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We talk honestly about Pastor Jeff Leake’s legacy and how spiritual fathering shapes a healthier way to lead in youth ministry. We share five lessons that move relationships from transactional to transformational so students and leaders grow with security, trust, and purpose.  • spiritual fathering as a core youth ministry calling and the “third voice” students need  • belonging before becoming, giving a secure place without performance  • shifting away from transactional ministry with students and leaders  • seeing potential early, speaking affirmation, and trusting people with opportunity  • protecting the person before the platform, including rest, therapy, and sabbatical wisdom  • measuring success by what others become rather than what we personally build  • carrying legacy forward without becoming clones, letting a mentor’s voice keep shaping how we lead  If you love this episode, make sure to share it with somebody. If you know somebody who’s walking through something like this, and it could be of any help, please share it with somebody. Do us a favor, you know, give us a review on you know one of the one of the platforms, whatever platform you’re listening on. Leave a comment on YouTube, subscribe, like, hit the button, share all the good stuff.  Support the show Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry. https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals Connect with the hosts! Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation 📸  @eranholt Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church 📸  @calebmleake This episode is sponsored by: World Serve International 🔗  Click Here! Allison Park leadership Academy 🔗  Click Here!

We come back from a long hiatus to honor Pastor Jeff, Caleb’s dad and our lead pastor, after his sudden death and the shock that followed. We talk candidly about carrying grief while still leading people, and how God meets us with grace when we feel like we’re not ourselves anymore.  • recounting the night of the medical crisis and the hours that changed everything  • naming the unique weight of grieving as a church community while still gathering to worship  • rejecting the idea of “normal” grief and releasing the need to perform healing  • reframing the goal from getting over grief to growing enough to carry it  • holding the paradox of joy and loss during new milestones and major life change  • exploring biblical lament, honest prayer, and the comfort of God’s nearness  • learning from sitting Shiva, presence, silence, and shared memories  • practicing support that works, including community, counseling, boundaries, and self grace. Support the show Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry. https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals Connect with the hosts! Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation 📸  @eranholt Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church 📸  @calebmleake This episode is sponsored by: World Serve International 🔗  Click Here! Allison Park leadership Academy 🔗  Click Here!

In this episode, we sit down with Sam McCollough from Feed.Bible to explore hopeful trends in youth ministry and equip next generation leaders to guide students toward lasting faith. We unpack what it means to be “emerging committed,” identify markers of spiritual formation, and share strategies for discipling students in a world shaped by AI and digital culture. Discover how to close the gap between nominal faith and resilient belief through authentic youth discipleship, including: Trends in Gen Z engagement and the quiet revivalUnderstanding Gen Alpha as digital natives navigating an AI-driven worldDefining and spotting emerging committed ChristiansThe 65% Christian claim vs. the 16% committed corePractical ways for next generation leaders to move students from nominal to resilient faithUsing AI as a tool for growth, not a replacement for pastoral responsibilityModeling wise tech use for students and parentsConcrete next steps for sermons, small groups, and leader trainingWhether you lead a youth ministry, mentor student leaders, or are passionate about spiritual formation, this episode with Sam McCollough equips you with insights and strategies to disciple the next generation with wisdom and courage. Support the show Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry. https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals Connect with the hosts! Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation 📸  @eranholt Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church 📸  @calebmleake This episode is sponsored by: World Serve International 🔗  Click Here! Allison Park leadership Academy 🔗  Click Here!

A heart-first kickoff to season two on the power of abiding in Jesus, why confidence flows from intimacy with God, and how to diagnose fruit to find the root. We talk with John Zick about honest stories, simple rhythms, and practical boundaries to guard your heart and lead from overflow. • Defining abiding as ongoing relationship with God • Rival mentality versus true fulfillment • Fruit diagnostics from Galatians to locate your roots • Anointing versus approval and the danger of autopilot • Practical boundaries and calendar blocks for health • Integrating prayer into ordinary moments • Resetting vision for ministry by guarding your heart • Resources from the Called Initiative and how to connect Connect with John Zick! ✉️  [email protected]  Check out the CALLED free resources at called.ag.org Support the show Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry. https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals Connect with the hosts! Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation 📸  @eranholt Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church 📸  @calebmleake This episode is sponsored by: World Serve International 🔗  Click Here! Allison Park leadership Academy 🔗  Click Here!

