Shaping Student Ministry Podcast
Shaping Student Ministry Podcast
Podcast Description
Welcome to the Shaping Student Ministry Podcast! Join co-hosts John Oliver and Ian Dunaway, with over 30 years of combined ministry experience, as they share practical insights, leadership development, and encouragement for student pastors. Tune in every Wednesday for fresh strategies, real-world advice, and powerful discussions designed to help you shape the future of Student Ministry. Subscribe today!
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers a variety of themes crucial for student ministry, including leadership development, volunteer management, and strategic event planning, with episodes that address topics such as the theology of games in ministry, effective goal-setting, and fostering authentic community among students.
We’re not just doing youth ministry—we’re shaping it.
Hosted by John Oliver and Ian Dunaway (two guys who’ve survived lock-ins, awkward sermon illustrations, and too many pizza parties), this podcast is your go-to spot for honest convos about what’s really working in student ministry—and what needs to go.
Expect:
– Real talk about discipling Gen Z and Gen Alpha
– Leadership lessons that actually help
– Interviews with people who get it
– Practical strategies you’ll want to use this week
– Ministry jokes, deep theology, and the occasional hot take
No fake hype. No trendy fluff. Just gospel-centered content for youth pastors who want to shape students, not just entertain them.
New episodes weekly. Bring your notebook—and maybe your coffee.. Subscribe now to never miss an episode, and join us in shaping the future of Student Ministry together!
How do you keep your heart soft when students you poured into walk away from the faith?
In this episode of The Shaping Student Ministry Podcast, John and Ian have a raw, pastoral conversation about the deep grief many student pastors carry, especially when students who once seemed “all in” lose their way. They talk through the emotional weight of those moments, how to grieve well, and how to keep showing up with hope instead of bitterness.
This isn’t about blaming ourselves or others. It’s about guarding our hearts with the truth of God’s Word and staying faithful to the call, even when the fruit is hard to see.
Inside the Episode
Why it hurts so deeply when students walk away
Paul’s example of grieving without giving up
Why emotional maturity matters in ministry
You are not the hero—God brings the growth
Questions to ask when the grief feels heavy
How to walk in hope, not cynicism
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Disclaimer
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