One background check can make us feel responsible, but it cannot make our church safe. We sit down with Kris Buckman to talk plainly about sexual abuse prevention and what Next Gen leaders can actually implement in kids ministry and student ministry without getting overwhelmed.

We unpack why training has to come first, how awareness changes culture, and what grooming patterns and offender behaviors can look like in trusted environments. Kris explains why churches often miss the bigger picture when they treat prevention as a one-time checkbox, and he shares a simple framework built around five essentials: training, screening, protecting, reporting, and caring. We also point you to free resources at SBCabuseprevention.com, including templates and an Essentials Curriculum designed to give teams step-by-step next actions.

Share this with a ministry teammate and leave a review so more churches build safer systems for kids and teens.

What is the first policy or practice you need to update this month?

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry

You can run every event on the calendar and still feel like discipleship is slipping through your fingers. That tension is at the heart of this conversation with Vic Green, co-author of Movement Ready Church.

Chuck and Vick dig into a hard but freeing idea: disciple making is not a button you press, and it is not a program you tack on. A disciple-making movement starts with spiritual renewal. Vic explains why “every movement starts by not moving,” and we unpack what it looks like to step off the treadmill, trade self-reliance for prayerful dependence, and lead from the overflow of your relationship with Jesus. If you care about Gen Z ministry and Generation Alpha ministry, this is the foundation you cannot skip.

If you’re ready to rebuild your discipleship plan around renewal, culture, and clarity, listen now, then subscribe, share this with a fellow next gen leader, and leave a review so more churches can find it. What’s one ministry “scoreboard” you’re ready to change?

SHOW LINKS:

The Movement-Ready Church

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry

What if one of the most powerful leadership tools you have isn't a strategy, curriculum, or program, but simply your presence?

In this episode of the ETCH Next Gen Podcast, Dr. Kimberly and Dr. Joe Beam share practical wisdom from years of ministry and leadership, exploring how intentionally showing up for others can transform your relationships, your team, and your ministry. Together, they discuss the importance of emotional safety, healthy communication, and team dynamics, offering actionable insights for leaders who serve kids, students, and families.

Whether you're leading volunteers, partnering with parents, or building a ministry team, this conversation will challenge you to create environments where trust grows, people feel valued, and discipleship can flourish. You'll walk away with practical tools for leading with greater empathy, fostering stronger connections, and cultivating a ministry culture that reflects the heart of Christ.

Tune in and discover how showing up intentionally may be the leadership shift your ministry needs most.

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry

How can we help the next generation stand firm in a culture constantly shaping their beliefs, values, and identity?

In this episode of the ETCH Next Gen Podcast, Chuck Peters sits down with author and Bible teacher Elizabeth Woodson to discuss her book, The Seven Habits of Resistance. Together, they explore the cultural pressures facing young people today—from social media-driven identity formation to the rise of individualism and self-centered definitions of truth, love, and success.

Elizabeth shares practical insights on helping students and young adults recognize and resist the cultural lies surrounding identity, relationships, justice, joy, hope, and the pursuit of the good life. She emphasizes the importance of rooting identity in Christ rather than achievement, embracing self-sacrificial love, and finding true belonging within the local church.

The conversation also examines spiritual practices such as fasting, meditation on Scripture, and meaningful community that can help believers develop resilience and faithfulness in a challenging cultural moment.

SHOW LINKS:

The Seven Habits of Resistance by Elizabeth Woodson

Register for ETCH Conference

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry

Want to grow as a leader? Pick up a book! In a world filled with quick clips and shallow content, the leaders who rise are the ones who learn deeply — page by page.

In this rich and energizing episode, Chuck Peters and Jeremy Echols unpack the transformative power of reading for leadership development. They explore the timeless wisdom found in classic leadership books, share their personal reading rhythms, and highlight why deep, intentional learning will always outperform short-form consumption when it comes to shaping effective, grounded leaders.

Whether you're new to leadership or building a long-term ministry career, this episode will equip you with perspectives and resources to grow your influence, lead healthier teams, and cultivate personal and spiritual maturity.

SHOW LINKS:

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Spiritual Leadership

Good to Great

The Four Obsessions of an Extordinary Executive

The 6 Types of Working Genius

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

Screens are everywhere, but sacred spaces are disappearing. In a world where digital noise dominates our attention, how do we help the next generation hear the voice of God?

In this powerful episode Jesse and Sarah Siegand dive deep into the challenges and strategies of discipling students in a digital world. The speakers unpack what it looks like to guide kids and teens toward meaningful faith formation in an age of endless scrolling, where attention is the new currency and discipleship must be both intentional and countercultural.

This episode isn’t about hating technology, it’s about redeeming it. From the role of parents in digital discipleship to the spiritual practice of fasting and modeling healthy habits, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for leaders who want to raise resilient, grounded disciples in a screen-saturated generation.

SHOW LINKS:

Parents Who Fight

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry

What happens when ministry leaders see their schools, neighborhoods, and everyday rhythms not as obstacles — but as mission fields?

In this live episode recorded at the ETCH Next Gen Ministry Conference, Justin Holcomb shares powerful, practical wisdom on what it really means to love your community and connect with students in meaningful ways. From engaging with schools to supporting families, this conversation cuts through the noise and brings leaders back to the heart of relational ministry: showing up, staying consistent, and loving people well.

Thanks so much for listening to this episode of ETCH Next Gen Ministry Podcast.
We’d love for you to join us at ETCH Conference 2026 — make plans now to be part of this incredible gathering of Next Gen leaders.

And if today’s episode encouraged or equipped you, leave us a rating and review. It helps more ministry leaders find the show and grow with us.

SHOW LINKS:

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry

What separates leaders who maintain ministries from those who multiply them?

In this episode, Jeff Wallace joins Chuck Peters for an honest and insightful conversation on the habits that define effective leadership. From leading with vision to choosing growth over comfort, Jeff unpacks the disciplines that develop both your character and your capacity.

Whether you’re leading a team, a ministry, or the next generation itself — this conversation will challenge you to think bigger, lead deeper, and invest in people who will outlast your platform.

Share this episode with your ministry team or leadership pipeline. Use it as a guide to evaluate your habits, grow your influence, and build leaders who multiply the mission of the Gospel.

SHOW LINKS:

Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry