TITLE: Why Youth Pastors Quit: Understanding and Preventing Burnout

DESCRIPTION: Why do so many youth pastors step away? Explore the pressures, challenges, and expectations that lead to burnout--and how to pursue longevity in ministry.

LEADER: Dr. Ricky Wilson, Director Next Gen Evangelism, South Carolina Baptist Convention, Columbia, SC

This podcast brings you the very best of Conclave—breakout sessions, main-stage talks, and practical training content straight from our annual gathering in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Each year, youth pastors, ministry volunteers, and leaders from across Southern Baptist cooperating states gather for three powerful days of encouragement, equipping, and sharpening as we focus on reaching the next generation for Christ. Now, you don’t have to wait until the next event to benefit from that experience. Through this podcast, you’ll hear trusted voices from youth ministry sharing biblical insight, practical tools, and real-world encouragement to help you lead students, week in and week out. Whether you’re a seasoned youth pastor or a faithful volunteer, these episodes are designed to strengthen your leadership, renew your calling, and sharpen your ministry. Want to learn more about Conclave or join us in person? Visit ymconclave.org to find out more about the next gathering.
Thanks for listening—and welcome to the Conclave Youth Ministry Podcast.

You can find out more information about Conclave here: https://ymconclave.org/

TITLE: Empty, Yet Available (Main Session)

DESCRIPTION: Ed Newton’s message is a heartfelt call to weary ministry leaders to keep going in the power of the Holy Spirit. He begins by honoring his former youth pastor, David Flatt, thanking him for seeing potential in him as a teenager and reminding the audience that their investment in students matters more than they may realize. From there, Newton speaks candidly about his own battle with depression, anxiety, and despair in late 2023, sharing how God met him through counseling, recovery, and the support of his wife. He explains that much of his struggle was rooted in rejection and the pressure to prove himself, but he learned instead to live from God’s acceptance rather than for people’s approval. Preaching from 2 Kings 4, he uses the widow’s jar of oil to show that God often works through what seems small and insufficient. He urges leaders to see themselves as empty vessels that must be surrendered and filled by the Holy Spirit, rather than relying merely on strategy, systems, or performance. His central challenge is for believers to empty themselves of pride, discouragement, and distractions so the Spirit can flow freely through them. He closes with a strong invitation to renewal, repentance, and obedience, calling listeners to seek a fresh work of God in private prayer and public ministry.

LEADER: Ed Newton, Pastor, Community Bible Church, San Antonio, TX

This podcast brings you the very best of Conclave—breakout sessions, main-stage talks, and practical training content straight from our annual gathering in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Each year, youth pastors, ministry volunteers, and leaders from across Southern Baptist cooperating states gather for three powerful days of encouragement, equipping, and sharpening as we focus on reaching the next generation for Christ. Now, you don’t have to wait until the next event to benefit from that experience. Through this podcast, you’ll hear trusted voices from youth ministry sharing biblical insight, practical tools, and real-world encouragement to help you lead students, week in and week out. Whether you’re a seasoned youth pastor or a faithful volunteer, these episodes are designed to strengthen your leadership, renew your calling, and sharpen your ministry. Want to learn more about Conclave or join us in person? Visit ymconclave.org to find out more about the next gathering.
Thanks for listening—and welcome to the Conclave Youth Ministry Podcast.

You can find out more information about Conclave here: https://ymconclave.org/

TITLE: Preparing for the Moment at the End of the Message

DESCRIPTION: As youth pastors, we extend countless invitations--to camps, conferences, DNOWs, and midweek services. Yet, the invitation after our message is often the most challenging. In this breakout, we'll explore how to better prepare for that crucial moment with greater confidence and effectiveness.

