My Third Decade in Youth Ministry

My Third Decade in Youth Ministry

Youth ministry veteran Derry Prenkert talks about longevity in youth ministry and how to stay in it for the long haul. My Third decade is a proud member of the DYM Podcast Network.

Episodes

January 27, 2023 21 mins
EPISODE 58 – We Back Baby! (Release Friday, January 27, 2023) It’s only been 1013 days, but we are back and relaunching! I reintroduce what this all was, where I’ve been in the silence, and where things are heading. My Third Decade: a podcast for youth ministers. Check out Coleader and get 4 weeks of programming completely free!https://share.coleader.co/GCitcP/join Starting, stuck, or struggling in ministry and looking for someone...
Mark as Played
The show has been on a 18+ month quarantine. But, it’s coming back in 2022. And this episode is just a fun conversation with two guys who love Jesus, movies, and Spider-man. SPOILERS abound. Enjoy, and stay tuned for more shows to come in 2022.

Thanks to Download Youth Ministry and the DYM Podcast Network: www.dympodcastnetwork.com

Find me online:
Twitter and Instagram: @mythirddecade
Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/mythirddecade

T...
Mark as Played
The show has been on a 2-month quarantine for various reasons, but it’s back in this weird season of youth ministry. Here are 5 values I landed on at the outset of this unprecedented season. As you walk through trying to figure out how to do the best youth ministry possible in this season, may you let the “why” drive the “what’.

Welcome to three new amazing shows on the DYM Podcast Network:
Youth Ministry Sherpas: https://podcast.dow...
Mark as Played
February 17, 2020 17 mins
As I get rolling at a new church and in a new role, I’m asking lots of question. In Episode 53, I gave you 5 questions I’ve been asking myself. In this episode, I give 5 questions I’m asking the team I’m now leading. Whether you are transitioning or not; Whether your team is a staff or volunteers, these questions could be valuable for you as well.

Sponsor to this Episode:
I Still Believe (In theaters March 12… Take your Group!!)
http...
Mark as Played
January 31, 2020 12 mins
Ms. Allison Elizabeth Williams, 36, of Seymour, lived a life of ministry and was a source of infectious joy to those around her. She was loyal, playful, passionate, and smart. Opinionated, yet humble. Through acts of bringing joy to others with simple gifts from the Dollar Tree or showing up for life events, Allison embodied how to live in Christ and how to be Christ to others. She first learned to be this example through the witne...
Mark as Played
January 17, 2020 24 mins
As we go into 2020 and I continue to get acclimated to a new youth ministry setting, I’m asking myself some question. Here’s 5 of them.

Mentioned in the Show:
I Still Believe (In theaters March 12… Take your Group!!)
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnxHyBbYwQQ

What does the Bible say about who you are in Christ: https://vintagelawrence.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ANDERSON_WhoIAmInChrist.pdf

Sponsors:
DYM University. If you ...
Mark as Played
It’s another Time Capsule. I walk through one key event, trend, device, or social media platform for each year 1996-2019 that had a significant impact on Youth Ministry.

Mentioned in the Show:
Time Capsule Episode: 23 Years, 23 Movies: https://podcast.downloadyouthministry.com/34-mtd-time-capsule-23-years-23-movies/
Evolution of Dance on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg
Steve Jobs 2007 Keynote: https://www.youtube...
Mark as Played
November 27, 2019 56 mins
It’s a plethora of youth Ministry Veterans dropping some rapid fire Wisdom!
Thanks to all who showed up for the party!

Mentioned in the show:
•Center for Parent/Youth Understanding: http://cpyu.org
•Youth Culture Matters with Walt Mueller: https://cpyu.org/resource_category/podcast/
•The Longer Haul Podcast: https://thelongerhaul.com/
•The Youth Ministry Sherpas: https://youthministrysherpas.com/

Check out Derry's resources on Downloa...
Mark as Played
October 28, 2019 30 mins
Made it to the ½ century mark!!! Recorded on my last day in office at Nappanee Missionary Church. Released on the day we pulled out from our Nappanee home to head to our new Louisville home. I answer your questions that were submitted, and throw out some closing thoughts of gratitude.

Mentioned in the show:
- National Youth Workers Convention: http://nywc.com

LISTEN TO THE previous two episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/48...
Mark as Played
After 23 years at the same church, I’m leaving my church. In the end, it’s not just me leaving. My family joins me. More specifically, my wife Janelle has played a crucial role in this whole story of transition. She joins me today as we talk through her side of the story.

