Best Steve Cullum Podcasts (2024)

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137: How to Evaluate and Change 17:55

8h ago17:55

17:55

How do you know when it's time to change or quit doing a program? When is it time to change up the way you do youth group, camp, mission trips, or even VBS? On this quick-hit episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve shares how to evaluate ministry programs and some ways to go about modifying or letting them go when it's time to change it up. S…

1
136: Staying Connected to the Vine with Candice Wynn 39:19

4d ago39:19

39:19

Why is it sometimes so easy for us to forget Jesus in the middle of ministry? We get caught up in the doing of ministry and don’t spend much time with Jesus himself, the vine (John 15). On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Candice Wynn joins us to talk about staying connected to Jesus and also about her brand new ministry, BOON. Sponsor …

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135: Keeping a Kingdom Mindset with Steve White 38:15

20d ago38:15

38:15

How do we respond when someone decides to leave your church or ministry? Do we have a castle mindset or a kingdom mindset, seeing the bigger picture of the entire church? Steve White joins us this week discuss what it’s like to have a kingdom mindset and keep it. Sponsor for this episode of podcast: G Shades - https://gshades.org (Use code CONNECTI…

1
134: GLS NextGen with Jenna Istvanik and Mariana Rubinec 20:17

1M ago20:17

20:17

How can we train up the next generation of leaders? The Global Leadership Summit has been thinking about that very question and they're ready to answer. On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we talk with Jenna Istvanik and Mariana Rubinec, two young leaders from GLS NextGen about what we can expect from this year's event, why you should …

1
133: Captivating Students' Attention When Teaching with Mike Haynes 39:03

2M ago39:03

39:03

We've all been there... You're teaching a group of teenagers, but one or more of them aren't paying attention. Frustrating, right? So how do we teach in a way that draws teenagers in and encourages them to engage rather than being distracted by their friends' phones or more. On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve is joined by Mike Ha…

1
132: Raising Up the Next Generation of Leaders 18:13

2M ago18:13

18:13

How did you get started in student ministry? And what are you doing to raise up the next generation of leaders? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve talks about how he got started and also provides some resources that we think will really help us in raising the next generation of leaders that will come after us. Links referenced in…

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131: Here for It - Orange Conference 2024 Recap 16:11

3M ago16:11

16:11

Are you here for it? This question was posed at The Orange Conference 2024, and throughout the event, we had main stage and workshop speakers helping us understand how God is here for it and how we can be here for it in order to reach this next generation for Christ. On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve is joined by several confere…

1
130: Seamlessly Transition Kids into Student Ministry with Jay Reynolds 58:12

3M ago58:12

58:12

How do we transition students well from kids ministry to student ministry? How do we walk with parents during this time? And how do we come alongside families during this time of high anxiety? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Jay Reynolds joins Steve to share how he and his church have created a seamless transition in their ministry …

1
129: Recovering After Being Fired with Kyle Isabelli 47:52

4M ago47:52

47:52

Have you ever been fired or maybe in a ministry that just wasn’t working? And then wondered how you can bounce back from that? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Kyle Isabelli, pastor and author of Refined by the Fire(d), shares about his experience with getting fired and how God refined him through it and eventually began redeeming it…

1
128: Celebrating High School Graduates 13:59

4M ago13:59

13:59

How do you celebrate your high school graduates? This question pops up a lot in youth ministry circles, especially in late winter and early spring. So on this quick-hit episode of Student Ministry Connection, we’re getting really practical. Steve shares what he's done over the last several years in hopes that it might help you as you think about yo…

1
127: A Non-Anxious Life with Alan Fadling 40:27

5M ago40:27

40:27

While we know anxiety is runny rampant in the teenagers we serve, many of us have probably not stopped long enough to realize it has affected many of us as well. Alan Fadling joins Steve to talk about his Unhurried Living ministry and his brand new book, A Non-Anxious Life. Even if you feel pretty healthy right now, it’s important to think about th…

1
126: Empowering Students to Change the World with Billy McMahan 45:53

5M ago45:53

45:53

Are we going about student ministry the right way? Are we giving this next generation all they need to become the world-changers that God has created them to be? How do we remove the obstacles and set them up for God-defined success? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Billy McMahan joins Steve for a candid conversation about what stude…

