Teaching kids the Bible can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Jim and Meghan welcome Mark Hart, speaker, author, and leader at Life Teen, to share the story behind Encounter and why it’s helping middle schoolers discover the beauty of Scripture. Mark also opens up about his own conversion, 30 years in youth ministry, and the simple ways parents can lead their kids in faith with confidence and joy.
What’s in this episode:
- How Encounter began as a teen Bible study inspired by Jeff Cavins’ Great Adventure timeline
- Why middle schoolers need humor, visuals, and story-driven teaching to stay engaged
- Mark’s own kids and their friends as the “test market” for developing new resources
- The role of parents when kids ask for Bible studies at home
- Why Scripture must be more than history, it’s a personal invitation to find your story in God’s story
- The call from his pastor that led him into 30 years of youth ministry
- How parenting today is complicated by distraction, technology, and emotional disconnection
- The importance of affirmation and presence for teens who seek validation elsewhere
- The challenge of forming young men in a culture of gaming, pornography, and immaturity
- Mark’s advice for parents who feel like they’re failing in faith formation
- One resource every Catholic family should know: Hallow App and the Truthly.ai tool
- Book he’s currently reading: The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila, and the Book of James
- Favorite book/author inspirations: Fulton Sheen, G.K. Chesterton, and St. Teresa of Avila
- Advice to his younger self: Never stop laughing, joy is trust in God
- Final wisdom: You’re not failing; keep praying, keep trying, and let your kids see your humility
Resources Mentioned:
Encounter – A middle school Bible timeline program from Ascension Press
Biblical Heroes – Mark Hart’s book for middle schoolers, highlighting young figures in Scripture
Letters to My Little Sister by Trinity Moriah – Catholic guidebook for middle school girls (Life Teen)
Hallow App – Catholic prayer and meditation app for families
Truthly.ai – Faithful AI tool for quick Catholic answers
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills
As Director of The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, Dr. Jesse Mills has spent his career helping men understand their bodies, their hormones, and their health. Now he’s bringing that expertise to The Male Room — a podcast where data-driven medicine meets common sense. Each episode separates fact from hype, science from snake oil, and gives men the tools to live longer, stronger, and happier lives. With candor, humor, and real-world experience from the exam room and the operating room, Dr. Mills breaks down the latest health headlines, dissects trends, and explains what actually works — and what doesn’t. Smart, straightforward, and entertaining, The Male Room is the show that helps men take charge of their health without the jargon.