Shaping Student Ministry Podcast

SSM + Youth Pastor Central: What’s Next for Youth Ministry Starts Here

This is the episode that changes everything.
Shaping Student Ministry (SSM) and Youth Pastor Central (YPC) have merged into one unified network.
Why? Because student pastors need more than content—they need connection, coaching, and community. And now, you’ll get it all in one place.
In this episode, John, Ian, and Christopher walk through:
• Why we’re merging: What brought SSM and YPC together
• What changes for you (and what doesn’t): Access, content, cohorts, and more
• The new platform: A first look at our all-in-one coaching and resource ecosystem
• What’s coming next: Podcast expansions, resource drops, regional meetups, and a packed fall lineup.
Whether you’ve followed SSM for years or you’re a longtime member of YPC, this is the beginning of something brand new for all of us.
What you’ll get:
• A redesigned member experience
• One subscription that includes everything (yes, including Games on Games)
• National and regional cohorts
• A growing podcast network
• Access to exclusive curriculum and tools We’re not just joining forces. We’re building the future of student ministry leadership together.
Start your free trial: https://www.shapingstudentministry.com/pricing-plans/checkout-1?planId=bdf7472e-3f3d-46f9-8d7e-08c08d9477fe&checkoutFlowId=d303b5ac-f322-4161-adc3-c73cda5fe9e3

The One About What I Wish I Knew

What do you wish someone told you when you started in ministry?
In this episode, John Oliver is joined by Mark Santana from First Baptist Statesboro to reflect on the early days of leadership in the local church. From building trust with parents and volunteers to navigating expectations, they share honest lessons and encouragement for anyone just getting started or anyone guiding the next generation of leaders.
Whether you are leading students, adults, or your entire congregation, this conversation offers wisdom that reaches beyond youth ministry. Topics include:
• Why relational leadership always wins over performance pressure• What to prioritize in your first year that will actually last• The leadership rhythms that help you stay grounded• Real talk about failure, growth, and long term faithfulness
Watch now on YouTubeListen wherever you get your podcastsConnect with our growing community of leaders:https://shapingstudentministry.com

The One About Leading Before, During, and After Camp Including When (and Whether) to Baptize at Camp

Summer camp is not just a spiritual high point. It is a strategic opportunity for gospel impact. In this episode, John and Ian walk through what it means to lead students well before, during, and after camp. From setting expectations to creating margin, they share hard-earned wisdom for making the most of camp season.
They also dive into one of the most debated questions in student ministry: Should we baptize students at camp? You will hear their honest conversation on timing, accountability, and local church connection when it comes to responding to salvation decisions.
 
What we cover:
• How to plan for discipleship, not just hype
• What to prioritize before the bus ever leaves
• Leading your team well while at camp
• Making follow up a strategy, not an afterthought
• What to consider before saying yes to camp baptisms
Listen in and equip yourself to lead camp season with intention and clarity.
 
Subscribe to the podcast and explore our community
https://www.youtube.com/@ShapingStudentMinistry
https://g6allies.com/ssm-community-checkout

The One About Leadership That Sets the Tone

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 4 of The Shaping Student Ministry Podcast — where we believe every student pastor should get better, not just busier.
In this episode, Ian and John unpack what it means to be a tone-setting leader. What kind of atmosphere do you create when you walk into a room? How do you influence your team’s energy, your students’ sense of belonging, and your ministry’s culture over time?
Whether you lead with boldness or quiet strength, this episode is for you. We’ll help you shift from reactive leadership to intentional influence—because student ministry doesn’t just need good vibes, it needs godly leaders who lead on purpose.
🔔 Subscribe for more student ministry conversations📲 Join our community: https://shapingstudentministry.com

The One About Discipling Students Who Don’t Show Up

Your lesson is prepped, your leaders are ready, the snacks are out… but the students? Scattered. Travel ball, AP homework, rehearsals—and let’s be real, some just don’t show.
In this episode, John and Ian dive into one of the most relatable challenges in student ministry: how to disciple students in a culture of inconsistent attendance. You’ll walk away with ideas to shift your mindset, refocus your strategy, and stop equating faithfulness with full rooms.
Topics include:
Why showing up isn’t the only metric for success
What it looks like to redefine the win
How to disciple students when schedules get in the way
Building intentional rhythms and micro-connections
Why Jesus wouldn’t panic about your numbers (and neither should you)
Grab your 2-week free trial of the SSM Community and get access to exclusive content, Touchpoints, and leadership cohorts:
https://g6allies.com/product-details/product/touchpoints
 
Also, check out our curriculum at: https://shapingstudentministry.com/lines

The One About Making Senior Sunday More Than a Slideshow

Is Senior Sunday just a slideshow and a gift bag… or something more? In this episode, John and Ian talk through how to transform Graduation Sunday into a spiritually meaningful moment for your students, families, and entire church. From cap and gown walk-ins to commissioning prayers and student-led blessings, this conversation is packed with practical ideas and stories that will challenge you to reimagine what this milestone could be. Whether you’re scrambling to throw something together or trying to break out of a tired tradition, this episode will help you make it count.
 
