The GenSend Podcast

Josh Stephenson, Next Gen pastor at First Baptist Woodstock, and Trace Hamiter, executive director at the Oaks Collaborative, share powerful insights on bridging the gap between youth and collegiate ministry. They discuss the importance of engaging college freshmen and building relationships even before college starts. Josh reveals his top strategies for youth-to-college ministry transitions, while Trace emphasizes community’s role in this journey. Together, they explore innovative ways to prepare high school seniors for a seamless shift into campus life, ensuring a strong faith foundation.

In Episode 7 of Season 5, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor are joined by guest Preston Perry, an apologist, evangelist, and poet. Tune in as they discuss the importance of evangelism for the growth of the Church and how to make it a natural part of daily life. Learn practical strategies and the spiritual disciplines needed to engage in more meaningful, Spirit-led gospel conversations. Find the courage to step out in evangelism with boldness and love even when you don’t have all the answers.Also in this episode:Discover the significance mentors play in training and modeling evangelism for the next generation Gain insights on why evangelism hasn’t been prioritized among believers in the Western Church and how to remedy these issuesLearn how the Holy Spirit equips and empowers believers to boldly speak the name of JesusBe reminded of how essential kindness is in evangelism since the gospel message is already offensive enough to the lostFind resources on how churches can create a culture of evangelism within the church and equip members to share the gospel   Helpful Resources:How to Tell the TruthEveryday EvangelismNAMB Evangelism KitConnect with Preston Perry:Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook,preston-perry.com★     Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission athttps://GenSend.org★     Subscribe to “The GenSend Podcast” on your favorite podcast platform.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Shareable Quotes:“Why am I doing evangelism? Am I doing this to look intelligent, like I’m better than the next man? Am I doing this to feel good about myself or because I have a savior complex? Or am I doing this to lead somebody to the Lord? Am I doing this to win a heart?”—Preston Perry“Let’s redefine the win. The win is not getting the person to pray to receive Christ on the spot. The win is just starting a spiritual conversation.”—Paul Worcester“Every heart has a cry. We must ask the right questions to hear it. A lot of times, we don't hear the cry because we’re so busy arguing. I try to ask the right questions so I can hear the cry. And then, once I hear the cry, I can serve.”—Preston Perry“Evangelism is not just going and telling people about your church. Telling people about your church is good marketing, but good evangelism is telling people about Jesus.”—Shane Pruitt“Trusting in the Holy Spirit and being led by the Lord will help us avoid arguments during spiritual conversations. I think we often get into arguments because we are trusting in our own knowledge.”—Preston Perry“We’re not talking about Jesus because we’re not excited about Him ourselves. The first step to evangelism is sitting at the feet of Jesus.”—Shane Pruitt

Listen in as middle schoolers share their perspectives on faith and outreach. They dive into their favorite memories from youth camps and sports, highlighting the joy of community. Discover how student-led initiatives, like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, can spark collective prayer in schools. The hosts explore creative Bible study methods and emphasize the importance of authentic living and mentorship in spiritual growth. This fresh take reveals how to effectively engage with today’s youth and equip them to share the gospel.

In Episode 5 of Season 5, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor welcome guest Ellington Crabtree to the show. Ellington is a junior at the University of Kentucky and discusses how she is leveraging her life as a college student for the glory of God. Be encouraged as she shares how God is actively moving to ignite students with a passion for sharing the gospel and following Him fully in every aspect of their lives, on and off campus. Also in this episode:How to strategically reach college freshmen during their first weeks on campus The impact of intentionally training and equipping the next generationWhy mentorship and church community are vital for college students to live on mission and thriveHow youth and college pastors can collaborate to bridge the gap for incoming freshmenThe role of the Holy Spirit to work in both large-scale revival as well as in the mundane moments of obedienceHelpful Resources:GenSend Webinar: The HandoffPersonal Ministry Impact WorksheetSpiritual Leadership, J. Oswald SandersReplicate, Robby GallatySacred Fire, Ronald RolheiserNot a Fan, Kyle Idleman★     Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at GenSend.org★     Subscribe to The GenSend Podcast on your favorite podcast platform.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Shareable Quotes:“The most important thing that the Lord has been teaching me is to include Him in everything that I do and getting to see college students join in on that. It expands, and you see the brokenness on the campus and want to see Jesus make change in that.” —Ellington Crabtree“Shout out to our college ministries that are focused on reaching freshmen. I want to double down on the reminder that this is such a pivotal moment, maybe one of the most pivotal moments in someone’s entire life.” —Paul Worcester“Life change is walking day by day, moment by moment, discipleship, walking in holiness, in righteousness, in the right direction. Ministry is not a sprint; it's a marathon.” —Shane Pruitt“This is a revival generation where we're seeing the resurgence of a new passion for evangelism and for discipleship.” —Lacey Villasenor“College pastors have the opportunity to strategically help students think through their personal ministry, their spheres of influence. They can consider that their mission field.” —Paul Worcester

Everett and Olivia Sinclair, GenSend alumni thriving in Boston, share their inspiring post-grad journey combining secular work with gospel ministry. They dive into the crucial role of the local church in equipping graduates to fulfill the Great Commission. Highlights include the significance of prayer in living missionally and how to effectively incorporate faith into daily professions. They also discuss building community through hospitality and the transformative impact of mentorship for young Christians stepping into the workforce.

In Episode 3 of Season 5, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor meet with pastor and licensed professional counselor, Dr. Shannon Thomas, to discuss the mental health crisis of the next generation and to answer the question, “Have we started to lean on therapy too much?” Join the GenSend team as they unpack the role of mental health resources in light of the victory found in the gospel. Discover the truths found in Scripture and what it looks like to live resiliently with the hope of Christ.Also in this episode:The impact of social media on our anxiety and lack of connectionHow to recognize the signs of a mental health crisisThe role of biblical community in times of struggleHow a right view of God’s sovereignty helps us in our sufferingThe ways we’ve allowed culture to sway our values as the churchHelpful Resources:The Anxious Generation by Jonathan HaidtBad Therapy by Abigail ShrierThe Calvary Road by Roy HessionWhy Revival Tarries by Leonard RavenhillGoing Higher with God in Prayer by A.W. TozerA Creative Minority by Jon Tyson and Heather Grizzle★   Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at https://GenSend.org★   Subscribe to The GenSend Podcast on your favorite podcast platform.Shareable Quotes:“Students are living in a fear of missing out in real time. They’re aware of everything going on around them and what they’re being left out of. It drives up that fear and anxiety.” —Shane Pruitt“If my entire world is really in the palm of my hand, and if you take that away, what else do I have? There’s not much social connection or community when all community happens electronically.” —Dr. Shannon Thomas“When life gets hard, boredom hits, or you are getting anxious, you just turn to your phone to numb it out instead of learning to cope with your feelings or the situation you got yourself in.” —Lacey Villasenor“We’re almost building a community around how we label ourselves. There’s been a high focus on transparency and authenticity as core values for young people, and then we turned this cliche into a core value of the church when it really started in culture.” —Shane Pruitt“Part of what we have to do is teach ourselves and each other is, ‘Okay, when I’m experiencing anxiety, what is really going on? What am I anxious about? Or what is causing this anxiety?’” —Dr. Shannon Thomas“In terms of our relationship with Jesus Christ, we have victory, hope, and a deep sense of wellbeing—to know that no matter what my circumstances are, victory is on the other side of this.” —Dr. Shannon Thomas