We share a field-tested playbook for building a healthy youth leadership team, from recruiting people who care to training them with simple rhythms that last. Ashton Peters unpacks “The Third Voice,” showing how mentors help students from unchurched homes grow with steady guidance. • Leadership development as the engine of sustainable youth ministry • Recruiting seasoned adults and diverse voices beyond “cool factor” • Practical sources for volunteers, including the church secretary and lobby time • Clear onboarding with expectations, shadowing, and a simple booklet • Support roles that prevent burnout and let small group leaders focus • Weekly huddles, monthly meetings, and an annual retreat as core rhythm • Spiritual parenting and mentoring for students from unchurched homes • Gritty realities of youth ministry and how teams walk through hard things • Tools and resources for content, training, and consistency Buy “The Third Voice” by Ashton Peters on Amazon or MyHealthy Church to grab the book today! Support the show Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry. https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals Connect with the hosts! Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation 📸  @eranholt Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church 📸  @calebmleake This episode is sponsored by: World Serve International 🔗  Click Here! Allison Park leadership Academy 🔗  Click Here!

We pull back the curtain on youth ministry insecurity, comparison, and the pressure to make every Wednesday hinge on one person, then map a better way—equipping leaders, planning with purpose, and building systems that last. Gabby O’Rourke shares candid stories and a practical framework to turn vision into sustained growth. • Naming insecurity and resisting comparison • Equipping volunteers over owning the night • Character, calling, culture, competency as a framework • Prayer-led recruiting of multi-generational teams • Yearly scope and sequence for content planning • Small group prep and response culture that disciple • Assessing ratios, roles, and Wednesday flow • Fixing foundations before cosmetic changes • Opening feedback loops and receiving input well Support the show Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry. https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals Connect with the hosts! Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation 📸  @eranholt Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church 📸  @calebmleake This episode is sponsored by: World Serve International 🔗  Click Here! Allison Park leadership Academy 🔗  Click Here!

We sit down with Reggie Dabbs to explore how presence, scripture, and bold invitations move students from passive listeners to active disciples. From back-row handshakes to altar calls, we unpack a simple, focused path to help students live on mission every day. • Making mission normal in daily life • Earning trust with presence and integrity • Using scripture as the engine of change • Writing messages backward from response • Leading clear, bold altar moments • Staying tender by avoiding green rooms • Modeling testimony without losing depth • Encouraging discouraged leaders as tag changers • Practical tips for prayerful preparation Give us a review, give us a like, give us a share on any of the platforms you’re watching. Support the show Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry. https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals Connect with the hosts! Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation 📸  @eranholt Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church 📸  @calebmleake This episode is sponsored by: World Serve International 🔗  Click Here! Allison Park leadership Academy 🔗  Click Here!

We talk with Carrie Brooks about building a safe, Jesus-centered community where students can belong while they figure out what they believe. From a hilarious living-room play to a practical playbook for small groups, this is a master class in culture, habits, and care. • Why belonging is the on-ramp to belief • Five measurable habits for small-group leaders • Structuring grade and gender groups that move up together • Leading discussions where students talk more than leaders • Using labs to practice Bible reading, prayer and evangelism • Showing up at student events and building camaraderie • Recruiting and retaining leaders through care and vision • Creating low-cost, high-impact group events • Why consistency and a three-month test matter Support the show Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry. https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals Connect with the hosts! Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation 📸  @eranholt Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church 📸  @calebmleake This episode is sponsored by: World Serve International 🔗  Click Here! Allison Park leadership Academy 🔗  Click Here!

We explore how authority from God creates confidence without ego and why rebuilding Bible literacy is the safest path back to health in youth ministry. John Rush shares stories, practical tools, and a call to play the long game: disciple deeply and watch evangelism grow. • Authority that produces humility and courage • Candid youth ministry stories and lessons learned • Celebrating innovation without losing formation • Assessing Bible literacy with simple AI tools • Measuring fruit of the Spirit, not just attendance • Keeping the found as a pastoral priority • Shifting preaching from clever to substantive • Gen Z’s hunger for stability and doctrine • Relational ministry beyond the stage • Ethical, effective use of AI in prep • Discipleship as the engine of evangelism • Student-led movements built over time If you love the podcast, give it a like, give it a subscribe, give it a share, give it a review, whatever platform you’re on Support the show Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry. https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals Connect with the hosts! Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation 📸  @eranholt Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church 📸  @calebmleake This episode is sponsored by: World Serve International 🔗  Click Here! Allison Park leadership Academy 🔗  Click Here!

