Youth Ministry Soulkeeperhttps://www.spreaker.com/show/youth-ministry-soulkeeperenReligion & SpiritualityCopyright DYM Podcast Networkhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a0d9df17c279f05770af561581316ae4.jpgYouth Ministry Soulkeeperhttps://www.spreaker.com/show/youth-ministry-soulkeeperFri, 27 Mar 2026 18:40:07 +0000DYM Podcast NetworkDYM Podcast Networkfeeds@spreaker.comA podcast for your soul, with a little bit of coaching, a little bit of comic relief, and a whole lot of care.falseepisodicEpisode 48: When Volunteers Hurt the Ministry Instead of Helphttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-48-when-volunteers-hurt-the-ministry-instead-of-help--70934410
  • Is going through a hard season and may be temporarily off their game
  • Makes honest mistakes because they’re still learning
  • Responds to feedback with humility and a willingness to grow
  • Genuinely cares about students even when their execution is imperfect
A toxic volunteer:
  • Shows consistent patterns of harmful behavior — not one bad day, but a recurring reality
  • Damages students, divides teams, and undermines leadership
  • Deflects, dismisses, or gets defensive when given correction
  • Operates from self-serving motivations: control, ego, personal agenda
Key diagnostic question: When you give feedback, how do they respond? Humility and openness are the marks of someone who’s struggling. Defensiveness, deflection, and blame signal something deeper.
Links:

ADAM KEEHN FOUNDATION
https://adamkeehnfoundation.com/

Connect With The Show:
Connect with James:



Connect with Todd:














We would love to hear from you with questions and comments at the following email: ymsoulkeeper@gmail.com


Check Out Coleader and plan your next month of ministry in just one click - https://www.coleader.co
Sign-up for Coleader here: https://share.coleader.co/SikZuk/join

Get help with the weekly grind with the help of Download Youth Ministry here - https://www.downloadyouthministry.com

Youth Leader Summit Conferences: https://www.youthleadersummit.com/










]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70934410Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:38:57 +0000DYM Podcast NetworkVolunteers are the lifeblood of youth ministry. But what happens when a volunteer becomes the problem? James and Todd open up a conversation most youth leaders have needed to have for a long time.Struggling vs. Toxic: The Core DistinctionBefore you...
  • Is going through a hard season and may be temporarily off their game
  • Makes honest mistakes because they’re still learning
  • Responds to feedback with humility and a willingness to grow
  • Genuinely cares about students even when their execution is imperfect
A toxic volunteer:
  • Shows consistent patterns of harmful behavior — not one bad day, but a recurring reality
  • Damages students, divides teams, and undermines leadership
  • Deflects, dismisses, or gets defensive when given correction
  • Operates from self-serving motivations: control, ego, personal agenda
Key diagnostic question: When you give feedback, how do they respond? Humility and openness are the marks of someone who’s struggling. Defensiveness, deflection, and blame signal something deeper.
Links:

ADAM KEEHN FOUNDATION
https://adamkeehnfoundation.com/

Connect With The Show:
Connect with James:



Connect with Todd:














We would love to hear from you with questions and comments at the following email: ymsoulkeeper@gmail.com


Check Out Coleader and plan your next month of ministry in just one click - 2610falsefullEpisode 47: How To Build Trust Before Beliefhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-47-how-to-build-trust-before-belief--69655957Summary:
In this episode of the Youth Ministry Soul Keeper Podcast, Todd and James discuss the importance of building authentic relationships with unchurched students. They emphasize the need for youth leaders to accept students as they are, connect them with caring adults, and build trust over time. The conversation provides practical strategies for engaging students, being present in their lives, and fostering vulnerability and authenticity in leadership. The hosts encourage youth workers to commit to long-term relationships with students, highlighting that genuine love and acceptance can lead to curiosity about faith and ultimately, a relationship with God.



