The Effective Ministry Podcast

107 - Preaching and Youth Ministry - with Dr Tom Habib

Preaching and Youth Ministry: Why the Preached Word Still Matters   In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, host Josh interviews The Rev Dr Tom Habib, a Moore Theological College lecturer and coordinator of the John Chapman Preaching Initiative. They trace preaching through Scripture: Deuteronomy as Moses’ covenant sermon; the prophets’ role in proclaiming the written word; Jesus as the promised prophet and preacher; and the apostolic pattern, culminating in Timothy being commanded to “preach the word.” They discuss preaching versus teaching, the need for both reading and preaching, the strengths and weaknesses of talks and Bible studies in youth groups, and practical models combining a short talk with discussion. Connect with Youthworks Click through to discover more about the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youthworks Ministry Support Team [https://www.youthworks.net/ministry-support/about] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and how Youthworks can help you have an effective youth and children's ministry in your local church, or check out our Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/youthworksministrysupport] . You can connect with the broader Youthworks family by clicking here [https://youthworks.net/] . You can partner in the ministry of Youthworks by donating here [https://www.youthworks.net/ways-to-give] . We would love to hear from you! Send your thoughts, comments, and suggestions to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠effectiveministrypodcast@youthworks.net

106 - Great Partnership Between Churches and Christian Schools | Polly Butterworth

Rev. Polly Butterworth, a Sydney high school chaplain, shares about her new role as Schools Ministry Development Officer for the Sydney Anglican Diocese, created to better support Anglican school ministry workers. She outlines five aims: pastoral support and mentoring networks for chaplains, strengthening partnerships between schools and churches, improving training and recruitment pathways for chaplains and Christian studies teachers, sharing resources across schools, and supporting professional development through the Sydney Anglican Schools Ministry Association.  Polly explains why school–church partnership matters for long-term discipleship beyond school and discusses key barriers (especially time, mismatched schedules, and lack of ideas). She offers practical partnership ideas such as sharing speakers, prayer support and prayer points, church involvement in lunchtime groups and Bible studies, shared events, and cross-promotion, encouraging perseverance and patient, prayerful support. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 02:05 Polly’s New Diocese Role 02:52 Five Goals for Chaplain Support 04:32 Sharing Resources and PD Network 08:27 How the Role Came About 13:26 Polly’s Path into Chaplaincy 16:58 Vision for School Church Partnerships 21:20 Schools as a Temporary Faith Community 22:46 Church Discipleship Depth 23:43 Why Partnership Matters 24:41 Survey Shows Willingness 25:47 Time And Scheduling Barriers 27:04 Making Space For Partnership 28:45 Idea Fatigue And Brainstorming 30:53 Practical Partnership Ideas 35:28 Shared Events And Promotion 37:01 When Efforts Stall 41:54 How Churches Can Support 45:00 Contact And Wrap Up Connect with Youthworks Click through to discover more about the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youthworks Ministry Support Team [https://www.youthworks.net/ministry-support/about] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and how Youthworks can help you have an effective youth and children's ministry in your local church, or check out our Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/youthworksministrysupport] . You can connect with the broader Youthworks family by clicking here [https://youthworks.net/] . You can partner in the ministry of Youthworks by donating here [https://www.youthworks.net/ways-to-give] . We would love to hear from you! Send your thoughts, comments, and suggestions to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠effectiveministrypodcast@youthworks.net

105 - Think Tank - Spaces of Belonging

Episode Description This episode is a little different! We're sharing a recording of a Theology Think Tank on the topic of belonging, facilitated by Dr. Louise Gosbell in collaboration with YouthWorks College and the Ministry Support Team. You'll hear Louise's teaching, live Q&A, and group discussion — all focused on what it means to create spaces of belonging for children and young people in your local church context. Guest - Dr. Louise Gosbell — Academic and ministry practitioner with a long background in disability inclusion ministry. Former voluntary coordinator for the Sydney region of CBM Australia's disability inclusion program. Louise teaches at YouthWorks College and writes academically on belonging, disability, and the body of Christ. In This Episode * A theological framework for belonging from 1 Corinthians 12 — Paul's image of the body of Christ * What researchers say belonging actually feels like * John Swinton on belonging: "To belong, you need to be missed" * The mental, emotional, and physical health benefits of belonging * How Australia's Belonging, Being and Becoming framework reflects the importance of belonging in early childhood education * Introduction to Eric Carter's Dimensions of Belonging Framework — and group discussion on how it applies to children's and youth ministry * Practical, low-cost strategies for fostering belonging in your programs Article link; https://courageous-omelet-90c.notion.site/GOSBELL-Creating-Communities-of-Belonging-for-Children-and-Young-People-Youthworks-Think-Tank-30be772d74bd80b0ba50cd8a29f2de0e?source=copy_link [https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcourageous-omelet-90c.notion.site%2FGOSBELL-Creating-Communities-of-Belonging-for-Children-and-Young-People-Youthworks-Think-Tank-30be772d74bd80b0ba50cd8a29f2de0e%3Fsource%3Dcopy_link&data=05%7C02%7Cmeaghan.gates%40youthworks.net%7Ca85abd8063e5432f121a08de943cf1ca%7Cf778a3cbb84548b8b04a6ad63171a59a%7C0%7C0%7C639111186711341568%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2B4wS3xWF8PBN2gijQyl1WfiJwxbB7FxE0fhv4OA0t%2FY%3D&reserved=0] Louise's email; lgosbell@aut.edu.au Connect with Youthworks Click through to discover more about the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youthworks Ministry Support Team [https://www.youthworks.net/ministry-support/about] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and how Youthworks can help you have an effective youth and children's ministry in your local church, or check out our Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/youthworksministrysupport] . You can connect with the broader Youthworks family by clicking here [https://youthworks.net/] . You can partner in the ministry of Youthworks by donating here [https://www.youthworks.net/ways-to-give] . We would love to hear from you! Send your thoughts, comments, and suggestions to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠effectiveministrypodcast@youthworks.net