1
125: Youth Pastor Compensation Update 2024 with Dan Navarra 1:00:59

6M ago1:00:59

1:00:59

How much should the average youth pastor make? How can we'd set ourselves up to get a raise? And how much does your church size, ministry size, tenure, and education factor into your pay? If you have questions about youth pastor compensation, this is the episode for you! On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Dan Navarra joins us to unpack…

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124: Networking Crossover with Free Refills Podcast 35:44

6M ago35:44

35:44

Are you connected with other youth leaders around you? In this Student Ministry Connection and Free Refills crossover episode, Wayne Morgan, Travis Deans, and Steve talk about why it's important to find a network, how they've been blessed by ministry networks, and how they originally got connected with National Network of Youth Ministries. Links re…

1
123: The Importance of Rest 20:46

7M ago20:46

20:46

What does it mean to rest? And how can we rest when there is so much to do? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve takes a moment to share some of what he's learned over the past several years on the topic of rest, especially as it pertains to us in student ministry. If we are going to do well in this ministry, we need to find fulfil…

1
122: Multiplied Impact on Students with Bill Freund 41:02

7M ago41:02

41:02

How can we multiply the amount of teenagers we’re reaching in our community? Many of us might think it has to do with bigger events and more programs, but our guest, "Mr. Bill" Freund, who has been a very successful youth pastor for a long time, says it’s more about focusing on the right things. What are those right things? Get ready to take some n…

1
121: How to Help Teens Not Graduate from Their Faith 13:00

8M ago13:00

13:00

Each year, high school seniors are excited to finish their education and graduate. Many churches, however, are not too excited, because they fear these students will also graduate from their faith in God. Many of us are all too familiar with teenagers who walk away from the church and their faith when they leave youth group. So in this episode, Ste…

1
120: Equipping Parents to be Spiritual Leaders with Sam McDowell 43:38

8M ago43:38

43:38

What does it look like to not only share Jesus with the next generation but to also equip parents as the spiritual leaders in their homes? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we’ll talk with Sam McDowell, author of Parent Equip, about what all of that means and share some practical steps on how youth leaders can take equip parents in wh…

1
119: Reasons to Take Holiday Breaks 8:36

8M ago8:36

8:36

Should we take a break from our student ministry over the holidays, canceling our programs that week. This is a common question among youth leaders. On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we share five reasons of why it's important to take a break over the holidays. Links referenced in this episode: Read about 5 Youth Ministry fixtures th…

1
118: What Parents Want Youth Pastors to Know with Michelle Greger 26:27

9M ago26:27

26:27

While we often talk about the importance of partnering with parents, what does that actually look like? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we brought on a parent to ask her directly what she has appreciated and what she believes all youth pastors should know. Links referenced in this episode: Email Michelle at teamgreger@gmail.com Lear…

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117: Cobra Kai Youth Ministry with Travis Deans 34:41

9M ago34:41

34:41

How can we take a Cobra Kai approach to our ministry? I don’t necessarily mean how can we strike first and strike hard and show no mercy, but how can we take some of the principles we see in that show and apply them to our ministry with teenagers. On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Travis Deans joins us to discuss what we can learn fro…

1
116: Bivocational Student Ministry with Caleb Julin 52:23

10M ago52:23

52:23

Are you a bivocational youth leader, or are you curious what it’s like to be bivocational, where your ministry is not your only source of income? Maybe you’re wondering how you can even do that. While it’s not for everyone, Caleb Julin joins us to talk about how he’s balancing everything and also writing a huge Bible study series that he’s giving a…

1
115: Empowering and Multiplying a Student Ministry Team 18:29

10M ago18:29

18:29

Once we have our student ministry team, and we’ve begun to train them, what do we do with them? Where exactly can they serve in the ministry, and how do we set them up for success now and in the future? This is part 3 of Student Ministry Connection’s mini-series on teams, and today we’re talking about sending that team through empowerment and multi…

1
114: Training and Discipling a Student Ministry Team 17:40

11M ago17:40

17:40

How do we help our leaders become better leaders, setting them up to succeed? And how can we continue to develop them with the skills and abilities they need, as well as help them grow as a follow of Jesus? This is part 2 of Student Ministry Connection’s mini-series on teams. On this episode, we talk about equipping and discipling them. Links refer…

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113: Forming and Onboarding a Student Ministry Team 15:30

11M ago15:30

15:30

Whether you’re a full-time youth pastor or a very part-time volunteer, along the way, we've all realized we can only do so much our own. On top of that, we need to build something that doesn’t rely solely on us. So welcome to Student Ministry Connection’s 3-part mini-series of podcast episodes focused on student ministry teams. This episode is all …

