80 summers is about how many most individuals have to live... Let that sink in! So, would you rather spend those summers hoarding your stuff and time only for yourself... or would you rather promote kindness and goodwill to your family, neighbors and the world around you in Jesus name? What matters in eternity is who we've fed, clothed, and shared the salvation message with. What counts is serving our family whether we feel like they deserve it or not. The most important command is to love God. His most important ask of us is to share the good news with those closest to us and to every other part of the world. His Ask is that we love the less fortunate at home and around the world. He says he takes note of our selfless acts. In Matthew 6, the author quotes Jesus as saying, worrying doesn't add a single minute to our lives... WOW! Our biggest rewards are after this life in 80 Summers! Our comfort comes from the Lord who is our Shepherd. King David writes in Psalm 23 that in those 80 summers, He will give us comfort and lead us to safety and nourishment. That He will also protect us if we follow Him. Only 80 Summers... how will you spend yours? _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “ Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook ” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy Edited by: Secret Roots Music House…

CORE Values is about an article written by Greg Stier of Dare 2 Share Ministries . " How to Implement the 7 Values of a Gospel Advancing Ministry " is the name of the article. There are many organizations that you can find to help you with CORE Values that I mention in this episode, but this one is very good if you have been looking for direction and needing help in getting started and/or evaluating why things seem off centered or not focused. This might help get you back to center and seeing the Spirit of God move in your ministry. Be Strong and Courageous and keep moving forward. _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “ Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook ” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy Edited by: Secret Roots Music House…

The World-O-Meter is pretty impressive. It's calculating the births and deaths in 20 countries by the second (or faster), to let us know approximately how many people are alive on planet Earth each second of every day. How can we as youth workers, youth pastors, student ministry leaders, and volunteers reach the millions that are being born each year, each second of every day? It's Overwhelming... So how? Jesus...said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are impossible." - Matthew 19:26 _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “ Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook ” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy Edited by: Secret Roots Music House…

The best time for college retreats seemed to be at the beginning of Christmas break and return from that trip the day before Christmas. Was it successful yes... for several years. Was it worth it? For the students yes.... for my family who was very gracious to me? No. Why? Because all things in Jesus name are not necessarily the best thing to do. That sounds wild right? We did eventually move these trips to fall during spring breaks, but you have to use at least 2 different spring break weeks to cover a lot of the students since they were not always at the same time. The beauty of the Rocky mountains was always amazing! But... I had not yet learned the one rule, in which I will repeat over and over again for your sakes as leaders... and for you and your families health. ”You MUST say NO to something BEFORE you say YES to something else." FYI... That NO should be to some other equal project, ministry, or hobby that takes time from your family and health. All around health is important! Peter Drucker, the Father of Modern Business and mentor taught Pastor Rick Warren that specific truth. He would always say, “Rick... Tell me what you gave up before you tell me what you are doing next." A few things... It was the best time to get college students enthused and signed up. It was a beautiful time of the year to hit the slopes. Students came from all over the United States and that enthused the local students. The Gospel was shared and souls were saved. What would I do differently now? I would never go at Christmas time. That time should have been reserved for my wife, children, and their memories. I would have moved it to every other year and not every year. _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “ Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook ” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy Edited by: Secret Roots Music House…

If you want to know the value of investing in a child and especially in teenagers, Joel Johnson is one of the greatest examples. He grew up with a Father that left him, a step father that hurt him, threatened him, and left him. Yet... God saw him! He asked Jesus into his heart and his youth pastor challenged him. He took those challenges and did what was unheard of as he kept sharing the salvation story of Jesus Christ boldly on campus. One day he spoke to several hundred students at lunch about Jesus, while having two assistant principals telling him to stop... One of them yelling at him "What gives you the right to speak about your faith?" Just wait until you hear how the students responded! Joel has spoken to hundreds of thousands since he was one of the main speakers for the Acquire The Fire student conferences that were hosted in arenas and stadiums accross the United States. He has also written many books and his latest (" The Wholehearted Journey: 7 Skills to Develop a Wholehearted Life in a Heartbreaking World ") is being made into a movie! WATCH THE MOVIE TRAILER HERE: www.wholeheartedmovie.com Joel also studied at Texas A&M and Harvard. He is an author, counselor, a national communicator, and podcast host of the " Wholehearted Podcast ". This was an outstanding interview that is packed full of information that you can apply to yourself, your family, and your ministry. _______________________________ YOU CAN CONNECT AND SUPPORT JOEL'S MINISTRY AT THE LINKS BELOW! OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.joeljohnson.org JOIN WHOLEHEARTED UNIVERSITY: www.wholehearted.university GIVE TO JOEL'S MINISTRY: www.joeljohnson.org/give LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WHOLEHEARTED MOVIE: www.wholeheartedmovie.com GET YOUR COPY OF "The Wholehearted Journey: 7 Skills to Develop a Wholehearted Life in a Heartbreaking World": https://a.co/d/fFIhvHQ GET YOUR COPY OF "Personality Based Marriage": https://a.co/d/4PvYYGs _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy Edited by: Secret Roots Music House _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “ Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook ” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq…