Takeaways:
  • Accept students as they are, not based on behavior.
  • Building trust takes time and intentionality.
  • Vulnerability in leadership fosters deeper connections.
  • Be present in students' lives outside of church.
  • Good intentions alone don't build relationships.
  • Every student is an image bearer of God.
  • Connect students with multiple caring adults.
  • Authentic love creates curiosity about God.
  • Discipleship is a long-term journey, not a quick fix.
  • Ask good questions to engage students meaningfully.


Show Notes:

ADAM KEEHN FOUNDATION
https://adamkeehnfoundation.com/

Connect With The Show:
Connect with James:



Connect with Todd:














We would love to hear from you with questions and comments at the following email: ymsoulkeeper@gmail.com


Check Out Coleader and plan your next month of ministry in just one click - https://www.coleader.co
Sign-up for Coleader here: https://share.coleader.co/SikZuk/join

Get help with the weekly grind with the help of Download Youth Ministry here - https://www.downloadyouthministry.com

Youth Leader Summit Conferences: https://www.youthleadersummit.com/









]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69655957Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:59:23 +0000DYM Podcast NetworkSummary: In this episode of the Youth Ministry Soul Keeper Podcast, Todd and James discuss the importance of building authentic relationships with unchurched students. They emphasize the need for youth leaders to accept students as they are, connect...Summary:
In this episode of the Youth Ministry Soul Keeper Podcast, Todd and James discuss the importance of building authentic relationships with unchurched students. They emphasize the need for youth leaders to accept students as they are, connect them with caring adults, and build trust over time. The conversation provides practical strategies for engaging students, being present in their lives, and fostering vulnerability and authenticity in leadership. The hosts encourage youth workers to commit to long-term relationships with students, highlighting that genuine love and acceptance can lead to curiosity about faith and ultimately, a relationship with God.



Takeaways:
  • Accept students as they are, not based on behavior.
  • Building trust takes time and intentionality.
  • Vulnerability in leadership fosters deeper connections.
  • Be present in students' lives outside of church.
  • Good intentions alone don't build relationships.
  • Every student is an image bearer of God.
  • Connect students with multiple caring adults.
  • Authentic love creates curiosity about God.
  • Discipleship is a long-term journey, not a quick fix.
  • Ask good questions to engage students meaningfully.


Show Notes:

ADAM KEEHN FOUNDATION
https://adamkeehnfoundation.com/

Connect With The Show:
Connect with James:



Connect with Todd:














We would love to hear from you with questions and comments at the following email: ymsoulkeeper@gmail.com

2533falsefullEpisode 46: Beyond The Resolution: Setting Ministry Goals With Gracehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-46-beyond-the-resolution-setting-ministry-goals-with-grace--69409424Beyond The Resolution: Setting Ministry Goals With Grace

Summary: In this episode of the Youth Ministry Soul Keeper Podcast, hosts James and Todd kick off the new year by tackling a topic every youth leader faces: New Year's resolutions and goal-setting. Moving beyond the typical resolution hype, they dive into what it means to set meaningful ministry goals rooted in grace rather than guilt. The hosts share personal stories about their own struggles with resolutions and explore why so many well-intentioned goals fall apart by February.
The conversation centers on a crucial truth: your identity as a youth leader isn't found in your successes or failures, but in who you are in Christ. James and Todd emphasize the importance of soul care, sustainable habits, and building authentic relationships in ministry. They challenge listeners to shift from program-focused thinking to people-centered ministry, reminding youth leaders that grace isn't just something we extend to students—it's something we desperately need ourselves. Throughout the episode, the hosts offer practical encouragement for setting goals that actually matter: prioritizing relationships with students and parents, creating sustainable rhythms of ministry, and learning to embrace restoration when we inevitably fall short. This is an honest, grace-filled conversation that will leave you refreshed and ready to approach the new year with renewed perspective.

