Student Ministry is tough sometimes, and there are a lot of reason why you’ve probably thought about leaving, but there are also many more reasons why you should stay. So how do we stay? What are the things we need to focus on in order to stick around for the long haul? Well, get ready, because on this episode of Student Ministry Connection, our guest, Jody Livingston, has not only pushed through, himself, but he’s written a book on what he’s learned, and it’s fantastic.

Links referenced in this episode:

• Buy Jody's book on Amazon - https://amzn.to/4pUCT94
• Listen to Jody's podcast and read his blog at https://thelongerhaul.com
• Learn more about Steve's ministry with NNYM at https://nnym.org/stevecullum
• Sign up to get Steve's newsletter at https://bit.ly/cullumnewsletter
• Support the ministry by giving online at https://bit.ly/cullumsupport
• Contact Steve about partnerships, speaking, coaching, or consulting at https://bit.ly/cullumcontact
• Follow Student Ministry Connection on Instagram: https://instagram.com/studentministryconnection
• Read Steve's blog at https://stevecullum.com
• Follow Steve on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevecullum
• Follow Steve on Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevecullum
• Follow Steve on Facebook: https://facebook.com/stevecullum

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET.

Find your next speaker at The Speaker Hub - https://youthminhub.com/speakerhub

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection.

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry.

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!

Where is student ministry going in the future? What are the trends we need to be paying attention to in our churches, and what should we be doing with the research we’re seeing? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, we’re kicking off 2026 focusing on the future of student ministry and how God might just be setting us up for something big.

Links referenced in this episode:

• Listen to or watch Carey Nieuwhof's episode on 2026 church trends at https://careynieuwhof.com/episode777
• Read Carey's report at http://2026churchtrends.com
• Learn more about Steve's ministry with NNYM at https://nnym.org/stevecullum
• Sign up to get Steve's newsletter at https://bit.ly/cullumnewsletter
• Support the ministry by giving online at https://bit.ly/cullumsupport
• Contact Steve about partnerships, speaking, coaching, or consulting at https://bit.ly/cullumcontact
• Follow Student Ministry Connection on Instagram: https://instagram.com/studentministryconnection
• Read Steve's blog at https://stevecullum.com
• Follow Steve on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevecullum
• Follow Steve on Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevecullum
• Follow Steve on Facebook: https://facebook.com/stevecullum

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET.

Find your next speaker at The Speaker Hub - https://youthminhub.com/speakerhub

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection.

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry.

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!

The last 12 months of this podcast have been so great, especially all of our guests, so on this year-end episode of Student Ministry Connection, we’re highlighting each of our 12 guests from 2025: Derry Prenkert, Ashley Bohinc, Mike McGarry, Dan Lynch, Dr. Ken Castor, Mike Hicks, Krista McBroom, Travis Deans, Rick Eubanks, Ian Chrisler, Orlando Hale, and Jonny Radcliff.

Links referenced in this episode:

• Learn more about Steve's ministry with NNYM at https://nnym.org/stevecullum
• Sign up to get Steve's newsletter at https://bit.ly/cullumnewsletter
• Support the ministry by giving online at https://bit.ly/cullumsupport
• Contact Steve about partnerships, speaking, coaching, or consulting at https://bit.ly/cullumcontact
• Follow Student Ministry Connection on Instagram: https://instagram.com/studentministryconnection
• Read Steve's blog at https://stevecullum.com
• Follow Steve on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevecullum
• Follow Steve on Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevecullum
• Follow Steve on Facebook: https://facebook.com/stevecullum

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET.

Find your next speaker at The Speaker Hub - https://youthminhub.com/speakerhub

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection.

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry.

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!

It seems like everywhere we turn, everyone’s got a hot take, even in the world of student ministry. And we're not talking about what's the best pizza topping (it's definitely not pineapple, by the way). On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve is joined by Jonny Radcliff to tackle 3 of the bigger hot takes focusing on the best night for youth group, the importance of camps and retreats, and if you should be preaching more or less.

Links referenced in this episode:

• Find your next speaker at The Speaker Hub - https://youthminhub.com/speakerhub
• Connect more with Jonny at https://jonnyradcliff.com
• Follow Jonny on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jonnyrad5
• Support Jonny's ministry at https://bit.ly/nnym_jradcliff
• Learn more about Make it Middle School at http://makeitmiddleschool.com
• Sign up to get Steve's ministry newsletter at https://bit.ly/cullumnewsletter
• Support Steve's ministry by giving online at https://bit.ly/cullumsupport
• Contact Steve about partnerships, speaking, coaching, or consulting at https://bit.ly/cullumcontact
• Follow Student Ministry Connection on Instagram: https://instagram.com/studentministryconnection
• Read Steve's blog at https://stevecullum.com
• Follow Steve on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevecullum
• Follow Steve on Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevecullum
• Follow Steve on Facebook: https://facebook.com/stevecullum

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET.

