youngadults.today

How to Disciple Gen Z & Young Adults in a Digital Age (with Dr. Darnell Williams)

From Status Quo to Curated Experiences: Forming Gritty Young Leaders with North Central University President Darnell Williams

In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with President Darnell Williams of North Central University to talk about why the status quo isn’t working in higher education or the church, and what it means to move from being a repository of knowledge to a curator of experiences.

They dive into Gen Z and Gen Alpha, the drop-off after youth group and college, digital discipleship, grit, holiness, and how young leaders can finish well.

Guest: Dr. Darnell Williams, President, North Central University Hosts: Josiah & Micah Kennealy Theme: Young adult ministry, higher education, experiential formation, and leadership that lasts.

More about NCU: www.northcentral.edu
Join us for the YA wknd: www.youngadults.today/the-wknd

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Young Adults Aren’t a Silo: Integrating Next Gen in a Multi-Site Church with Derek Wile

In this episode of the Young Adults Today Podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Derek Wile, Next Gen Associate Pastor at Faith Church in South Carolina. Derek shares his journey from Minnesota to South Carolina, how God led him into young adult ministry, and how his church is reaching young adults across nine locations with a sustainable, scalable model.

You’ll hear the story behind Together Nights and Table Nights, how Derek is building a lead team of young adult leaders, and why he believes young adults are a “forgotten group” that the church must intentionally pursue. The conversation gets incredibly practical for multi-site churches, church planters, and anyone trying to move from “launch and relaunch” to something that’s actually sustainable.

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How One Church Reaches 700 Young Adults Every Week with Brennen Schmitt

In this episode of the Young Adults Today podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down with Brennan Schmidt, Young Adults Pastor at GracePoint Church in Brookings, South Dakota, and leader of Oasis, a weekly ministry gathering 700+ young adults across two Sunday night services.

Brennan unpacks the “secret sauce” behind sustaining and scaling young adult ministry in the local church over decades—not as a side program, but as a fully integrated expression of the church’s mission. From teaching calendars and leadership pipelines to navigating transient college populations and keeping alignment with senior leadership, this conversation is a masterclass for pastors and leaders who want to reach the next generation in a healthy, sustainable way.

www.youngadults.today 

From Youth Group to Lifelong Faith: Building Resilient Young Adults with Daniel LaCella

In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Dan LaCella from Ohio to talk about why young adult ministry is not optional for the local church anymore.

Dan shares:

• Why the young adult decade (roughly 18–30) is so spiritually strategic
• How a local young adult ministry helped him “own” his faith at a secular university
• What God is doing among young adults across Ohio—and how it parallels the movement in Minnesota
• Why this generation is hungry for depth, doctrine, and authenticity, not just coffee and games
• How ancient spiritual disciplines (prayer, fasting, contemplation, sacraments) meet the needs of a digital, distracted age

If you’re a pastor, young adult leader, or a twenty-something wondering where you fit in God’s mission, this conversation will fuel your faith and give you practical vision for the future.

www.youngadults.today 

Level Up Your Reading, Level Up Your Leading (with Danny Rangel)

In this episode of the Young Adults Today podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down once again with Pastor Danny Rangel from BT Young Adults in McAllen, Texas. Danny shares a powerful three–year recap of BT Young Adults—from humble beginnings after the pandemic to campus worship nights, spontaneous baptisms, and record-breaking Tuesday gatherings.

They dive deep into: Why weekly young adult services increased local church commitment How to shift a generation from consumers to contributors Practical strategies for reading more and actually using what you read as a leader Danny also unpacks his famous book recommendations, his simple but brilliant “read to reference, not remember” framework, and his practical system for finishing books consistently as a busy husband, dad, and pastor.

More about us: www.youngadults.today

5 Ways to Spark Courageous Creativity in Leadership with Al Gordon

Spark: Awakening Courageous Creativity & Preparing for Revival with Al Gordon In this episode of the Young Adults Today Podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down (via Zoom to London) with Al Gordon—pastor of SAINT Church in East London and author of Spark. Al shares how planting a church on “Murder Mile,” preaching the funeral of a murdered teenager, and then encountering a Netflix documentary became a turning point in his understanding of creativity as a spiritual act. You’ll hear about: Why every person is creative (and why we lose it) How boredom can become the birthplace of brilliance Why the church should be a homeland for creativity and entrepreneurship The signs of a pre‑revival moment among young adults in London Five keys to unlocking courageous creativity in your life and ministry If you’re a young adult, a ministry leader, or anyone who feels a holy burden for this generation, this conversation will challenge you to dream again, think bigger, and take new risks with the Holy Spirit.
Book: Spark by Al Gordon (https://amzn.to/4tjJQTb)
Church: SAINT Church, East London (https://saint.church)
Netflix Documentary: Abstract (episode featuring Es Devlin)

Resources:
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7 Ways to Strengthen Your Young Adult Ministry