Takeaways:
  • New Year's resolutions often fail because they're disconnected from grace — goals without grace become a slippery slope to guilt and burnout.
  • Your identity isn't tied to your success or failure — you are defined by who you are in Christ, not by what you accomplish in ministry.
  • There's always restoration after the resolution — failure isn't final; God's grace meets us when we fall short.
  • People over program should be your primary ministry goal — relationships matter more than perfectly executed events and curriculum.
  • Lean toward being "annoying" with parent communication — over-communication with parents is better than under-communication.
  • Soul care isn't optional for sustainable ministry — you can't pour from an empty cup; prioritize your own spiritual health.
  • Build habits, not just goals — sustainable change comes from consistent, grace-filled practices rather than grand resolutions.
  • Grace is Jesus' message to you — the same grace you extend to students is the grace Christ extends to you as a leader.
  • Relationships are the foundation of effective youth ministry — invest in people, not just programs, for lasting kingdom impact.


Show Notes:

ADAM KEEHN FOUNDATION
https://adamkeehnfoundation.com/

Connect With The Show:
Connect with James:



Connect with Todd:














We would love to hear from you with questions and comments at the following email: ymsoulkeeper@gmail.com


Check Out Coleader and plan your next month of ministry in just one click - https://www.coleader.co
Sign-up for Coleader here: https://share.coleader.co/SikZuk/join

Get help with the weekly grind with the help of Download Youth Ministry here - https://www.downloadyouthministry.com

Youth Leader Summit Conferences: https://www.youthleadersummit.com/

Connect with Guest Co-Host - Eben Eddy











]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69409424Mon, 12 Jan 2026 21:11:32 +0000DYM Podcast NetworkBeyond The Resolution: Setting Ministry Goals With Grace Summary: In this episode of the Youth Ministry Soul Keeper Podcast, hosts James and Todd kick off the new year by tackling a topic every youth leader faces: New Year's resolutions and...Beyond The Resolution: Setting Ministry Goals With Grace

Summary: In this episode of the Youth Ministry Soul Keeper Podcast, hosts James and Todd kick off the new year by tackling a topic every youth leader faces: New Year's resolutions and goal-setting. Moving beyond the typical resolution hype, they dive into what it means to set meaningful ministry goals rooted in grace rather than guilt. The hosts share personal stories about their own struggles with resolutions and explore why so many well-intentioned goals fall apart by February.
The conversation centers on a crucial truth: your identity as a youth leader isn't found in your successes or failures, but in who you are in Christ. James and Todd emphasize the importance of soul care, sustainable habits, and building authentic relationships in ministry. They challenge listeners to shift from program-focused thinking to people-centered ministry, reminding youth leaders that grace isn't just something we extend to students—it's something we desperately need ourselves. Throughout the episode, the hosts offer practical encouragement for setting goals that actually matter: prioritizing relationships with students and parents, creating sustainable rhythms of ministry, and learning to embrace restoration when we inevitably fall short. This is an honest, grace-filled conversation that will leave you refreshed and ready to approach the new year with renewed perspective.

Takeaways:
  • New Year's resolutions often fail because they're disconnected from grace — goals without grace become a slippery slope to guilt and burnout.
  • Your identity isn't tied to your success or failure — you are defined by who you are in Christ, not by what you accomplish in ministry.
  • There's always restoration after the resolution — failure isn't final; God's grace meets us when we fall short.
  • People over program should be your primary ministry goal — relationships matter more than perfectly executed events and curriculum.
  • Lean toward being "annoying" with parent communication — over-communication with parents is better than under-communication.
  • Soul care isn't optional for sustainable ministry — you can't pour from an empty cup; prioritize your own spiritual health.
  • Build habits, not just goals — sustainable change comes from consistent, grace-filled practices rather than grand resolutions.
  • Grace is Jesus' message to you — the same grace you extend to students is the grace Christ extends to you as a leader.
  • Relationships are the foundation of effective youth ministry — invest in people, not just programs, for lasting kingdom impact.


Show Notes:

ADAM KEEHN FOUNDATION
https://adamkeehnfoundation.com/

Connect With The Show:
Connect with James: