The Effective Ministry Podcast
Religion & Spirituality
About
Join the Youthworks Ministry Support Team as they discuss how to have an effective youth and children’s ministry in every church in conversation with local ministry workers as well as national and international voices.Get in touch - effectiveministrypodcast@youthworks.netwww.youthworks.net
Episodes
- 107 - Preaching and Youth Ministry - with Dr Tom Habib
Host Josh interviews Dr Tom Habib about the importance of preaching in youth ministry. They examine the role of the preached word through Scripture, from Moses to the apostles, and discuss the relationship between preaching and teaching, a…
- 106 - Great Partnership Between Churches and Christian Schools | Polly Butterworth
Rev. Polly Butterworth discusses her role as Schools Ministry Development Officer for the Sydney Anglican Diocese, focusing on fostering partnerships between churches and Christian schools. The episode outlines strategies for chaplain supp…
- 105 - Think Tank - Spaces of Belonging
Episode 105 features a Theology Think Tank on belonging, led by Dr. Louise Gosbell. The discussion includes a theological framework from 1 Corinthians 12, the feelings and benefits of belonging, and practical strategies for creating spaces…
- 104 - Low Hanging Fruit For When Kids Are In | Meaghan Gates, Adam Jolliffe, Al James
In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, Meaghan Gates, Adam Joliffe, and Al James share practical strategies for including children in church gatherings. They discuss the importance of language, engaging all ages during sermons…
- 103 - Exploring Ecclesiology in Youth and Children's Ministry
In episode 103, Al James and Annemarie Rivers examine the impact of ecclesiology on youth and children's ministry, referencing Chase Kuhn's work. They discuss the nature of church gatherings, evangelism, and the validity of age-specific mi…
- Summer Re-Release 6 - 091 - Under 5's Ministry with Meagan Ho and Eliza Batten
Welcome to our Summer Re-Release series 2025/26 This week, we are re-releasing episode 091 - Under 5's Ministry with Meagan Ho and Eliza Batten. Intentional Under Fives Ministry: Insights and Strategies In this episode, Meagan and Eliza di…
- Summer Re-Release 5 - 101 - Youth Ministry and the Social Media Ban with Chris Jones
Welcome to our Summer Re-Release series 2025/26 This week, we are re-releasing episode 101 - Youth Ministry and the Social Media Ban with Chris Jones. Navigating Social Media Ban for Under 16s: Implications for Youth Ministry In this episo…
- Summer Re-Release 4 - 098 - House Conference Follow up Q and A with Dr Viv Cheung and Dr Graham Stanton
Welcome to our Summer Re-Release series 2025/26 This week, we are re-releasing episode 98 - House Conference Follow up Q and A with Dr Viv Cheung and Dr Graham Stanton. This episode continues the HOUSE Conference 2025 series from Youthwork…
- Summer Re-Release 3 - 090 - Public High School Ministry with Katie Stringer
Welcome to our Summer Re-Release series 2025/26 This week, we are re-releasing episode 090 - Public High School Ministry with Katie Stringer. In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, host Josh, a Youth and High School Ministry Ad…
- Summer Re-Release 2 - 097 - ADHD and discipleship in children and youth ministry
Welcome to our Summer Re-Release series 2025/26 This week, we are re-releasing episode 97 - ADHD and discipleship in children and youth ministry. In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, host Meaghan Gates is joined by Di Lucas f…
- Summer Re-Release 1 - 082 - The Future of Youth Ministry with Dr Graham Stanton
Welcome to our Summer Re-Release series 2025/26 This week, we are re-releasing episode 82 with Rev Dr Graham Stanton. This week we talk with Revd Dr Graham Stanton, Founding Principal of Youthworks College . Graham is currently Director of…
- 102 - A.I. and Ministry with Marty Robinson
In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, Josh chats with Marty Robinson about the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) within youth and children's ministry. Marty provides a theological framework encompassing creation, the fall,…
- 101 - Youth Ministry and the Social Media Ban with Chris Jones
Navigating Social Media Ban for Under 16s: Implications for Youth Ministry In this episode, Al chats with Chris Jones, a colleague on the Ministry Support Team at Youthworks. They discuss the upcoming social media ban for individuals under…
- 100 - Student's Perspective on High School Ministry
In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, host Josh, a Youth and High School ministry advisor with Youthworks in Sydney, continues the series on high school ministry by interviewing recent high school graduates Ellie and Annaliese…
- 099 - Christian High School Ministry with Denis Oliver
In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, hosted by Josh from Youthworks in Sydney, we dive into the ministry opportunities within Christian high schools. Denis Oliver, the College Chaplain at Thomas Hassall Anglican College and f…
- 098 - House Conference Follow up Q and A with Dr Viv Cheung and Dr Graham Stanton
This episode continues the HOUSE Conference 2025 series from Youthworks. Earlier, we released a pre-conference lead-up series including: Ep 92 - House Conference Special | Audio Reading of Paper by Viv Cheung | The Cost and Joy of Being a…
- 097 - ADHD and discipleship in children and youth ministry
In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, host Meaghan Gates is joined by Di Lucas from Youthworks Ministry Support Team and Luke Graham, a children's minister in Canterbury. The discussion focuses on the significant challenges an…
- 096 - A Culture of Curiosity with Val O’Brien from Aspen Ministry
This is part two of a two-part conversation with Valerie O’Brien from Aspen Ministry. If you haven’t listened to part one yet, go back and catch that first—we explored Val’s story in youth ministry and her work on the 10,000 Questions Proj…
- 095 - 10 000 Questions with Val Obrien from Aspen Ministry
This is part one of a two-part conversation with Valerie O’Brien from Aspen Ministry. In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast , host Al James sits down with Val to talk about her journey into youth ministry and her latest initiat…
- 094 - House Conference group discussion with Jocelyn Bignill & Toby Macgregor
HOUSE Conference 2025 group discussion with Jocelyn Bignill & Toby Macgregor In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, host Josh Ord and guests Jocelyn and Toby dive into the theme of 'The Cost and Joy of Sacrifice' as part of the…
- 093 - House Conference Special | Audio Reading of Paper by Graham Stanton | The Beauty and Ugliness of Sacrifice
This episode is part of our HOUSE Conference 2025 lead‑up series from Youthworks, exploring this year’s theme — The Cost and Joy of Sacrifice . In this episode, we share the full audio of the conference paper The Beauty and Ugliness of Sac…
- 092 - House Conference Special | Audio Reading of Paper by Viv Cheung | The Cost and Joy of Being a Living Sacrifice
This episode is part of our HOUSE Conference 2025 lead‑up series from Youthworks, exploring this year’s theme — The Cost and Joy of Sacrifice . In this episode, we share the full audio of the conference paper The Cost and Joy of Being a Li…
- 091 - Under 5's Ministry with Meagan Ho and Eliza Batten
Intentional Under Fives Ministry: Insights and Strategies In this episode, Meagan and Eliza discuss their extensive experience and passion for ministry to children under five. They share practical insights and examples from their own work…
- 090 - Public High School Ministry with Katie Stringer
In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, host Josh, a Youth and High School Ministry Advisor with YouthWorks in Sydney, speaks with Katie Stringer about Special Religious Education (SRE) in public high schools in New South Wales,…
- 089 - The Mythical Life of the Good Christian Girl with Polly Butterworth
In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, host Al James sits down with Polly Butterworth to discuss her book, 'The Mythical Life of the Good Christian Girl.' Polly, a high school chaplain, offers insights into the pressures young…
- 088 - Q and A Part 2
In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, Al James hosts experienced youth and children's ministry advisors Chris Jones, Josh Ord, Megan Gates, and Di Lucas for the second half of their Q&A session. They tackle current issues such…
- 087 - The Cost and the Joy of Sacrifice | House Taster 2025
Welcome back! This episode is a taster for House Conference and delves into the topic of the conference, "The Cost and the Joy of Sacrifice". It looks at what sacrificial discipleship means in children's and youth ministry, exploring the t…
- 086 - Q and A Part 1
Q&A on Effective Youth and Children's Ministry In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, Al James welcomes listeners to a special Q&A segment . Al, along with members of the Youth Works Ministry support team, including Chris Jones…
- 085 - Standing Firm and Standing Out With Beth Braga and Al James
Welcome back! In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, we share a seminar recorded live at the Mothers Union Sydney Seminar at St Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney and watched online by many others in regional Australia and accross th…
- 084 - Burnout in Youth and Kids Ministry with David Krebs
Welcome back! In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, host Al James talks with David Krebs, Sydney Metro Worker at Scripture Union NSW, about burnout in youth and children’s ministry. Drawing from David’s research and ministry e…
- 083 - Going The Distance In Youth and Kids Ministry with Andy Stevenson and Lisa Vassallo
Welcome back! This week we talk with Andy Stevenson and Lisa Vassalo, Andy is the head of Youthworks Ministry Support and has been involved in Youth Ministry for more than 20 years. Lisa is ssociate Pastor: Children’s Ministry Coordinator…
- 082 - The Future of Youth Ministry with Graham Stanton
Welcome back! This week we talk with Revd Dr Graham Stanton, Founding Principal of Youthworks College . Graham is currently Director of the Centre for Children's and Youth Ministry and Lecturer in Practical Theology at Ridley College in Me…
- 081 - The Child in God's Church with Tim Beilharz
Welcome back! The first in our new episodes for 2025, this week we talk with Tim Beilharz about his new book, The Child in God's Church . Tim is a leading children's ministry thinker and writer, is a kids pastor at Soul Revival Church and…
- Summer Re Release 9! 075 - What's Wrong With Finding Your Identity in Christ - Simon Swadling
📣 Exciting News for January and February! We’re kicking off the new year by bringing back some of our favourite episodes and diving into the vault to re-release classic discussions on youth and children’s ministry. Tune in every week for…
- Summer Re Release 8! 074 - Parting Words of a Children's Ministry Advisor with Tim Beilharz
📣 Exciting News for January and February! We’re kicking off the new year by bringing back some of our favourite episodes and diving into the vault to re-release classic discussions on youth and children’s ministry. Tune in every week for…
- Summer Re Release 7! 076 - Healthy Sexuality with Patricia and Kamal Weerakoon (In partnership with Timeless Parenting Podcast)
📣 Exciting News for January and February! We’re kicking off the new year by bringing back some of our favourite episodes and diving into the vault to re-release classic discussions on youth and children’s ministry. Tune in every week for…
- Summer Re-Release 6! 078 - Fostering a Love for God in Youth Ministry | Part 1 - Seminar at Reach Australia Conference
📣 Exciting News for January and February! We’re kicking off the new year by bringing back some of our favourite episodes and diving into the vault to re-release classic discussions on youth and children’s ministry. Tune in every week for…
- Summer Re-Release 5! 073 - Starting a Youth Ministry from Scratch with Danny Mitchell
📣 Exciting News for January and February! We’re kicking off the new year by bringing back some of our favourite episodes and diving into the vault to re-release classic discussions on youth and children’s ministry. Tune in every week for…
- Summer Re-Release 4! 058 - Beyond Brokenness: Navigating The Complexities of Sin with Mike Dicker, Toby Macgregor, Cathy Dell and Mel Bell
📣 Exciting News for January and February! We’re kicking off the new year by bringing back some of our favourite episodes and diving into the vault to re-release classic discussions on youth and children’s ministry. Tune in every week for…
- Summer Re-Release 3! 040 - The 7 Principles of Effective Ministry
📣 Exciting News for January and February! We’re kicking off the new year by bringing back some of our favourite episodes and diving into the vault to re-release classic discussions on youth and children’s ministry. Tune in every week for…
- Summer Re-Release 2! 036 - Helping Children Flourish as Disciples with Meaghan Gates
📣 Exciting News for January and February! We’re kicking off the new year by bringing back some of our favourite episodes and diving into the vault to re-release classic discussions on youth and children’s ministry. Tune in every week for…
- Summer Re-Release 1! 029 - Youth Ministry and Parent Partnership with Isaac Shumack
📣 Exciting News for January and February! We’re kicking off the new year by bringing back some of our favourite episodes and diving into the vault to re-release classic discussions on youth and children’s ministry. Tune in every week for…
- 081 - Critiquing the Incarnational Model of Youth Ministry | Part 2 - Round Table with Matt Bartlett and Tim Beilharz
Welcome back! This weeks episode is the second in a two part series looking into the Incarnational Model of Youth Ministry. Last week, we had a fascinating presentation critiquing the incarnational model of youth ministry. It was presented…
- 080 - Critiquing Incarnational Youth Ministry | Part 1 - Youthworks Think Tank with Tim Gough
In this episode, we dive into a fascinating discussion about the incarnational model of youth ministry —a framework that has likely influenced your work with children, youth, and young adults, even if you’re unfamiliar with its name. Our g…
- 079 - Fostering a Love for God in Youth Ministry | Part 2 - Case Studies
Welcome back! this week is the second of a two part series on how youth ministry can help young people foster a deep and genuine love for God. last episode you heard an edited version of a Youth Ministry seminar at the Reach Australia Conf…
- 078 - Fostering a Love for God in Youth Ministry | Part 1 - Seminar at Reach Australia Conference
Welcome back! In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, we're diving into the first of a two part series on how youth ministry can help young people foster a deep and genuine love for God. This is at the heart of Youth Ministry! Y…
- 077 - Healthy Gender Identity with Patricia and Kamal Weerakoon (In partnership with Timeless Parenting Podcast)
Welcome back to the Effective Ministry Podcast! In this episode of the Effective Ministry podcast, hosts Al James and co-host Harriet Connor from the Timeless Parenting podcast conclude a three-part series on identity, healthy sexuality, a…
- 076 - Healthy Sexuality with Patricia and Kamal Weerakoon (In partnership with Timeless Parenting Podcast)
Welcome back to the Effective Ministry Podcast! Join hosts Al James and Anne Cunningham (Timeless Parenting Podcast) for part two of a three-part series on identity, healthy sexuality, and gender identity. In this episode, Al and Anne spea…
- 075 - What's Wrong With Finding Your Identity in Christ - Simon Swadling
Welcome back to the Effective Ministry Podcast! The first in a three part series on Identity, Sexuality and Gender, in this episode, Al James sits down with Simon Swadling to explore the phrase 'finding your identity in Christ.' They discu…
- Special Announcement!
Tim Beilharz has left the building! :-( And an announcement about a 3 part special on "Identity" starting next Wednesday: 1) What's wrong with finding your identity in Christ - Simon Swadling - Wednesday 18th September 2) Sexuality - Patri…