The Effective Ministry Podcast

Welcome back!

This week we talk with Andy Stevenson and Lisa Vassalo,
 
Andy is the head of Youthworks Ministry Support and has been involved in Youth Ministry for more than 20 years. Lisa is ssociate Pastor: Children’s Ministry Coordinator and Women’s Trainer at St Marks Pennant Hills. She oversees children’s ministry at St Mark’s and helps support and train female leaders. She's been at St Marks 9 years and has previously worked in youth and children's ministry in other church contexts.

In this episode, Al James chat's with them about the how and why of staying long term in youth and children's ministry. What an encouraging listen.

Youthworks Getaways
At the start of the episode we hear from Sam Hudson the head of Youthworks Getaways. You can get in touch to organise a parent child adventure tailored for your church by emailing him at getaways@youthworks.net.

Coming Up!

SquareOne Winter | Friday 30th May-Sunday 1st June 
  • Youthworks Square One is a weekend camp for children in Years 3 - 6 and their church leaders. Youthworks Ministry Support Team in partnership with a committee of volunteers plans the whole weekend of age-appropriate Bible teaching and fun activities, freeing church leaders to invest in discipling their kids. Children need to be part of a registered church to attend so please have your church’s children’s ministry coordinator complete the expression of interest form.
  • Register at youthworks.net/squareone

House Conference | Tuesday 26th - Thursday 28th August

Connect with Youthworks
  • Click on through⁠ to discover more about ⁠the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youthworks Ministry Support Team⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and how Youthworks can help you have an effective youth and children's ministry in your local church or check out our Facebook Page.
  • You can connect with the broader Youthworks Family clicking here.
  • You can partner in the ministry of Youthworks by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠donating here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
  • We would love to hear from you. Get stuck in to the Effective Ministry Podcast Facebook page or send your thoughts, comments, suggestions, and critiques to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠effectiveministrypodcast@youthworks.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What is The Effective Ministry Podcast?

Join the Youthworks Ministry Support Team as they discuss how to have an effective youth and children’s ministry in every church in conversation with local ministry workers as well as national and international voices.

Get in touch - effectiveministrypodcast@youthworks.net

www.youthworks.net

I am here with Sam Hudson.

He's the head of Youth Wes Getaways.

Sam Youth.

Wes Getaways is a new thing.

What are getaways?

Thoroughly Christian holidays and
adventures that are seeker sensitive.

We've got family holidays and
adventures for the whole family.

But I think for your audience,
a particular interest is

our parent child adventures.

These trips are one weekend,
one youth with one parent.

Together in one canoe, one
tent cooking around one stove.

These getaways are for parents and their
offspring to deepen their relationship.

We facilitate conversations that
they wouldn't normally be able to

get to on a normal weekend at home.

Alright, and how do they work?

Sam, uh, we make complicated
experiences, simple.

Uh, we take the logistical work so
that the relationship between the

parent and child can be prioritized.

We've got open registration getaways
available on our website, but

our favorite getaways are run in
partnership with churches and schools.

We think these provide the most
strategic ministry impact as we tighten

up the discipleship triangle between
the church, the school and the home.

Sam, they sound fantastic.

Why should a kids or youth
minister care about this particular

kind of discipleship moment?

Lemme give you three reasons.

Uh, firstly, the parents in your
community already want these experiences.

Every second school is already
running either parent child camps

or have an active fathering project
going on in their community.

Second reason, parents know that they
need to help their kids to disconnect

from screens, but they need help to do it.

This connection isn't merely enough.

We actually need to help them reconnect.

Reconnect with God's people,
reconnect with God's place creation.

But ultimately, we need to
help parents and kids reconnect

with God's son, our savior.

And thirdly, as much as this is
a discipleship event for your

Christian parents and youth, it's
actually an evangelistic event for

non-Christian parents or for your youth.

Kids to invite their non-Christian
schoolmates to the last trip.

One of our dads said on the evaluation
form, this is an event I could invite

a non-Christian dad to, and I was,
I was stoked to hear this because

we didn't water down the gospel.

We read the Bible, we prayed throughout,
but it wasn't poxy or tokenistic.

It's authentic and appropriate.

Discipleship and evangelism.

Hey, Sam, for Youth of Kids Ministry,
is interested in one of these getaways.

What can they do to find out more?

If you wanna find out more,
go to youthworks.net/getaways,

but we'd love to hear from you.

So email us getaways@youthworks.net

so that we can tailor a
program for your church.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
I first led, um, 99 and met a

bunch of kids in year three.

There was a primary school camp,
then a high school camp senior high.

Some of those campers were invited to
come and lead in the primary school camp.

then, you know, from that year three kid
in 99, I think, into, you know, uni days

and beyond when that child was in that we
co-directed the high school camp together.

I think that's a long term story of
just seeing a, you know, a kid wrestle

through faith and be convicted and
be learning in other contexts as

well in their home church and other
like uni ministries and things.

But to then the joy of co-directing
a camp together, um, when we met

all the way back then was, yeah,

tim-beilharz_1_04-02-2025_081622: Welcome
back to the Effective Ministry Podcast.

, we're the podcast that wants to
help you have an effective youth and

children's ministry in your local church.

And, uh, my name is Al James.

I'm a youth ministry, advisor
with YouthWorks in Sydney,

and I'm joined by Josh Ord.

squadcaster-3b7a_1_04-02-2025_081620:
Hello everyone.

tim-beilharz_1_04-02-2025_081622:
Now Josh, you are a kind of

somewhat new voice on this podcast.

Who are you?

squadcaster-3b7a_1_04-02-2025_081620:
Yeah, so my name is Josh.

I only started with YouthWorks, uh,
on the ministry support team, uh,

four weeks ago now, four Mondays back.

So brand new in YouthWorks World.

tim-beilharz_1_04-02-2025_081622:
We're, we're very, very

pleased to have you here now.

So just tell us a little
bit about your role.

squadcaster-3b7a_1_04-02-2025_081620:
Yeah, so my role is similar

to you, uh, youth ministry
and high school SRE advisor.

Uh, but not for the western region.

For the southwest region.

So I was born and bred
in Southwest Sydney.

Born in Fairfield Hospital,
grew up in Liverpool.

Uh, and so I love Southwest Sydney.

That's where I'm from.

And my role is gonna be to support youth
ministry and high school SRE ministries.

Um, yeah.

Throughout southwest Sydney.

tim-beilharz_1_04-02-2025_081622: And
for, for some of our international

listeners, just so you know, SRE is.

Um, special religious education.

It's a thing that happens in our
state here where we can, uh, yeah.

We talk about the Bible in schools
with, uh, with young people where

their parents have kind of said,
yep, we want that to happen.

Um, hey Josh.

Um, in some ways stepping into a role
like we've got is a bit of a wrench.

Like you've, you're being wrenched out
of, um, local church youth ministry.

I just wanna know what are, what are
some of the things you're gonna miss

about local church youth ministry?

squadcaster-3b7a_1_04-02-2025_081620:
Yeah.

Well, uh, one of the things I've missed
the most, just in the last sort of three

or four weeks, uh, is, uh, engaging
with, uh, those young people in our

youth ministry, in our church family.

Uh, yeah.

Seeing them each week, well,
a few times a week, uh, at the

different programs and, uh, church.

Yeah.

So just missing that regular.

Week by week relationship and
discipleship, those moments, yeah.

Is a bit of a change in this sort of
role because you're not on the ground on

the tools in the same way but working.

Yeah.

With the youth ministers.

tim-beilharz_1_04-02-2025_081622: But
you've obviously stepped into this role.

You wanna be doing it.

So what excites you about this
role that you've just stepped into?

squadcaster-3b7a_1_04-02-2025_081620:
Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, one of the things that, uh, I
was most energized by, um, over the

last few years, uh, in parish ministry,
church ministry was, uh, seeing leaders

succeed, sharing and celebrating the
wins as the groups they were leading

grew and tried new and creative things.

Uh, that was really exciting to see.

And so.

