Mark Matlock (founder of WisdomWorks and co-author of Faith for Exiles) and David Kinnaman sit down to discuss how the cultural landscape has changed since Faith for Exiles released two years ago. Together, they explore how the pandemic accelerated a narrative of hope, what’s changed in resilient discipleship since 2019 and the current state of youth ministry.

—

To find the most recent data on resilient disciples, check out Barna’s Gen Z Volume 2 report.

Watch Mark & David discuss more in their 5-part Video Series, Five Essential Conversations About Ministry to the Next Generation. Available today at barna.com/nextgen (extended cuts available for Barna Access Plus subscribers).

Carey Nieuwhof and David Kinnaman are joined by Jessica Bealer (Director of Family Ministry Services at Generis) and Kellen Moore (Next Gen Pastor at Our City Church) to share about trends emerging in children’s ministry, especially around topics of mental health, digital discipleship and moving beyond a Sunday-centric ministry model.

For more resources on children’s ministry and more, check out Barna.com/Access!

Shane Sanchez (InsideOut Director at Gwinnett Church) and Alison Leamon (Next Gen Pastor at Preston Trail Community Church) join Carey and David to share about student and teen ministry. Together, they discuss which aspects of digital ministry have been most successful, strategies to increase parent engagement and how to use social media as a platform for ministry. Plus, David shares recent data on parents greatest concerns coming out of the pandemic.

For more resources on teenagers and student ministry, check out Barna.com/Access today!

To kick off July’s focus on Next Gen, David Kinnaman (Barna President) sits down with Ben Windle to discuss what Millennials are looking for in the church, how to be a relational leader for younger generations and a new approach to recruiting volunteers. Plus, Carey and David discuss recent data on preaching and digital church engagement trends for Millennials.

Carey Nieuwhof and Joe Jensen (VP of Church Engagement, Barna) are joined by Jeff Henderson (President of The For Company and former Lead Pastor of Gwinnett Church) to talk about the reputation and brand of the Church and how pastors and leaders can have a positive and “for you” presence in a community and city.

Carey, David and Nicole Martin (Vice President of Church Engagement at American Bible Society) discuss some of the data from Barna’s new ‘Trends in the Black Church’ report. Following their discussion is an insightful conversation between Nicole and Pastor Charlie Dates (Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago) about the pandemic’s impact on the faith journey of black Christians and the challenges and hopes that lie ahead for the black church in America.

Nona Jones (pastor, author, Facebook executive and founder of Faith and Prejudice) joins Carey and David to talk about the progress made and not made with race in the U.S. one year after the murder of George Floyd. In this insightful interview, Nona shares commentary on recent Barna data on race and diversity, gives practical advice on how church leaders can better shepherd their churches towards awareness and change, and the importance of motive, approach, and prayer when leading in person and online.

Carey and David are joined by Dr. Terry Wardle to discuss the need for pastors and leaders to have healthy inner rhythms, to dig up and deal with un-grieved losses and commit to an awakened and abiding life in Jesus.

Pete Scazzero joins Carey and David to talk about his new book Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, the current state of pastors’ mental and emotional health and why it’s important that pastors foster emotional health in themselves and those they shepherd.

Juli Wilson and Kayla Stoecklein respond to data presented by Alyce Youngblood (Barna’s Vice President, Editorial) and discuss the life-changing impact of their husbands’ suicides and battles with mental health with Carey Nieuwhof.

Carey and Brooke are joined by Dr. Anita Phillips (pastor, speaker, trauma therapist, and host of the In The Light Podcast) to discuss the collective trauma that the pandemic has caused, the influence and impact that worldview has on discipleship and trauma response, and practical ways leaders can walk with people through their trauma, mental health issues, and grief.