Women in Youth Ministry

Bethany Parker - Introducing...WYM Conference 2026 Speakers

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: This season, we’re interviewing the incredible members of WYM who make up our board, moderators team, and conference team! This week our WYM Conference Chief of Staff, Bethany Parker is joining Heather to introduce our 2026 Conference Speakers! Bonus? You get to hear Heather's favorite unhinged icebreaker of all time. ABOUT BETHANY: Bethany Parker (she/her) lives in Columbia, South Carolina with her husband, Jesse, and their miniature poodle, Charlie. Outside of work, Bethany spends her time reading romantasy books, playing cozy video games, and helping bring the WYM Conference to life. ABOUT WYM: * Go to ⁠⁠⁠womeninyouthministry.com⁠ [womeninyouthministry.com]⁠⁠ to read our blog, follow us on social media, join our online Community, purchase our merch, or support our Patreon. * Our next WYM Conference is March 4-6, 2026 in Arlington, TX. Sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://womeninyouthministry.com/conference⁠ [https://womeninyouthministry.com/conference] * Support the podcast by subscribing to our Patreon for as little as $1 a month!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/womeninym⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/womeninym⁠⁠⁠]

Samantha Green - When Life is on Spin Cycle

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: This season, we’re interviewing the incredible members of WYM who make up our board, moderators team, and conference team! This week we are chatting with Samantha! We talk about her call to ministry and her passion for including youth who don't typically get asked into leadership roles. ABOUT SAMANTHA: Howdy! My name is Samantha Green! I’m the host of the stuttering christian podcast. I work in camp ministry full time as the media director. I’m a big fan all things Harry Styles, Elvis Presley, and Survivor. Maybe one day I’ll be on the show. Follow her on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@stutteringchristian] & Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/stutteringchristian/?hl=en] @stutteringchristian Listen to her Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6TruQOyHOkuWx85sXSpWVN?si=dudSJrXISZ2gpc20ypBFqQ [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://calendly.com/url?q%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fopen.spotify.com%252Fshow%252F6TruQOyHOkuWx85sXSpWVN%253Fsi%253DdudSJrXISZ2gpc20ypBFqQ%26user_uuid%3DEGBAIQ3HUJZARBUX%26stage%3D1%26hmac%3D162cdee6383adfeb0dba3e191f615a110a9b1bce6048eb9a5966b7cf42827d6b&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1761862420565946&usg=AOvVaw0H7AWSgEb7yc_jStdH2E-N] ABOUT WYM: * Go to ⁠⁠⁠womeninyouthministry.com⁠ [womeninyouthministry.com]⁠⁠ to read our blog, follow us on social media, join our online Community, purchase our merch, or support our Patreon. * Our next WYM Conference is March 4-6, 2026 in Arlington, TX. Sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://womeninyouthministry.com/conference⁠ [https://womeninyouthministry.com/conference] * Support the podcast by subscribing to our Patreon for as little as $1 a month!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/womeninym⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/womeninym⁠⁠⁠]

Christina Rees-Fletcher - Context is Queen

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: This season, we’re interviewing the incredible members of WYM who make up our board, moderators team, and conference team! This week we are chatting with Christina and her passion for including students in your context - not anyone else's, babes. Yours. We also spend some time talking about how each of us rebuilt our personal community in our thirties, giving renewal to life! ABOUT CHRISTINA: Christina Rees-Fletcher is the Family Ministry Director at Christ the Savior Lutheran Church in Fishers, Indiana, where she oversees discipleship and ministry for children, youth, and young adults. A lifelong Presbyterian, she has also worked in a variety of ecumenical and progressive Reformed spaces, shaping her passion for radical hospitality, inclusion, and authentic faith practices. After more than a decade in Missouri, Christina returned to her hometown of Indianapolis following the sudden loss of her husband, Zach. In both her life and her ministry, she is committed to creating spaces of welcome, connection, and healing. She is currently writing a book of poetry and blessings that weaves together themes of faith, grief, and resilience. When she’s not writing or serving in ministry, Christina can be found at a live music show, watch football or hockey, or at home with her beloved pets. Follower her on Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@binafletch] or Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/binafletch] @binafletch ABOUT WYM: * Go to ⁠⁠⁠womeninyouthministry.com⁠ [womeninyouthministry.com]⁠⁠ to read our blog, follow us on social media, join our online Community, purchase our merch, or support our Patreon. * Our next WYM Conference is March 4-6, 2026 in Arlington, TX. Sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://womeninyouthministry.com/conference⁠ [https://womeninyouthministry.com/conference] * Support the podcast by subscribing to our Patreon for as little as $1 a month!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/womeninym⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/womeninym⁠⁠⁠]

Azia Raju - We GET to Do This!