I'm pumped about a role like this where I
get to do more and more of that, uh, walk

alongside ministry leaders, key leaders,
uh, you know, youth ministers, and to

share the wins as we dream and scheme
what they could do in their context.

And then they try it and then
they succeed and we celebrate that

or they try it, it doesn't work.

Hey, it's still good to try and do things
and then we brainstorm what to try next.

Um, yeah, for the Kingdom of God.

tim-beilharz_1_04-02-2025_081622: Yeah.

I love it.

Hey, uh, it's so good to have you
on the team and, uh, welcome to,

uh, yeah, kind of ki I mean, you,
you sort of hosted something.

If you look back in the, in the,
uh, the backlogs of, uh, what is

now the Effective Ministry podcast.

I think it was Discipleship
Under the Crown.

Prior to, prior to that, you, you
hosted something and we kind of

copied and pasted and released it.

So thank you for that and
welcome and welcome back.

Um, it's so good to have you both
on the podcast but also on the team.

Hey Josh, everyone.

We've got, uh, a bunch of
great episodes coming up.

The next few, um, weeks and months.

Um, what's next, Josh?

squadcaster-3b7a_1_04-02-2025_081620:
Yeah, so we are smack banging in the

middle of a bit of a series that's
come together over the last episode and

these next coming episodes, our last
episode, uh, as I'm sure everyone listens

to every episode without fail, uh.

But, uh, if you weren't, uh, listening
to our last episode, it was with Graham

Stanton, uh, thinking through the future
of youth ministry, uh, particularly

in, uh, our Australian context.

And that was fascinating to hear,
uh, some of his research and some of

the details about, uh, where things
have ebbed and flowed through the

Australian Youth Ministry and some of
the dreams and schemes of, uh, what

we could do under God going forward.

Uh, so that's worth a listen.

Absolutely.

. tim-beilharz_1_04-02-2025_081622:
And he kinda lent into the idea of

full-time, long-term, well-trained, um,
youth ministers being really, really

good for a healthy youth ministry
and ultimately a healthy church.

Next episode, uh, in a couple of weeks
we're gonna be hearing from David Krebs.

Uh, and he's done a little bit of
a deep dive into kind of charting

a Christian response to burnout
in youth and children's ministry.

Um, he's done some research, um,
looking at what are some of the

causes of burnout and what are some
of the protective factors for burnout.

Um, and yeah, just really, um, trying
to understand how as Christians,

we can respond and how we can.

You know, look for protective
factors in a way that is Christian.

Um, so that's gonna be good.

Looking forward to that.

squadcaster-3b7a_1_04-02-2025_081620:
And, um, we'll hear about

today's episode in a moment.

Uh, but after these, uh, couple
episodes, we'll release another one

answering a bunch of your questions,
uh, about youth and kids ministry.

And so if you do have questions,
do keep sending them in

and, uh, we'll get to those.

Uh, but our, what's
today's episode all about?

tim-beilharz_1_04-02-2025_081622: Yeah,
so today is kind of the, the middle,

middle of the sandwich when we're
talking about this sort of series,

which looks about long term going the
distance, avoiding burnout, that kind of

thing in youth and children's ministry.

Um, and today is going the distance
in youth and children's ministry.

So we've got Andy Stevenson,
who's the head of our team.

Uh, and has been in youth ministry, um,
for 20 plus years and, and, um, a bunch of

children's ministry in, in that as well.

Uh, and he's gonna be talking with,
um, me and Lisa Valo, who is, uh,

a long-term youth and kids ministry
currently in kids' ministry.

Previously been in youth ministry.

Um, and just, it's actually
just a really wonderful episode.

Like there's few, you know, one highlight
for me as, as I kind of got to listen

in on this and, and be part of this
was just the, the clear friendship.

Between Andy and Lisa, um,
as they chatted about it.

So it's gonna be a really good episode,
thinking about going the distance

in, in youth and children's ministry.

So I reckon we should,
um, we should get started.

What do you reckon, Josh?

squadcaster-3b7a_1_04-02-2025_081620:
Sounds good to me.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
I'm here with Lisa Falo and Annie

Stevenson, and we're looking forward
to a great chat about going the

distance in Youth and Kids ministry.

Um, really great to have you guys with us.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Hi.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Alright.

Hey guys.

Um, the first thing I just wanna, um,
hear from you is what's your, your,

um, history in ministry, um, you know,
give us the sort of potted history.

Lisa, why don't you start?

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Um, I start actually being

in youth group, I reckon.

So

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Mm-hmm.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
some people kind of talk about when

they start leading, but I reckon
it's important to think about when we

actually were in the ministries and
having people model and care for us.

So I lived at Robertson Small
village town, um, in Southern

Highlands for 10 years.

So that was a significant
time that shaped my ministry.

Uh, from then as an adult moved to.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Hang on.

How did it shape, how did it shape

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Ah, well,
just the, the things that people, well,

the people in the church that invested
in me and showed me how to read the Bible

and small community, that it was meant
that looking outside of that community

to the, to the wider church in Camping
ministries and other things like that,

was really invaluable for me as well.

And I think that shaped my passion
for youth ministry and being in places

people can get to know you and into
your life and you can speak into others.

That's really

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: it.

Keep,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yep.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: I just,
oh, you just piqued my interest there.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Sure.

Yep.

Um, from then as an adult, moved to
Western Sydney, um, and the fledgling

youth ministry at MBM at Rudy Hill.

so I was there for eight years.

Um, cut my teeth on what.

Ministry and youth ministry
looked like as a volunteer.

Um, and got to do MTS there
and my first year student

ministry at MBM, uh, from then.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
for the uninitiated, MTS is

like a traineeship in ministry.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yeah.

And then from that as a college
student, I was at Moore College, um,

started student ministry in Lan Cove.

my time there, uh, LAN Cove became
Lan Cove Mowbray and I ended up

there eight years, so three years
as student minister, five years

full time as the youth minister.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Hmm.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Um,
from then I did a short stint over on

the beaches in a part-time gig doing
both youth and children's ministry.

And I am currently in my
ninth year at Pennant Hills.

It's a full-time role and um,
children's ministry is a bulk of my

responsibilities, not all of them.

So it's more part-time kids
ministry amongst a full-time role.

The other thing I wanna mention too
is in the context of talking about

long-term ministry is Camping Ministries.

I was a bit of a Camp junkie and I think

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: I
reckon I first heard your name, Lisa,

when I had, I had mates that went over
to, um, some Youth Works camps, um,

swinging into action in the real thing.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yep,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: and
they came back talking about Lisa.

Lisa, and not just you, but that's,
I think that's where I heard, heard

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: sure.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: first.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yeah.

I think we were at a few 20 firsts
at the, with the same friends Al

Not that we knew each other then.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: been.

Yep.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Um, but yeah, there were, so Youth

Works, crew camps and another, um,
independent camp run through Fitzroy

Falls Conference Center multiple years
back to back, um, in those ministries.

The real thing with, um, youth Works,
uh, some crew camps for multiple years.

And then, uh, the camp at Fitzroy
Falls Conference Center was called

Breakaway Camp, and I spent.

I don't know, 12, 13, 14
years in a row, going back and

ministering in that context too.

So, great value and worth in long term.

Absolutely.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
what, so what is it, what was it

about the camping ministries that,
um, that really impacted you?

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: As
a kid in a small town and not a lot

of, um, my, my Christian, my good,
good Christian friends that kept

me accountable were the ones that I
connected with in camping ministry.

Um, I think also as a teenager and as
a teenager, also having other people

input into me, uh, for that week and
help me understand God's word and

see that what was happening back at
home in my churches was really great.

Also, opening up my eyes to, it's not
just us in our small little area, but

look at God's kingdom and look at all the
people who are like you, who are in it.

and who doesn't love a camp?

Lots of people.

I get that.

Not me.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
don't love them.

Um, they're good though.

I mean, they, they're
good for most people,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yeah.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
um, yeah.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
And particularly the Fitz Falls ones

were back in the southern highlands.

