The GenSend Podcast

In this bonus episode of The GenSend Podcast, Zach Meerkreebs, who was deeply involved in the Asbury revival, joins hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester and Lacey Villasenor for the GenSend Spring 2024 Webinar. They explore the theme of “Revival Generation,” focusing on the awakening and mobilization of young adults toward spiritual revival. The discussion delves into the importance of personal repentance and communal awakening as catalysts for lasting change in both church and society. Zach shares his firsthand experiences from the Asbury revival, emphasizing the impact of authentic, humble leadership and the power of grassroots spiritual movements. Also, in this episode: Detailed insights into the dynamics of the Asbury revival and its lessons for leaders today The role of prayer, humility and community in fostering a revival atmosphere Challenges and practical advice for sustaining revival momentum in various ministry contexts Strategies for engaging young adults in meaningful spiritual practices that lead to revival Helpful Resources: Revival Generation – Student Bible Study Book: Awakening to a Movement of God by Shane Pruitt Youth Leader Coaching Network Collegiate Coaching Network Shareable Quotes: “We can’t force revival to happen, but we can sure posture ourselves in case the Lord chooses us to do it. And when we say revival, this is what we mean. We don’t mean necessarily crying or emotionalism or Holy Spirit goosebumps.” – Shane Pruitt “My heart is just to encourage and tell stories and see how low we can go with Jesus. He’s inviting us to descend into humility, and the lower we’ll go, the more He’ll fill up, the higher He will go.” – Zach Meerkreebs “If your ambition is to advance the gospel among the lost, it’s almost impossible to have too much ambition there because our heart is for the mission field that God has called us to. It’s not about us, it’s about these people” – Paul Worcester Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode 6 of The GenSend Podcast, Kourtney Vier, Director of Salt Company National, joins Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor to discuss the vital role of student discipleship and leadership in the context of college ministry. They delve into the strategies and heart behind mobilizing students to not only serve within their campuses but also to be prepared for lifelong ministry. The conversation highlights the Salt Network’s commitment to reaching university centers through church planting, focusing on the transformative power of student leadership and the importance of creating a sending culture within the ministry. Also, in this episode: Practical insights on how to identify, train, and empower student leaders. The significance of embedding a multiplication mindset from the onset of students’ ministry involvement. The challenges and rewards of cultivating a culture that celebrates “gospel goodbyes.” Tips for ministries desiring to initiate or enhance a culture of student leadership and multiplication. Helpful Resources: Salt Network Creating Your Collegiate Leadership Pipeline Shareable Quotes: “We really believe that the best person to reach a college student is a college student.” – Kourtney Vier “We also really want to train and equip the next generation to reach their peers, not just in college but for a lifetime. And so, we have this four-year time zone where we’ve got them in an incubator, for lack of a better term, where they are there, they’re doing life, they live in the same places, they’re doing the same things. They’re considering who am I going to be after?” – Kourtney Vier “Celebrate what you want to replicate. Whatever you’re celebrating the most is typically what you’re going to replicate the most.” – Shane Pruitt “Training your student leaders in evangelism and creating expectations and goals together will be a great kickstart to creating some high buy-in with your student leaders.” – Paul Worcester Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode 5 of The GenSend Podcast, Jon Chasteen joins Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor in an enriching discussion on how to spark a deep-rooted love for the local church among the next generation. They explore the critical role of the local church in believers’ lives, emphasizing its significance not just as a community but as a family bonded through Christ. The conversation covers the impactful experiences of GenSend students in Boston, shedding light on how such mission opportunities cultivate a lasting dedication to church planting and evangelism. They also address the challenge of navigating church hurt and the importance of integrating young believers into the fabric of church ministry, ensuring they see themselves as active members of the church today, not just in the future. Also, in this episode: Insights into the low church attendance in Boston and the transformative power of GenSend missions. Strategies for churches to attract, include, and disciple the next generation, even with limited resources. The importance of empowering young believers to serve and lead within the local church to foster a sense of ownership and belonging. Encouragement for listeners dealing with church hurt, offering a biblical perspective on reconciliation and community. Helpful Resources: Connect with Jon: jon@nextgenboston.com GenSend Summer Program Don’t Forget, There’s a Lot Right With the Church, Too article by Shane Pruitt Shareable Quotes: “I’m adopted; God’s my father, but also, I’ve got brothers and sisters in Christ. So, we like to talk about this in Boston. The church isn’t just like a family; the church is a family. So, when I think about the local church and its importance, I would encourage it to not first think building—think family. This is something that is a part of the gospel.” – Jon Chasteen “You can’t be a solid Christian and not be a part of a local church. That’s not a thing.” – Paul Worcester “The way you break down barriers of distrust is you out-love and you out-serve their distrust of you with no strings attached.” – Jon Chasteen “15-year-olds are creating their own brands on social media. 