Time Out from the School Day for Faith Development -9/03/24

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Bible2School – Time Out from the School Day for Faith Development

A Family Life Interview with Kori Pennypacker

A Pennsylvania-based program gives students the opportunity to leave the school building each week for a Bible-based time of fun and learning.

Some might wonder how this can happen with secular elementary schools, but it is legal and successful for families who choose it.

Kori Pennypacker is President of Bible2School, which essential offers a voluntary option to have experiences similar to Sunday School or an interactive Vacation Bible School. It happens during recesses or lunch periods, offsite, so Bible2School is free to have faith-based content.

Pennypacker explains the program, tells us about how this program benefits students who are already in churches and those who don’t yet have any interactions with faith, and how Scripture and values education benefits school and communities.

This interview was our daily News Feature during the Family Life Noon Report on our network of nearly 70 radio stations across PA and NY — and on our live stream.

 

For more information:

Newspodcasts
Keeping Christian Colleges open, vibrant, and valued – Faith Under Fire – 8/08/24

Keeping Christian Colleges open, vibrant, and valued – Faith Under Fire – 8/08/24

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Many Christian colleges — like their secular counterparts — are facing financial and enrollment pressures which threaten their futures.

Christian journalist Warren Smith, today’s guest on Family Life’s “Faith Under Fire”, analyzes the issues which have led to numerous faith-based schools retrenching, with some forced to merge or close their doors. He says decisions need to be made — by college administrators, by families with college-bound students, and by churches and denominations. If there is value to higher education with a Christian centering, there are ways to make that more feasible.

In addition to identifying problems with tuition costs and college debts, Smith has some success stories too:  Christian universities which have “doubled down” on their unique identities, and some who have focused on degrees which reward graduates with high salaries and numerous career opportunities.

Warren Smith is president of MinistryWatch.com, a Christian news organization which covers national and global ministry organizations, transparency for Christian donors, and religious news across the spectrum. Ministry Watch has done extended coverage on Christian higher education, inspiring trends, and college closures (such as the recent one at Clarks Summit University in the Family Life listening area).

“Faith Under Fire” with Greg Gillispie is a Thursday news feature on the Family Life radio network, on the air and through our live streams. Expanded versions of those interviews are also available from our website and many podcast feed apps. Search for “Family Life News”.
Hometown Heroes – Keystone Outreach – 7/30/24

Hometown Heroes – Keystone Outreach – 7/30/24

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It’s “Hometown Heroes” from Family Life News

Keystone State Outreach offers an annual Summer Service Camp for middle school and high school youth groups in West Milton, Pennsylvania.

Dozens of students converge on the Susquehanna River Valley to offer people yard work, painting and home repairs. Participants and their adult leaders also join in energetic worship experiences.

Local coordinator Eric Roberts tells stories of how the groups come together to grow in their own faith, by serving others as Jesus served others.

 

 
Real Answers – Young People and Those Devices – 7/17/24

Real Answers – Young People and Those Devices – 7/17/24

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Real Answers – Children, Families, Cell Phones – 7/17/24

Today: Questions about “questionable” content coming across the mobile devices of children and teens.

New York-based Counselor Christopher Anderson offers some advice for parents and families. Particularly this week, many children were viewing images, videos and reports about the shooting of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally — often without perspective or support from an adult.

Beyond that immediate incident, young people who use cell phones have access to media files and content which families may consider inappropriate — or at least, not fitting for the age or maturity level of a child or teen.

Anderson walks, step by step, how to shepherd your kids and teens from social media, difficult images, and hard news.  Anderson says families need open communication, good standards on the use of electronic devices, and — most importantly — an ongoing assurance that the child or teen is valued and loved, by the parent and by the Lord.

 

“Real Answers” is the Family Life News feature which helps people tackle the tough topics families face. Licensed Mental Health Counselor Christopher Anderson offers his perspectives twice a month, Wednesdays during the Noon Report and on this Family Life News podcast.  Sarah Harnisch is your host.

 

 

 

An additional resource: Research from Stanford Medical
Trail Life USA – a Christian option to build the character and confidence of boys – 7/01/24

Trail Life USA – a Christian option to build the character and confidence of boys – 7/01/24

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Trail Life USA – a Christian option, for those concerned about how the Boy Scouts of America have changed

Trail Life USA offers camping, outdoor adventures, a process for advancing through ranks and badges, and connects boys and male teens with adult role models.

In some ways this seems like what Boy Scouting has been doing for over a century. However, Trail Life has only been in existence for about a decade. In those ten years, participation in Trail Life has mushroomed to over 60 thousand — that as Scouting USA (the new identity for Boy Scouts) has dropped by fully half, from two million to one million.

While COVID, child safety scandals, less emphasis on outdoors activities (and more on electronic devices) and a general decline in the status of many membership-based organizations, today’s guest says the BSA’s departure from its traditional values is a big reason why. Trail Life USA is a national Christian ministry with the goal of building the character and confidence of boys.

 

Trail Life’s CEO Mark Hancock tells us about the specifically Christ-centered and boy-focused programs for boys from kindergarten through high school. Their activities are a response to national research that too many boys particularly do not have strong, helpful, positive male role models. Today’s Family Life Interview delves into the reasons Hancock sees successes where Trail Life troops have been started in all 50 states.

 

 

 

For follow-up information

Find more about Trail Life, how to charter a troop, and where to find a program for your sons: www.TrailLifeUSA.com

Here is a report on why Boy Scouts are faltering while Trail Life is growing:  “No Longer an ‘Alternative'”

A former pastor (and dad of two sons) now leads Trail Life USA:  Mark Hancock’s biography
Real Answers – continuing our conversation about “Raising Sons” – 5/15/24

Real Answers – continuing our conversation about “Raising Sons” – 5/15/24

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Raising children is a delight and a challenge. Parenting is one of the most important tasks in all of life for those who are given this privilege.

Daughters also rely on uplifting upbringings, yet today we focus on boys.  What is unique about raising sons?

 

On this edition of Family Life’s “Real Answers“, therapeutic counselor Christopher Anderson offers Christian areas of emphasis for parents. These apply, whatever your son’s/sons’ age, whether you are married or a single parent, and whether you are a dad or a mom or a grandparent:

  •  The urgency of giving your children, especially sons, a deepening understanding of Jesus and of grace
  •  How vital it is for male and female parents to visibly live out your faith, and explain why the Lord improves your own life
  •  Connect your son with other men who are faithful adult role models
  •  The story of a valuable $50 bill

 

 

This podcast is the second of a two-part series on this important topic

Chris Anderson and Sarah Harnisch also talked about encouragement and advice for raising sons on our “Real Answers” feature earlier this month. Hear part one of that interview here.

 

 

“Real Answers” is one of our extended interviews on Wednesdays from Family Life News. Listen for it online, on our app and on the radio during the Family Life Noon Report

Podcast versions of all Family Life News Features are available for 24/7 listening, sharing, subscribing and downloading. You can find them on our website or search “Family Life News” on your favorite podcast app.

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