In Episode 2 of Season 5, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor meet with Brandon Gilbert and Cody Carroll, the residency director and college director of Redeemer Church in Lubbock, Texas. Tune in as the GenSend team unpacks the impact and inner workings of the residency program at Redeemer from those who have led, built out, and participated in the early days of the program. Be inspired to raise up the next generation of ministry leaders through a meaningful residency that can change lives—and leadership trajectories—for the gospel.Also in this episode:The benefits of support raising and how you can get started with confidenceWhy grittiness, creativity, hunger, accountability, and teachability are essentials for prospective residentsWhy seminary and residency training do not have to be at odds within your ministryHow you can effectively develop your program’s interview and pipeline processesWhy the freedom to fail is so vital for the next generation of ministry leadersHelpful Resources:Calling Out the Called by Scott Pace and Shane PruittReliant MissionThe Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan“Creating Your Collegiate Leadership Pipeline” by Paul Worcester and Wes SmithLeaders Eat Last by Simon SinekCenter Church by Tim KellerGaining by Losing by J.D. GreearThe Making of a Leader by J. Robert ClintonThe Critical Journey by Janet O. Hagberg and Robert A. Guelich★   Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at https://GenSend.org★   Subscribe to The GenSend Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Shareable Quotes:“The biggest thing I gained was the freedom to fail, to learn what does or doesn’t work, and to be really, really safe in the midst of figuring out if ministry was what God was calling me to.” —Cody Carroll“The skills you develop in raising support are the same kind of ministry skills that you develop when starting a new church or ministry.” —Paul Worcester“The people we want are hungry, faithful, available, and teachable. We’re not looking for perfect, polished people. We’re not looking for who has it all together.” —Brandon Gilbert“In college ministry, if you can create an almost staff-level, intern-level role, you can do a lot of good training and utilize their gifts through your college ministry.” —Paul Worcester“Is there a passion for the Lord and for spiritual disciplines? If we’re having to convince people to surrender to a calling to ministry leadership, then that hunger for the work is probably not there.” —Shane Pruitt“Both seminary and residency training can be super helpful in sharpening you for the kingdom and for the local church.” —Shane Pruitt

Welcome to Season 5 of The GenSend Podcast! Join hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor as they launch the new season and are joined by special guest and friend of the podcast Mauricio Villasenor. Tune in as this campus-pastor-turned-church-planter shares his experiences in navigating his calling into vocational ministry. Discover your next steps in discerning where God is leading you to live on mission in leadership, as well as how you can move with confidence as you follow God’s calling upon your life.Also in this episode:The impact of mentorship and a deep prayer life as you navigate your callingKnowing when to transition from one role to the nextKey characteristics to develop within yourself as a prospective ministry leaderWhat you should ask from others as you discern your calling into ministryHelpful Resources:Calling Out the CalledYouth Leader Coaching NetworkThe Insanity of God by Nik RipkenDisappearing Church and Reappearing Church by Mark SayersThe Pastor’s Justification by Jared WilsonTactics by Greg Koukl★   Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at https://GenSend.org★   Subscribe to “The GenSend Podcast” on your favorite podcast platform.Shareable Quotes:“I’m so thankful for the leaders who discipled me and then even let me start serving, knowing that I was going to make a mess of things, but who also knew that serving would be a part of that journey.” – Shane Pruitt“It’s a combination of the Lord putting burdens and passions on your heart and then people speaking into your life, and doors of opportunity opening up.” - Lacey Villasenor“Your primary job is to focus on the depth of your ministry, sit at Jesus’ feet, and grow in godly maturity, character, wisdom, and integrity. Then, the Lord will take care of what the platforms look like.” – Shane Pruitt“God is a lot more likely to direct us if we’re moving full-speed towards His mission.” – Paul Worcester“God is not the changing God who changes His mind on things. He’s consistent. So, if He called you to something, He’s not going to call you out of that thing unless He releases you.” - Mauricio Villasenor“It's good to be patient. When you have a call to ministry, it doesn’t mean you’re going to be on stage rocking the mic right away. Sometimes, you grow into ministry; you don’t go into ministry.” – Paul Worcester

Lee Strobel, a renowned author and apologist, shares his insights on engaging with diverse faiths through compassionate conversations. He discusses the biggest challenges young believers face in gospel sharing and emphasizes that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Strobel stresses the importance of relational connections and offers effective questions to gauge spiritual openness. He encourages embracing awkward moments in discussions as transformative opportunities, highlighting how personal experiences can profoundly impact someone’s faith journey.

Dean Inserra, a pastor and author renowned for his book "The Unsaved Christian," joins the discussion on faith and politics. He highlights how Jeremiah 29 offers guidance for Christians as political exiles. The conversation delves into the need for active participation in cultural conversations and the importance of being loving in an affirming culture. Dean advocates for courage and compassion in addressing social issues like gender and abortion, urging the church to foster open dialogue and mission-driven engagement in a polarized world.