The FYI on Youth Ministry

When it comes to mission trips, lasting discipleship happens when leaders intentionally teach students to reflect and prayerfully integrate what they're learning. But we know that's not always easy. Tune in as Rachel Dodd talks with experts Andrea Kroeze, Dario Lariosa, and Keegan Lenker, who share insights and tips on planning faith formation practices that disciple teens as they serve. 
About this Season: This season explores mission trips, serving local communities, and why these remain a valuable part of youth ministry. But planning them well takes more than good intentions. This season is brought to you by FYI's On-The-Go youth leader resources Faith & Mission Collection (Discussion Guides, Prayer Activities, Youth Leader Guides), and created through support from Tenx10. 
Mentioned in today's episode:
Youth Leader Guide on Intergenerational Mission Projects
Faith & Mission curriculum: Discussion Guides, Prayer Activities, & Youth Leader Guides)
Touch The World mission trip resources: Devotionals and Re-Entry Journal
The Missions Academy: Online and downloadable pre-trip training curriculum and training

Want to help teens develop cultural competence as they serve at home and abroad? This conversation is for you! Brad Griffin talks with three experts on reimagining older missions and service paradigms to approach this work with cultural humility. 
Guests:
Dr. Jennifer Guerra Aldana: Professor of Christian Ministry and Practice at PLNU
Corey Greaves: President and founder of Mending Wings and SLAM trips
Dr. David Wang: Psychologist and the Penner Chair for the Formation of Emotionally Healthy Leaders at Fuller Seminary
About this Season: This season explores mission trips, serving local communities, and why these remain a valuable part of youth ministry. But planning them well takes more than good intentions. This season is brought to you by FYI's On-The-Go youth leader resources Faith & Mission Collection (Discussion Guides, Prayer Activities, Youth Leader Guides), and created through support from Tenx10. 
Mentioned in today's episode:
Free Youth Leader Guide on Intergenerational Mission Projects

Faith & Mission curriculum: Discussion Guides, Prayer Activities, & Youth Leader Guides

SLAM trips: Students Learning about Missions (The invitational trip Corey Greaves mentions)

Local service can help teens become aware of needs in their own community and ways they can help. FYI's managing editor, Rachel Dodd, sits down with youth ministry pros Erik Cave, William Leung, and Abigail Olds to discuss tips and ideas for youth groups serving their community close to home. 
About this Season: This season explores mission trips, serving local communities, and why these remain a valuable part of youth ministry. But planning them well takes more than good intentions. This season is brought to you by FYI's On-The-Go youth leader resources Faith & Mission Collection (Discussion Guides, Prayer Activities, Youth Leader Guides), and created through support from Tenx10. 
Mentioned in today's episode:
Get the free Youth Leader Guide on Intergenerational Mission Projects

Faith & Mission curriculum: Discussion Guides, Prayer Activities, & Youth Leader Guides

Tenx10: "Make Faith Matter More to 10 million young people over the next 10 years in the spirit of John 10:10."

Bible Project video on Justice

00:00 - Introductions
03:45 - Why serve locally?
10:44 - Journey to Mosaic - learning about justice locally
15:23 - A free youth leader guide on intergenerational mission projects
15:48 - What is the long-term impact?
21:03 - Starting local service with your youth ministry

Mission trips and service projects can be meaningful for students—but planning them well takes more than good intentions. Brad M. Griffin chats with Carlos Piñero of YouthWorks and youth leaders Dick Lee and Jen Bradbury about why mission trips still have value in youth ministry today, and what the caveats are to that statement! They share real-world examples of some of their best practices from over the years, and what they are continuing to learn.  
This season explores mission trips, or service trips, and why they can still be a really valuable part of youth ministry. But the key, as we hear from youth pastors and ministry leaders, is that planning them well takes more than good intentions. Episodes in this season will explore cultural humility, alternative ideas to a trip, and how to process a trip with your students.  This season is brought to you by the On-The-Go Youth Leader resources Faith & Mission Collection (Discussion Guides, Prayer Activities, Youth Leader Guides), and created through support from Tenx10.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get the free Youth Leader Guide on Intergenerational Mission Projects
Youth ministry resources: Faith & Mission Collection (Discussion Guides, Prayer Activities, Youth Leader Guides).
YouthWorks: Immersive service experiences across North America
00:00 - Introductions
05:33 - Why still do trips?
15:00 - How to prepare students to enter communities with humility
22:05 - Free Youth Leader Guide for Intergenerational Service Projects
22:32 - Practices for long-term discipleship vs. quick emotional highs
31:50 - Preparation, processing, and follow-up
40:33 - Final word: Why are mission trips still valuable?

Quick fixes sound appealing, but ultimately, the pace of meaningful growth in leaders or ministries is slow and deliberate. In this conversation, Kara Powell and Rich Villodas discuss Rich's latest book, "The Narrow Path," and the impact that our spiritual formation has on our leadership.  
1:00 - Are we scuba diving or snorkeling in our spiritual formation?
6:40 - The importance of our hidden life and spiritual practices
15:40 - How do we keep the long-view in mind in the midst of the urgent, everyday challenges?
20:00 - A healthy church culture
25:16 - A need for integration for the next generation & encouragement for youth leaders

About this Season: The Future-Focused Leadership podcast season is hosted by Dr. Kara Powell, author and executive director of FYI. Kara invites pastors and leading voices to share leadership principles, lessons, and skills that will keep us future-focused and rooted in Christ. Every episode brings practical ideas and encouragement. 
Sign up for our email list: https://fulleryouthinstitute.org/subscribe
Related FYI resources:
BOOK: Future-Focused Church: Leading Through Change, Engaging the Next Generation, & Building a More Diverse Tomorrow. 
BLOG: "What you need to know about Gen Alpha in 2026"