Phil Johnson shares how to create a youth ministry culture centered on missional living by modeling authentic evangelism and celebrating students who live out the Great Commission in their daily lives. • Discipleship and evangelism should be integrated, not treated as separate ministry focuses • Creating a missional culture starts with what we celebrate in our youth ministry • Students often focus on their unique calling while neglecting the broader mission of sharing Jesus • What gets celebrated gets remembered, gets repeated, and gets replicated • Personal stories of life transformation carry more weight than theoretical teaching • The priority should be falling in love with the mission before pursuing specific assignments • Gen Alpha seeks adults who will slow down and walk with them through their questions • Building a missional culture takes years of consistent modeling and intentional celebration • Ministry leaders should not only share the gospel from stage but model evangelism in daily life • Practical elements like mission trips and campus outreach reinforce missional values Utilize the Vitals for Youth Ministry assessment tool with 25 questions that will give you a health score on each of the five vitals. Support the show Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry. https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals Connect with the hosts! Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation 📸  @eranholt Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church 📸  @calebmleake This episode is sponsored by: World Serve International 🔗  Click Here! Allison Park leadership Academy 🔗  Click Here!

Joseph Kellogg shares his strategic approach to leadership development in youth ministry, focusing on how to mobilize leaders for a missional youth movement. His four-year strategy prioritizes multiplication at every level, creating systems that transform followers into commissioned leaders who can effectively reach Gen Z and Gen Alpha. • Joseph has been in youth ministry for 24 years and recently returned to lead youth pastor role at Victory Church in Tulsa • The key to reaching 30,000 teenagers in his area is building a robust leadership pipeline • Added 50 new leaders in three months through "intense intentionality" in recruiting • Created clear pathways for leadership from student leaders to adult team leads • Leadership development meetings called "Heart and Soul" provide monthly training and connection • Measures success by leadership multiplication metrics, not attendance numbers • Uses Jesus' model of calling, championing, coaching, and commissioning leaders • Recommends starting with a mindset of "refusing to do ministry alone" • Encourages youth pastors to identify specific ministry roles and turn them into teams • Connect people's passions to their purpose by offering various commitment levels • Create regular leadership huddles before and after services to build team culture Join Joseph at the Healthy Youth Ministry Conference on October 6-7 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Connect with him on Instagram @JosephKellogg for more youth ministry resources and coaching opportunities. https://www.hymconference.com/national-conference Support the show Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry. https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals Connect with the hosts! Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation 📸  @eranholt Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church 📸  @calebmleake This episode is sponsored by: World Serve International 🔗  Click Here! Allison Park leadership Academy 🔗  Click Here!

We explore how gospel fluency should be at the center of youth ministry, extending beyond just the moment of salvation to transform every aspect of students' lives and propel them into mission. • Gospel fluency is often overlooked because we assume students already understand the basics • Students live in a works-based world where they're constantly graded on performance, which is contrary to the gospel message • The gospel is not just about the moment of salvation but applies to the entire process of sanctification • True gospel fluency moves students from behavior modification to heart transformation • When students truly grasp the gospel, they become mission-focused and actively share their faith • The goal is to help students see Jesus not just as Savior but as Lord of their lives • Every sermon topic should connect back to the gospel and lead students to active mission • Youth pastors should focus on giving students practical next steps rather than just measuring altar responses • Students need to develop spiritual ownership rather than depending solely on the youth pastor's teaching Support the show Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry. https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals Connect with the hosts! Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation 📸  @eranholt Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church 📸  @calebmleake This episode is sponsored by: World Serve International 🔗  Click Here! Allison Park leadership Academy 🔗  Click Here!