You can hike the Grand Canyon or you can be a RIM HUGGER. One experiences the canyon first hand. You get thirsty, dirty, and you use energy... but you see what rim huggers never see, the truth about the canyon. We can do ministry. Spend time with people, lead them to Jesus, and disciple them (make a student out of them)... or you can just look at other people paying the price of ministry and never know the joy of doing the work of Jesus Christ as we are all called to do. We walk on the water with Jesus or we stay in the boat. _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “ Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook ” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy Edited by: Secret Roots Music House…

The Truth is always the right thing to talk about and believe. The Truth is not what society usually wants to hear. Real Truth usually goes against the grain of society. So... it has to be delivered in Love, Compassion, and Power through God's spirit. Not by our own self-righteous power. Students (and humans in general) are drawn to God's conviction and driven away by human condemnation. This episode will provide you guidelines on delivering Truth with God's Power. _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “ Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook ” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy Edited by: Secret Roots Music House…

What do you do when students and families need help on a professional level? This interview is going to help you find answers to those questions and situations. This interview is a straightforward discussion with a man who has given his life to the spiritual and mental growth students and their families. He has trained countless numbers to do the same. Dr. Larry Shyers has a long standing reputation as a pastor, therapist, owner of his own therapist group, and professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Dr. Shyers helped create laws in the early years to get family and adolescence therapy to a professional and safe level. He and his wife's love for students and families is very evident. The safety and protection of our, children, parents and families is important to God and our responsibility as youth workers, pastors, educators many more to students and families. Learn more about Dr. Larry Shyers here: www.larryeshyers.com _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “ Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook ” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy Edited by: Secret Roots Music House…

Making God's Love Clear is important. It sounds like that should be easy and it is, but the power and passion of it needs to be fresh everyday. At the start of what would become one of the largest churches in the world, the pastor's first intention was that their church was going to intentionally make sure that every person that came to their church would feel loved and that they would know that God loves them. What if that was our intention for every student, volunteer staff, and family connected to our student ministry? What if God's Love was so intentional that your student ministry was known as the place that God's love was located in their community? The number one thing that every student is looking for is to be loved and to know that God is in love with them. _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “ Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook ” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy Edited by: Secret Roots Music House…

Pick your… WORD FOR THE YEAR! Yes, one word. A friend of mine has asked me and many other friends to pick their “word” for quite a few years now. What is that one word that you want to define the upcoming year? Here are a few changes you can make to go from negative talk to positive and proactive thinking: Impatient…Patient Unprepared…..Always Prepared Not Confident….Confident Transactional….Relational Doesn’t Follow Up…Follows Up Doesn’t Advertise…Advertises Doesn’t Ask For Referrals…Asks For Referrals Break the Link between… - Thought To Action: Waiting on God is also an action. Keep showing up and move forward as God keeps the doors open. Each time you think about what you are to do or want to do next… take Action again. - Stop Trying To Solve Problems That Are Made Up In Your Mind And Not Real: Stop being your own worst enemy. Start being your own best cheerleader. People need a leader who knows where he or she is going. Confident, but not arrogant. Strong, but not angry… confident. - It’s Ok To Be Upset And/Or Depressed: It’s not ok to stop doing what you are suppose to do. If you have those negative and painful emotions, you still need to do anyway. - Your Mind Hears What You Say: It’s meant to protect you and serve you. If you say “this hurts too much” or “I hate this”, your mind will try to protect you and help you quit. Its job is to protect you. If you tell your mind, “I can get through this pain. I need to be strong enough to be tougher than the pain, because the pain is there to make me stronger.” Jesus said it,” if we tell a mountain to move it will move if we do not doubt.” God made our minds to work for us. Not against us. Will the cost of reaching the goal or goals be worth the pain and possible destruction on the way? Make sure your goals are in alignment with God and the scripture. Will you be able to keep your character in check? When Jesus commands His disciples to go to the people of Israel announcing that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 10:7), He gives them a warning and some advice: “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matt. 10:16) There will never be a perfect time to give, serve, lead, guide, or love. _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “ Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook ” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy Edited by: Secret Roots Music House…

Student Ministry is all about leading students to Jesus and then setting them up for success to live a Jesus centered life. In this episode, we talk about some books and authors that will help you guide students that love God and those who don't, answers to questions that we all ask at some point in our life. Lee Strobel , Josh McDowell , and his son Sean McDowell are people to listen to and utilize their resources (writings, videos and podcasts) to help guide your staff and students in being well equipped to live a life well lived. To serve God through Jesus who loves them so much. _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “ Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook ” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy Edited by: Secret Roots Music House…

There are 4 of us. My oldest sister Deborah, then me (Doug), Deanna and Dawn in that order. Deborah and I being the oldest, pioneered the way as the first teenagers and we benefited big time from student ministries, family and music groups we sang and performed with. Our volunteer youth workers Ronnie and Maxine Kennedy were superheroes to us. They sacrificed themselves and countless hours for years. Deborah and I traveled from coast to coast with music groups during our high school years. Larry and Pat Freeman were pastors for our district in our greater church denomination and trained us as volunteer staff. We staffed in Hendersonville, NC at the Civitans Citizenship Center with chosen students from the best of their individual cities in the Southeastern United States during our college years. In this episode, we cover our teenage to adult years and the effects of many people, including our parents, mentors, and many others. We talk about the legacy of student ministry that we passed down to our children and what their future holds because of peoples investments in our lives. Longevity in peoples lives matter. We remind others of the miracles of God, so that we and they don’t forget what is held most important. “So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” - Deuteronomy 11:18,19 (NLT) _______________________________ PRODUCER NOTE: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR HOST DOUG EDWARDS! (January 1st) _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “ Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook ” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy Edited by: Secret Roots Music House…

Friends who are always there and go way beyond the extra mile… You will encounter people who will inspire you. The journey will be fun, because of those people. Keep these people in your life. Their spiritual and emotional DNA will pass onto you. The holiday miracles are Never convenient, they are necessary. There was no room at the Inn for Joseph and Mary to give birth to their first born son, Jesus, but God sightings sometimes come in a package you don’t expect. The Eldridge family's gift was unexpected and better than we could have dreamed of. It was just what God had ordered… A God Size Gift… Always Bigger and Always Better. One speaker said, “Don’t be so set on what you want that you won’t take something better.” God Always has a better plan. God Loves Holy Surprises! Now pay it forward again and see what God does next. It’s all about the giving. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year... may this be your best year ever! _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “ Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook ” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy Edited by: Secret Roots Music House…

When Jesus showed up the timing seemed off. It was a harsh and cruel time. No one was really looking for him. They were wishing, but not looking. They were hoping for someone to get them out of trouble, but not believing it could happen that day. The process had started, but not the release from another regime take over. Joseph was not expecting it. He just wanted to marry Mary, a normal Jewish girl. Mary was not expecting it, but then this Angel named Gabriel shows up unannounced and nearly scares her to death. Then there was Elisabeth pregnant with John the Baptist. She and her husband are too old for this. This whole story is impossible and it’s just going to take too long. The parents are not impressive. They are just plain folks. What’s wrong with this picture? It’s the kind of picture that God Loves to paint… Unpredictable, a great surprise. Impossible and yet it’s happening right before their eyes. Christmas miracles are happening everyday in someway all over the world, but we don’t even notice them until much later because they always come “UnExpectantly”, at the wrong time, in the wrong way and God always uses the "wrong people"…by our standards. Fortunately, God performs miracles by His standards. He loves to Love in Impossible ways. He is the Ultimate Mission Impossible Operative. He is our God and He only “gives good gifts”. He plans All Good things and Gifts in Advance for me as he does for you. In student ministry, God gave us Unexpected Christmas gifts all year long. Each home, each child, each friend and each salvation from our children to family members, friends and students. Never when we expected it. Usually in unforeseen moments, in unforseen circumstances. God Loves His Son’s story. His Unexpected, to humankind, predicted but not possible... Christmas Birthday Story. He is the God of Holy Surprises! Keep looking up! You never know when a host of angels are going to start singing like a choir in the sky. _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “ Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook ” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy Edited by: Secret Roots Music House…

The two phrases Brent Crowe says most often are... “Leadership begins at the feet of Jesus.” “Self preservation never changed the world” The reasons behind these phrases are right in line with a God sized World View. Brent Crowe is Vice President of Student Leadership University . He has a lot to do with why Youth Pastor Summit is hosted in major cities all across the United States. As if that’s not enough, he also has a PhD, two masters degrees, and has written a host of books. Brent speaks all over the nation and is a globetrotter throughout the year. How does he do it all? How does Brent find his RHYTHM? You’ll find out how in this episode! Learn more about Student Leadership University here: https://slulead.com/ Sign Up for Youth Pastor Summit here: https://slulead.com/yps/ _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “ Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder’s Guidebook ” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy Edited by: Secret Roots Music House…