Each episode features conversations with people from various backgrounds, exploring the real side of ministry. We discuss insights and learnings from the local and national landscape, enriching our understanding of the ministry's impact.
Why Catholic Teens Leave the Church Before College | Kedon Gumerson, Ep 077
"The head and the heart leave the church much earlier." Kedon Gumerson, founder of Kinetic Catholic, on why most young Catholics are gone before college and what reaches Catholic high schoolers now.
Kedon started a weekly Catholic apologetics channel at 11. Now a senior at Franciscan University of Steubenville, he leads a team of young adult missionaries running retreats in Catholic high schools. He and Christopher talk about why faith becomes "a school subject," why Gen Z is all in when they love Jesus, the age gap in our parishes, how older leaders can empower young people, and how to keep going without burning out.
Full show notes and resources: https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/churchpodcast/episode-077-why-catholic-teens-leave-the-church-before-college-with-kedon-gumerson
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC307YUsy2980SICsZElRPGA
CHAPTERS
0:00 Cold open: "It's old people"
1:01 Welcome and introduction
3:50 Meet Kedon Gumerson
5:09 Kid Catholic: an apologetics channel at 11
13:06 Building a team at Franciscan
18:04 Why teens leave before college
23:59 Why Gen Z is all in
28:41 The age gap in our parishes
34:22 How older leaders can empower young people
38:56 Inside a Kinetic Catholic retreat
44:51 Avoiding burnout
48:55 Kedon's hope, and how to connect
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Kinetic Catholic: https://kineticcatholic.com/
Springtide Research Institute, research on Catholic teens: https://springtideresearch.org/post/religion-and-spirituality/research-on-catholic-teens
TENx10: https://www.tenx10.org/
NFCYM events, including NCYC and Exchange: https://nfcym.org/
CONNECT WITH KINETIC CATHOLIC
Website: https://kineticcatholic.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kineticcatholic/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kineticcatholic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8xnRLyVlvmPL-PFiu-1bYg
MORE FROM MARATHON YOUTH MINISTRY
M2GO: training videos, templates and resources for your ministry team: https://marathonyouthministry.com/ministry2go?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep077
Ministry Coach: https://ministryally.app?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep077
MYM store: https://marathonyouthministry.store?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep077
Ask a question for a future episode: http://thechurchpodcast.org/
The Church Podcast is a member of the NFCYM Podcast Network: https://nfcym.org/podcastnetwork/
More from the show: http://thechurchpodcast.org/
Recorded on Riverside (affiliate link): https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=christopher-wesley
Produced by Marathon Youth Ministry and Stephen Herrera of Be Well Creative: https://bewellcreative.co/
27 Oct 2026
Why Catholic Youth Ministry Isn’t Working (and What Is) | Jack Regan, Ep 076.
"The Holy Spirit has not given up on the north of England." Jack Regan, author of How to Start a Fire, on why most Catholic youth ministry isn't forming disciples, and what the ministries that are do differently.
Jack Regan, director of youth services for the Diocese of Lancaster in England, spent ten years studying ministries that really evangelize. He and Christopher talk about naming what isn't working, the mission-vision-strategy exercise most ministries skip, moving from maintenance to mission, discipleship as a journey, what success in ministry actually looks like, why your team needs fraternity, and why anyone can evangelize.