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: This season, we’re interviewing the incredible members of WYM who make up our board, moderators team, and conference team! This week we are chatting with Azia and how she responded to a need in her congregation, sparking a 15-year career in youth ministry. Her ministry is focused on empowering young leaders in congregations - and you won't want to miss her passion for it! ABOUT AZIA: Azia Raju is a youth pastor of 15+ years, conference speaker, and founder of Young Leaders' Life, a ministry equipping churches to release students into spiritual leadership now. Serving Metro Detroit and beyond, she empowers youth and adults alike to shift culture and lead with courage. Follow her online at Youngleaderslife.com [Youngleaderslife.com] ABOUT WYM: * Go to ⁠⁠⁠womeninyouthministry.com⁠ [womeninyouthministry.com]⁠⁠ to read our blog, follow us on social media, join our online Community, purchase our merch, or support our Patreon. * Our next WYM Conference is March 4-6, 2026 in Arlington, TX. Sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://womeninyouthministry.com/conference⁠ [https://womeninyouthministry.com/conference] * Support the podcast by subscribing to our Patreon for as little as $1 a month!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/womeninym⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/womeninym⁠⁠⁠]

Jess Berryhill - Inclusion Is Friendship

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: This season, we’re interviewing the incredible members of WYM who make up our board, moderators team, and conference team! This week we are chatting with Jess and how her views of inclusion ministry have changed. In this episode we emphasize the importance of creating organic, everyday opportunities for inclusion rather than relying solely on structured programs. ABOUT JESS: Jess Berryhill serves as the Student and Disability Minister at Mt. Pleasant Church in Terre Haute, IN. In that role, she walks alongside and serves teenagers as well as individuals with disabilities. Since founding Grace Unlimited Disability Ministry in 2015, the program has grown to serve over hundred individuals each week and houses holistic programming that extends beyond the walls of the church. This approach currently includes a dating and relationships class, a mental health group, and several weekly gatherings. Through conversations with friends in the program, Jess heard young adults with disabilities repeatedly share that they wanted to live on their own and strive towards independence. Out of those conversations, Terre Haute Friendship House was born in 2019. It is an affordable housing model that allows college students and young adults with disabilities to live in community. Residents live together as roommates. It operates as a launchpad into independent living. Jess serves as the Executive Director and currently resides there as the “house mom” with her dog, Cooper. View her FREE Disability Ministry Resource here - https://www.canva.com/design/DAGS68WWwSI/otwLF7kPGlREc-JCQ0AnKw/edit [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://calendly.com/url?q%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.canva.com%252Fdesign%252FDAGS68WWwSI%252FotwLF7kPGlREc-JCQ0AnKw%252Fedit%26user_uuid%3DEGBAIQ3HUJZARBUX%26stage%3D1%26hmac%3Df3ba9b15fff306024cc2600add6ec8d5e9dd8c1437372f3d43b93c9d3e76cf65&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1761836748115177&usg=AOvVaw2oJ1BKi-o7tGF9KRpAzHQQ] ABOUT WYM: * Go to ⁠⁠⁠womeninyouthministry.com⁠ [womeninyouthministry.com]⁠⁠ to read our blog, follow us on social media, join our online Community, purchase our merch, or support our Patreon. * Our next WYM Conference is March 4-6, 2026 in Arlington, TX. Sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://womeninyouthministry.com/conference⁠ [https://womeninyouthministry.com/conference] * Support the podcast by subscribing to our Patreon for as little as $1 a month!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/womeninym⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/womeninym⁠⁠⁠]