.png?width=800&height=171&name=cym-live-logo-marathon%20(1).png){kind=logo}
%201.jpg)
The Church Podcast
Each episode features conversations with people from various backgrounds, exploring the real side of ministry. We discuss insights and learnings from the local and national landscape, enriching our understanding of the ministry's impact.
All Episodes
Why Gen Z Youth Ministers Plan to Leave in 5 Years | Charlotte McCorquodale, Ep 078
86% of youth and young adult ministry leaders report a high level of joy, and 72% of Gen Z leaders expect to stay five years or less. Dr. Charlotte McCorquodale explains why, and what pastors and dioceses can do about it. In this conversation, Christopher Wesley and Dr. Charlotte McCorquodale of Ministry Training Source, our first three-time guest, talk about her new report, The Stack We Carry, the follow-up to Illuminating Trends. They cover three pressure points (more, more, more; leaders who plan to leave within five years; and the push to reinvent ministry), job descriptions, defining success beyond attendance, pay, transitions, and the first conversations leaders, pastors and dioceses can start. Full show notes and resources: https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/churchpodcast/episode-078-why-gen-z-youth-ministers-plan-to-leave-in-5-years-with-charlotte-mccorquodale Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC307YUsy2980SICsZElRPGA CHAPTERS 0:00 Cold open: joyful, committed, and still leaving 1:26 Welcome and announcements 4:47 Meet Charlotte McCorquodale 7:19 Why a follow-up to Illuminating Trends 10:54 The stack of stones: what ministry leaders carry 15:57 Why Gen Z leaders plan to leave within five years 22:04 Pressure point: more, more, more 29:31 Pressure point: shifting realities and reinventing ministry 35:32 Starting the conversation: questions for leaders and pastors 39:00 Job descriptions and defining success 43:56 What dioceses can do 46:17 Retention, pay and the pay gap 53:17 Turnover, transitions and healthy teams 56:59 Why Charlotte wrote this for diocesan leaders 59:10 One next step: start with your peers 1:03:02 Where to find the report 1:05:28 Closing thoughts RESOURCES MENTIONED Ministry Training Source: https://ministrytrainingsource.org The Stack We Carry: https://www.ministrytrainingsource.org/resources/product/p_3388920 The Stack We Carry Conversation Series, From Pressure Points to Balancing Actions: Where Do We Begin? A three- or five-session resource series to help pastors or supervisors, ministry leaders and teams understand the pressure points, discuss their local realities, choose a balancing action and identify practical next steps. Each session includes adaptable presentations, speaker notes and handouts: https://www.ministrytrainingsource.org/resources/product/p_3385947 Illuminating Trends and other research reports: https://ministrytrainingsource.org/research Episode 055, Illuminating Trends with Charlotte McCorquodale: https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/churchpodcast/episode-055-illuminating-trends-what-the-data-says-about-the-future-of-ministry-with-charlotte-mccorquodale Episode 014, The Importance of Forming Pastoral Ministry Leaders with Charlotte McCorquodale: https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/churchpodcast/episode-014-the-importance-of-forming-pastoral-ministry-leaders-w/-charlotte-mccorquodale National Catholic Youth Conference: https://nfcym.org/ncyc CONNECT WITH CHARLOTTE Website: https://ministrytrainingsource.org Email: charlotte@ministrytrainingsource.org ASK JENNY A QUESTION Submit a question for a future episode at http://thechurchpodcast.org/ MORE FROM MARATHON YOUTH MINISTRY Ministry Coach: https://ministryally.app?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep078 M2GO: training videos, templates and resources for your ministry team: https://marathonyouthministry.com/ministry2go?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep078 MYM store: https://marathonyouthministry.store The Church Podcast is a member of the NFCYM Podcast Network: https://nfcym.org/podcastnetwork/ More from the show: http://thechurchpodcast.org/ Recorded on Riverside (affiliate link): https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=christopher-wesley Produced by Marathon Youth Ministry and Stephen Herrera of Be Well Creative: https://bewellcreative
