Ministry to Youth Stories

About Ministry to Youth Stories

Welcome to the Ministry to Youth Stories Podcast, where youth ministry leaders like you call in to share their stories. Youth ministry is full of unforgettable moments, the kind that make you laugh until your stomach hurts, cry because you deeply care, and shake your head wondering, “Did that really just happen at youth group?” Each week, youth pastors and leaders just like you call in on the show to share their most outrageous, hilarious, and inspiring youth ministry stories. From youth group game fails and camp chaos to heartwarming tales of life change, this podcast is your behind-the-scenes pass into the unpredictable world of student ministry. Why Listen? If you’ve ever: Cleaned up a youth room after a wild game only to find a mysterious smell that never goes away. Tried to explain theology while a middle schooler interrupts with “Would Jesus like Sour Patch Kids?” Wondered how other leaders survive camp chaos, volunteer drama, or awkward parent email. Then this podcast is for you! We believe youth ministry is one of the hardest, funniest, and most rewarding callings out there. That’s why every story we share is packed with honesty, humor, and encouragement. You’ll laugh at the ridiculous, learn from the messy, and be reminded why investing in teenagers matters more than ever. What You’ll Get in Each Episode: Real Stories: Nothing scripted here. Just authentic stories from youth leaders in the trenches. Laughter Guaranteed: Camp bloopers, youth group fails, and more will keep you grinning. Encouragement & Inspiration: Even in the chaos, you’ll find powerful reminders of God’s work in students’ lives. Connection: Hear from leaders across the world who share the same joys and challenges you face every week. Who Is This Podcast For? Youth pastors who need a laugh after a long Wednesday night. Volunteer leaders looking for encouragement and fresh perspective. Church staff who want to better understand the highs and lows of student ministry. Anyone who loves teenagers and the unpredictable, beautiful world of youth group. New episodes drop weekly, and you never know what kind of story you’ll hear next. Subscribe today and join the fun. Shop our huge collection of youth ministry curriculum, series, Bible studies, games and more: https://ministry-to-youth.com/ (https://ministry-to-youth.com/) Want to be part of the show? Visit https://ministrytoyouth.com/stories (https://ministrytoyouth.com/stories) to share your own youth ministry story and maybe you’ll be chosen to call in on an upcoming episode. Because let’s be honest: in youth ministry, it’s not a question of if crazy things will happen, it’s when. And here, every story is worth telling.

Publisher

Ministry to Youth

Category

religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Sept 2025

Latest episode

3 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   3 Apr 2026

   The EpiPen Didn’t Work... Now What?

   What happens when a mission trip to Cambodia turns into a race against anaphylactic shock — with a wheelchair heist, rats on the ER floor, and a $400 bill to save a student’s life? Or when a friendly game of broom ball ends with a youth leader’s fingernail on the ice and a 2 AM ER visit fueled by Greek flashcards? In this episode, Nick and Mikiala sit down with youth pastor Dawson Campbell (Diamond Bar, CA) for two of the wildest, most chaotic, and somehow deeply encouraging stories from the...

2. 

   20 Mar 2026

   5 Youth Ministry Myths Busted

   In this episode, Nick busts these 5 youth ministry myths: Spiritual growth just happens over time. Every event has the top the last one.I just need more volunteers.Wednesday night (or Sunday) is the ministry.If students drift away after graduation, your youth ministry failed.He doesn’t just challenge these ideas - he unpacks the truth behind each one. Plus, he dives into two bonus myths that 99% of youth ministry leaders widely accept! Want more? Check out Nick’s YouTube Shorts for mor...

3. 

   13 Mar 2026

   Myth: A Healthy Youth Ministry is a Growing Youth Ministry

   We've been told over and over that healthy things grow. If attendance is up, God must be moving and you're doing something right. But here's the problem: You can pack a room and no one knows a single student’s story. You can high-five a hundred kids and not shepherd any of them. Truth: Attendance is not the best scoreboard of a health youth ministry. So, what is? That's the big question we tackle in this episode as we explore: Why are we so obsessed with having a growing youth ministry? How...

4. 

   6 Mar 2026

   Why Camps and Retreats Still Matter

   Camps and retreats are often where God shows up in powerful ways, and Nick and Mikiala have the stories to prove it. In this episode, they share personal moments that transformed students’ lives and unpack how youth leaders can intentionally create space for God to move. Shop our Ministry to Youth store. Check out our huge collection of youth ministry bundles, teaching series, one year curriculums, Bible studies, games and more.

5. 

