Gender and Sexuality in Youth Culture Conversations around sexuality and gender identity are sometimes awkward and often incendiary. But in this cultural moment, they are undoubtedly necessary. So how do we engage this conversation with our young people with grace and truth? 🤷♂️ That’s the question we sat down to discuss with Ed Drew, the founder of Faith in Kids. 👌 We cover a lot of ground in this crucial conversation, including… ✅ why understanding our identity has to come before modifying ...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 10 min
If Jesus heart was disproportionately oriented towards anyone, it was consistently the most marginalised in society. And in today’s world, that can way too often mean those young people with neurodivergence and special educational needs. But if the gospel is for anyone, it’s for them! That’s why we sat down with psychologist and experienced youth worker, Abz Adekeye, to discuss how to better engage the whole range of young people, and not just the majority. 👌 In this crucial conversation, we di...
May 27, 2025•1 hr 9 min
We’ve all heard the story: declining church attendance, particularly among younger generations, the rise of the “nones,” and the seemingly unstoppable emergence of the secular age. We know that stats: 48% of churches in the UK have fewer than five under 16 year olds, 95% of young people in the UK don’t go to church etc etc. It all seems like bad news…. 😔 But… Could the tide be turning? According to Justin Brierley, author of The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God , there is much reason for hop...
Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 7 min
How do we share the gospel relevantly with the next generation, without changing the message? This is the great challenge the church must continually wrestle with, learning to communicate timeless truths in captivating ways. But… that’s easier said than done, right!? 😅 Research into the ‘signs of the times’ can be incredibly helpful as we consider how adapt our outreach as culture shifts. And that’s why Dave Newton, National Director of Scripture Union, joined us for a chat about Feel Good News...
Mar 25, 2025•57 min
Get your notepads ready, because this conversation is pure gold! 📝💛 We're joined by Mark McGrindle, the Australian social scientist who coined the now globally accepted term 'Generation Alpha,' to describe those born between 2010-2024. 🤩 There is an incredible depth on insight in this conversation, as we dig into... ✅ The hallmarks of that define Gen Alpha ✅ How technology has shaped this generation ✅ The frightening phenomenon of 'up-ageing' ✅ The lasting impact of the Covid pandemic ✅ Natur...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 108
A new year brings many gifts, but perhaps none great than a new series of the Limitless Youth Ministry Podcast! 🙌 To accompany our counter-culture theme, in 2025 we're going to be taking a deep dive into what's going on in youth culture right now. This new series is called 'Trending,' starting with a bumper chat with Beth and Hannah from Youth for Christ.👌 We cover A LOT of ground in this chat, including... ✅ What the 'Words of the Year' tell us about this cultural moment ✅ Mental health and l...
Jan 28, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 107
We come to the conclusion of our 12-month deep dive into prayer, and believe us when we say, we finish on a high! 🙌 In this episode, we’re joined by our friend Pippa Baker from One Hope Project to discuss Contemplative Prayer. And if you’re not sure what that is, or it’s not a regular practice for you, then this episode will be an incredible gift in your life with God! 😇 We go deep in this conversation, in which we discuss… ✅ What is contemplative prayer? ✅ The power of contemplative prayer ✅ ...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 13 min
The Scripture is explicit in its instruction to ‘eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy’ (1 Cor. 14:1). It also tells us that ‘you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged’ (1 Corinthians 14:31). But for most of us, that’s more of a theological concept than an every day reality! 😅 That’s why we sat down for a chat with Helen Azer from Heartcry for Change, to take a deep dive into the mystery of prophetic prayer. 👌 We cover a lot of ground in t...
Nov 26, 2024•59 min
We’ve all been there. That moment when you invite young people to pray and all that follows is an awkward silence and a single tumbleweed! 😅 So what can we do to equip young people for a vibrant life of prayer? 🤔 We sat down with Martin Saunders, author of Signal Fire: A Guide to Putting Prayer into Practice , to ask just that.👌 We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, including… … our natural instinct to pray ✅ … how to create environments where praying together feels engaging and vibr...
Oct 22, 2024•1 hr 3 min
What does it look like for us to stand in the gap on behalf of others in prayer? 🙏This is what we call ‘intercession,’ and to explore this dimension of prayer we sat down with experienced intercessor June Freudenberg. After exploring some of her personal story, we discuss… … defining intercession ✅ … how to step into intercessory prayer ✅ … the role of discernment in intercession ✅ … developing a prayer strategy ✅ … equipping young people for intercession ✅ … building our capacity in prayer ✅ a...
