Those leading in Next Generation ministries are navigating a complex landscape of relational, emotional, and organizational pressures that demand resilience, creativity, and deep community connection to sustain impactful ministry in a rapidly changing world.
Does this sound like you? Then we're glad you're here!
NextGen Matters and this podcast are here to guide you through the complexity by providing you with Biblically sound solutions to meet your ministry needs.
Why this podcast?
Our show helps NextGen ministry leaders overcome the stress of ministry by covering topics that matter for leaders that matter. With over forty years of continual practical youth ministry experience, Rich understands the journey of where student ministry has been, the challenges facing ministry leaders today, as we prepare another generation to follow Jesus into tomorrow. His desire is to see this podcast be a resource for those who are professional NextGen Ministry leaders, volunteer NextGen Ministry leaders, and anyone who cares about the Next Generation.
"If we are going to have spiritually healthy students, we must have spiritually healthy local church student ministry cultures, which must come from a place of spiritually healthy ministry leaders. This podcast exists for that reason! I want to come alongside you by engaging with you, encouraging you, equipping you, and empowering you to fulfill the God-given calling He has placed on you in your ministry to this current generation of adolescents." ~ Rich Brown
Each episode deals with the real issues today's youth leaders are facing with real solutions based on the timeless truth of God's Word. And that is a promise!
About our Host
Rich grew up in a small town in central New York, which featured one stop light and two gas stations. Born into a godly ministry family and consistently seeing and hearing the gospel, Rich gave his life over to Jesus as a young age.
During college, he met the young lady of his dreams! Rich says, "Jesus and Janet were the two best decisions I’ve ever made!” They have been married since 1985. Rich and Janet have three adult children (two married), and five grandchildren. His two sons are ordained pastors in ministry, and his daughter owns her own salon. Most important, they all love Jesus!
While in college, God called him to student ministries and Rich has been working with students ever since, even now volunteering in his church’s high school ministry. With over 20 years as a student pastor in the local church followed by over 20 years in teaching student ministry in higher education, he loves students and student ministry leaders. In 2019 God called him to begin his own ministry, NextGenMatters, where he seeks to “relationally equip today’s leaders for tomorrow’s generation.” While his primary ministry is now ministering to adults, it all centers back to seeing teenagers be fully mature lifelong disciples of Jesus.
He avidly follows baseball, loves landscaping on his two acres, is a history nerd, and doesn't know a day without coffee. His lifelong desire is to live out Colossians 1:28-29.
All content for NextGen Matters is the property of Rich Brown and is served directly from their servers
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Those leading in Next Generation ministries are navigating a complex landscape of relational, emotional, and organizational pressures that demand resilience, creativity, and deep community connection to sustain impactful ministry in a rapidly changing world.
Does this sound like you? Then we're glad you're here!
NextGen Matters and this podcast are here to guide you through the complexity by providing you with Biblically sound solutions to meet your ministry needs.
Why this podcast?
Our show helps NextGen ministry leaders overcome the stress of ministry by covering topics that matter for leaders that matter. With over forty years of continual practical youth ministry experience, Rich understands the journey of where student ministry has been, the challenges facing ministry leaders today, as we prepare another generation to follow Jesus into tomorrow. His desire is to see this podcast be a resource for those who are professional NextGen Ministry leaders, volunteer NextGen Ministry leaders, and anyone who cares about the Next Generation.
"If we are going to have spiritually healthy students, we must have spiritually healthy local church student ministry cultures, which must come from a place of spiritually healthy ministry leaders. This podcast exists for that reason! I want to come alongside you by engaging with you, encouraging you, equipping you, and empowering you to fulfill the God-given calling He has placed on you in your ministry to this current generation of adolescents." ~ Rich Brown
Each episode deals with the real issues today's youth leaders are facing with real solutions based on the timeless truth of God's Word. And that is a promise!
About our Host
Rich grew up in a small town in central New York, which featured one stop light and two gas stations. Born into a godly ministry family and consistently seeing and hearing the gospel, Rich gave his life over to Jesus as a young age.
During college, he met the young lady of his dreams! Rich says, "Jesus and Janet were the two best decisions I’ve ever made!” They have been married since 1985. Rich and Janet have three adult children (two married), and five grandchildren. His two sons are ordained pastors in ministry, and his daughter owns her own salon. Most important, they all love Jesus!
While in college, God called him to student ministries and Rich has been working with students ever since, even now volunteering in his church’s high school ministry. With over 20 years as a student pastor in the local church followed by over 20 years in teaching student ministry in higher education, he loves students and student ministry leaders. In 2019 God called him to begin his own ministry, NextGenMatters, where he seeks to “relationally equip today’s leaders for tomorrow’s generation.” While his primary ministry is now ministering to adults, it all centers back to seeing teenagers be fully mature lifelong disciples of Jesus.
He avidly follows baseball, loves landscaping on his two acres, is a history nerd, and doesn't know a day without coffee. His lifelong desire is to live out Colossians 1:28-29.
In this episode of NextGen Matters, Rich takes us deep into the life and calling of Jeremiah, God's prophet during Judah's collapse, to remind us of the unshakable difference between calling and ministry. With warmth and clarity, he unpacks four timeless reasons why your ministry matters—today, tomorrow, after you, and for eternity.
Through powerful stories of faithfulness within unseen impact, on quiet students, and generational influence stretching from D.L. Moody to Billy Graham, Rich shows how ministry fruit often outlives the moment. You'll be encouraged to see your leadership as part of God's eternal timeline, where even small acts of consistency ripple into lives you may never know.
This episode closes with three practical steps you can take right now:
* Encourage a younger leader with prayer and affirmation
* Thank a mentor who shaped your journey
* Name one blessing God has given through your ministry
Your ministry matters because the gospel matters—and its impact echoes far beyond what you can see.
Resources Mentioned.
• Moody Church – https://www.moodychurch.org/• