Beyond the Event: A Youth Ministry Podcast

In this episode, Katie Matsumoto Moore discusses the signs of burnout and how to combat it in ministry. Later in the show, you'll also hear from CIY MOVE Creative Programmer Taylor Brown.
Connect with Katie:
- @katiematsmoore on Instagram
- Email her at [email protected]

Connect with Taylor:
- Email him at [email protected]

Here's how you can connect with us:
- www.ciy.com
- @christinyouth on Instagram: you can find all of our individual program accounts in the bio
- CIY Community Facebook Group
- Email us at [email protected]

As always, be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. It also helps us out if you rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and send this episode to a friend!

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us!

Discover the life-changing impact of mission trips and prayer with CIY's Director of Engage, Brittany Shoemake, who shares her profound experiences in Spain and Northern Ireland. Brittany opens up about Missions as a Lifestyle and the pivotal role of prayer in connecting with communities. Tune in to hear her stories of collaboration, and the joy of introducing new groups to these meaningful mission trips, including her fondness for the scenic beauty and deep relationships formed in Northern Ireland.
Explore the genuine pursuit of faith among young believers and how CIY Engage trips encourage authenticity within the church. This episode is packed with personal anecdotes, including the chaos of early flights and strategies to beat the alarm, alongside reflections on positive trends within our faith communities. You'll be inspired by a follow-up conversation with our MOVE and MIX mission partner from this summer, RIOT (Revival In Our Town), as we hear from their director, Richie Shilliday.
Immerse yourself in the power of storytelling and leadership as Richie tells stories from the history of RIOT. We discuss how sharing personal stories can connect generations, enrich faith journeys, and create lasting community impact. From Dundrum's modest yet impactful ministry efforts to Richie's inspiring storytelling lessons, this episode celebrates the authenticity and growth experienced by those involved.
Be sure to check out the new video version of this podcast on YouTube!
Want to connect with us? Here's how!

• www.ciy.com
• youtube.com/christinyouth
• @christinyouth on Instagram
• CIY Community Facebook Group
• Email us at [email protected]

Beyond the Event brings together influential voices from the CIY community to walk alongside you in your journey to maintain momentum between the mountaintop experiences of youth ministry.
Here's how you can connect with us:

• Email us at [email protected]
• Facebook: CIY Community Facebook Group
• @ChristInYouth on Instagram: you can find all of our individual program accounts in the bio
• www.ciy.com

Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. It also helps us out if you rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and send this episode to a friend!

Season two of Beyond the Event is almost here, and we could not be more excited! Join us this season for new guests and fresh topics we know you'll love. Stay tuned!
Connect with us!
- www.ciy.com
- @christinyouth on Instagram: you can find all of our individual program accounts in the bio
- CIY Community Facebook Group
- Email us at [email protected]

Mailbag questions or topic suggestions? Text us!

When a student confides they've been self-harming, what's your role as a youth pastor? Where does spiritual care end and professional intervention begin? Licensed counselor and youth pastor Jordan Francis unveils the complex reality of youth mental health today, offering wisdom that both relieves and challenges ministry leaders.
Jordan discusses how today's students are learning the world is evil at much younger ages through constant digital exposure. This early disillusionment drives them into technological escapism, creating a dangerous cycle of disconnection from their bodies, emotions, and the natural world God created. The conversation explores how youth readily adopt mental health labels found online, using them as identity markers without understanding their true meaning.
What makes this episode particularly valuable is the practical guidance for youth workers. Jordan outlines exactly how to respond when serious mental health issues arise—involving parents while giving students agency in the process. He challenges conventional youth ministry approaches, suggesting we've replicated the world's frenetic pace when students actually need spaces of slowness and authentic connection.
Most powerfully, Jordan reframes spiritual disciplines as mental health support. Prayer, scripture study, and contemplation expand what he calls the "window of tolerance"—our capacity to cope with life's challenges. This episode provides a comprehensive roadmap for youth ministers seeking to support students' mental wellbeing while maintaining appropriate boundaries and pointing them toward the healing power of Christ.

Here are some of the resources Jordan recommends:

• The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution by Carl R. Trueman
• Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do about It by David Zahl
• The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt

There are also several resources available through Jordan's company, Reframe Youth, that touch on issues of mental health:

• The Gospel According to Mental Health
• Resilience
• Flourish
• Good Grief

Last, but certainly not least, check out RLTK wherever you listen to podcasts!