   27 Feb 2026

   The Quiet Power of Consistency

   In this episode, Nick Diliberto, Mikiala, and Lydia Halma talk about why consistency, mentorship, and safe spaces matter in youth ministry. Lydia shares how one-on-one meetings, intentional engagement, and steady leadership build trust and lasting faith, and how addressing shame helps students feel safe enough to grow. If you’re a youth ministry wanting deeper relationships and a more impactful ministry, this episode is packed with practical encouragement. Shop our Ministry to Yo...

6. 

   7 Feb 2026

   Wish I Had a Trap Door

   In this episode of Ministry to Stories, Nick sits down with Kristian Mendoza for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation about those ministry moments when you wish you could disappear through the floor. From an unexpected small group confession to a big slip up in front of the entire youth group, Kristian shares two unforgettable “trap door” moments. If you’ve ever fumbled through a tough moment in ministry or just need a good laugh and encouragement, this episode is for you. Shop our Minist...

7. 

   14 Nov 2025

   Stories You Don't Tell the Senior Pastor with Jody Livingston

   In this episode of the Ministry to Stories podcast, we tell stories your senior pastor never needs to hear (yes, they’re that good!). Your host Nick Diliberto and guest Jody Livingston (from The Longer Haul Youth Ministry in Youth Ministry) relive some crazy stories: road trip “memories” no training manual covered, lock in chaos, games with a plot twist & more. The stories are fast, unplanned, and hilarious - anchored by honest wisdom about staying in youth ministry long enough to see the...

8. 

   31 Oct 2025

   Accidentally Inappropriate with Marko

   What happens when you’re a youth ministry leader for 44 years? You get stories. Some hilarious, some heartbreaking, and all packed with wisdom. In this episode, we sit down with the one and only Mark Oestreicher (AKA Marko), a youth ministry legend who’s seen it all. From an accidentally inappropriate moment on a mission trip to the terrifying experience of losing a student, Marko shares the raw, real side of youth ministry. The laughter, the lessons & more. 👉 To learn more about Marko’s ...

9. 

   24 Oct 2025

   Chubby Chihuahuas and Kissing Booths

   Get ready to laugh, cringe, and nod along in this can’t-miss episode of the Ministry to Youth Stories podcast! Hosts Nick Diliberto and Mikiala Tennie sit down with Willie Register, a veteran youth minister with a treasure chest of stories. Willie pulls back the curtain on the beautiful madness of youth ministry — sharing unbelievable camp moments like the Balloon Pop Relay that went totally off the rails, the spicy (literally) Chubby Chihuahuas game, and the legendary Kissing Booth prank tha...

10. 

    9 Oct 2025

    The Kid that Changed Everything

    Big things are happening on the Ministry to Youth Stories Podcast! Host Nick Diliberto is joined by our brand-new co-host, Mikiala Tennie — and trust us, you’re going to love her. Mikiala opens up about her powerful journey in youth ministry, the students who’ve changed her life, and the moments that pushed her to go deeper into serving young people. From tough seasons to breakthrough stories, she brings real talk, heartfelt insights, and plenty of laughs along the way. This episode dives int...

11. 

    2 Oct 2025

    We Lost a Kid (But Found Him!)

    What’s every youth ministry leader’s worst nightmare? Yep, losing a student! In this episode, you’ll hear the wild (and slightly terrifying) true story of a student gone missing at camp. Panic, chaos, and a whole lot of “Cue the frantic search party!" ensued. If you’ve ever lost a student (and lived to tell the tale), take heart. You’re not alone. And don’t worry, the kid was found. Eventually. Brought to you by Ministry to Youth—resources that save youth leaders time and money so you can poi...

12. 

    25 Sept 2025

    Game Fails

    Every youth leader has one: that unforgettable game that went sideways. In this episode of Ministry to Youth Stories, host Nick Diliberto kicks things off with a story of a Sunday morning game that ended in sirens, paramedics, and a trip to the hospital. (Spoiler: everyone was okay—but it’s a story you’ll never forget.) Then, we hear from a guest youth leader who shares her own hilarious Christmas-themed “game gone wrong” that quickly turned into chaos you could only find in a junior high gro...

13. 

    15 Sept 2025

    Camp Chaos

    Episode 1: Camp Chaos – When Junior High Camp Goes Off the Rails Welcome to the Ministry to Youth Stories podcast! In our very first episode, we relive a camp experience that went from fun to full-on chaos. It’s messy, it’s gross, and it’s unforgettable. If you’ve ever led a youth camp, you know the unexpected is bound to happen—but what happens when everything goes wrong? This story will have you laughing, cringing, and nodding along, because let’s face it: every youth pastor has a camp tale...

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.