So I was, uh, in a context looking, um,
out for and discipling and sharing the

gospel with kids who were like me, um,
back in the southern highlands, even

though I'd moved out to back to Sydney.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Yeah.

Yeah.

So I mean, it sounds like, it sounds
like in some ways, um, your journey

began in youth ministry as a kid,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
absolutely.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
as a youth, and then, and, but,

and then you've sort of journeyed
through youth ministries, through

kids' ministries, that kind of thing.

And where you are now is, um, the, the
bulk of your response is, or a large

part of your response is in, is in

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah, that's right.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
Um, yeah, love, I love hear.

I mean, I just love hearing
those sort of insights.

Um, I, I'll ask you why you're still
in it in a second, but Andy, I'm keen

to hear your, um, your, your sort
of, you know, what's your history?

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah, thanks Al.

I think, uh, a little bit similar to
Lisa in that my me kind of thinking

about ministry and getting involved in
serving started in the youth group years.

Um, I was fortunate enough to go to
youth group, uh, in sunny DTO in the

South coast, uh, in the nineties.

Um.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Dto
just seems like the sunniest place.

I mean, everyone always talks about sunny

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
That's right, the sunny Dapto, uh, and

the Dapto dogs, the racetrack right
next to the church, which I spent

months of my mi misspent childhood at.

Um, but, uh, yeah, I think, uh,
uh, there was a good youth ministry

there, great leaders, um, some
good friends, uh, and they helped

me to really see Jesus clearly.

Um, try and get switched
on in following him.

Uh, I've sort of shared in
other contexts before my mother

passed away when I was 16.

Um, and that really kind of
helped me move from being, I

guess converted, uh, to convicted.

Uh, and I had, you know, I'd seen life
and death in the eyes, so to speak.

Uh, and so I was pretty keen to make
sure that other people understood

who Jesus was and, um, that he
was the key to their eternity.

Uh, so I guess at school I was known as a
Christian, um, at least in theory, uh, but

started to actually talk to my friends,
invite them to things, and actually

attend lunchtime group in year 11 and 12.

Uh, so yeah, kinda went from there.

And then, yeah, I got involved in
Beach Mission, which I think was

a real key moment because you meet
other people that are keen to serve

and actually keen to get on mission.

Uh, and then, yeah, I was doing, I
was doing Trady work and I was working

at campsites and I was working the
supermarket and doing youth group

leading stuff and kids ministry things.

And, uh, got a job as a youth, part-time
youth minister at the age of 20,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: The

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
um, uh, and was studying at Youth

West College alongside of that.

And it kind of all went from there.

Um,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
and that might've, that

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857: I.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
been where I first kind of encountered

you when you were that youth
minister in that church at the age of

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Actually, it was just before it was 19.

I remember it.

We played Ultimate Frisbee to NYCR.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: nine.

Ah, midyear conference,

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
you know, explaining all the

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857: Um,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
TLAs out here guys.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
so many acronyms.

But, uh, and Lisa and

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: and

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
I met, um, through a mutual friend

Pete Gunning, who was running the
youth ministry at Rudy Hill, I

think, or at least involved him
and Sparky, uh, and, and the Real

thing camps and, um, Pete Gunning to
study at Youth West College as well.

And I'm pretty sure I met you,
Lisa, around that time, through him.

Um.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Mm, I think that's right.

Yeah.

So back in

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: in the

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
lots of history.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857: So,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: yeah.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
yeah, so I think

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: So

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
years though are quite formative, right?

Like you, you, you, I think part of
going the distance for all of us is

that we do fondly look back at those
times between, you know, sort of 15

and 25, if I can put it like that.

Uh, and go, right, these were the
decisions I made, the convictions

I had, and I'm gonna stick with
them for the rest of my life.

Uh, and being around, um, people that were
thinking about ministry, uh, you know,

it was infectious and I think we need to
keep doing that and keep creating spaces

for the 15 to 25 year olds to do the same.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: I mean,
what I'm hearing both of you say, I think

is this idea that, um, there are some
formative years that continue to fuel

you in your, in your ongoing ministry.

Is that, is that right?

Is that a fair

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
A hundred percent.

Yeah.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah, definitely, definitely.

And it's the relationships too, like
Andy was just saying, uh, that gospel

partnership and that collaborative
work and chewing, chewing on things

together and, and working out what
you're doing and why you're doing it.

and like in, in the trenches, that kind
of language of, of actually making the

mistakes and learning and forgiving one
another and all of that kind of thing.

It's really important as you,
as you work through it all.

Yeah.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Yeah.

I mean, my, my other reflection on just,
um, some of what you, you've both said

there, but Andy, you sort of articulated
that 15 to 25, um, kind of age, age gap,

or, sorry, not age gap, um, age span.

It's, it's like, you know, here's my,
here's my theory after what you've

said is, you know, there's a whole
bunch of stuff that comes before that.

You know, that you are, you are, um,
you are learning, you are growing, you

are, you know, you're involved in kids
ministries, potentially, certainly in

the family, all of that kind of thing.

but there's something about the 15
to 25, um, and we can debate exactly

what, what ages we're talking about,
but where, um, it, it's, it's not the

subconscious stuff that's going on, it's
the conscious stuff, and that's, you sort

of, you look, uh, you look back to that.

I mean, it, I guess it's possible for that
to happen in the earlier years as well.

But there's something about those
formative teenage, I'm, I'm, I'm

thinking through who I am, what
I'm gonna be, um, the, the values

that I have, the convictions
that I hold, that kind of thing.

And you are kind of, it's almost
like you're slotting them into

the experiences that you had.

And, um, yeah.

And, and that might be very influe
influential on your path forward,

but then as you look back, very
influential in your capacity to stick.

Do you wanna say anything
more about that guys?

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
I think, um, it's, it's, you can, in

the younger years, I guess, you know,
under 15, you can still make those

decisions to own faith for yourself.

Uh, but it really starts to solidify as
you go through the youth group years.

Uh, and then in the senior high years,
your parents generally, uh, start to

kind of, you know, give you a bit more
rope to go and work out who you are

and what your life's gonna look like.

Um, and, uh, having those.

Gospel convictions, Christian friends,
um, and ministry experiences in

those, in that period of time will
help shape your future in a big way.

Um, so I think, yeah, the, the, the
age bracket, like you say, it's,

you know, neither here nor there
in one sense, but at that period of

time is where, uh, a lot of these
big things happen, um, for everyone.

Uh, so yeah, I think it was big for me

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Mm.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
and I still remember it.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
I think it's true.

Um.

What people say about the ministry,
like where that conviction came for

you and the, the people who were
influential and helpful for you.

That's what shapes where you
invest your time and your energies.

And so Andy, for you scripture

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: like
your, like, that was in school ministry

for me, it's the camping ministry.

Uh, and that that investment and
that pivotal time of understanding

when it came for us, like that also
influences how we spend our time

and where we spend our energy to.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Um,
Andy, I cut you off before, um, at,

you know, when we got to age 1920.

Do you wanna just tell a
little bit more of the history?

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
no, that's all right.

Uh, yeah, I think from there,
in one sense it's quite simple.

I've been involved in full-time youth
and children's ministry ever since,

uh, but worked in two churches,
but also worked in, uh, I'm now

in my second stint at YouthWorks.

First time was a, uh, as a youth
in high school ministry advisor in

the Ong region, Southwest regions
of Sydney for about eight years.

Uh, and then big stint at St.

Michaels, uh, and Lincoln Church in
Wollongong for about eight years.

He's a youth and children's minister
night church guy, that kind of thing.

Uh, and then I've been back on
the team at YouthWorks in the

ministry support team leading the
advisors for the last four years.

So a real privilege to be involved in,
in this ministry for that length of time.

Um, but as I said in the article I
wrote recently about this stuff, I feel

like we're still just getting started.

There's so much more to do, right?

Um,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: mm

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
uh, yeah.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
Um, great to hear some

of your histories, guys.

Um, I mean, the next question I got for
you is like, why are you still doing it?

know?

Um, 20.

25 years, something like that.

Why are you still doing it?

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
I can best glorify God doing it.