Full show notes and resources: https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/churchpodcast/episode-076-why-catholic-youth-ministry-isnt-working-and-what-is-with-jack-regan
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC307YUsy2980SICsZElRPGA
CHAPTERS
0:00 Cold open: "The Holy Spirit has not given up"
1:00 Welcome and introduction
3:36 Meet Jack Regan
6:01 Why he wrote How to Start a Fire
15:00 Successful ministries know why they exist
22:23 From maintenance to mission
32:10 Discipleship is a journey
38:15 What success in ministry looks like
44:10 Fraternity: a team that likes each other
50:33 Anyone can evangelize, and Jack's hope
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Jack Regan, How to Start a Fire: A Blueprint for Catholic Youth Ministry: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1036980162?tag=04130706-20 (affiliate link)
Castlerigg Manor, Diocese of Lancaster youth service: https://castleriggmanor.com/
The Ascent: https://www.theascentuk.co.uk/
NFCYM events, including NCYC and Exchange: https://nfcym.org/
CONNECT WITH JACK
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackreganuk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackreganuk/
MORE FROM MARATHON YOUTH MINISTRY
M2GO: training videos, templates and resources for your ministry team: https://marathonyouthministry.com/ministry2go?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep076
Ministry Coach: https://ministryally.app?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep076
MYM store: https://marathonyouthministry.store?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep076
Ask a question for a future episode: http://thechurchpodcast.org/
The Church Podcast is a member of the NFCYM Podcast Network: https://nfcym.org/podcastnetwork/
More from the show: http://thechurchpodcast.org/
Recorded on Riverside (affiliate link): https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=christopher-wesley
Produced by Marathon Youth Ministry and Stephen Herrera of Be Well Creative: https://bewellcreative.co/
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
20 Oct 2026
World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul: How to Prepare Your Group | Verso Ministries, Ep 075
"There aren't many people walking barefoot to Rome, but there are people in middle seats." Joan Watson and John Paul Lichon of Verso Ministries on preparing pilgrims for World Youth Day in Seoul.
John Paul Lichon, founder and CEO of Verso Ministries, and Joan Watson, its pilgrim formation manager, talk about what makes a pilgrimage different from a trip, how to prepare pilgrims for the sacrifices along the way, the "so what?" question every pilgrim should answer, the story of the Korean Church, how to bring the whole parish along, and why you don't have to fly overseas to make a pilgrimage.
Full show notes and resources: https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/churchpodcast/episode-075-world-youth-day-2027-in-seoul-how-to-prepare-your-group-with-verso-ministries
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC307YUsy2980SICsZElRPGA
CHAPTERS
0:00 Cold open: "Parts are gonna hurt"
1:01 Welcome and introduction
2:32 Meet John Paul, Joan and Verso Ministries
7:09 Why a pilgrimage is not a vacation
11:41 Sacrifice, setbacks and lost luggage
17:00 Coming home: the "so what?" question
22:51 Starting Verso with $25 and a state website
28:29 World Youth Day in Seoul and the Korean Church
35:52 Bringing the whole parish along
41:49 What gives them hope: "Take courage"
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Verso Ministries: https://versoministries.com/
Lead a group with Verso: https://versoministries.com/lead-a-group/
In Via podcast: https://versoministries.com/in-via/
Verso's startup story: https://versoministries.com/versos-startup-story/
World Youth Day Seoul 2027: https://wydseoul.org/
Joan Watson, Making a Pilgrimage: A Companion for Catholics: https://www.joanwatson.faith/
CONNECT WITH JOAN AND JOHN PAUL
Verso: https://versoministries.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/catholictravels/
Joan: https://www.joanwatson.faith/ and https://www.instagram.com/joan.m.watson/
SUPPORT OUR WORLD YOUTH DAY PILGRIMS
Marathon Youth Ministry is helping the Sisters of Bon Secours and the Diocese of San Diego take about 70 pilgrims to Seoul with Verso. Please pray for us, and support a pilgrim at https://wydbonsecours.org/donate
World Youth Day collection at the MYM store (proceeds support pilgrims): https://marathonyouthministry.store?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep075
MORE FROM MARATHON YOUTH MINISTRY
M2GO: training videos, templates and resources for your ministry team: https://marathonyouthministry.com/ministry2go?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep075
Ministry Coach: https://ministryally.app?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep075
MYM store: https://marathonyouthministry.store?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep075
The Church Podcast is a member of the NFCYM Podcast Network: https://nfcym.org/podcastnetwork/
More from the show: http://thechurchpodcast.org/
Recorded on Riverside (affiliate link): https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=christopher-wesley
Produced by Marathon Youth Ministry and Stephen Herrera of Be Well Creative: https://bewellcreative.co/
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