Sep 24, 2024•50 min
“It’s impossible to really grow in vitality in my walk with God, without the element of fasting.” - James Aladiran Fasting is one of the most overlooked, under-practiced, yet spiritually potent and indispensable disciplines of the spiritual life. So what happened? 🤷♂️ How did this practice, once so central in the life of Jesus and his followers, get sidelined in his church? And what is the power of fasting in our lives and ministries today? 🤔 To discuss these big questions, we’re joined by th...
Aug 27, 2024•51 min
Prayer is meant to be a dialogue rather than a monologue. 🗣 But for so many of us, that’s more in theory than in practice! 😬 So how do we hear from God and help our young people to do the same? We sat down with Tania Harris, Director of God Conversations, a global ministry that equips people to recognise and respond to God’s voice, to explore just that. 👌 Tania drops so much wisdom for us here as we discuss… … the theological foundations for God speaking today ✅ … how to recognise the voice g...
Jul 23, 2024•1 hr 11 min
Welcome 100th episode Limitless Youth Ministry Podcast! 🙌 This is a theologically rich and practically applicable conversation with Susie Aldridge that’s all about praying for healing. 🔥 There’s SO MUCH good stuff in here, including… … why God is still in the business of healing today ✅ … inspiring stories of miracles ✅ … praying for healing in a way that is pastorally sensitive and biblically legitimate ✅ … why people don’t get healed and what to do when they don’t ✅ … praying for mental and ...
Jun 25, 2024•49 min
What do prayer and evangelism have in common? More than just the fact we know they’re important and should probably be doing them more than we are! 😅 In this episode, we chat with Laura Hancock about how prayer that doesn’t lead to evangelism can become spiritual narcissism, how evangelism without prayer is powerless, but how marrying the two together is a spiritually potent combination! 🔥 We discuss… … practices that help is turn our prayers “outwards” ✅ … how to pray for friends and young pe...
May 28, 2024•51 min
If you ever feel like you’re going against the grain of your personality, or trying to fit into someone else’s skin when you pray, then this is a conversation that could transform your life with God! 🙌 We sit down with Sarah Whittleston, Director of Elim Prayer, to talk about how understanding our own ‘spiritual temperament, or prayer personality, can enable us to connect with God in fresh, authentic and deeper ways. 🙏 We discuss… … the Activist: Loving God through confrontation and action ✅ …...
Apr 23, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Pete Greig is the founder of the 24-7 Prayer movement, and author of God on Mute: Engaging the Silence of Unanswered Prayer. We sat down with Pete to wrestle with the mystery of unanswered prayer. 🙏 We cover a lot of important ground in this conversation, including… … why our prayers go unanswered ✅ … when God intervenes miraculously, and when he doesn’t ✅ … the importance of faith in prayer ✅ … the Dark Night of the Soul ✅ … how to live faithfully in the tension of unanswered prayer ✅ and load...
Mar 26, 2024•54 min
Becca Dean is the Tutor in Youth Ministry at Ridley Hall in Cambridge, and author of Be Live Pray: Get in Touch with a Great Prayer Life. We sat down with Becca for a compelling conversation about creativity in prayer. 💃🙏 There is so much food for thought here, including… … how understanding our unique ‘intelligences’ can help us to pray ✅ … why prayer is an embodied practice, not just a cerebral one ✅ … the importance of play and space in a life of prayer ✅ … how the creative arts can be vehi...
Feb 27, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Welcome to the first episode of the newly renamed Limitless Youth Ministry Podcast! 🙌 We’re launching into a brand new series that’s dedicated to prayer, kicking off with a challenging and inspiring discussion with Josh Green from 24-7 Prayer Youth. 🔥 There’s loads to chew over here, including… … why ‘prayer’ is not necessarily what you think! ✅ … why prayer is so important in the life of the believer ✅ … what to do when prayer feels boring ✅ … how to develop a life-giving rhythm of prayer ✅ a...
Jan 23, 2024•1 hr 5 min
We wrap up the year with a short episode of the pod to wish all you heroic youth workers a very happy Christmas, and to unveil some exciting plans for 2024! 🤩 So well done for everything you have given to serve Jesus and young people this year. May you hear the resounding voice of the Father saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" 👏❤️ FOR LIMITLESS LEADERS FOR CALL TO PRAYER TOUR FOR LIMITLESS FESTIVAL...
Dec 21, 2023•8 min
In the final part on our series on leading transformational youth ministries, we unpack the reality that there is no transformation without his presence. So if we want a transformational ministry, we must have a presence-centred ministry. 🔥 That’s why we’re delighted to welcome the brilliant Craig Brotherston to the Pod, to discuss… … the key things we must do to build a presence-centred youth ministry ✅ … how to help young people move from apathy to passion ✅ … how to do this with unchurched y...