What we cover:
• Why Senior Sunday matters more than you think
• The tension between showing up and ghosting
• Ways to involve parents, juniors, and the whole church
• How to give meaningful gifts
• The value of intergenerational blessing and commissioning
 
Free 30-Day Trial? https://g6allies.com/product-details/product/touchpoints?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ_X-NleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEwNEttbm4wUlhWaE5mcW1yAR6qwUt7GKZ4dnr0D9TtSGQ2mwZ8lPnCRBEiaGEvqlppX3R_A8kYqjNRRgf9ag_aem_zU4x2t45cccJqBr4XycVFw

The One About Difficult Leaders... Including You

Not every hard boss is toxic, but not every hard boss is healthy either. In this episode of The Shaping Student Ministry Podcast, John and Ian dive into the complicated world of church leadership dynamics. What do you do when your pastor is hard to work with? How do you know if the issue is them… or you? From micromanagers and ghost leaders to trust issues and toxic patterns, this conversation is real, raw, and practical.
If you’re a student pastor or ministry leader trying to navigate difficult relationships on your church staff, this episode is for you.
What we cover:
• The difference between difficult and untrustworthy leaders
• Why many pastors struggle to disciple their teams
• How to build trust when it’s been broken
• The 6 types of trust every ministry needs
• Why some leaders become toxic—and how not to become one
Subscribe, share, and check out the full resources and behind-the-wall content at
 
👉 https://www.shapingstudentministry.com
Free 30-Day Trial? https://g6allies.com/product-details/product/touchpoints?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ_X-NleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEwNEttbm4wUlhWaE5mcW1yAR6qwUt7GKZ4dnr0D9TtSGQ2mwZ8lPnCRBEiaGEvqlppX3R_A8kYqjNRRgf9ag_aem_zU4x2t45cccJqBr4XycVFw

The One About Building Strategy, Not Just Buying It

Welcome to Season 2 of the Shaping Student Ministry Podcast! We’re kicking things off with a game-changing conversation featuring Dave Coryell, President of Christian Endeavor and author of Less Like Hippos, More Like Honeybees. (WE ENCOUNTERED SOME RECORDING ISSUES... POWER THROUGH!)
In this episode, we dive deep into:
- Why your discipleship strategy needs more than just curriculum
- The danger of treating content as the end goal instead of a means to a greater mission
- How to move students from spiritual consumers to active contributors
- What hippos and honeybees can teach us about youth ministry
- The history and global vision of Christian Endeavor—and why we’re excited to partner
This isn’t about burning down what you’ve built. It’s about building better—on purpose, with purpose.
Links to Christian Endeavor, Dave’s books, and our brand-new partnership page are below!
CE WEBSITE: https://www.ceworks.faith/
DAVE'S BOOK: https://a.co/d/9yDnsc8
PARTNERSHIP: https://www.shapingstudentministry.com/ce 

The One About Follow-Up: What You Should Do After the Event

You poured time, energy, and resources into your big event… now what? In this episode, John and Ian unpack why what happens after the event may be more important than the event itself. Drawing from years of student ministry experience, they tackle questions like:
• How do you capture spiritual momentum without overloading the calendar?
• Why are relational follow-ups better than reactionary ones?
• What does it look like to follow up without fizzling out?
• How do you develop rhythms that lead students from a moment to maturity?
This isn’t a teardown of events—it’s a call to maximize their impact by being just as intentional after the final session as you were before the doors opened.
You’ll walk away with real follow-up strategies for your students, volunteers, and even yourself.
👇Click the Link for your free trial of Touchpoints and The SSM Community! https://g6allies.com/product-details/product/touchpoints

The One About ReFraming Mental Health & Communication with Gen Z and Gen Alpha

In this episode, we sit down with Jordan Francis of Reframe Youth Ministry—licensed clinician, former youth pastor, and curriculum creator—for a conversation that will shift how you think about student ministry.
We talk about: • What technology is really doing to students’ minds and bodies • Why presence, not performance, is the secret sauce of ministry • How to build trust by letting students say the “wild stuff” • Why compassion, vulnerability, and presence must define our pastoral posture • Practical strategies to reframe how we talk, listen, and disciple
Join The SSM Community: CLICK HERE
 
Learn More About ReFrame: CLICK HERE