For those who serve in student ministry, want to connect, and desire to grow. Hosted by Steve Cullum.
Episodes
Aug 19, 2025
Aug 19, 2025
8 min
What do we do about cell phones in youth group? Whether you believe they have their place or they should be put away the entire time, Steve shares some tips on both sides of the argument and reminds us to look beyond the phone issue when interacting with students.
Important links:
- Take the Thriving Youth Leader survey at bit.ly/thriving-yp-survey-2025
- Learn more about Steve's ministry with NNYM at https://nnym.org/stevecullum
- Sign up to get Steve's newsletter at https://bit.ly/cullumnewsletter
- Support the ministry by giving online at https://bit.ly/cullumsupport
- Contact Steve about partnerships, speaking, coaching, or consulting at https://bit.ly/cullumcontact
- Follow Student Ministry Connection on Instagram: https://instagram.com/studentministryconnection
- Read Steve's blog at https://stevecullum.com
- Follow Steve on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevecullum
- Follow Steve on Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevecullum
- Follow Steve on Facebook: https://facebook.com/stevecullum
Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET.
Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection.
Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry.
Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection
If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!
Aug 5, 2025
Aug 5, 2025
34 min
How can we leverage all the amazing things that our students experience at summer camps and mission trips for the entire school year, helping students continue to grow in their faith and share it with their friends? Travis Deans returns to talk with Steve about moving from summer camp to the school campuses.
Links referenced in this episode:
- Take the Thriving Youth Leader survey at bit.ly/thriving-yp-survey-2025
- Email Travis at [email protected]
- Visit the 9 Month Mission Trip website at https://9monthmissiontrip.com
- Get the 9 Month Mission Trip guide at https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/p/9-month-mission-trip-student-guide/mission-trips/mission-trip-devotionals-9489.html
- Learn more about Steve's ministry with NNYM at https://nnym.org/stevecullum
- Sign up to get Steve's newsletter at https://bit.ly/cullumnewsletter
- Support the ministry by giving online at https://bit.ly/cullumsupport
- Contact Steve about partnerships, speaking, coaching, or consulting at https://bit.ly/cullumcontact
- Follow Student Ministry Connection on Instagram: https://instagram.com/studentministryconnection
- Read Steve's blog at https://stevecullum.com
- Follow Steve on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevecullum
- Follow Steve on Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevecullum
- Follow Steve on Facebook: https://facebook.com/stevecullum
Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET.
Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection.
Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry.
Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection
If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
4 min
Hey, youth leaders! I’m working on a nation-wide research project, and I’d love your help! We’re trying to answer this big question: What helps youth pastors thrive and stick around longer in ministry? We deeply believe that when a youth leader thrives—in their relationship with God, in healthy partnerships with others, and in making disciples—students win. But too many youth leaders are burning out, dropping out, or just hanging on by a thread. That’s why we’re launching a nationwide survey to figure out what actually helps youth leaders flourish long-term—and we want to hear from you.
What we’re hoping to learn: What’s the current average tenure of a youth pastor? What factors make someone more likely to stay in youth ministry longer? Does being part of a youth leader network actually make a difference?
Whether you’re brand new to ministry or have been at it for decades, your input will help churches and ministries like National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) better support youth pastors—so we can see more leaders thriving and more students transformed by Jesus.
The survey takes just 5–10 minutes, is completely confidential, and as a thank-you, you’ll be entered to win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Take the survey at the link below.
https://bit.ly/thriving-yp-survey-2025
Thank you in advance for helping shape a healthier future for youth ministry! 💪
Research done in partnership with NNYM, Great Commission Research Network, and One Hope.
Other helpful links:
- Learn more about Steve's ministry with NNYM at https://nnym.org/stevecullum
- Sign up to get Steve's newsletter at https://bit.ly/cullumnewsletter
- Support the ministry by giving online at https://bit.ly/cullumsupport
- Contact Steve about partnerships, speaking, coaching, or consulting at https://bit.ly/cullumcontact
- Follow Student Ministry Connection on Instagram: https://instagram.com/studentministryconnection
- Read Steve's blog at https://stevecullum.com
- Follow Steve on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevecullum
- Follow Steve on Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevecullum
- Follow Steve on Facebook: https://facebook.com/stevecullum
Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection
If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!
Jul 22, 2025
Jul 22, 2025
10 min
What if discipleship isn’t just about your weekly youth night? What if the real growth actually happens outside of your program? In this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve talks about what it means to disciple students beyond the structure—and how summer and back-to-school season give us a great opportunity to do exactly that.
Links referenced in this episode:
- Take the Thriving Youth Leader survey at bit.ly/thriving-yp-survey-2025
- Want to hear more? Check out Discipleship with 3 Questions on episode 161.
- Learn more about Steve's ministry with NNYM at https://nnym.org/stevecullum
- Sign up to get Steve's newsletter at https://bit.ly/cullumnewsletter
- Support the ministry by giving online at https://bit.ly/cullumsupport
- Contact Steve about partnerships, speaking, coaching, or consulting at https://bit.ly/cullumcontact
- Follow Student Ministry Connection on Instagram: https://instagram.com/studentministryconnection
- Read Steve's blog at https://stevecullum.com
- Follow Steve on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevecullum
- Follow Steve on Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevecullum
- Follow Steve on Facebook: https://facebook.com/stevecullum
Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET.
Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection.
Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry.
Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection
If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!
Jul 8, 2025
Jul 8, 2025
21 min
What does it look like to disciple teen girls well—and how can youth leaders do that in a healthy, intentional way? On this episode, Steve talks with Krista McBroom, who is passionate about making girls’ ministry a vital part of every student ministry, and she’s ready to help your church create space for teen girls to grow in their faith.
Links referenced in this episode:
- Connect more with Krista at https://www.kristamichelle.com
- Learn more about Steve's ministry with NNYM at https://nnym.org/stevecullum
- Sign up to get Steve's newsletter at https://bit.ly/cullumnewsletter
- Support the ministry by giving online at https://bit.ly/cullumsupport
- Contact Steve about partnerships, speaking, coaching, or consulting at https://bit.ly/cullumcontact
- Follow Student Ministry Connection on Instagram: https://instagram.com/studentministryconnection
- Read Steve's blog at https://stevecullum.com
- Follow Steve on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevecullum
- Follow Steve on Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevecullum
- Follow Steve on Facebook: https://facebook.com/stevecullum
Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET.
Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection.
Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry.
Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection
If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!