Youth Group 98

Episode 8: Left Behind - It’s the End of Season One as We Know It.

Explore the massive cultural impact of the 'Left Behind' book series, its controversies, and its influence on faith discussions. We break down the books, movies, and games. But how did this phenomenon impact culture and individual beliefs? Instagram: @ytg1998

Episode 7: What Were We Thinking? - The Lock In

Let us know your favorite (or worse) Lock-in experience! Instagram: @ytg1998 Spotify & Apple Podcast: Youth Group 98

Episode 6: On Fire for Jesus- Hype Ministry

The Amazon Prime series Shiny Happy People season 2 was all about Acquire the Fire, Teen Mania and Ron Luce. In response to that series, we want to have a look back at “Hype Ministries” in general and how they help shape faith for a generation of youth group kids. Instagram:  @ytg1998

Episode 5: CCM (Part 2) - Hymns, Hitmakers, and the Blurry Space Between?

We get into how marketing messages got confused with faith formation messages. What to do with those who are now deconstructing and how some of what happens to worship music when it written for the charts instead of the church. Instagram: ytg_1998

Episode 4: CCM (Part 1) - The Soundtrack of the Saved

Christian music didn’t start as an industry—it started as a movement. In the late 1960s and 70s, young people from the Jesus Movement rejected traditional church culture but held onto their love for music. They began writing honest, raw songs about faith using the sounds they already knew: rock, folk, and acoustic. What began in coffee houses and small gatherings quickly grew. By the mid-70s, record labels and radio stations turned this grassroots expression into something bigger—a parallel Christian music industry. As culture shifted, Christian parents looked for “safe” alternatives to mainstream music, and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) filled the gap by mirroring popular styles with faith-based lyrics. By the 80s and 90s, CCM had become a full ecosystem—complete with festivals, radio, charts, and stars. For many, it wasn’t just music. It shaped beliefs, carried people through life’s hardest moments, and became the soundtrack of an entire generation’s faith. This is the story of how a movement became a market—and why it still matters today.