Latest episodeNew · Sep 22, 2026
How to Make Your Games More Fun
“How can I make the games in our youth ministry more fun?”
0:001:01:32
Youth Ministry Answers · Podcast
Your youth ministry questions, answered.
Every episode takes one real question from youth pastors and volunteers, and Brooklyn Lindsey and Damean Easter help you find a practical answer you can use this week.
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25full-length episodes
50 minaverage episode
Biweeklynew episodes, usually on Tuesdays
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Pick a question. Get an answer.
Browse by ministry area or search for the thing you're stuck on right now.
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Events
How can I make the games in our youth ministry more fun?
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LeadershipHow can our youth ministry build a healthy partnership with a local school?
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DiscipleshipHow can I effectively pastor the girls in my youth ministry when I’m a guy?
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TeachingBehind every series we create at Grow are months of planning, collaboration, biblical study, creative decisions, and lots and lots of revisions. In this episode of Youth Ministry Answers, we’re answering a question we get all the time about how we create all of the curriculum and resources at Grow. So we asked Elle Campbell and Danny Sugimoto to join Brooklyn and Damean to pull back the curtain on the collaborative process, biblical strategy, and creative decisions behind everything we include inside Grow Students Curriculum.
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TeachingComing up with fresh ideas week after week can be exhausting. Between planning programs, games, events, messages, and everything else on your calendar, it’s easy to feel like you've run out of creativity. In this episode of Youth Ministry Answers, Janette has a question about how to keep coming up with fresh ideas for youth ministry every week. So we asked Caleb Jordan to join Brooklyn and Damean to share practical strategies for cultivating creativity, finding inspiration, and consistently creating memorable experiences without burning yourself out.
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FamiliesHow do we develop a parent ministry strategy that works?
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DiscipleshipHow do I prep my students for college well?
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EventsHow do I actually plan a mission trip that serves people well—and what are some mistakes I should avoid going in?
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DiscipleshipHow do I navigate leading student-led worship teams?
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DiscipleshipGraduation season can stir up every possible emotion. You’re proud of your seniors, but you may also be wondering if the faith they built throughout their time in youth ministry will stick as they move on. In this episode of Youth Ministry Answers, we got a question about how to prepare graduating seniors for a faith that lasts beyond their high school years. So Brooklyn and Damean share practical strategies for helping students take ownership of their faith, build meaningful relationships, and stay connected to Jesus after graduation.
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LeadershipHow do I leave my ministry well when it’s time to move on?
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LeadershipWhat’s one thing you wish you knew before you got started in ministry?
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TeachingWhat do you do when students show up consistently but don't seem engaged spiritually?
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DiscipleshipIf we want students’ faith to stick throughout the week—not just during your weekly program—we have to think beyond what happens on stage and focus on the habits we’re helping them build every day. In this episode of Youth Ministry Answers, Sam has a question about how to help students build faith habits outside of church, not just during weekly programming. So Brooklyn and Damean share practical ideas to consistently reinforce key spiritual habits and create rhythms that help teenagers grow in their faith throughout the week.
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EnvironmentsHow important is the room or environment compared to content?
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EventsEncouraging teenagers to engage in outreach can feel complicated—some feel uncomfortable about sharing their faith, others may have doubts, and many just don’t know where to start. In this episode of Youth Ministry Answers, Tony has a question about how to help students meaningfully engage in outreach. So we asked Dr. Linda Moon to join Brooklyn and Damean to share practical ways to make outreach meaningful, personal, and fun.
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TeachingHow do I build interactivity into my teaching?
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LeadershipRest can feel surprisingly difficult in ministry—especially when the work never really slows down. In this crossover episode, Jason from Kids Ministry Answers joins Brooklyn and Dr. Yulee Lee from the Stuff You Can Use team to talk about why rest often feels risky for kids and youth pastors, and how unrest can show up beneath exhaustion, overwhelm, or transition.
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TeachingDistractions are a normal part of student ministry—but that doesn’t mean they have to derail your night. In this episode, Brooklyn and Damean are joined by Charlie Conder to talk about how distractions show up differently in middle school and high school, and how to lead well when focus is already hard to come by. From adjusting your teaching style to equipping small group leaders with practical tools, this conversation is full of realistic ideas for creating space where all students can engage.
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EventsChristmas is one of the biggest seasons in student ministry—and coming up with fresh ideas every year isn’t always easy. In this episode, Damean and Brooklyn team share 10 of our favorite Christmas ideas for youth ministry, straight from the Stuff You Can Use team.
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VolunteersVolunteers are the heart of your kids ministry — but celebrating them consistently (and creatively) can be tough. In this special crossover episode, Elle Campbell, co-founder of Stuff You Can Use, joins Damean and special co-host Dr. Linda Moon of the Kids Ministry Answers podcast to share practical and meaningful ways to appreciate your team all year long. You’ll learn how to celebrate volunteers for what they do and for who they are — without breaking your budget or burning yourself out.
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TeachingMaking genuine connections with students isn’t always easy. Awkward silences, dead-end questions, and the pressure to sound “cool” can make conversations feel more forced than fun. In this episode, Brooklyn and Damean share four types of questions you can ask to build real connections with your students!
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LeadershipBetween sermon prep, volunteer training, and everything else on your plate, ministry can get chaotic fast. In this episode, Brooklyn and Damean break down four practical steps to help you get organized, plan smarter, and stay on top of all the great things you’re doing!
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VolunteersGreat small group leaders don’t just lead discussions — they build trust, ask good questions, and actually show up for students. But helping them get there? That’s the tricky part. In this episode, Brooklyn and Damean share three simple ways to train your small group leaders so they feel confident in their roles and ready to lead your students.
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DiscipleshipEvery youth pastor wants to help students grow in their faith, but how do you know when it’s really happening? In this episode, Brooklyn and Damean walk through four steps to spot spiritual growth, track it over time, and build a strategy that helps students grow all year long.
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Ask the show
Stuck on something in your youth ministry?
Every episode starts with a question from a leader like you. Send yours in, and it might be featured in an upcoming episode.
- 1Send your question. It takes about a minute.
- 2We dig in. The hosts (and sometimes a guest) talk it through.
- 3Hear the answer in an upcoming episode, with practical next steps.
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Meet your hosts
Ministry leaders talking with ministry leaders.
Youth Ministry Answers comes from the team at Stuff You Can Use, the people behind Grow Curriculum.
Brooklyn LindseyCo-host
Damean EasterCo-host
Produced at Stuff You Can Use.
What you get in every episode
- One real question from youth pastors and volunteers.
- A practical answer, broken into a few clear steps.
- Show notes that sum up the answer, so you can share them with your team.
- Free resources from Grow Curriculum when an episode mentions one.
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Serve in kids ministry too? Try Kids Ministry Answers.
Hosted by Dr. Linda Moon and Jason Sivewright. Latest: Ep 027 · How to Partner with Local Schools