Student ministry is about a lot more than preaching sermons and planning events. Student Ministry: What They Don’t Teach You is a practical and honest conversation about the side of ministry you usually have to learn the hard way. From parents and volunteers to budgets, broken church vans, tough conversations, and everything in between, we’re talking about the real-life lessons that help you survive, grow, and lead well in student ministry.
In Episode 11, Brandon and Blake talk about an important part of student ministry that often gets overlooked: student check-ins. They discuss why keeping track of attendance matters, how to create a check-in process that actually works, and what you can learn from the information you're collecting. From tracking first-time guests to noticing when students stop showing up, this episode is a practical conversation about using check-ins to help you better know, connect with, and care for the students in your ministry.
6 Nov 2026
Episode #10 - Busy Doesn’t Mean Healthy
In Episode 10, Brandon and Blake discuss a common trap in student ministry: mistaking busyness for health. Just because your calendar is full and your ministry has a lot going on doesn't necessarily mean you're being effective. They talk about the importance of evaluating what you're doing, building healthy routines, and making sure your time is spent on what actually matters. They also share a look into their own weekly routines and how they balance the different responsibilities of student ministry. This episode is an honest conversation about staying focused, being intentional, and remembering that a busy ministry isn't always a healthy one.
3 Nov 2026
Episode #9 - Your Calendar is Telling On You
In Episode 9, Brandon and Blake discuss something that reveals a lot about your student ministry: your calendar. What you spend your time on often says more about your priorities than what you say matters most. They talk about the challenge of balancing events, discipleship, relationships, and personal responsibilities while making sure your schedule reflects your ministry's purpose. This episode is an honest conversation about evaluating what's on your calendar, learning what needs to change, and being intentional with the time God has given you.
29 Oct 2026
Episode #8 - Vision Is Easy. Culture Is Hard.
In Episode 8, Brandon and Blake talk about one of the biggest challenges in student ministry: creating a culture that actually reflects your vision. Having a mission statement and a plan is easy, but getting students, volunteers, and leaders to buy in and live it out takes work. They discuss how ministry culture is shaped by what you consistently do, what you celebrate, and what you allow. This episode is an honest conversation about building a student ministry where your vision is more than just words on a wall.
26 Oct 2026
Episode #7 - Stop Building a Ministry Around Yourself
In Episode 7, Brandon and Blake tackle a common mistake in student ministry: building a ministry that depends too much on you. They discuss the importance of developing leaders, giving others opportunities to serve, and creating a ministry that can thrive even when you're not in the room. From learning to delegate to letting go of control, this episode is an honest conversation about moving beyond doing everything yourself and building a ministry that's bigger than one person.
21 Oct 2026
Episode #6 - You Can’t Do Everything Well
In Episode 6, Brandon and Blake tackle one of the hardest lessons in student ministry: you can't do everything well.They discuss the challenge of balancing ministry responsibilities, learning when to say no, and figuring out what actually deserves your time and attention. From managing expectations to setting priorities, this episode is an honest conversation about making tough decisions, avoiding burnout, and focusing on what matters most in student ministry.
17 Oct 2026
Episode #5 - Wednesday Night Isn’t the Win
In Episode 5, Brandon and Blake talk about what counts as a win in student ministry. They share what they’ve learned about looking beyond attendance, recognizing spiritual growth, and keeping discipleship at the center of what they do. Whether your Wednesday nights are packed or you’re wondering if anything is making a difference, this episode is an honest conversation about measuring what matters and helping students follow Jesus beyond the youth room.
13 Oct 2026
Episode #4 - Parents Aren’t the Problem
In Episode4, Brandon and Blake talk about turning parents into partners in student ministry. It’s easy to get frustrated when you and a parent don’t see things the same way, but how can you build a relationship that helps you work together? Whether you’re struggling to connect with parents or want to strengthen those relationships, this episode will help you think about how you can support the families you serve.
2 Oct 2026
Episode #3 - Volunteers ARE Your Ministry
In Episode 3, Brandon and Blake talk about one of the never-ending challenges of student ministry: recruiting volunteers. They share what they’ve learned about finding the right people, making the ask, and helping people see that serving with students is worth their time. Whether you’re trying to build a volunteer team from scratch or just need a few more adults to jump in, this episode is full of practical lessons learned from years of recruiting leaders.
25 Sept 2026
Episode #2 - Your Ministry Will Eventually Outgrow You
In Episode 2, Brandon and Blake talk about one of the biggest lessons you learn in student ministry: you can’t do it alone. They discuss why building a strong team of adult leaders matters, the mistake of trying to carry the ministry yourself, and what they’ve learned about recruiting, trusting, and empowering volunteers. From giving leaders real ownership to allowing them to lead in their own way, this episode is an honest conversation about building a ministry that’s bigger than one person.
21 Sept 2026
Episode #1 - Expectations vs Reality
In the first episode, Brandon and Blake introduce the heart behind Student Ministry: The Things They Don’t Teach You and begin pulling back the curtain on the realities of ministry. They share lessons learned through years of experience, discuss the challenges no classroom can fully prepare you for, and explain why honest conversations about the practical side of student ministry matter.
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