Like that's, that's how I live my life.

That's how I live my day in
the context and the people

that God's placed me amongst.

Um, this is how he thinks
I can best glorify him.

I think that.

It's the, the first principle,
why am I still doing it?

It's important.

I can't, was a teenager who got
slowed down, like, no, go to uni,

go and do life a bit before you
jump into vocational ministry.

And I was frustrated, a frustrated
19-year-old at the time when

I was being told to do that.

But I absolutely see the
wisdom of it these days.

Of course.

Um, but like, I don't know.

a lot of value in all work.

Absolutely.

Um, the way God's wired me
is, I imagine not doing it.

Yeah.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
I got a bit of a similar sentiment to

Lisa in that, uh, the way God's wired
me, I can't imagine not doing it either.

People, um, you know, I, I've building
for a high school scripture class the

other day in a reasonably hard school.

And, uh, I said that to a couple of
friends and they were like, I can't

think of anything more daunting.

And I just said, I was
like a kid in a candy shop.

I thought I was just having a great time.

Uh, and so.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: so

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857: You
know, God wise, this for different things.

I think that, uh, I'll put a plug in
there and say, I reckon a lot more people

are alive for children's and youth,
youth ministry than they might realize.

So get on board with people.

There's jobs everywhere.

Uh, but I guess one of the, like for
me, a few things why I keep going.

Um, uh, I think it's, um,
it's where the action is.

Uh, yeah, sure.

There are lots of other ministries
where there's plenty of action, but the

most action happens in youth, youth and
children's ministries at hyper speed.

And that's kind of how I like to roll.

Like there's lots of young people
growing fast in Christ through

those children and teenage years.

Um, the stats are clear.

Um, 80% of Christians became
Christians before the age of 18.

So you, you get to see firsthand
as I've done it, plenty of youth

groups, camps, conferences, et cetera.

Young people make
decisions to follow Jesus.

And that's been inspiring, uh,
and incredible to be a part of.

Uh, and then helping raising up leaders
that you go and see do all sorts

of ministries all around the world.

Like, you know, there's plenty of
action in youth and children's ministry.

It's never boring or dull.

Uh, and so along with it being so
important, as Lisa mentioned, I

just think this is, this, this is
where lots of things are happening.

God is working incredibly and
is, the more you do it, the

more you see there's more to do.

Um, so I think, yeah, that's why I kind of
feel like there's, there's, there's plenty

more to go in a lot of ways, um, for,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: yeah,

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
all of us.

Um, so yeah, that's,
that's a bit of the driver.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
a bit of driver.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857: Um.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Yeah.

Love it.

Um, I mean, sort of just off the back of
that, I guess it's a similar question,

but wonder if you guys can articulate
for me, like what, what is the value

of staying in ministry long term?

Like that's what this
whole topic is about.

It's what we're talking about today.

Like, you know, going the distance,
staying long term, the value?

Why should people aim in youth and
kids ministry to go the distance?

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: I think,
um, a principle that I've worked with in

all of my vocational roles is stepping
into something that is in my mind, at

least for a generation of ministry.

So in youth ministry, that's six to seven
years, like seeing somebody through.

Their high school career.

and as you do that, you are building
relationships, you are building trust

with the community and families,
um, within your church, but also you

take the opportunities in the local
schools and other things like that.

Again, building trust with the, the
people in the greater community, uh,

which means when you are seeking to share
the good news of Jesus, you've got that

relational, um, context to do that in.

I think too, as you do that, there's um,
the shape of culture change is slow and,

um, even if you can't stay for the six
or seven, like having, I think you can't

learn a role or a, a place in a year.

You need a year to like watch it
and learn it and then a year to

understand it and then a year to
actually kind of work through it.

That's a principle that I think
others have heard of before too.

And so, you know, at least three years
before you actually can get some.

Good runs on the board.

You know, God is really kind and
will be at work in amazing ways

in those first three years too.

But,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: kind
of, it almost sounds like despite you.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
yeah, absolutely.

Um, and that long-term thing, I think
too, another thing is that as we talk

about vocational ministry, like being
somewhere to do the job, the thing

that gets missed is that it's family.

God calls us into a family to, to be
a part of and serve and to jump in and

outta family every couple of years.

And especially that, that's really,
um, I think devastating and so,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
it sounds like there's something

genuinely good about stability.

You know, in relationships there's
something, there's something

really important about stability
in relationships, and if you

can provide that by being one of
the ones that stick around, like

that's very significant, right?

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: yeah.

Absolutely.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah, I think, um, the value

for the people we minister to,
uh, is a big driver for me.

Um, in terms of.

I just see time and time again, you
know, in our role our, we get to

talk to lots of youth and children's
ministers and you get to talk to lots

of senior ministers and churches and
even parents as well, and the ones that

say, oh yeah, like youth and children's
ministers been here for 10 years.

Um, the relationships are strong,
the ministry programs are stable.

Um, the pathway of discipleship is clear.

Uh, you know, the families in the
church have really benefited, um, the

young people coming out, uh, switched
on and there's good fruit, healthy

fruit and people keen to serve.

I think, yeah, the value,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Value

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
is, is massive.

Uh, and the, the kind of
multiplication impact, if you like,

uh, of the work that's done long
term is will far exceed ourselves.

Um, and I'm very thankful for that and
I've had the privilege of seeing that.

Uh, and even in my role recently where
I've been able to just yesterday chat to,

um, you know, uh, a bunch of people doing
ministry in Victoria, uh, and a couple of

the churches that are really the standout
large youth ministries, um, you know,

they were the ones that have had people
there for 12 and 14 years, respectively,

running those ministries everywhere else.

Had, uh, everywhere else was
sort of, had far less than that.

Um, uh, and so, you know, just talking
about that and just going, well, the,

not, not, not that, not that it as crass,
I don't wanna be as crass to say that

long longevity will just equal success.

It's just a formula.

Uh, I, I don't think that's the right
thing to say, um, but I do think that

longevity, um, will produce better
results overall more often than not, more

often than just going a little bit, um.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
I mean, talking about ministry in

Victoria, you know, the, the last
episode of this podcast, we we're

chatting, I was chatting with Graham

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: and
he's done, he's done the work, like

he's done research to, to, to say
that full-time, long-term well-trained

youth ministers in a church does
actually correlate with, now who knows?

Um, gosh, it's hard to
work out correlation versus

causation, you know, you know.

Um, but the correlation is
there between long term and, um,

you know, uh, growth in youth

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
and health in youth ministry.

So like, it's there.

Now, whether that's gonna be
every single case that's stats

don't work that way, right?

Um, you know, like they
stats don't tell individual

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
And people,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
where there's an overall picture

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
yeah.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: What's

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857: PE
and people don't work that way, right?

Like we're assuming that every single
person doing those long, long term

roles is, is, knows what they're doing.

Um, some of them.

Some, some, sometimes some of 'em
struggle, but they're still doing it and

I'm even, I'm even admirable of them, uh,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Yeah.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
they stick at it.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Well,

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857: Um,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: and,
and one of, one of Graham's, one of

Graham's, um, things that he, that he
said was that actually, and this is

exactly what Lisa was saying, you know,
it takes three years to, to, you know,

to understand the role, to understand the
people, the culture, that kind of thing.

Um, but also understand what it is
to be youth or children's ministry.

And so as you kind of go on in youth
ministry or in children's ministry, um,

your capacity grows, your understanding
of the role, your, your ability to

do it well, that kind of thing grows.

And so, you know, that's
part of the picture as

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
yeah.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Um,
so I mean, we've talked a little bit

about the benefit of, um, uh, of staying
long-term in a particular ministry.

Um, but I want, I wanna ask as well, um,
and, and I, I don't really know where

this is gonna go, but what about the,
the, the benefit of, of an individual

youth or children's minister staying long
term in youth or children's ministry,

even if they've had to change churches?

Um, have you got anything,
any thoughts on that?

, lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: I
think, um, like term in ministry, long

term in youth ministry, shifting to
children's ministry, even though I

did a, um, part-time youth and kids,
it's, it, it is a different world.