Why Catholic Teens Leave the Church Before College | Kedon Gumerson, Ep 077
"The head and the heart leave the church much earlier." Kedon Gumerson, founder of Kinetic Catholic, on why most young Catholics are gone before college and what reaches Catholic high schoolers now. Kedon started a weekly Catholic apologetics channel at 11. Now a senior at Franciscan University of Steubenville, he leads a team of young adult missionaries running retreats in Catholic high schools. He and Christopher talk about why faith becomes "a school subject," why Gen Z is all in when they love Jesus, the age gap in our parishes, how older leaders can empower young people, and how to keep going without burning out. Full show notes and resources: https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/churchpodcast/episode-077-why-catholic-teens-leave-the-church-before-college-with-kedon-gumerson Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC307YUsy2980SICsZElRPGA CHAPTERS 0:00 Cold open: "It's old people" 1:01 Welcome and introduction 3:50 Meet Kedon Gumerson 5:09 Kid Catholic: an apologetics channel at 11 13:06 Building a team at Franciscan 18:04 Why teens leave before college 23:59 Why Gen Z is all in 28:41 The age gap in our parishes 34:22 How older leaders can empower young people 38:56 Inside a Kinetic Catholic retreat 44:51 Avoiding burnout 48:55 Kedon's hope, and how to connect RESOURCES MENTIONED Kinetic Catholic: https://kineticcatholic.com/ Springtide Research Institute, research on Catholic teens: https://springtideresearch.org/post/religion-and-spirituality/research-on-catholic-teens TENx10: https://www.tenx10.org/ NFCYM events, including NCYC and Exchange: https://nfcym.org/ CONNECT WITH KINETIC CATHOLIC Website: https://kineticcatholic.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kineticcatholic/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kineticcatholic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8xnRLyVlvmPL-PFiu-1bYg MORE FROM MARATHON YOUTH MINISTRY M2GO: training videos, templates and resources for your ministry team: https://marathonyouthministry.com/ministry2go?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep077 Ministry Coach: https://ministryally.app?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep077 MYM store: https://marathonyouthministry.store?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep077 Ask a question for a future episode: http://thechurchpodcast.org/ The Church Podcast is a member of the NFCYM Podcast Network: https://nfcym.org/podcastnetwork/ More from the show: http://thechurchpodcast.org/ Recorded on Riverside (affiliate link): https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=christopher-wesley Produced by Marathon Youth Ministry and Stephen Herrera of Be Well Creative: https://bewellcreative.co/
Why Catholic Youth Ministry Isn’t Working (and What Is) | Jack Regan, Ep 076.
"The Holy Spirit has not given up on the north of England." Jack Regan, author of How to Start a Fire, on why most Catholic youth ministry isn't forming disciples, and what the ministries that are do differently. Jack Regan, director of youth services for the Diocese of Lancaster in England, spent ten years studying ministries that really evangelize. He and Christopher talk about naming what isn't working, the mission-vision-strategy exercise most ministries skip, moving from maintenance to mission, discipleship as a journey, what success in ministry actually looks like, why your team needs fraternity, and why anyone can evangelize. Full show notes and resources: https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/churchpodcast/episode-076-why-catholic-youth-ministry-isnt-working-and-what-is-with-jack-regan Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC307YUsy2980SICsZElRPGA CHAPTERS 0:00 Cold open: "The Holy Spirit has not given up" 1:00 Welcome and introduction 3:36 Meet Jack Regan 6:01 Why he wrote How to Start a Fire 15:00 Successful ministries know why they exist 22:23 From maintenance to mission 32:10 Discipleship is a journey 38:15 What success in ministry looks like 44:10 Fraternity: a team that likes each other 50:33 Anyone can evangelize, and Jack's hope RESOURCES MENTIONED Jack Regan, How to Start a Fire: A Blueprint for Catholic Youth Ministry: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1036980162?tag=04130706-20 (affiliate link) Castlerigg Manor, Diocese of Lancaster youth service: https://castleriggmanor.com/ The Ascent: https://www.theascentuk.co.uk/ NFCYM events, including NCYC and Exchange: https://nfcym.org/ CONNECT WITH JACK Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackreganuk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackreganuk/ MORE FROM MARATHON YOUTH MINISTRY M2GO: training videos, templates and resources for your ministry team: https://marathonyouthministry.com/ministry2go?