In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Annie Grandell, Senior Director of YDisciple for NET Ministries and co-host of the YDisciple Podcast through the NFCYM Podcast Network.
Annie shares an update on her ministry journey — seven years at NET Ministries after previous roles at the Augustine Institute and twelve years as a parish youth minister — along with the news that YDisciple is translating its entire library into Spanish, including Christopher's own "Seasons" lectionary-based Bible study for middle schoolers.
Together, Christopher and Annie explore why trust, not belief, is the real gap facing the Church today, how the "savior complex" undermines ministry leaders, and why the simple discipline of asking questions — rather than filling silence — is one of the most powerful tools for evangelization. They also dig into practical leadership habits like the EOS "clarity break" and the wisdom of focusing on one thing at a time instead of trying to fix everything at once.
This conversation is a grounded, practical look at what it actually takes to build trust and be present with people in ministry, blending hard-won leadership lessons with genuine hope for where the Church is headed.
YDisciple's new grant-funded initiative to translate its entire resource library into Spanish, including Christopher's "Seasons" Bible study
Why the trust gap — not a belief gap — is the biggest challenge facing the Church, per Dr. Josh Packard's research
How the "savior complex" in ministry erodes trust and burns leaders out
The story behind Annie's shift toward asking better questions, and the colleague who modeled it for her
Using the "drought" analogy to explain why less can be more in catechesis
Practical leadership resources: Simon Sinek, the EOS framework, and the "clarity break" habit
Common mistakes young leaders make — trying to fix everything at once instead of focusing on one thing
What's giving Annie and Christopher hope for the Church right now
Annie Grandell is the Senior Director of YDisciple for NET Ministries, where she leads efforts to help adults walk alongside Catholic teenagers in small group discipleship. Before NET, she served as YDisciple Director at the Augustine Institute and spent twelve years as a parish youth minister. She co-hosts the YDisciple Podcast on the NFCYM Podcast Network.
Resources Mentioned
YDisciple: ydisciple.com
Simon Sinek – Leaders Eat Last: simonsinek.com
The One Thing by Gary Keller: the1thing.com
Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0 by Jim Collins and Bill Lazier: jimcollins.com
Multipliers by Liz Wiseman: thewisemangroup.com
Connect with Annie
Website: YDisciple.com
Email: YDisciple@netusa.org
Podcast: YDisciple Podcast (NFCYM Podcast Network)
The Church Podcast is a proud member of the NFCYM Podcast Network. Check out some of our other shows like the Accompany Podcast and the YDisciple Podcast.
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Recorded on Riverside – HERE
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