101: Podcast revamp, Our Ministry Journeys, D.Mins. and Spouses in Youth Ministry

In this episode of the Youth Pastor Theologian podcast, hosts Mike McGarry and John Gardner introduce the new format of the show, focusing on their journeys into youth ministry. They discuss their unexpected paths into youth ministry, the importance of theological depth, why they each pursues a D.Min., and how they integrate their spouses into their ministry roles. Send your question to Mike and John for the podcast here, and make sure to tell us you've left a rating/review to get bumped to the top of the list. Chapters0:00 - Introduction to the New Podcast Format3:00 - Journey into Youth Ministry: John Gardner's Story5:45 - Mike McGarry's Unexpected Path to Youth Ministry12:00 - The Development of Youth Pastor Theologian17:00 - The Importance of Theological Depth in Youth Ministry24:00 - Integrating Spouses into Youth Ministry Mike McGarry is the Founder and Director of Youth Pastor Theologian and served as a youth pastor for nearly twenty years. He's written four books for youth workers and teenagers, his latest is releasing in August '25, Iconic: Being God's Image in Your World. Follow Mike on Instagram or X/Twitter. John Gardner is the Pastor of Youth Ministries at Grace Church in Longmont, CO. John and his wife Jackie have been married for 15 years and love spending time trying out new food, exploring the national parks, and playing board games. Follow John on Instagram.

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Subscribe to YPT's website to receive our newest articles and updates sent directly to your inbox. We won't spam you, but you will receive a link to download our ebook for free... Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry is a collection of articles from the blog archives to help new YPT readers catch the vision for theological renewal in youth ministry.

Youth Pastor Theologian believes that youth ministry is theological ministry. That’s why each episode features a conversation at the intersection of youth ministry and theological reflection. We want to help youth workers make disciples who endure and offer practical advice about what that type of ministry looks like.

Cohosted by Mike McGarry and John Gardner, each episode is filled with decades of youth ministry experience and plenty of laugher. Visit youthpastortheologian.com to learn more about YPT and how to bring Mike and John to your church.

• No. of episodes: 100
• Latest episode: 2025-05-06
• Religion & Spirituality Christianity

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