The Formed Podcast

Brent Randall, a children's ministry leader with over 35 years of experience and a background in radio, shares his inspiring journey. He reflects on how a simple volunteering commitment evolved into a lifelong vocation. Brent emphasizes the vital role of children's ministry within the church and advocates for consistency in teaching roles to avoid burnout. He highlights storytelling's profound impact, revealing how a childhood lesson transformed a life years later. With humor, he points out that gratitude from kids is rare, yet faithful service remains essential.

Valeria Hughes, an educational trainer from Kingdom Advance Ministry, shares her expertise in teaching techniques. She delves into the concept of 'chunking'—breaking content into digestible parts to enhance memory retention. Valeria connects chunking to Biblical and educational principles. She discusses strategies to recognize attention loss and offers practical tools for classroom engagement. Tips like incorporating surprise elements and using interactive digital quizzes for reviews make learning enjoyable and effective. Her insights promise to transform teaching methods!

Brad Thompson, an experienced teacher and church education trainer, shares valuable insights on prioritizing student learning. He emphasizes the need for teachers to focus on practical application rather than just curriculum. Engaging students through thought-provoking questions is key, and adaptability during lessons is crucial. Brad highlights the importance of transformational teaching, using biblical examples to make facts meaningful. He advocates for teacher training and genuine passion as essential ingredients for vibrant classroom experiences.

In this engaging discussion, JoDana Flowers, First Lady of Heritage Apostolic Church and principal at Heritage Christian Academy, shares her insights on fostering mercy and humility in education. She highlights the importance of creating a safe learning environment and discusses effective strategies for connecting with middle schoolers. JoDana also emphasizes the power of clear communication with parents, managing power struggles with teens, and the value of apologies in building trust with students. Her empowering tips leave listeners inspired to transform their teaching approach.

Patti Roberts, an experienced children's ministry leader, shares her insights on integrating prayer and worship into teaching. She emphasizes that prayer is essential for genuine fellowship with God and cannot be detached from teaching. Patti reframes worship as a lifestyle, preparing children's hearts beyond just music. She discusses practical approaches to create an atmosphere of worship in classrooms and trains kids to recognize and respond to the Holy Spirit. Her vibrant stories of impactful moments in ministry highlight the transformative power of worship in education.

Join our host LJ Harry on this special episode as he highlights this year's Formed Conference sessions and speakers. Enjoy this episode and enjoy Formed from the comfort of your home or home church. Register this day at formed.upci.org.  Visit PentecostalPublishing.com for resources and more training tools See the entire Formed Podcast video playlist on YouTube.com

In this engaging discussion, Joshua Shalapsik—a professor, choir director, and associate pastor—shares invaluable insights on integrating technology in church education. He emphasizes reusing existing curriculum for social media content and highlights the importance of deciding who should post on different platforms. Discover how to effectively engage youth in managing ministry accounts and learn the benefits of frequent posting. Joshua also underlines social media’s role as an enhancement to in-person ministry, making it an essential tool for outreach.

Raymond Woodward, an experienced teacher and preacher, shares invaluable insights on lesson preparation for church educators. He emphasizes the importance of capturing ideas and immersing oneself in scripture, exploring how to craft compelling introductions that resonate with audiences. With tips on using contemporary illustrations, selecting impactful scriptures, and the art of refining messages, he encourages preachers to seek feedback and improve year over year. Raymond also reflects on the power of allowing the Spirit to guide teachings, making every lesson a transformative experience.

Dan Littles, the Online Academic Dean at Urshan College, shares his wealth of experience in Christian education. He emphasizes the importance of building relationships with students, claiming they are the greatest resource teachers have. Dan discusses his journey in education, highlighting the shift from event-driven to relational ministry. He introduces flow theory for engaging students with varied abilities and stresses the need for teachers to adapt their methods to cater to individual learning needs, ultimately nurturing students’ spiritual growth.

In this engaging discussion, Kendall Nelson, a dedicated teacher training local church educators in multisensory instruction, highlights how using multiple senses can transform learning. She explores the powerful impact of kinesthetic and tactile experiences, sharing anecdotes of how tools like Play-Doh enhance focus during lessons. Nelson emphasizes creative, hands-on activities to engage children and advocates for group discussions that foster critical thinking across diverse learning styles. Her insights promise to revolutionize teaching methods for all ages.