You did it—you started a young adult ministry. Now comes the real challenge: how do you sustain it and make it stronger? In this episode, Josiah and Micah Kennealy unpack seven practical, Spirit‑led ways to move beyond just filling a room to actually forming lives for decades. Whether you’re a pastor, young adult leader, or volunteer, this conversation will help you build a ministry that’s not dependent on a few talented people, but on the mobilized body of Christ. In This Episode, We Talk About: Start Praying and Stay Praying Why prayer is the difference between our best and God’s best The danger of becoming self‑reliant in ministry Cultivating ongoing dependence and “holy desperation” on the Holy Spirit Stop Doing Everything and Start Mobilizing Everyone Else Moving from doing ministry to people to doing ministry through people How to identify gifts already in the room (hospitality, worship, media, etc.) Why “the miracle is in the room” when you empower young adults to lead Think in Decades, Not Days Shifting from event‑to‑event thinking to long‑term discipleship Asking, “What will this 22‑year‑old’s life look like at 32?” The “super bloom” metaphor: sowing seeds now and trusting God for future fruit Take Your Young Adults Seriously Understanding the loneliness and transition of the young adult season Why programs attract, but relationships sustain The power of hospitality: inviting young adults into your home and life, not just a room Make Your Ministry Matter Beyond Your Night Gut‑check question: If your ministry disappeared tomorrow, who outside your room would notice? Creating weekly and monthly touch points for connection (groups, Sunday seating, hangouts) Serving your city and community through outreach and cause‑driven opportunities Build Leaders, Not Just Volunteers The difference between a placeholder volunteer and an empowered leader Three essentials of healthy leadership pipelines: recruiting, training, caring Moving from a “priest–laity model” to an Ephesians 4, equip-the-saints model Give Young Adults a Seat and a Say Strong ministries are not built for young adults but with young adults Involving young adults in every area of the church (worship, kids, youth, hospitality, production, etc.) Why you shouldn’t be a “helicopter pastor” and why risk, responsibility, and real ownership matter Memorable Ideas & Quotes “I don’t want to live on yesterday’s manna when God has provided daily bread.” “The miracle is in the room.” “Filling a room is short term, but forming a life is long term.” “Programs will always attract individuals, but relationships will carry them through life.” “If your young adult ministry disappeared tomorrow, who outside your room would notice?” “Healthy ministries build leaders, not just volunteers.” “Strong young adult ministries are not built for young adults, but with young adults.” Who This Episode Is For Young adult pastors and directors Lead pastors and church planters Campus missionaries and college ministry leaders Volunteers and lay leaders who care about the next generation Questions to Process With Your Team Where have we become self‑reliant instead of prayer‑dependent? Are we doing too much for young adults and not enough with young adults? If our ministry vanished, who in our city or campus would notice? Are we building a deck of cards (crowds) or a healthy core (disciples and leaders)? What concrete steps can we take in the next 90 days to give young adults more ownership? Action Steps From This Episode Recommit to ongoing prayer for your young adult ministry. Identify at least 3 young adults you can invite into deeper leadership and ownership. Map out your weekly and monthly touch points for community and discipleship. Plan one way your ministry will bless your city in the next month (service, outreach, partnership). Invite a few young adults to the table and ask, “What are we missing? What needs to change?” We’d Love to Hear From You How is God moving among young adults in your church, campus, or city? What’s working in your context? Where have you seen one of these seven ways make a big difference? What would you add to this list? Send us your stories, questions, and pushback—we’re cheering you on and praying for you as you reach the next generation. If this episode encouraged you, please rate, review, like, subscribe, and share it with another young adult leader.

Resources: BOGO book bundles: https://www.youngadults.today/book
www.youngadults.today/west-coast-conference 

Busyness, Comparison & Calling: Banks Ramsey on Young Adult Discipleship

Josiah and Micah Kennealy talk with Banks Ramsey about pastoring your peers, his journey of Prodigal Pastor's Kid to Pastor himself, and the enemies of discipleship in the life of a young adult.

More about us: Learn more about youngadultstoday: www.youngadults.today

Give to propel the ministry forward: https://tithe.ly/give?c=5350133

Resources: -Free eBook "10 Steps to Starting a Successful Young Adult Ministry": https://www.youngadults.today/book

-Join our FaceBook Group Community with 2500+ leaders: https://www.facebook.com/groups/796270437396021

-Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngadults.today/ 

From Virality to Community: Reaching Young Adults on Social Media with Nadine Krill

Josiah and Micah Kennealy talk with Nadine Krill about Thursdays at Mariners, leading a killer social media for churches and young adult ministries!

More about us: Learn more about youngadultstoday: www.youngadults.today

Give to propel the ministry forward: https://tithe.ly/give?c=5350133

Resources:

-Free eBook "10 Steps to Starting a Successful Young Adult Ministry": https://www.youngadults.today/book

-Join our FaceBook Group Community with 2500+ leaders: https://www.facebook.com/groups/796270437396021

-Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngadults.today/

 

In the Room, Not Online: Reaching Young Adults in a Lonely Generation with Serena Gonzalez

Josiah and Micah Kennealy talk with Serena Gonzalez from Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas about how Lakewood is rethinking young adult ministry in 2026! 

More about us:

Learn more about youngadultstoday: www.youngadults.today

Give to propel the ministry forward: https://tithe.ly/give?c=5350133

Resources: -Free eBook "10 Steps to Starting a Successful Young Adult Ministry": https://www.youngadults.today/book

-Join our FaceBook Group Community with 2500+ leaders: https://www.facebook.com/groups/796270437396021

-Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngadults.today/

-See you in Minneapolis this March 13-14th for the youngadultstoday leader conference: www.youngadults.today/conference

-Limited Spots are available for our Coaching Communities launching February 16th: www.youngadults.today/coaching-communities