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep076 Ministry Coach: https://ministryally.app?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep076 MYM store: https://marathonyouthministry.store?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep076 Ask a question for a future episode: http://thechurchpodcast.org/ The Church Podcast is a member of the NFCYM Podcast Network: https://nfcym.org/podcastnetwork/ More from the show: http://thechurchpodcast.org/ Recorded on Riverside (affiliate link): https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=christopher-wesley Produced by Marathon Youth Ministry and Stephen Herrera of Be Well Creative: https://bewellcreative.co/ As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul: How to Prepare Your Group | Verso Ministries, Ep 075
"There aren't many people walking barefoot to Rome, but there are people in middle seats." Joan Watson and John Paul Lichon of Verso Ministries on preparing pilgrims for World Youth Day in Seoul. John Paul Lichon, founder and CEO of Verso Ministries, and Joan Watson, its pilgrim formation manager, talk about what makes a pilgrimage different from a trip, how to prepare pilgrims for the sacrifices along the way, the "so what?" question every pilgrim should answer, the story of the Korean Church, how to bring the whole parish along, and why you don't have to fly overseas to make a pilgrimage. Full show notes and resources: https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/churchpodcast/episode-075-world-youth-day-2027-in-seoul-how-to-prepare-your-group-with-verso-ministries Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC307YUsy2980SICsZElRPGA CHAPTERS 0:00 Cold open: "Parts are gonna hurt" 1:01 Welcome and introduction 2:32 Meet John Paul, Joan and Verso Ministries 7:09 Why a pilgrimage is not a vacation 11:41 Sacrifice, setbacks and lost luggage 17:00 Coming home: the "so what?" question 22:51 Starting Verso with $25 and a state website 28:29 World Youth Day in Seoul and the Korean Church 35:52 Bringing the whole parish along 41:49 What gives them hope: "Take courage" RESOURCES MENTIONED Verso Ministries: https://versoministries.com/ Lead a group with Verso: https://versoministries.com/lead-a-group/ In Via podcast: https://versoministries.com/in-via/ Verso's startup story: https://versoministries.com/versos-startup-story/ World Youth Day Seoul 2027: https://wydseoul.org/ Joan Watson, Making a Pilgrimage: A Companion for Catholics: https://www.joanwatson.faith/ CONNECT WITH JOAN AND JOHN PAUL Verso: https://versoministries.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/catholictravels/ Joan: https://www.joanwatson.faith/ and https://www.instagram.com/joan.m.watson/ SUPPORT OUR WORLD YOUTH DAY PILGRIMS Marathon Youth Ministry is helping the Sisters of Bon Secours and the Diocese of San Diego take about 70 pilgrims to Seoul with Verso. Please pray for us, and support a pilgrim at https://wydbonsecours.org/donate World Youth Day collection at the MYM store (proceeds support pilgrims): https://marathonyouthministry.store?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep075 MORE FROM MARATHON YOUTH MINISTRY M2GO: training videos, templates and resources for your ministry team: https://marathonyouthministry.com/ministry2go?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep075 Ministry Coach: https://ministryally.app?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep075 MYM store: https://marathonyouthministry.store?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep075 The Church Podcast is a member of the NFCYM Podcast Network: https://nfcym.org/podcastnetwork/ More from the show: http://thechurchpodcast.org/ Recorded on Riverside (affiliate link): https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=christopher-wesley Produced by Marathon Youth Ministry and Stephen Herrera of Be Well Creative: https://bewellcreative.co/