Mentioned in the show:
LISTEN TO THE previous episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/48-big-announcement-leaving-my-church-not-youth-ministry/id1338273697?i...
Mark as Played
On Thursday, September 26 news went public that I am leaving my church. You may be saying, “WHAAAAAAA?” Fortunately, this is not your normal “Youth pastor got fired/ burns out/ can’t get along with his/her church” story.

Today’s episode in Three Acts to share my story of making one of the biggest transitions of my life:
ACT 1: The Announcement – A reading of my letter to the Church family and friends (with some wicked sweet music un...
Mark as Played
September 25, 2019 42 mins
Do you have that kid or kids from a unique or rough home situation. Carter was one of those kids who entered our ministry. Now as a youth pastor serving at Brenneman Memorial Missionary Church in Goshen, IN, he and I look back on those years to highlight some lessons learned from his experience where the church became his family in so many ways.

STAY TUNED FOR A SPECIAL EPISODE COMING SOON TO TALK ABOUT SOME BIG NEWS.

Sponsors:
DYM Un...
Mark as Played
September 12, 2019 59 mins
He’s at the host church for Student Leadership Conference. He’s only worked at one church for 15 years. He a great dude and a great friend with some strong wisdom to pass your way. Listen all the way through on this way, because there is pure gold toward the end.
Connect with John
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnkeim
Twitter and Insta: @john.keim
Email: jkeim@grangerchurch.com

Sign up for National Day of Youth Ministry Volunteer ...
Mark as Played
You’ve got your entire school year planned out, I’m sure. BUT, I want to throw out 5 thoughts to consider as you walk through another ministry year. There are a lot of youth ministry-focused podcast, but this is a youth minister-focused podcast.

Stick around post-show to hear some recommended DYM resources that you could use heading into the Fall. Here are the links:

Meet Your Leader: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/meet-your-...
Mark as Played
August 16, 2019 24 mins
It’s been a crazy and full Summer for me on many fronts. Has it been for you? Have you taken time to reflect and evaluate? I take some time (while on the road, sorry for the added road and engine sounds) to share some reflections on the importance of reflecting!

Check out What Happened/What’s Next debriefing tool on DYM: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/what-happened-whats-next

Sponsors:
DYM University. If you haven’t, jump in o...
Mark as Played
It’s Camp Season. Be intentional with it. In part 3 I take time to answer your Camp Questions you submitted.

Sponsors:
DYM University. If you haven’t, jump in on this online volunteer training course that 20,000 other youth ministry workers are already taking part in. By purchasing through this link, you actually help this show out! https://www.dymuniversity.com/a/10524/2Hn9zuot

Give Central. Your online giving solution. http://give...
Mark as Played
It’s Camp Season. Be intentional with it. In part 2 I walk through some specific things we’ve done with Camps to move toward our four goals with Camp that I outlined on Episode 41.

For Episode 43 I’m going to answer your questions about Camp. Submit those questions through social media, email, or on the DYM Podcast Network site (links below)

Post-Credit Plug:
12 in 12 Summer Edition: https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/twelve-in-tw...
Mark as Played
It’s Camp Season. Be intentional with it. For this episode and the next two I will share some of what we do with Summer Camps. This one is all about our 4 goals with our Camps, how we landed on them, and why they are the ones we chose.

Sponsors:
DYM University. If you haven’t, jump in on this online volunteer training course that 20,000 other youth ministry workers are already taking part in. By purchasing through this link, you actu...
Mark as Played
May 30, 2019 29 mins
Two Thoughts. One Question. On Prayer.
I take some time to reflect on the amount of situations and stories surrounding youth ministers leaving their church or losing their job over the past few months. What is happening? Is the youth ministry sky falling? How should we respond?

Mentioned in the show:
My conversation with Justin Knowles about partnering with Children’s Minsitry on the Youth Ministry Hacks Podcast:
On iTunes: https://pod...
Mark as Played
Wait, can I be both an advocate for longevity in youth ministry and encourage those youth pastors who make the transition to senior pastor? Yup! Enjoy a conversation with Andrew Larsen who made this exact transition. Learn from his journey and mine as you will likely have times where the opportunity is there, and you have to discern where the Lord is leading.

Check out the Morning After Ministry Podcast live on Facebook Monday morn...
Mark as Played

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