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection.

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry.

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!

It's time for a ministry update! On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve shares what God has been doing recently and provides some insight on the future of student ministry based on what we're seeing and on recent research. If you've been wondering about what Steve has been up to or what he thinks about outside of this podcast, this one's for you!

Links referenced in this episode:

• Find your next speaker at The Speaker Hub - https://youthminhub.com/speakerhub
• Learn more about PACT at http://pactministry.org
• Learn more about Steve's ministry with NNYM at https://nnym.org/stevecullum
• Sign up to get Steve's newsletter at https://bit.ly/cullumnewsletter
• Support the ministry by giving online at https://bit.ly/cullumsupport
• Contact Steve about partnerships, speaking, coaching, or consulting at https://bit.ly/cullumcontact
• Follow Student Ministry Connection on Instagram: https://instagram.com/studentministryconnection
• Read Steve's blog at https://stevecullum.com
• Follow Steve on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevecullum
• Follow Steve on Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevecullum
• Follow Steve on Facebook: https://facebook.com/stevecullum

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET.

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection.

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry.

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!

How do we engage with people who are different than us, come from different backgrounds than us, and have a different worldview or perspective than us? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve shares a very simple yet powerful idea that can take your leadership to the next level.

Links referenced in this episode:

• Learn more about GLS NextGen at https://glsnextgenusa.org
• Find your next speaker at The Speaker Hub - https://youthminhub.com/speakerhub
• Learn more about Steve's ministry with NNYM at https://nnym.org/stevecullum
• Sign up to get Steve's newsletter at https://bit.ly/cullumnewsletter
• Support the ministry by giving online at https://bit.ly/cullumsupport
• Contact Steve about partnerships, speaking, coaching, or consulting at https://bit.ly/cullumcontact
• Follow Student Ministry Connection on Instagram: https://instagram.com/studentministryconnection
• Read Steve's blog at https://stevecullum.com
• Follow Steve on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevecullum
• Follow Steve on Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevecullum
• Follow Steve on Facebook: https://facebook.com/stevecullum

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET.

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection.

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry.

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!

Every teenager has a story, and some of those stories are partially written behind bars. On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve talks with Orlando Hale about how to step into difficult places to minister to teenagers who are incarcerated, how to get involved with your local juvenile detention center, and how to come alongside teens who desperately need the hope of Jesus.

Links referenced in this episode:

• Follow Orlando on Instagram - https://instagram.com/landohale
• Find your next speaker at The Speaker Hub - https://youthminhub.com/speakerhub
• Learn more about Steve's ministry with NNYM at https://nnym.org/stevecullum
• Sign up to get Steve's newsletter at https://bit.ly/cullumnewsletter
• Support the ministry by giving online at https://bit.ly/cullumsupport
• Contact Steve about partnerships, speaking, coaching, or consulting at https://bit.ly/cullumcontact
• Follow Student Ministry Connection on Instagram: https://instagram.com/studentministryconnection
• Read Steve's blog at https://stevecullum.com
• Follow Steve on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevecullum
• Follow Steve on Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevecullum
• Follow Steve on Facebook: https://facebook.com/stevecullum

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET.

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection.

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry.

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!

 How do we handle students who are disrupting and being disrespectful? On this quick episode of Student Ministry Connection. Steve shares a few tips and some things to keep in mind when working with the more difficult students in your ministry.

Links referenced in this episode:

• Find your next speaker at The Speaker Hub - https://youthminhub.com/speakerhub
• Learn more about Steve's ministry with NNYM at https://nnym.org/stevecullum
• Sign up to get Steve's newsletter at https://bit.ly/cullumnewsletter
• Support the ministry by giving online at https://bit.ly/cullumsupport
• Contact Steve about partnerships, speaking, coaching, or consulting at https://bit.ly/cullumcontact
• Follow Student Ministry Connection on Instagram: https://instagram.com/studentministryconnection
• Read Steve's blog at https://stevecullum.com
• Follow Steve on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevecullum
• Follow Steve on Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevecullum
• Follow Steve on Facebook: https://facebook.com/stevecullum

Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET.

Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection.

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry.

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection

If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!