TLH155: How to Reach Students, Parents, and the Church Together

In this episode of The Longer Haul Youth Ministry Podcast, Jody sits down with Dr. David Odom, Professor of Student Ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, to talk about the three arenas of youth ministry—students, parents, and the church.

Dr. Odom challenges youth pastors to expand their vision beyond just teenagers in the youth room to include intentional ministry to parents and deeper connection between students and the larger church body.

He also discusses practical strategies for balancing these arenas and shares a free assessment tool designed to help leaders evaluate their ministry’s health in each area.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

Why youth ministry must expand beyond only students
How to build stronger partnerships with parents and families
Practical ways to connect students with the larger church body
How to measure the health of your ministry using the Youth Ministry Arenas Assessment
How to avoid creating an isolated “youth group bubble”
Why serving and intergenerational relationships are key to long-term faith
The value of encouraging parents and affirming their influence
Insights from Dr. Odom’s upcoming book, Youth Ministry Deconstructed

LINKS MENTIONED

RESOURCES MENTIONED

- Youth Ministry Deconstructed by Dr. David Odom (releasing Jan 2026)
- Staying Power by Jody Livingston

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Jody Livingston

About the Author

I am a Youth Ministry veteran of twenty four years, and currently serve as the Student Pastor at High Desert Church. I help equip and encourage Youth Pastors through this blog and podcast The Longer Haul. My passion is helping Youth Pastors create a ministry of longevity that they truly love. I am the grateful husband of Sarah and the dad of Emma, Anna, Lizzy, and Jack. I am a speaker, lover of vintage VW’s, and the owner of one 1972 VW Westfalia Bus.