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112: Mental Health and Teenagers with Dr. Chinwé Williams 33:18

12M ago33:18

33:18

It’s no secret that teenagers all over are dealing with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and all kinds of mental health struggles. So how do we support them? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we are joined by Dr. Chinwé Williams to talk about mental health and teenagers. Among many things, Dr. Williams is a licensed and board-c…

1
111: Thriving During Camp 16:47

1y ago16:47

16:47

Camps, mission trips, and retreats are great for those times when we can get away and spend longer uninterrupted time with a group of leaders and students. But how do we make it through those times without feeling incredibly tired and burned out? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve offers 3 tips that can help you not only survive …

1
110: Successful Camp Ministry with Jeff Harding 39:37

1y ago39:37

39:37

How do we prepare for camp, what do we do during camp, and what is our process for following up and evaluating after camp? It's important to have dedicated experiences within student ministry like camps, mission trips, retreats, and more. On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Jeff Harding, of the Youth Ministry Maverick podcast, shares so…

1
109: Starting or Rebuilding a Student Ministry 15:21

1y ago15:21

15:21

How do I start a youth group? How do I re-build a student ministry? How do I go from being a volunteer to the paid youth pastor? What should I focus on when starting a youth ministry? How do I go from ministering at one church to another one? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve gives 5 tips addressing these questions. Links refere…

1
108: Adapting for Context with Brooklyn Lindsey 35:24

1y ago35:24

35:24

Picture this… You’ve gone to a conference, or you’ve read this amazing book, you found a great curriculum, or you heard about this awesome event from another youth pastor, or even from a podcast. And you’re so excited to put it into practice, but then it fails. What happened? More than likely, you didn’t contextualize the idea for your ministry. On…

1
107: How to Connect with Others in Student Ministry 9:51

1y ago9:51

9:51

Are you struggling to connect with others doing student ministry in your community? On this "quick-hit" episode, we'll share a couple tips on how to find other youth leaders in your area to get connected and begin collaborating for a more impactful ministry. Links referenced in this episode: Find a network or start one at http://nnym.org Learn more…

1
106: Middle School Ministry with Heather Mahoney 34:26

1y ago34:26

34:26

Middle schoolers can be an interesting bunch, can’t they? One moment, they are bouncing off the walls; and the next, you can have a really meaningful conversation with them about their purpose in the world. And sometimes, those are happening at the exact same time. On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we talk with Heather Mahoney about h…

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105: Answering the Missionary Call 12:58

1y ago12:58

12:58

Steve has recently answered God's call to be a full-time missionary with National Network of Youth Ministries. So today on the podcast, he'll explain what led to this decision, why this mission is so important within the world of student ministry, what he will be doing as a missionary, and share some ways you can support and partner with the minist…

1
104: The Volunteer Playbook with Nick Blevins 53:59

1+ y ago53:59

53:59

Would you like to recruit more volunteers and build a thriving team to reach even more teenagers for Jesus? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve is joined by Nick Blevins, author of The Volunteer Playbook, co-founder of Ministry Boost, and NextGen Pastor at Community Christian Church in Baltimore, MD, to discuss how to better recru…

1
103: Defining Success with Dan Istvanik 32:08

1+ y ago32:08

32:08

How do you define success in ministry? Are you always striving for higher attendance and bigger programs? Or is ministry success something different? On this episode, we’ll talk with Dan Istvanik about what success should look like in student ministry and how you can begin to measure the right things to know whether you are succeeding or not. Links…

1
102: Student Evangelism with Dr. Dave Rahn 51:02

1+ y ago51:02

51:02

How do we get our students to have faith that so contagious for those they are around? And what kind of an impact could they make if they lived out that type of faith? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we talk with Dr. Dave Rahn, who has served for over 50 years, including 41 years with Youth for Christ and 30 years as a youth ministr…

1
101: Revival Starts with Prayer 11:13

1+ y ago11:13

11:13

With all of the revival talk recently, many Christians are left wondering if it’s real; and if it is, how can we get the same thing to happen in our communities. Maybe you’re wondering the same thing about your youth group or church? On this episode, we talk about one key element of revivals throughout history and why it’s so important. Links menti…

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100: Importance of Networking with Kevin Miles 37:17