Terry Parkman shares how youth ministry is fundamentally shifting from attractional to missional models, requiring leaders to focus on transforming students rather than merely entertaining them. • Youth ministry is at a tipping point where effective ministries will focus on outcomes (life transformation) rather than outputs (attendance numbers) • Today's young people aren't seeking entertainment but purpose—they want to find their people and their purpose • Missional preaching equips students for real-world application, not just emotional altar moments • Discipleship has been diluted to mere relationships, but true discipleship produces people who look more like Jesus • Small groups remain valuable but must be led by deeply committed leaders who pay the price of ministry • Raising the bar for volunteer leaders actually attracts more high-quality volunteers seeking meaningful involvement • Leaders can maintain attractional elements (good hospitality, engaging environments) while adopting a missional model • The primary question for youth pastors: are you building into what young people become or just getting people in the room? Mark your calendars: Lead the Generation Conference returns April 25, 2026 featuring Terry Parkman as a main session speaker. Support the show Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry. https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals Connect with the hosts! Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation 📸  @eranholt Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church 📸  @calebmleake This episode is sponsored by: World Serve International 🔗  Click Here! Allison Park leadership Academy 🔗  Click Here!

Reggie Hill, Young Adults Pastor at Journey Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin, shares his expertise on leadership development in youth ministry and how to avoid becoming "the lid" to your own ministry. • Shifting from being the superhero who does everything to a coach who develops leaders • Creating ministry tracks that help students find their leadership lane based on passions and skills • Using tasks to develop people rather than using people to get tasks done • Overcoming perfectionism that prevents us from releasing ministry to others • Looking for FAT kids—Faithful, Available, Teachable—as potential leaders • Developing adult leaders through clear expectations and consistent pastoring • Starting small with leadership opportunities that grow over time • Focusing on outcomes over outputs when training leaders • Understanding that students remember their relationships with leaders more than sermons Remember, don't just prepare a message, prepare messengers. Jesus didn't just gather followers—He developed leaders who would carry His message forward. Connect with Reggie! Follow him on IG @_reggiehill or check out his website https://www.reggiehill.com/epk Support the show Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry. https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals Connect with the hosts! Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation 📸  @eranholt Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church 📸  @calebmleake This episode is sponsored by: World Serve International 🔗  Click Here! Allison Park leadership Academy 🔗  Click Here!

Ever notice how you can tell when someone has been with Jesus? There's something different about them—a presence, a peace, a perspective that stands out in our chaotic world. In this transformative episode of Vitals for Youth Ministry, National Youth Director for the Assemblies of God Austin Westlake reveals how consistent spiritual disciplines create the foundation for effective ministry and personal transformation during life's most challenging seasons. Austin takes us on his remarkable journey from a third-generation minister who grew "casual to the things of God" to finding his calling at a National Youth Convention, and ultimately facing a rare male breast cancer diagnosis that would transform his relationship with God. With raw authenticity, he shares how years of established morning devotional habits carried him through chemotherapy, surgery, and the birth of his third child during treatment. "When you're walking through the deepest, darkest valley of your life and you're still just getting up and spending time with the Lord because this is part of who you are—you give the Lord a chance to speak first. Before the negativity can hit you, before the reality of your diagnosis hits you." The conversation reveals a profound truth for youth ministers: we reproduce who we are, not what we say. Austin observed that whatever he prioritized in his own life—whether sports, fashion, or spiritual disciplines—his students naturally reflected those same priorities. For leaders struggling to establish or maintain spiritual disciplines, his practical advice includes finding accountability partners who will check on your Bible reading, writing down specific time commitments, and recognizing that seemingly "unproductive" moments with God often prepare us for ministry moments we couldn't anticipate. Perhaps most compelling is Austin's counter-cultural perspective on ministry influence: "I am terrified of stepping onto a platform I have not been anointed for." In a world obsessed with gaining platforms and followers, this refreshing outlook encourages youth ministers to seek God's timing and preparation rather than chasing opportunities prematurely. The most impactful leaders aren't necessarily the most talented, but those with a demonstrable, authentic relationship with Jesus—something students can immediately sense. Ready to transform your ministry by first transforming your own spiritual life? Listen now and discover practical steps to model authentic spirituality that your students will naturally want to follow. Support the show Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry. https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals Connect with the hosts! Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation 📸  @eranholt Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church 📸  @calebmleake This episode is sponsored by: World Serve International 🔗  Click Here! Allison Park leadership Academy 🔗  Click Here!