16-year-olds are operating motor vehicles. 17-year-olds are in the workforce. 18-year-olds are serving in the military, holding weapons, protecting our freedoms. College students are starting businesses and nonprofits and living on mission and serving in church plants and all those kinds of things. Meaning this: if they can do those things, they can be the church right now. They can serve now. Will they mess up? Yes. Will they make a mess of things? Probably. Are they going to run late? Most definitely. You know what I mean? All those things, but that’s part of the discipleship process.” – Shane Pruitt Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, Lacey Villasenor and Evan Vela tackle the sensitive and crucial topic of navigating purity culture in modern Christian ministry. They delve into the complexities surrounding purity culture’s impact on millennials, Gen X and older generations, questioning its benefits and pitfalls. The team offers biblical insights and personal experiences to redefine purity in a gospel-centered manner, emphasizing the importance of understanding and teaching Scripture’s stance on purity and love. Also in this episode: Debunking common misconceptions about purity culture Strategies for addressing sexual purity from a gospel perspective The impact of pornography on relationships and individual spiritual growth Encouraging honest, open discussions about sexual sin and redemption Helpful Resources: TheFreedomFight.org Loveology by John Mark Comer Covenant Eyes Shareable Quotes: “The biggest lie that I hear, by far, is this sin is affecting me and me alone; it’s something I do by myself. It doesn’t affect anyone.” – Evan Vela “The only thing that will bring life change of a deep addiction, a breaking of a stronghold, will be running to the foot of the cross. And that sounds super spiritual, but I truly mean that because of what happened in my life.” – Shane Pruitt “I’ve found Scripture memory as a habit and a tool can really help a new believer or someone that’s stuck in these things renew their mind over time.” – Paul Worcester Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode 3 of The GenSend Podcast, Evan Vela joins Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor to dive into the challenges and strategies for maximizing time effectively as a Next Gen Leader. They discuss the importance of prioritizing ministry and personal life, ensuring that both are aligned with God’s calling. They dive into practical tips for managing responsibilities, the significance of delegation, and the necessity of setting healthy boundaries for both personal and ministry life. Also, in this episode: Practical strategies for time management in ministry The importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing personal relationships Tips for delegating tasks and empowering others within ministry Encouragement for single and married ministry leaders to maintain healthy rhythms Helpful Resources: Do More With Less Time Article by Paul Worcester Creating Your Collegiate Leadership Pipeline by Paul Worcester and Wes Smith Shareable Quotes: “Every time you say yes to an event, every time you say yes to a speaking engagement, every time you say yes to doing something in ministry, you’re always saying no to your family. You’re always saying no to relationships you’re trying to build.” – Shane Pruitt “If my intimacy with the Lord gets out, so does my intimacy with others.” – Evan Vela “Suffering and hardship in ministry can pull you apart, but actually if you’re doing it right, it can pull you together where you can be more united. And that’s what we see in the Bible. And then as you read missionary biographies, you see that these families, they have this deep love and respect for one another.” – Paul Worcester Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of The GenSend Podcast, Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, Lacey Villasenor and special guest Evan Vela delve into the essentials of attracting, developing and retaining next-generation staff for Christian ministry. They explore the significance of being genuinely called to ministry, the impact of personal testimony and living out one’s faith and practical strategies for fostering a healthy, disciple-making ministry environment. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for those passionate about investing in future leaders and creating a culture that celebrates and sustains long-term commitment to ministry. Also, in this episode: Understanding God’s calling for individuals in ministry Strategies for engaging and retaining next-gen ministry leaders The importance of authenticity, trust and vulnerability in leadership Practical advice for pastors on prioritizing disciple-making and mentoring within their teams Helpful Resources: Youth Leader Coaching Network Collegiate Coaching Network Article: Why there is a shortage of student ministers and what can be done about it Shareable Quotes: “What you celebrate is what you’re going to cultivate.” – Evan Vela “If you have a staff member that you’re overseeing, the most important person you can be discipling is that person.” – Paul Worcester “Healthy leaders are more apt to lead healthy ministries.” – Shane Pruitt Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at GenSend.org. Subscribe to “The GenSend Podcast” on your favorite podcast platform! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of The GenSend Podcast, Shane Pruitt and Paul Worcester, along with Lacey Villasenor, discuss effective ways to engage with and mobilize the next generation in Christian ministry. They cover various topics, including the importance of giving a gospel invitation with integrity, the role of follow-up in ministry and how to create a compelling and clear message. The episode is filled with practical advice to empower leaders to reach out and disciple young people in their faith journeys. Also, in this episode: How to prepare your invitation Giving other invitations (call to ministry, etc.) How to follow up well How often to give invitations Helpful Resources: Youth Leader Coaching Network Life Essentials: New Believers Guide for Students How to share Jesus using gospel appointments Shareable Quotes: “I think what we’ve defaulted to in the past is preparing our messages really well and just winging the invitation. And we don’t want to wing the invitation.” – Shane Pruitt “There’s an urgency to what we’re doing. There’s no such thing as just another sermon. If you’re talking to souls, eternal souls, there’s no such thing as just another message that I’m giving to the youth. Like this is life or death. And so, the gospel is the power of God for salvation.” – Paul Worcester “I think our goal is always the glory of the Lord and clarity because God is not a God of confusion. And yes, God can work in spite of us. Listen, God can speak through a donkey, so we all have hope.” – Shane Pruitt Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at GenSend.org. Subscribe to “The GenSend Podcast” on your favorite podcast platform! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dive into GenSend’s energetic Fall 2023 webinar, Every Student Sent! It’s all about igniting youth leadership in evangelism and discipleship. Prepare for dynamic prayer sessions, hands-on evangelism training and powerful discipleship strategies. Join the movement to shape students for Christ in an effective ministry. In This Episode, You’ll Discover:  Emphasizing Discipleship: Disciple-making precedes evangelistic momentum, with a focus on daily walks with Jesus, Scripture memorization and life-on-life discipleship Prayer as a Foundation: A student-driven prayer movement, including dedicated prayer rooms and scheduled prayer times, underscores the importance of praying for the lost Vision for the Great Commission: Regular reinforcement of the vision to reach and disciple students for Christ, reminding them of their role as ambassadors and ministers of reconciliation Practical Evangelism Training: Training sessions paired with actual evangelism outings, focusing on sharing the gospel effectively and overcoming fear Ongoing Training and Encouragement: Continuous training on gospel presentation, strategies for sharing faith and follow-up plans Celebrating Stories of Obedience: Building a culture of evangelism through sharing stories of obedience, even if they don’t result in immediate conversions Subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Sharable Quotes: “The best kind of evangelism is the kind you do” – Paul Worcester “We should never talk to people about God until we talk to God about people.” – Shane Pruitt “Evangelism is the lifeblood of the church. We can either evangelize or fossilize.” – Gary Stidham “There is such an urgency to reach this generation for Christ.” – Paul Worcester Additional Resources: Liberty Article: Life as a Pastor’s Kid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When a student tells you they’ve lost a parent, or they’re being bullied at school or abused at home, what do you say? When a young person experiences trauma, what does effective ministry look like? Shane Pruitt’s wife, Kasi, joins hosts Paul, Shane and Lacey to talk about the Pruitt family’s recent traumatic experience and what pastors, ministry leaders and parents can do to show young people how God is good even when times are bad. In This Episode, You’ll Discover: Why now, more than ever, it’s important for Next Gen ministry leaders to be trauma-informed. Insights on how to talk to young people who are experiencing trauma. Strategies for partnering with trained, local Christian therapists. How to balance fun activities with a ministry that points young people to the hope that can only be found in God’s Word. Steps to take so you can be ready when trauma-induced ministry needs arise. Helpful Resources: Next Gen leader: It’s time for mental health to be a part of student ministry article by Shane Pruitt America Has Reached Peak Therapy. Why Is Our Mental Health Getting Worse? TIME article Ministry Safe Online Training Library Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at Gensend.org. Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Sharable Quotes: Sometimes we can have certain demographics in our youth group that we think, “Oh, we’re good. Our kids are on the cheerleading squad and head football dude and doing these things or doing that.” But it’s just not the case. So many of them are experiencing things at home that they’re hiding.  – Kasi Pruitt It’s not a silver bullet that fixes everything. But the ministries that have a really good equipping ministry of helping students get their eyes off of themselves and onto the cause of advancing the gospel, they tend to end up with healthier students. –  @PaulWorcester The ministry of presence can be so powerful because every person is going to go through something traumatic, whether that’s with a Big “T” or a little “T”. That’s why I love what Jesus says in John 16. He says, “In this world you’ll have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” – @laceyeloisa Sometimes we wait until something happens and someone needs help and then we’re scrambling trying to figure out what we’re going to do when that person really needs our immediate response. So I would say having a plan ahead of time is always going to be better. Don’t just go, “Hey, I’m here if you need me.” Be proactive. – @shane_pruitt78 Some of us, we want to just fix everything, when really the best approach in a lot of these situations is to slow down. If you don’t know the next step, take the humble approach and don’t seek to fix people. Love people. – @PaulWorcester Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Whether you’re a pastor or other ministry leader, how do you equip your family to thrive in ministry long-term? How do you balance family life and ministry? Anna Gage joins hosts Paul, Shane and Lacey to discuss what ministry leaders and parents can do to balance their commitment to God’s work and their family’s well-being. In This Episode, You’ll Discover:   The importance of integrity and authenticity in ministry and at home. Strategies for maintaining harmony between ministry commitments and family life. How to foster a nurturing environment for children within the context of ministry, emphasizing the importance of love, encouragement and trust in their growth and spiritual journeys. Insights on how to raise godly children without the pressure of perfection. Leading by example and entrusting God’s plan for your children’s lives is significant. Helpful Resources: Next Gen leader: It’s time for mental health to be a part of student ministry article by Shane Pruitt America Has Reached Peak Therapy. Why Is Our Mental Health Getting Worse? TIME article Ministry Safe Online Training Library One Big Happy Home Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at GenSend.org. Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Sharable Quotes: “Sometimes you have to protect your kids that are considered PK or ministry kids from unrealistic expectations that even people in the church have of them. I think sometimes they think because we’re in ministry that our kids are going to be perfect and not do four-year-old things that four-year-old kids do.” – @shane_pruitt78 “There’s almost like this identity attached with being a preacher’s kid—and they think you’re on one end of the spectrum or the other end of the spectrum, so they’re perfect and tidy and wonderful, or they’re super rebellious and crazy and you can’t tame them. – Anna Gage “I just want to encourage those that are listening that are parents, to have the freedom of trusting the Lord’s sovereignty … yes, point to the gospel, pray for their little hearts, get them in Christian community. Let them be around the teaching of the Word and you living out the Word but trusting the Lord’s work there. I think sometimes, as Christian leader parents, we feel the pressure on our kids to make a decision at an early age. – @shane_pruitt78 “At the end of the day and I think so much, especially as Christian leaders, as pastors, ministers of the gospel, we put so much pressure on ourselves when it comes to raising up godly kids. And so, I would just say, hey, at the end of the day, your kids don’t need you to be perfect. They just need you to follow a perfect Savior and to trust him.” – @shane_pruitt78 “I think there’s beauty in that release, and there’s freedom in that, of knowing that God has a plan for my life, for my sister’s life, for my brother-in-law’s life. Just knowing that He has ordained that before the beginning of time and just trusting and believing that His plan and His will for our lives is good. And so, enjoy the freedom in that. Continue to be faithful in prayer and trust that the perfect Savior that we believe in knows your kids better than you do. And so, I think there’s beauty in that.” – Anna Gage “We want to live on the edge of faith. And so, God may call us to make sacrifices and to serve as ministry leaders and families, but that is something that God is going to honor, and our kids are a part of that blessing that God will give. So, I’m not saying… This is not a prosperity gospel thing I’m saying, but it is, the Lord will honor our sacrifice and our commitment to Him.” – @PaulWorcester Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.