Your lesson is prepped, your leaders are ready, the snacks are out… but the students? Scattered. Travel ball, AP homework, rehearsals—and let’s be real, some just don’t show.

In this episode, John and Ian dive into one of the most relatable challenges in student ministry: how to disciple students in a culture of inconsistent attendance. You’ll walk away with ideas to shift your mindset, refocus your strategy, and stop equating faithfulness with full rooms.

Topics include:

• Why showing up isn’t the only metric for success

• What it looks like to redefine the win

• How to disciple students when schedules get in the way

• Building intentional rhythms and micro-connections

• Why Jesus wouldn’t panic about your numbers (and neither should you)

Grab your 2-week free trial of the SSM Community and get access to exclusive content, Touchpoints, and leadership cohorts:

https://g6allies.com/product-details/product/touchpoints

Also, check out our curriculum at: https://shapingstudentministry.com/lines

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