104 - Low Hanging Fruit For When Kids Are In | Meaghan Gates, Adam Jolliffe, Al James

We’re thinking about how to make the most of when kids are in the room for church gatherings. In this episode of the Effective Ministry Podcast, Meaghan Gates, Adam Joliffe, and Al James share some simple, practical “low-hanging fruit” to help include children and young people meaningfully. We start with a core conviction: kids aren’t the “future church”—they’re full members of the body of Christ right now. From there, we reflect on how we can unintentionally “other” children, especially through the way we speak, and how small shifts in language can make a big difference. We talk about using accessible (simple, not simplistic) language, speaking directly to children rather than about them, and giving equal weight to both the main gathering and kids’ programs when children are dismissed. We also highlight the importance of celebrating children’s contributions as genuine ministry, not performance. When it comes to preaching, we share a range of practical ideas to help engage all ages—things like creating multiple entry points through sermon sheets, using clear prompts and simple challenges tied to the big idea, incorporating visuals, building in short discussion moments, and intentionally resetting attention throughout the sermon. If you’re planning for Easter—or any all-age gathering—these are ideas you can pick up and put into practice straight away. Timestamps 00:00 — Easter and all-age services 01:35 — Meet the hosts 02:27 — Why kids belong in the church now 03:41 — How language shapes culture 06:35 — A story of preacher anxiety 08:07 — Simple, not simplistic 11:13 — Speaking directly to children 13:51 — Valuing kids’ church alongside the main gathering 15:09 — Celebrating ministry, not performance 18:18 — Praise as ministry 18:45 — Building momentum for kids serving 20:48 — Preaching: low-hanging fruit 22:48 — Sermon sheets and access points 25:22 — Using a simple “challenge” hook 27:38 — Visuals and interaction 30:13 — Re-engaging attention 33:09 — Building a culture of welcome over time 34:27 — Key takeaways and wrap-up Connect with Youthworks Click through to discover more about the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youthworks Ministry Support Team [https://www.youthworks.net/ministry-support/about] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and how Youthworks can help you have an effective youth and children's ministry in your local church, or check out our Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/youthworksministrysupport] . You can connect with the broader Youthworks family by clicking here [https://youthworks.net/] . You can partner in the ministry of Youthworks by donating here [https://www.youthworks.net/ways-to-give] . We would love to hear from you! Send your thoughts, comments, and suggestions to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠effectiveministrypodcast@youthworks.net

103 - Exploring Ecclesiology in Youth and Children's Ministry

Kicking off the 2026 Effective Ministry podcast, Al James and Annemarie Rivers discuss how ecclesiology (the theology of the church) shapes youth and children’s ministry, asking whether youth group, kids’ church, and afterschool clubs are “church.” Drawing on Chase Kuhn’s work (including discussion of Donald Robinson, Broughton Knox, Kevin Giles, and Graham Cole), they explore church as the gathering (ecclesia) created by God’s word, centered on hearing and responding in faith, and focused on building up God’s people. They consider the gathered and scattered nature of church, the distinction between earthly intermittent gatherings and the constant singular heavenly church, and why the heavenly church’s oneness implies diversity. They discuss Robinson’s claim that the church’s primary task is not evangelistic, how evangelism still occurs in and from the gathering, and Kuhn’s conclusions that age-specific ministries are valid but not ideal expressions of church, requiring integration and intergenerational discipleship. Connect with Youthworks Click through to discover more about the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youthworks Ministry Support Team [https://www.youthworks.net/ministry-support/about] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and how Youthworks can help you have an effective youth and children's ministry in your local church, or check out our Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/youthworksministrysupport] . You can connect with the broader Youthworks family by clicking here [https://youthworks.net/] . You can partner in the ministry of Youthworks by donating here [https://www.youthworks.net/ways-to-give] . We would love to hear from you! Send your thoughts, comments, and suggestions to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠effectiveministrypodcast@youthworks.net