No Youth No Church

No Youth No Church

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2442306/fan_mail/new] If your church’s older members stepped away tomorrow, who would still be standing in the building a year from now? That question drives a real, practical conversation with Alpheus Anderson, an author, music director, producer, and the founder of Pure in Heart children’s and youth choir. We talk about the quiet crisis many congregations feel after COVID: youth ministry numbers shrinking, fewer teens engaged, and churches losing the next generation without meaning to. The message is blunt but hopeful: no youth, no church, and there are solutions if we’re willing to change how we show up. We dig into what effective discipleship looks like right now, especially when attention is competing with phones, headphones, and nonstop media. Alpheus breaks down how to teach the Bible OTL “on their level” without losing depth, using what he calls “enter train,” entertainment and training together. We also talk about why Sunday school, children’s church, VBS, and small groups still matter, because “faith comes by hearing,” and students simply are not hearing the Word enough to form a steady biblical worldview. Then we get tactical about college ministry and outreach. Alpheus shares four things he sees college students looking for: care, cash, cause, and community. Instead of leading with “come to our church,” we talk about serving first by showing up on campus with practical help and consistent presence. We even explore creative ideas like a college pantry in unused church space, plus how service opportunities can open doors for long-term connection. You’ll also hear updates on Pure in Heart, new music, Stellar nomination excitement, and how a youth-driven mission like singing for peace in China becomes a powerful picture of what happens when young people are trained and trusted. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a ministry leader, and leave a review so more churches can build a future with their youth. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2442306/support]

The King Summit Preview

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2442306/fan_mail/new] You can feel it when a community moment is bigger than a flyer. Josiellia Williams sits down with Bishop Michael Blue for a special Native Drums conversation that starts with a full preview of CCFM’s King Summit at the Florence Center in Florence, South Carolina, then goes deeper into what churches actually need to navigate right now. We walk through the schedule, the worship nights, the morning glory gatherings, and why bringing influential voices into the region can strengthen what local pastors and leaders already pour into their people. We also spend real time on the practical breakout sessions that make this event more than a service. Mental health support, worship and arts, media training, financial legacy building, and especially church security take center stage. Bishop Blue explains why “Who’s watching while we’re praying?” is not a slogan but a necessary question in a world that has shifted, and why best practices matter so safety stays wise, calm, and intentional. Then the conversation turns to youth in the church after COVID, and it gets honest. We talk about being deliberate, creating communities young people want to return to, and helping them build a faith that can think as well as believe through apologetics and open dialogue. If you care about church leadership, community empowerment, and youth ministry that lasts, this one will stay with you. Subscribe, share this with a friend in ministry, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2442306/support]

138 Years Of Faith In Action

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2442306/fan_mail/new] 138 years is not a slogan, it’s proof of a mission that keeps showing up. From Savannah Grove Baptist Church, we talk with Mrs. Mary Alice Graham, president of the Women’s Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina, and Dr. Sarah Simmons, second vice president, about how this statewide women’s ministry keeps Christian education and missionary work alive across generations. We get into the real mechanics of the convention: the history of leadership, what it takes to host thousands of women, and how the three departments create a pipeline from youth (up to 17), to Young Women’s Auxiliary (18 to 45), to senior women (45 and up). You’ll hear stories that feel joyful and practical, from youth-led worship and performances to traditions like corsages, district colors, and the energy that comes when the room is full. We also dig into impact you can measure. The convention supports HBCUs in South Carolina, including Morris College and Benedict College, with scholarship opportunities and major contributions. Then we shift to a powerful community health focus: mental health training through Hold Out the Lifeline, including a free class that can certify participants for three years and equip churches to recognize needs and respond with care. Add in women in ministry, scholarship fundraising like the Rainbow Tea, and a canned-goods service project that leaves help behind in every host community, and you’ve got a blueprint for faith in action. If you care about church leadership, women’s ministry, youth development, HBCU scholarships, and mental health resources for congregations, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find Native Drums. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2442306/support]

A Clear Guide To The South Carolina Baptist Women’s Annual Session

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2442306/fan_mail/new] A big church week can feel confusing fast, so we brought in the perfect guide: our sister Antoinette “Sister Toni” Muldrow, longtime leader in Baptist women’s work across South Carolina. She helps us map out what’s happening day by day as the Women’s Baptist E&M Convention of South Carolina convenes at Savannah Grove Baptist Church in Effingham, just outside Florence, SC. If you’ve been searching for a clear schedule and a warm invitation to a meaningful South Carolina church conference, this conversation keeps it simple and practical. We talk through the 130th annual session from the first registration hour to the final benediction. Monday includes registration and a powerful welcome night featuring guest speaker Lithonia Barnes, mayor of the city of Florence, plus the debut of the Region 6 Women’s Choir. Tuesday brings youth focus and fellowship, a Women in Ministry service, and a unity program led by Kippy Brown, with a community-wide request to wear red (and blue on Monday). Wednesday spotlights YWA fellowship, the president’s annual address, and a Spiritual Life Ministry service where each district represents with color, including District 6 showing up in purple. We also get into the details that make the week feel like home: food trucks on campus so folks can stay close, vendors traveling in from multiple states, college displays, and yes, the popular sparkly sneakers. The invitation stays wide open: you don’t have to be Baptist, and it’s not just for women, men and youth are welcome to come worship, learn, and connect. Listen, share this with someone who needs community, and then subscribe and leave a review so more people can find Native Drums and join us for what’s happening at Savannah Grove. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2442306/support]

Freedom School Turns Summer Break Into A Reading Habit

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2442306/fan_mail/new] Summer break can quietly undo months of progress, especially when kids lose daily reading practice. We sit down with Dr. Fraronda Green, executive director of the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School at Savannah Grove Baptist Church, to talk about a summer literacy program designed to fight summer reading loss while building pride, confidence, and community. Dr. Green connects the program’s purpose to the legacy of Freedom Summer, reminding us that literacy has always been about voice, access, and possibility.  We get specific about what families want to know: what a typical day actually looks like. Dr. Green breaks down Harambe (“let’s pull together”), the high-energy morning gathering filled with chants, music, and movement that helps scholars start the day connected. From there, the program moves into integrated reading, where students work through structured curriculum with discussion, questions, and hands-on activities that make books feel alive. We also talk enrichment, from art and singing to photography, and why creative exposure supports academic growth, not distracts from it.  A standout feature is mentorship. Servant leader interns, current college students, help lead reading and activities, creating a real intergenerational pipeline of encouragement. We also share key logistics: Freedom School runs June 15 through July 17, with limited spots remaining for rising 6th through 8th graders, plus how to apply through the church office and social media. If you care about youth development, reading motivation, and practical community-based education, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a parent, and leave us a review. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2442306/support]