In this special Youth Ministry Unscripted Series looking at the past and future 25 years of youth ministry, Isaiah, Josh, and Danny sit down with Dr. Jason Engle, Professor of Christian Ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. They discuss Jason’s ministry experiences and his assessment on the past and future 25 years of youth ministry.
Listen to the episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or watch the episode on YouTube!
Ministry over the Years
Drawing from 20 years of pastoral experience, Jason shares how his understanding of student ministry has grown and changed over the years. He discusses moving beyond pragmatism to pursue spiritual maturity in students and recognize the essential role of parents and volunteers in discipleship. Jason offers an encouraging vision for youth ministry: one that takes students seriously as members of the church today, grounds ministry in the Great Commission, and equips leaders to faithfully teach God’s Word. He reminds youth pastors that students are not simply the church of tomorrow, but members of the church today.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- How youth ministry has changed over the past 25 years and what we may have lost along the way
- How to prioritize depth in discipleship of students
- Why youth pastors are called to equip parents and volunteer leaders, not just minister to students
- How churches can pursue spiritual maturity as the goal of student ministry
- Why young leaders should actively pursue learning through education and hands-on ministry experience
About Jason Engle
Jason has served as a pastor at Westwood Baptist Church, in Roxboro, NC, since 2006. Although his current role is Teaching Pastor, he served as a Student Pastor for over 20 years. His passion for leading students to know and supremely treasure Jesus has only intensified through the years, now focused on pouring into the next generation of leaders. Jason previously taught as an adjunct with a focus on student ministry while also assisting SEBTS in developing a DMin track in Student Ministry. His EdD dissertation (2021) centered upon knowing as a key aspect of spiritual maturity with the desire to help leaders consider how the aim of spiritual maturity ought to shape student ministry pedagogy. Jason is a frequent contributor on sites such as Youth Pastor Theologian, Rooted, and The Center for Parent Youth Understanding (CPYU), where he also serves as a Research Fellow. Jason and his wife Erin live in Roxboro and have 3 children.
More Rooted Resources
Podcasts – Youth Ministry Through the Years
Ask Rooted: How Do You Shift to Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry?
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