It's different context and relationships.

Um, the youth are the ones who are
sometimes the primary drivers of

wanting to be involved differently.

And like, no, mom, dad, I wanna do this.

Uh, whereas with the kids, it's.

partnership with parents
is so much stronger.

and so the shift into children's
ministry actually was a, a bigger

jump and leap than I had expected.

Um, the learning in that context
has been an interesting one for

me to like reshape some of the
things that I was doing naturally.

Um, and I say that as the context to
answer the question of the particular

ministry because again, learning the
ministry and actually honing your, your

skills and teaching God's word to the,
the people that are in front of you and

learning them as well takes the time.

Um, and also honing those skills, um.

if you put me into a youth ministry
context again, now I feel like a lot of

my youth ministry muscles have atrophied.

Like I would have to
build them back up again.

And so you, you kind of just get into
the rhythm of things, which isn't

a bad thing, uh, as long as there's
reflective practice going on as well.

And so that that specific
ministry that God has placed

you in there is a reason for it.

And so growing in that context to
work out how you can use your gifts

in that context to benefit the kingdom
in that place, um, happens over time.

Yeah.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah, like there are, there are some

heroes, uh, of the youth ministry and
children's ministry faith, so to speak,

who've been in one place for 20 plus
years, uh, and doing incredible work and

still continue to do incredible work.

Um, but staying in the youth and
children's ministry fraternity, if

you like, but maybe going through,
um, a couple of different con, a few

different contexts, uh, just because
of sometimes just natural attrition of

staffing in church life and those sort
of things, uh, will still be helpful

and probably even, um, you, you learn
from one place and you can take your

learnings to another place and maybe
even kind of go through the gears a

little bit quicker early on to work out
what is helpful and not helpful for that

youth and children's ministry to grow.

So, uh, I think that, yeah, there's
been, I mean, Lisa shared of working

in a few different contexts for,
uh, I can't remember the exact years

each, but let's just say five plus
years each or whatever it might be.

Um, and I, I had the similar
thing, like I had two, three year

stints at two churches quite young.

Uh, and then an eight year stint at
YouthWorks, eight year stint at St.

Michaels.

Uh, and then I back at
YouthWorks for four years.

And, um, yeah, I think I learned
some things in those two, three

year stints when I was young.

That helped me to do the eight
year stints when I was a bit older.

Uh, and just brought different
skills and experience to the table.

Um, yeah, which was, which was helpful.

So.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: But
the threat, the thread that sort of goes

through there, even where there's changes
in churches and that kind of, the thread

that sort of sticks is that you are, it's
a commitment to ministry to young people.

Right.

And so you, it sounds like what you're
saying is you pick up skills along the

way, and even we've talked about, you
know, you grow over a number of years

in the one role you grow in your skills,
you grow in your capacity, you grow

in your understanding of the place.

But even where you transfer to
another ministry, you grow in a

bunch of those things that then
you can take to another place,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Hmm.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
you know, if, if we, if we jump

ship from ministry to young people,
um, and this may well happen and it

might be what God has for people.

Um, but if we jump ship we're, we,
we're sort of starting again with a

whole bunch of, um, you know, some
of those skills will be transferable,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Definitely.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
whole bunch of new skills that

you need to, to learn as well.

So there's something valuable about
sticking with that young people,

kind of focus, um, even, even as you
kind of maybe include other things

in that kind of thing as well.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yep.

Yep.

Yeah.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Definitely.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Any
stories that you guys have got of,

of seeing those benefits play out?

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
The one that does come to mind most

quickly is the Breakaway Ministry,
which was the camping ministry at

Fit Row Horse Conference Center.

I first led, um, 99 and met a
bunch of kids in year three.

There was a primary school camp,
then a high school camp senior high.

Some of those campers were invited to
come and lead in the primary school camp.

then, you know, from that year three kid
in 99, I think, into, you know, uni days

and beyond when that child was in that we
co-directed the high school camp together.

And so, um, you know, that's a couple of
weeks a year in January plus training.

And then other, you know, back
then we did reunions in a big way.

Um, without that camping ministry, uh,
there was a leadership team that came from

a bunch of different churches together.

And just having that relationship.

And investing in those
people and that ministry.

I think that's a long term story of
just seeing a, you know, a kid wrestle

through faith and be convicted and
be learning in other contexts as

well in their home church and other
like uni ministries and things.

But to then the joy of co-directing
a camp together, um, when we met

all the way back then was, yeah,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
no, I love that because.

Um, it's both, you're talking
about both the privilege of seeing

that play out over a period of

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yeah.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
watching a video of this kid's life,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yep.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Um,
so that, that's the privilege, but it's

also the benefit to this kid, right?

Who, you know, you met when he was
in year three, um, and, you know,

you are not the only voice in his

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Mm-hmm.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: So
let's, let's, let's keep this in context.

There's other, as you, as you
mentioned, but, um, there's sort

of regular kind of checking in,
you know, development, growth, that

kind of thing that you are part

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Mm,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
that's for his benefit as well,

which is, which is beautiful.

I love that.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: yeah.

Last January, January, December.

Just this last summer, you know, went,
they, they're in Wollongong, went down

in, I hadn't met their two kids 'cause
of Covid, but they've had a second baby.

Um, and so went and hung out with them
and met the kiddos and like the ongoing

relationship is so important, um, in that.

And so, yeah, it's such a joy.

Such a joy.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: family.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Absolutely.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

What about you, Andy?

Any any stories?

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah, like, uh, I think just being a

youth minister in those early years,
in the early twenties, um, uh, thinking

of a few key people that I was able
to, had the privilege of sitting down

with, helping read the Bible, explain
the gospel, uh, and being a part of

their moment in and moments of coming
to faith, uh, and then still having

those friendships 20 odd years later.

Um, and then now getting texts
from them when their kids, uh, you

know, like, uh, uh, at Kick Youth
Conference, which I've been a part

of, part of for over 20 years over.

And you know, the parents are
like, oh, my kid was a kick.

They saw you there.

They were singing, singing up there.

Um, my kid became a Christian there.

That kind of thing.

Um, that's pretty powerful, uh, to
know that you were part of their

story and then now you're part of
their kids' story in a small way.

Um, at least in just seeing them there
and being in, um, in the same place,

um, experiencing similar things.

Uh, and then I guess that goes a bit
further forward to then the similar

kind of thing happens where you, um,
people I've invested in a disciple or

who've worked with me as trainees, like
in youth and children's ministry, uh,

now seeing them go into long, you know,
they're becoming veterans, which makes

me feel like some kind of ancient person.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Andy.

We be old.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
That's all right.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
you're the emeritus, emeritus

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
No, Graham Stanton is 'cause he

trained me and that he's, he's
like, you know, he's going off into,

into great grandparent territory.

Sorry, Graham, uh.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: he is
got le he is got less gray hairs than you

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah, that's true.

It's less hair in general.

Um, but, uh, yeah, just to be able
to see those people now stepping up

into leadership, not just in their
churches, but in the conference and

camping space that benefits all kinds
of churches, um, is a massive privilege.

And seeing some of 'em at bible
college and lead on camps together.

And then this is the thing, this is
where the money hits the road, then

you're doing ministry together again.

Uh, so, you know, Lisa comes and leads an
LIT camp with us in January and the, the

trust is so high 'cause the friendship's
been so long that you're like, oh yeah,

now we've gotta do this thing with these
young people coming through together.

Can we do this?

Yep.

Bang.

Yep.

And so things just are
done, are done better.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: and
it maximizes ministry, doesn't it?

Like, you know, where the trust is high
and where, you know, the relationship is

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yep.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
that you can just get on

and do the ministry, right?

Which is

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah, so just being a part of that and

being able to lead alongside people that
are well p have been peers for so long,

but then also all of the fruit that
the Lord has kind of blessed under us,

uh, either in trainees or people that
we've discipled, also leading alongside

us, and then leading kind of with
the kids of the parents that we know.