1+ y ago37:17

37:17

Welcome to episode 100 of Student Ministry Connection, a podcast for those who serve in student ministry, want to connect, and desire to grow. On this very special episode, we talk with Kevin Miles, a veteran youth worker about the importance of networking within student ministry; celebrate by giving a bunch of prizes; and announce some ways you ca…

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099: Jesus Revolution with Brent McCorkle 51:53

1+ y ago51:53

51:53

Back in the 1970’s, a movement began that led to a revolution, a Jesus Revolution. Time Magazine wrote about it, several books have been written about it, and now we have a movie depicting it. On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we talk with Brent McCorkle, the co-director of Jesus Revolution, to hear his story, learn why you should see…

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098: Know Thy Gamer with Drew Dixon 40:54

1+ y ago40:54

40:54

Video games have been a growing influence our culture for a while now. Ever since the 1970s, kids have been jumping into virtual worlds to compete with others, go on adventures, solve puzzles, and more. And while there are many positives about games, there are also many negatives. So how do we navigate that with the students in our youth group and …

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097: Students Making an Impact 15:16

1+ y ago15:16

15:16

Isn’t it awesome when we see God use students to answer longtime prayers? On this episode we share a story about how God did just that through a 9 Month Mission Trip in a high school, and He wants to do the same through your students as well. Links mentioned during this episode: Read more about 9 Month Mission Trip at https://www.9monthmissiontrip.…

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096: Generational Impact with Jim Purtle 54:03

1+ y ago54:03

54:03

What would it be like to at the same church for a really long time, getting to know those students and families in that community, partnering with schools and other local organizations, and impacting generation upon generation? Whether you are just starting out and have dreams of longevity or if you’ve been in it for a while, this episode will prov…

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095: Time Management Tips 15:41

1+ y ago15:41

15:41

How do we get it all done? There are always so many things to do in student ministry and some of us are left asking that question on a regular basis. While we cannot control everything, there are a couple things that we can begin to take control of that will help us significantly in the area of time management. And when we begin to see results in t…

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094: Student Leadership Ideas 13:04

1+ y ago13:04

13:04

We all know our student ministries shouldn’t be solely run by adults. We need to raise up student leaders. But how do we do that? What does it look like? How do we start it, how do we tweak it, and what things do we need to have in place for it to succeed? In this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we share 5 ideas around student leadership th…

1
093: Navigating Failure with Mike Haynes 48:13

1+ y ago48:13

48:13

What happens when you fail, when things aren’t going so well--whether it’s your fault or your unfortunate situation? When you start to feel like you’re a failure, you may also begin questioning your call to ministry. But what if God was still in control and still had plans for you? On this episode, we talk about failure, because we’ve all been ther…

1
092: 10 Social Media Tips 14:52

1+ y ago14:52

14:52

How can we use social media in a way to really advance our ministry to students without it becoming an overwhelming beast that always demands our attention? In other words, how can we use it as a tool to advance our mission rather than it taking over? On this solo episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve shares 10 social media tips for those i…

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091: Helping Students Serve with Christen Clark 34:31

2y ago34:31

34:31

How do we move students from participating to contributing? On this episode, Christen Clark of the Collide Kids Podcast joins us to discuss why it's so important for students to serve and how you can get them moving in that direction. Links mentioned during this episode: Follow Christen on Instagram: @christenclark Follow Christen's podcast on Inst…

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090: Avoiding Burnout with James Sabin 49:52

2y ago49:52

49:52

How do we avoid burnout in ministry? Many of us are used to going at 90 miles an hour, firing on all cylinders 24/7, and rarely looking out for ourselves. But if we’re honest, most of us know we can’t keep that up. So how do we continue to do good student ministry for the long haul? On this episode, we brought back James Sabin, the youth and family…

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089: Celebrate the Wins 12:35

2y ago12:35

12:35

What is one thing that can take your ministry to the next level? While there are a lot of ideas you might have, today we share one simple step that can immediately change your ministry, your team, and more! On this solo episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve shares about the importance of celebrating wins in our ministry and gives examples i…

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088: Communicating to Middle Schoolers with Ashley Bohinc 51:32

2y ago51:32

51:32

How do we effectively communicate to middle schoolers? They have so much potential, but sometimes it's difficult to speak to them from the stage, in groups, and individually. Ashley Bohinc, author of Communicating to Middle Schoolers and director of middle school strategy at Orange, will speak directly to that question, talk about the importance of…

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