LEADER: John Templeton, Association Pastor - Students, First Baptist Church, McMinnville, TN

This podcast brings you the very best of Conclave—breakout sessions, main-stage talks, and practical training content straight from our annual gathering in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Each year, youth pastors, ministry volunteers, and leaders from across Southern Baptist cooperating states gather for three powerful days of encouragement, equipping, and sharpening as we focus on reaching the next generation for Christ. Now, you don’t have to wait until the next event to benefit from that experience. Through this podcast, you’ll hear trusted voices from youth ministry sharing biblical insight, practical tools, and real-world encouragement to help you lead students, week in and week out. Whether you’re a seasoned youth pastor or a faithful volunteer, these episodes are designed to strengthen your leadership, renew your calling, and sharpen your ministry. Want to learn more about Conclave or join us in person? Visit ymconclave.org to find out more about the next gathering.
Thanks for listening—and welcome to the Conclave Youth Ministry Podcast.

You can find out more information about Conclave here: https://ymconclave.org/

TITLE: From Awkward to Awesome: Mastering Parent Connections

DESCRIPTION: Parents are a huge part of student ministry, and we need to connect with them. In this breakout, we will discuss fresh and creative ways to get onboard with new parents, communicate with them, involve them, and train them.

LEADER: Dr. Blake Lewis, Middle School Pastor, First Baptist Church, Haughton, LA

This podcast brings you the very best of Conclave—breakout sessions, main-stage talks, and practical training content straight from our annual gathering in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Each year, youth pastors, ministry volunteers, and leaders from across Southern Baptist cooperating states gather for three powerful days of encouragement, equipping, and sharpening as we focus on reaching the next generation for Christ. Now, you don’t have to wait until the next event to benefit from that experience. Through this podcast, you’ll hear trusted voices from youth ministry sharing biblical insight, practical tools, and real-world encouragement to help you lead students, week in and week out. Whether you’re a seasoned youth pastor or a faithful volunteer, these episodes are designed to strengthen your leadership, renew your calling, and sharpen your ministry. Want to learn more about Conclave or join us in person? Visit ymconclave.org to find out more about the next gathering.
Thanks for listening—and welcome to the Conclave Youth Ministry Podcast.

You can find out more information about Conclave here: https://ymconclave.org/

TITLE: Addressing Anxiety in the Next Generation

DESCRIPTION: Join us as we explore the unique challenges faced by a generation raised amidst constant digital connectivity and unprecedented mental health struggles. In this session, ministry leaders will learn practical strategies to recognize anxiety and other mental health challenges, provide spiritual encouragement, and train volunteers working with children and students. And... we'll be sending you away with this resource so you can share it with your parents and volunteers back home.

LEADER: Chris & Wendy Trent, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Alpharetta, GA

This podcast brings you the very best of Conclave—breakout sessions, main-stage talks, and practical training content straight from our annual gathering in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Each year, youth pastors, ministry volunteers, and leaders from across Southern Baptist cooperating states gather for three powerful days of encouragement, equipping, and sharpening as we focus on reaching the next generation for Christ. Now, you don’t have to wait until the next event to benefit from that experience. Through this podcast, you’ll hear trusted voices from youth ministry sharing biblical insight, practical tools, and real-world encouragement to help you lead students, week in and week out. Whether you’re a seasoned youth pastor or a faithful volunteer, these episodes are designed to strengthen your leadership, renew your calling, and sharpen your ministry. Want to learn more about Conclave or join us in person? Visit ymconclave.org to find out more about the next gathering.
Thanks for listening—and welcome to the Conclave Youth Ministry Podcast.

You can find out more information about Conclave here: https://ymconclave.org/

TITLE: Guarding Hearts, Minds, & Ministries: Protecting Ourselves & Our Students from Pornography

DESCRIPTION: Pornography is one of the most destructive and pervasive threats to personal holiness, family health, and the integrity of gospel ministry. As youth pastors, we must fight this battle first in our own hearts and then shepherd our families, students, and churches toward purity, equipping families to stand firm in a culture that normalizes lust. This session will provide a biblical foundation for resisting temptation, practical steps for protecting our homes, families, and ministries, and grace-driven strategies for helping students find true freedom in Christ. Together, we will learn how to cultivate accountability, establish guardrails, and point the next generation toward Christ as our greatest love and satisfaction.

LEADER: AJ Hillebrand, Pastor for High School Students, Lifepoint Church, Indianapolis, IN

This podcast brings you the very best of Conclave—breakout sessions, main-stage talks, and practical training content straight from our annual gathering in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Each year, youth pastors, ministry volunteers, and leaders from across Southern Baptist cooperating states gather for three powerful days of encouragement, equipping, and sharpening as we focus on reaching the next generation for Christ. Now, you don’t have to wait until the next event to benefit from that experience. Through this podcast, you’ll hear trusted voices from youth ministry sharing biblical insight, practical tools, and real-world encouragement to help you lead students, week in and week out. Whether you’re a seasoned youth pastor or a faithful volunteer, these episodes are designed to strengthen your leadership, renew your calling, and sharpen your ministry. Want to learn more about Conclave or join us in person? Visit ymconclave.org to find out more about the next gathering.
Thanks for listening—and welcome to the Conclave Youth Ministry Podcast.

You can find out more information about Conclave here: https://ymconclave.org/

TITLE: "Same Same, But Different:" Understanding Teens Well

DESCRIPTION: In this session, we will seek to understand the concept of teens and where they are developmentally in order to lead and serve them well.

LEADER: Dr. Kristin Kellen, Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC

This podcast brings you the very best of Conclave—breakout sessions, main-stage talks, and practical training content straight from our annual gathering in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Each year, youth pastors, ministry volunteers, and leaders from across Southern Baptist cooperating states gather for three powerful days of encouragement, equipping, and sharpening as we focus on reaching the next generation for Christ. Now, you don’t have to wait until the next event to benefit from that experience. Through this podcast, you’ll hear trusted voices from youth ministry sharing biblical insight, practical tools, and real-world encouragement to help you lead students, week in and week out. Whether you’re a seasoned youth pastor or a faithful volunteer, these episodes are designed to strengthen your leadership, renew your calling, and sharpen your ministry. Want to learn more about Conclave or join us in person? Visit ymconclave.org to find out more about the next gathering.
Thanks for listening—and welcome to the Conclave Youth Ministry Podcast.

You can find out more information about Conclave here: https://ymconclave.org/

TITLE: The Digital Assistant Pastor: How CustomGPT Can Multiply Your Leadership

DESCRIPTION: Youth pastors are busier than ever--balancing ministry, volunteers, and endless administrative tasks. What if you had a digital assistant designed specifically for your ministry? In this workshop, you'll discover how to build a CustomGPT "Digital Assistant Pastor" that can instantly answer volunteer FAQs, provide reminders, and keep your team organized. Learn how to load your own ministry documents, policies, and schedules so your volunteers always get the right answers at the right time. Walk away with practical steps to create a tool that empowers your leaders, saves you hours each week, and gets you back to what matters most--investing in students.

LEADER: Alan Smith, Discipleship Pastor, Calvary Baptist, Columbus, GA

This podcast brings you the very best of Conclave—breakout sessions, main-stage talks, and practical training content straight from our annual gathering in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Each year, youth pastors, ministry volunteers, and leaders from across Southern Baptist cooperating states gather for three powerful days of encouragement, equipping, and sharpening as we focus on reaching the next generation for Christ. Now, you don’t have to wait until the next event to benefit from that experience. Through this podcast, you’ll hear trusted voices from youth ministry sharing biblical insight, practical tools, and real-world encouragement to help you lead students, week in and week out. Whether you’re a seasoned youth pastor or a faithful volunteer, these episodes are designed to strengthen your leadership, renew your calling, and sharpen your ministry. Want to learn more about Conclave or join us in person? Visit ymconclave.org to find out more about the next gathering.
Thanks for listening—and welcome to the Conclave Youth Ministry Podcast.

You can find out more information about Conclave here: https://ymconclave.org/