Uh, yeah, there's some,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Mm.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
you know,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yep.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
that's all not enough to keep

you going, I dunno, what is.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
And what you're articulating there,

Andy, is what we see in trenches.

S like, uh, on the ground in the long term
sense that, that trust, that relational

value, that when you have that idea and
go, I think this is where we need to go.

So for some culture change that will
be beneficial for our community,

that people are ready to go with
you and, and shift in that, in that

context in our local churches as well,
not just in that, uh, networking,

collaboration of ministries as well.

I think that's what you were saying,
but just to like ground it there

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
It, it, it, it operates like

that in the local church as well.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Hmm.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
yeah, yeah, that's right.

Um,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Absolutely.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
oh, a hundred percent.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
So I mean, you guys have

been at this for a while.

Um, you know, I think both of you
talked about, I mean, Andy, you

talked about taking something,
taking on a a, a kind of, was it a

part-time role, um, when you were

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
yeah.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Is that

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yep.

Yep.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: yeah.

So take, taking on a part-time role when
you were 20, Lisa, you talked about,

um, take, you know, being a frustrated
19-year-old, but, you know, digging

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Mm,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
um, at that time as well.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
absolutely.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: sure
it's been different, um, you know,

from when you first started to, to now
chart some of the differences for me.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
I've embraced, yeah.

Okay.

I've embraced, um, having the oldest
aunt status, I think in, in the

community, rather than being the,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: I

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
the young.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
It's hard to come on a podcast

about going the distance

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
I know, right.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
and kids ministry without embracing

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah, I was never the cool youth

leader, but I was like the, I was
alongside them and had, was closer in

age and, and all that kind of thing.

And uh, you know, one of the books that I
read in the early days, uh, outlined, you

know, there's different, um, generations
that you might go through as someone

investing in youth or kids ministry.

So, you know, you're the, you're
the friend and then you might go

to aunt status and then, know,
eventually end up as a grandparent.

And so I've always imagined that I'd be,
you know, the gray haired, elder saint

serving supper or something like that on a
Friday night, like cooking the dinner up,

things like that, being involved somehow.

but I think it's an interesting
thing 'cause I think some of the

helpful and right and good, changes
that have, um, meant that our, where

some of our context weren't as safe.

shifted that.

And so some of the opportunities that
we had those early days, uh, we don't

have in the same way, um, these days.

Uh, and I think that can make it harder.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Mm

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
uh, yeah, so ministry has changed

'cause there's things that I
imagine, oh, this would be great.

And particularly living as a single
person in our home by myself,

having fam kids round and families
round and all that kind of stuff.

Being hospital in my Ho hos Yeah.

Showing hospitality in my
home, uh, is something that

is really tricky these days.

And that family and shaping in that sense,
that's a, it feels more negative than a

positive thing, but these are just the,
you know, you ask the question, these

are the things that come to mind for me.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
yeah, yeah,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Um,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: a,
that's a change that you've had to

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: yeah.

Absolutely.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
some of the tightening around

the safe ministry world,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Which is good and right and important.

Yeah.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And yet, um, I guess in some ways limits
ies, um, or the, the, the way in which

or the intensity with which you can
kind of carry out your ministry perhaps.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
we're that good intense ministry

for us in the early days.

Andy, I'd love to hear
your thoughts on this.

Like, I, I don't know that we can
do those sorts of things in the

same way now, and is, are we seeing
a loss in that is my question.

What do you think?

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
Great question.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yes, we are.

Uh, so

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: so.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Reach Australia last year, Sandy

Galia and I were both interviewed
about long-term youth and children's

ministry, and it just stuck in my brain,
uh, that one of the, someone asked us

what's changed in the last 25 years.

Both of us, uh, said that we
just have more time, um, time.

People are far more time poor.

Time is a precious commodity and
people's priorities of time have changed.

Uh, and so if you think about the old,
like church family picnic for instance,

um, if churches do that these days,
they say, right, well you're doing

a church family picnic, and church
finishes 1130, so the picnic will

finish it at one because we know people
have got a schedule to get off to.

Whereas when we were young, uh, and you
know, probably 20 years ago and, and then,

then some, it was church family picnic
and people just stay there all afternoon

and there was no such thing as a hard time
and those sort of things because people

were, were there to invest in each other.

Um, and I know that still happens in
some places, but that just illustrates

my point that, uh, as youth group
leaders, you know, I'd go and watch,

you know, Friday night Youth group hang
out with the leaders after youth group

the next day go and watch some of the
youth kids play sport, um, maybe have

lunch together, those sort of things.

There'd be surfing trips
or whatever it might be.

Um, summer kind of camping trips,
um, youth, youth leaders together.

Um, I realized that
safe ministry concerns.

Uh, but there was a lot more
ministry going on in all those

spaces than perhaps we ever realized.

Um, um, although we probably did
realize, but there was, you know, we,

we, we, we don't see that as much now.

Um,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Yeah.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
that,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: The, I

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
that is huge.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
the, there's the benefit, the

benefit of, um, you know, there's
the benefit of like, um, guess.

Guarding against unsafe situations.

Um, and, and, you know, bringing
to light some of the, some of the,

the bad things that mean, and,
and we've gotta own that, right?

That there were some
bad things that went on.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: mm

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: know
stories of, uh, of, you know, hearing

about, uh, you know, not necessarily
always reportable things, right?

But you hear stories of just
things like, whoa, that's a

little bit more, I don't know.

Um, uh, so bringing that to
light, but at the same time,

so that's a really good thing.

We bring that to light.

You know, we have these structures and
procedures and we have these kind of

guardrails to, to keep both us safe
and the young people that we're serving

safe, but at the same time, there's a
deficit that kind of comes along with

that, which is, which is sad, you know?

And, and I wonder, I don't know what
your thoughts are guys, but how do

you kind of make up for that deficit?

Um, how have you guys, you know,
you know, with these limitations

in place, what, how have you, how
have you guys gone about ministry.

Um, you know, has there, has there
solutions that you guys have,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Uh,
like the reason I raise it is that

I'm, I'm still battling through to
work out what the solution is and

is there a solution and, um, I can
make myself as available as possible.

Um, but helping the young leaders do that.

And in the kids context, it's
different to the youth context as well.

And so getting alongside families
and, and all of that sort of

thing is, is a trickiness.

Uh, families are busy when, when, you
dad working full time is available

for this window on the weekend to
actually spend time with the family,

they, it's precious and don't like, we
wanna, um, we wanna honor that as well.

And so, yeah, you know, the back
and forth of all those sorts of

things is, is a really tricky thing.

I, I don't, I don't know that
I have the answer to that.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
Do you see yourself differently now?

Like, do you know, you mentioned some
of those sort of stages, you know, like

the young, the young, cool hip friend

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
I was un uncool.

I was saying I wasn't cool.

No, I was never the cool one.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
um, you know, then, then the kind of

maybe the older sister or the older
brother, then the auntie or uncle, and

then sort of the, you know, maybe the
father or or mother kind of figure.

And then, I can't remember the

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
Hawkins book.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Hmm.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: all
the categories are, but then that sort

of grandparent and all of them are
these, these are from the perspective of

being a youth or kids minister, right?

Like he's sort of, he's, he's
not just saying, you know, as you

interact with youth, he's saying,
you know, in your role as a youth

leader you can have these sort of,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yeah.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: yeah.

Do you, do you guys see
yourself as different?

Like, do you see yourself differently
now to how you saw yourself then

relationally in terms of how you interact
with people or that kind of thing?

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah, have to think about it in some ways.

Like I, I think that, um, I
guess you probably just feel less

young and free these days, right?

Um, but every now and then it comes out.

Uh, and I think some of the young
people I work with and leaders

and youth, when it comes out,
they go, oh yeah, this looks fun.

Uh, is this what Andy
was like 25 years ago?

And I'm like, well, I'm
still like that, aren't I?

But not really.

Uh, I don't know.

I think there is a bit of
pressure for all of us to be more

serious in ministry these days.

And I think that it is important.

Uh, we need to be, uh, faithful.

We need to see the ministry to children's
and youth ministry as serious, um, so

that we can help others take it seriously.

