Is Senior Sunday just a slideshow and a gift bag… or something more? In this episode, John and Ian talk through how to transform Graduation Sunday into a spiritually meaningful moment for your students, families, and entire church. From cap and gown walk-ins to commissioning prayers and student-led blessings, this conversation is packed with practical ideas and stories that will challenge you to reimagine what this milestone could be. Whether you’re scrambling to throw something together or trying to break out of a tired tradition, this episode will help you make it count.

What we cover:

• Why Senior Sunday matters more than you think

• The tension between showing up and ghosting

• Ways to involve parents, juniors, and the whole church

• How to give meaningful gifts

• The value of intergenerational blessing and commissioning

Free 30-Day Trial? https://g6allies.com/product-details/product/touchpoints?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ_X-NleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEwNEttbm4wUlhWaE5mcW1yAR6qwUt7GKZ4dnr0D9TtSGQ2mwZ8lPnCRBEiaGEvqlppX3R_A8kYqjNRRgf9ag_aem_zU4x2t45cccJqBr4XycVFw

Not every hard boss is toxic, but not every hard boss is healthy either. In this episode of The Shaping Student Ministry Podcast, John and Ian dive into the complicated world of church leadership dynamics. What do you do when your pastor is hard to work with? How do you know if the issue is them… or you? From micromanagers and ghost leaders to trust issues and toxic patterns, this conversation is real, raw, and practical.

If you’re a student pastor or ministry leader trying to navigate difficult relationships on your church staff, this episode is for you.

What we cover:

• The difference between difficult and untrustworthy leaders

• Why many pastors struggle to disciple their teams

• How to build trust when it’s been broken

• The 6 types of trust every ministry needs

• Why some leaders become toxic—and how not to become one

Subscribe, share, and check out the full resources and behind-the-wall content at

👉 https://www.shapingstudentministry.com

Free 30-Day Trial? https://g6allies.com/product-details/product/touchpoints?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ_X-NleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEwNEttbm4wUlhWaE5mcW1yAR6qwUt7GKZ4dnr0D9TtSGQ2mwZ8lPnCRBEiaGEvqlppX3R_A8kYqjNRRgf9ag_aem_zU4x2t45cccJqBr4XycVFw

Welcome to Season 2 of the Shaping Student Ministry Podcast! We’re kicking things off with a game-changing conversation featuring Dave Coryell, President of Christian Endeavor and author of Less Like Hippos, More Like Honeybees. (WE ENCOUNTERED SOME RECORDING ISSUES... POWER THROUGH!)

In this episode, we dive deep into:

- Why your discipleship strategy needs more than just curriculum

- The danger of treating content as the end goal instead of a means to a greater mission

- How to move students from spiritual consumers to active contributors

- What hippos and honeybees can teach us about youth ministry

- The history and global vision of Christian Endeavor—and why we’re excited to partner

This isn’t about burning down what you’ve built. It’s about building better—on purpose, with purpose.

Links to Christian Endeavor, Dave’s books, and our brand-new partnership page are below!

CE WEBSITE: https://www.ceworks.faith/

DAVE'S BOOK: https://a.co/d/9yDnsc8

PARTNERSHIP: https://www.shapingstudentministry.com/ce