309. How to Build Trust with Today’s Youth, with Josh Packard, author of Faithful futures

309. How to Build Trust with Today’s Youth, with Josh Packard, author of Faithful futures

Author: Markus Watson April 21, 2026 Duration: 50:59
Effective youth ministry isn’t about changing more programs—it’s about deep listening and real relationships. Josh Packard, sociologist and researcher, explores how sacred listening transforms faith formation, the unique needs of Gen Z and Gen Alpha, and why scaling relational ministry requires curiosity and humility. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Markus Watson asks Josh Packard to share the origins and findings of his research on relational ministry.Josh Packard explains that listenin...

Markus Watson hosts Spiritual Life and Leadership, a space where the often-separated ideas of personal faith and organizational direction are woven back together. The conversations here start from a simple, profound premise: that effective leadership in any ministry context isn't primarily a set of managerial skills, but an overflow of a life rooted in something deeper. Each episode features Markus in dialogue with various guests, unpacking the real, sometimes messy, intersection where daily spiritual practices meet the demands of guiding a community. They explore how a leader's inner life-their rhythms of prayer, reflection, and abiding faithfulness-directly shapes their capacity to discern and participate in a mission larger than themselves. This isn't a podcast about church growth strategies, though practical wisdom emerges naturally from its core focus. Instead, it’s a steady invitation for those in roles of influence to consider the source from which their work flows. You’ll hear thoughtful discussions that resist quick fixes, offering instead a perspective where leadership is framed as a spiritual journey first. Tune in for honest reflections on sustaining both a vibrant personal walk and a public calling, ensuring one authentically fuels the other.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Spiritual Life and Leadership
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