Uh, I think all that is crucial.

Um, but I also don't want us to take
ourselves too seriously, uh, because.

I think if we do that, um, we
can get ourselves stuck in a

space that we don't wanna be in.

Um, that it is not helpful for us to keep
going in ministry and it means that we

won't be as ready to adapt and change
with the ministry that we do, uh, the

people we work with, that kind of stuff.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
It's almost like saying, Andy,

that that ministry is about
other people, not, not about

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying.

Um, yeah, I sort of try to say that
to people often, that you need to

kind of look at youth and children's
ministry as being part of something

far, far bigger than ourselves.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Mm-hmm.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857: if
you look at it through that lens, it'll

help you to keep going a lot longer.

Uh, you won't be aspiring
to other roles per se.

Um, you know, if I can be honest,
some people say to me, Andy, you

know, you're kind of in, you've,
you've chaired a few conferences.

You're heading the team up at YouthWorks.

What would you do next?

And my answer would be, probably go
and work as a full-time high school

SRE teacher, uh, in as many schools
as I possibly could because, uh, my

hero is Ray Valo, who's Lisa's dad.

Um, and he's retired from being
an only rector and now he's

teaching more and more high school
SREI mean, the guy's incredible.

He probably needs a break,
but he's also incredible, um,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
for saying that.

Leave that bit in Owl.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857: that
he needs a break or that he's incredible.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
that he's incredible,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: both.

Sure.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Bit of both.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
but take the break.

That's what

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yes.

So I think having that bigger perspective,
but not taking ourselves too seriously

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yeah.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
that we're open to how God's

gonna keep using us in this space.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yeah.

And I joke about dad taking the
break, but like, it's lifelong.

And so the vocation is one thing.

The, the love for the gospel work
is another, and that's what we do.

And so in terms of the change,
am I doing something different

to what I thought starting out?

I thought I was always
gonna be in youth ministry.

God had a different plan.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: mm

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: in,
in all of all of this conversation

and thinking about the longevity
of it, wherever we are placed,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: mm

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: think as
far as it's up to us that we go in with

an idea that we'll be there for a long
term stint, whatever that might look like,

5, 6, 7, longer years, eight, you know.

But being humble.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Lisa?

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: I,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Yeah.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
and willing to be convicted

out of a role that, I always
thought I'd be in youth ministry.

God's had me in children's
ministry for these years and

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: mm

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
there is a good in that, um, I miss

a stack of stuff about youth ministry
and that's a, that's a, that's okay.

Um, 'cause God Best has me here.

And so

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Mm.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
in terms of, your ministry changed?

Absolutely.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Yeah.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: yeah.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Um,
keen to, keen to hear as well, are, are

there some benefits that you, you know,
particular benefits that you see in, um,

being at the sort of, you know, not at
the, not at the beginning anymore, but

in the, you know, in the later stages?

And I'm not saying, I'm not saying
late, as in your ministry is almost

over, I'm saying later than earlier.

Um, are there any benefits from
kind of, you know, um, being

at this stage in your ministry?

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: I
think we've said it a bit already.

Some of the benefits like,
um, in the sense of, I.

We've made the mistakes,
we've worked stuff out.

Um, the things that we've learned,
we've able to been able to bring, uh,

to our next role or our next ministry
context, whether it's vocation or other.

Um,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
I'm imagining that people relate

to you differently as a, as a, you
know, 35, 45, um, youth or kids

minister as compared to a 19, 20, 25.

Um, is that, is that fair to say?

Like, is there,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
I, I think

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
that, is that

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: I.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
good or bad?

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
think I, um, I have an interesting

answer to that 'cause I think I
am aged younger than I am, um, in

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
look, you look

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: as
well, but, but life stage as well, like

at Lane Cove, I remember asking my boss,
the senior minister there at one time,

is it because I'm the youth minister?

Is it because I'm a woman?

Is it because I'm un
like I don't have kids?

Is it because I'm,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Mm.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
uh, what, and, and he just said yes.

in terms of the difficulty that I was,
uh, en engaging with in that context,

what, what is it like, is it that
people think I'm younger than I am?

Um, so I've always been aged down, um,
because I think I've been in youth, kids

ministry, so it has kept me younger, um,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Mm

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: because

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: mm.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
what Andy was saying.

You know, people see the, the more
energetic or more excitable part of

the personality, um, in that context.

I think I am.

Um, uncoupled and I don't
have I don't have children.

People don't put me with my peers.

Lots of the families, um, with kids
in primary school think I am younger

than them, uh, not older than them.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Uh, I guess the benefits,

um, like people go, right?

If there's something to do with youth,
kids schools, ministry, uh, they'll,

they'll ask you to get in people, other
people will ask you to get involved.

And I guess the longer you're doing
it, the more experience you have.

So there, hopefully there's
something good that we can be saying

in those spaces, um, and helping
people do, uh, I guess, um, uh.

This is probably more to do with what
you might be asking us in a little while

about how to, how's God sustained us.

But, uh, one of the benefits is you do
have these long-term friendships in this

space with people that are similar to you.

Um, you kind of often chat to youth and
children's ministers like yourselves and

others and go, well, we've all had these
different journeys, but there's been a few

similar threads that we've experienced,
uh, that have TA got us to this point.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: us to

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
And, um, we've thought through things

in the same way, um, that we've seen
the world, uh, through a similar lens,

uh, and come to a point where, um, we're
convinced convicted, committed youth in

the youth and children's ministry space.

Um, and then often I look around
and go, oh yeah, like, you know,

if you have a really bad day and
go, why am I doing all this again?

You go, well, hang on.

That's because Lisa and Al and
all these other buddies are

mine, are still doing it as well.

All right.

We need to keep doing it because.

We've had similar life lives as we've,
um, kind of grown in these roles together,

even though we've been in geographically
different locations all over the place.

Um, so I think, um, yeah, uh,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Yeah.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
funnily enough though, similar to Lisa,

I think even though my life experience
has been different in that not being

a woman, uh, and being, um, a married
person with kids, I still think that

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: still

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
are some people that look at me, um, as

being young, younger, still, even though
I feel older, uh, because I'm still in

the youth and children's ministry space.

But, uh, the, one of the beauties
of youth and children's ministry

is you're eternally young, right?

Um, you know, you, you get to
be involved in it, uh, and.

Age is not so much.

The kind of is is not so much the issue in
the youth and children's ministry space.

It's your attitude towards it
and attitude towards how you

treat children and young people.

So when I help out with youth group and
I do scripture, those kind of things, I

feel like I still connect with teenagers
just as, just like I did 20 odd years ago.

Um, because, uh, ask them, how are you
going, what's happening in your life?

I show an interest in them and like

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yeah,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: in

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
they come to life.

Uh, and it's, it's not that I'm doing
anything different than what other people

would do, but um, I should care about 'em,
uh, you know, and, and can see the value

in just relationship with, uh, teenagers.

And that keeps you young too.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
absolutely.

It keeps you young, what you're saying.

Andy really resonates.

me too.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Yeah.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Yeah.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
Hey, uh, under God, what has

sustained you guys and what are your
top tips for, you know, for others?

As I think about being long
term and youth, kids ministry.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Go back to your first principles.

Um, what are your bible verses that shape
your ministries being still in God's

presence and being reflective in that?

So, um, for me it's two Corinthians
four is one of my favorite passages,

uh, for life and for ministry.

Um, you know, Ephesians, Ephesians four,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Oh,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
things like that.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
remember.

Two

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Ah, therefore, since we have this

ministry, we did not lose heart.

On the contrary, by sending forth the
truth plainly, we commend ourselves in

everyman's conscience in the slight of
God for even if our gospel is veiled,

is veiled to those who are perishing.

God has, um, I get muddled, uh, in the
next little bit, but it talks about

our, our ministry is to proclaim truth.

It talks about our ministry is, um, about.

It's, it's not about us.

It's about setting forth Christ
and letting people know that

it took, has God's sovereignty

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: mm.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
wrapped up in there as well,

that it's his work, not ours.

