Episode 035 – Sacred Listening: Building Trust and Belonging with Josh Packard and Cari Foster

In this timely and thought-provoking episode, Christopher Wesley sits down with sociologist and author Josh Packard, co-founder of Future Faith, and campus minister Cari Foster, Director of Mission and Formation at Lake Catholic High School. Together, they explore how sacred listening, accompaniment, and presence are transforming the way we engage with Gen Z and Gen Alpha in faith formation.

Drawing from Josh’s upcoming book Faithful Futures and Cari’s on-the-ground ministry experience, the conversation unpacks why belonging comes before believing, how trust is shifting from institutions to individuals, and why listening is one of the most powerful tools ministry leaders can practice today.

Whether you’re a parish leader, campus minister, or parent, this dialogue offers practical tools and fresh hope for walking with young people in an age of distrust, digital disruption, and deep longing for connection.

Key Takeaways

• A New Context for Ministry: Today’s teens are not shaped by the same world as previous generations—technology, AI, and cultural shifts demand new approaches beyond “what worked for us.”
  
  
• From Institutions to Individuals: Research shows young people trust people they know more than institutions or influencers, making personal relationships critical.
  
  
• Belonging Before Believing: Faith takes root when youth first experience authentic belonging; ministry must shift from leading with truth to leading with presence and trust.
  
  
• Sacred Listening Tools: Future Faith offers practical, free resources that help leaders listen deeply and follow up in scalable, intentional ways.
  
  
• Accompaniment Over Fixing: Both Josh and Cari emphasize that effective ministry is less about giving answers and more about walking alongside students with presence and empathy.
  
  
• Practical Models: From dry erase calendars to Uno cards and even euchre clubs, small acts of attention and shared presence can build trust that lasts.
  
  

What Josh and Cari Recommend

• Tools & Resources: Josh points to sacred listening practices and sociological tools that make relational ministry scalable; Cari highlights Canva and AI tools that save time and help with creative ministry tasks.
  
  
• What They’re Reading & Listening To:
  
  
  • Josh recommends the podcast A History of Rock in 500 Songs, which unpacks the cultural, racial, and social dimensions of music history.
    
    
  • Cari recently revisited The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, finding fresh delight and spiritual depth in the classic stories.
    
    

Connect with Josh and Cari
🌐 futureoffaith.org – Explore research, free sacred listening tools, and resources connected to Josh’s work.
📧 Josh: josh@futurefaith.org
📧 Cari: cfoster@lakecatholic.org

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Recorded on Riverside - HERE

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