Nov 28, 2023•50 min
Is there purpose in our pain? It’s an inconvenient truth that pain is perhaps the single greatest catalyst for transformation in our lives. That’s why we sat down with the wonderful Sarah Whittleston, who shares candidly about her personal story of walking through cancer. This is part 5 in our series on transformation, in which we discuss… … how pain can become a catalyst for transformation ✅ … walking with God in the mystery of unanswered questions ✅ … the power of lament as a spiritual discipl...
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr 13 min
As youth leaders, our role is to join with Jesus in the spiritual formation of our young people; helping them to know him and become more like him. ✝️ But how do we do it? 🤷 In part 4 of our series on transformation, Tim chats with the wonderful Phil Knox, author of The Best of Friends, about the power of our relationships in shaping who we become. We discuss… … How to help young people consider their friendship groups ✅ … Being influenced vs being an influencer ✅ … How to create youth ministry...
Sep 26, 2023•47 min
We’re joined by Jarin Oda, Pastor of Youth at Bridgetown Church, Portland, Oregon, to talk about the power of spiritual practices in the life of a leader, and the lives of our young people. 🙏 This is part 3 in our series on transformation, in which we are exploring how we can intentionally create the condition in which young people can be transformed into Christlikeness. The is a compelling and inspiring conversation, in which we discuss… … why spiritual practices are an integral part of spirit...
Aug 22, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Get ready for a challenging episode! 🤯 As youth leaders, our role is to join with Jesus in the spiritual formation of our young people; helping them to know him and become more like him. ✝️ But how do we do it? 🤷 In part 2 of our series on transformation, Tim chat with the brilliant Susie Aldridge about the apostle Paul’s instruction to ‘be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Rom. 12:2). We discuss… … How much media young people consume vs how much Scripture the read ✅ … The cult of the...
Jul 25, 2023•52 min
Youth leaders are in the transformation business. Our role is to join with Jesus in the spiritual formation of our young people; helping them to know him and become more like him. ✝️ The problem is, that’s easier said than done, right!? So how do we create the conditions in which young people can be continually transformed into Christlikeness? 🤷 That’s the question that Tim Alford seeks to answer in this episode, as he kicks off a new series by taking us through the ‘Transformation Pathway’. In...
Jun 27, 2023•59 min
This episode comes with a warning! ⚠️ You will be deeply challenged and inspired to live a life of risk, faith and adventure.🔥 So buckle up! We’re joined by missionary, church planter, and International Director of Surf Church Collective, Rich Ellerington, for a chat about the power of taking young people away on short-term mission trips overseas. 🌍 After discussing Rich’s own experience as a missionary and as a youth worker, we discuss… … the value of taking young people on mission ✅ … how do...
May 23, 2023•1 hr 7 min
We say it all the time; ‘what are we going to give our lives to that’s more important than passing on the gospel to the next generation?’ The only problem is, it’s easier said than done, right!? In fact, one report found that just 50% of children growing up in Christian homes keep their faith as adults. That’s terrifying! So how can we start curbing this trend? That’s why we sat down from a chat with Gareth Hillier from Care for the Family. We discuss… … the three primary hurdles to overcome ✅ …...
Apr 25, 2023•59 min
How do Gen Z relate to Jesus? How do young people engage with the Bible? How do teens seek to make an impact today? 🤔💭 Big questions, for sure. So what better way to answer them than to ask the young people themselves… 25,000 of them to be precise! 🤯 That’s what research giants Barna did, and the results were fascinating! So we asked Simon Gibbes from World Vision, one of the partner organisations that conducted the research, to help us unpick it piece by piece. This is a stimulating conversa...
Mar 28, 2023•57 min
We sat down for an inspiring conversation with the Chair of Centre for Chaplaincy in Education (CCE), Mike Haslam, and upper-school chaplain, Ruth Motion, to discuss the incredible opportunity of schools chaplaincy. 🏫🙏 In this episode we discuss… … the impact that school chaplaincy can make ✅ … how school chaplaincy differs from youth work in schools ✅ … how to navigate evangelism in a school context ✅ … how to set up a school chaplaincy or become a chaplain ✅ … common misunderstandings and pi...
Feb 28, 2023•44 min
• HOW TO TAKE YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE AWAY ON RESIDENTIAL • Weekends away. Summer festivals. Mission trips. All these residential experiences can be hugely formative in the lives of young people, and yet hugely challenging for a youth leader to pull off! 😅 That’s why we sat down with the wonderful Andy Hancock, veteran of some 70-something trips with young people 🤯 - to discuss the why’s and wherefore’s of taking your young people away. 🚌 We discuss… … why residentials are important for young peopl...
Jan 30, 2023•1 hr 8 min