Um, hard pressed on every side,
but not crushed, perplexed.

But not being despaired like ministry is
hard, but we keep going as we hold out

the truth and the resurrection of Jesus,
and it takes us in the end to eternity.

Um, these light and momentary troubles.

We fix our eyes.

Not what on is seen, but what is unseen.

What is seen is temporary.

What is unseen is eternal.

God is at work and he's doing the work,
and it is our privilege that he's like,

Hey, Lisa, be a part of this ministry.

Um,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Yeah.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: me.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Two
Corinthians twelves, the, it, that,

that's the chapter that sent me into

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Mm

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: was,
you know, it, uh, and people might not

remember that straight off the bat, but
it's Paul talking about his weakness,

his thorn in his flesh and that kind of

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: mm.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
And, um, the answer is that Christ,

uh, that, you know, Christ's
grace is sufficient for him.

So, I mean, just bonding over two
Corinthians, you know, as a, as a,

a super helpful, um, uh, part of
the Bible for reflecting on ministry

and sustaining you in ministry.

Um, you know, I was really conscious that
it didn't matter that I was weak because

my weakness actually would show God to
be strong rather than me to be strong.

Um, and that was the thing
that was more, more important.

Love it.

I love it.

Um, yeah.

Other things, guys.

What else is sustaining you?

Um, what has sustained you in ministry?

Yeah.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
mean, yes, those first

principles, Bible passages.

Um, yeah, there's been a few that I've
held on the two Corinthians four are.

Definitely one.

Uh, and I, um, spoke on that a house
conference a couple of years ago, just

achieve encouraging people to keep going.

Um, but you know,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
It was so good.

Andy loved that.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
I enjoyed doing it.

Um, uh, and, um, you know, my favorite
bar verse, John 1633, in this world,

you'll have trouble take heart.

I've overcome the world
like Jesus in is in control.

Um, and that, that perspective, just
that big kind of like, you know, Jesus,

I got this, uh, um, when you know that
you can just go forth with a lot of, with

a lot more gusto and courage, I think.

Um, and that helps me to keep
going in a lot, a lot of ways.

Uh, I think what we're doing today,
you know, when uh, Al said, yeah,

we're gonna get Lisa on, I went, great.

She's been a peer in
ministry for a long time.

I love serving alongside her.

Um, and hope we can keep
doing it for 25 years or more.

And there's just been lots of people I.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: buddy.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah, lots of people like that.

Like, I think that's what keeps us
going when we, you know, a, a lot of

people that s serve as leaders on the
LIT committee and conferences, we do,

they kind of say, oh, a part of the
reason why I do this is it's not just

crucial core business ministry, but I
get to be doom issue with my friends.

Um, and, uh, I'm thankful we
have that across the churches.

Um, and then for me,
there's, oh yeah, sorry.

At least my last point.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
no, I just, you got your last point.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
My last point was, um, there's just

been a few old wise guys in my life
that have really helped carry me along.

Um, I re mentioned Raven Solo.

I've known him for probably
20 years, and in that school's

ministry space, he's been a hero.

And we've been into principal
negotiation meetings together,

and it, I don't, it's great.

Like I kind of go.

I end up running the meetings
with, with, with Uncle Ray.

Uh, but, um, I just feel so supported
having they doing stuff alongside him.

And, uh, there have been, uh, a few
other guys, Tony Willis, um, you

know, our Stewart and a few other
people that have invested in me.

Uh, and I always know that I can call
them and I'm feeling particularly

like I need that older wisdom.

Um, and, um, yeah, I think that
that's, they, they're some of the

things that have helped me keep going.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
I think in the collaboration,

um, it, it's not just across, uh,
the ministries and networks, but

within our church communities.

I think the thing that sustains it for,
and it might be more how and wide as

well, but I don't, I don't think it is,
but the collaborative gospel partners

on the staff team on the team, God has
given us to lead and through the gospel

friendships and ministry networks.

And so, um, in our own contexts
we're, we're doing this ministry

in partnership in the, the family
of God as he's gathered us.

And so working well.

With those who are, um, who are
serving the community that you are

serving, uh, good communication
with them, clear expectations

that are regularly articulated and
actually supporting and helping and

getting involved in one another's
ministries is how it's sustainable.

Um, if we are building our little
islands and just investing in our own

contexts, like that's, that's not the
body of Christ that God's brought us to.

Um, and so that's,
that's really important.

Um, so I think too, learning yourself
and understanding yourself, what helps

you do your job well and what input and
partnership and help you appreciate.

And also learning the others that you
are serving and caring for and, um,

working alongside how they work and how
they appreciate, being served and so

you can get on and do the work together.

I think that's really
important for long term.

I think for the things that.

Shorten ministry contexts,
uh, where people go in only

serve for a couple of years.

They, some of the reasons
are, um, unhealthy, um, church

contexts and in ministry.

And so having those things in
place and working hard at that

is something that is important.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
But one of the other things I've said

before is you do need to have a bit of
a life outside of ministry that's part

of taking yourself not too seriously.

Um, I still play organized sport
and my kids are playing a zillion

organized sports, and that feels like
a whole other life outside of ministry.

But, uh, also it double tails into
ministry, but it also keeps you going.

Um,

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: mm Yeah.

Yeah.

Things that, things that
energize you, right,

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
I find it very hard to switch off.

So my brain's always going,
but if I'm playing sport,

I'm definitely switching off.

So things that energize you?

. tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859:
Hey, guys.

Um, anything else that you wanna say to,
to people out there that might be doing it

tough in, uh, in youth or kids ministry?

Um, you know, any, any pastoral, you
know, pastoral words, any kind of

thoughts, any, anything that you wanna
do, wanna say, just to encourage them.

, squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
it is one of the best

ministries we can be doing.

I think the longevity piece and having
those, kind of things along, you know,

people, things we mentioned before
about people alongside you and being

involved in a few things that are a
bit external or bigger than just your

local church or, um, having those
healthy relationships and friendships.

Uh, if you get us some of those
things in place, um, that will help

you to go through the harder times
that, uh, will definitely happen.

Um, we will have trouble, uh, but
yeah, take heart, Jesus with you.

Uh, and so are we.

Uh, we as in the, the family of
youth and children's ministers.

Um, and uh, yeah, I guess the good thing
about youth and children's ministries, it

changes quicker than other ministries, so
it should get better at some point, maybe

a bit quicker than other ministries might.

If I can be so candid to say.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Learning
how to rest well, what that looks

like for you, I think is important.

Learning the rhythms of the year
or the rhythms in your week so

you can plan accordingly and
manage your energy over the year.

Um, there, there, it,
it's, you know, that.

It's a marathon, not a sprint.

And so actually knowing when you need
to ramp up and when you need to slow

down and protecting the slow down times,
um, honest about your limitations,

asking for help is, is really important.

and listening to the people God
has placed around you to care for

you will help as well help you
stay in this for the long term.

And I wanna say too, having the heart
for kids and youth at long term, being

the, the grandpa, grandma, in, in that
context, by age it might be that you

are not in the same place serving that
you were 10 years ago, 20 years ago.

And so being humble and willing
to be convicted out of a place.

So if it is hard, do do
what you need to do to stay.

But if you need to step out serve God
in another context, that's okay too.

Um, do it.

Preferably do it in conversations
with people who love you and do it

wisely, but that doesn't mean you're
not, you're stepping out of the youth

and kids loving them and sharing the
gospel with them and using your gifts

and skills in those contexts, but
sometimes there might be a context

that isn't the right place for you.

And that's okay.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: I
love the way you put that, Lisa, um,

being convicted out of a place that's,
uh, that's an interesting and a, and

a really wonderful way to put it.

Hey guys, thanks heaps for joining me.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857: S

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857: Pleasure.

tim-beilharz_1_03-27-2025_092859: Yeah,

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
It's been fun having this chat.

squadcaster-iidc_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Yeah.

Thanks.

See you.

What the next, see what the
next thing we do together.

lv-guest599_1_03-27-2025_092857:
Absolutely.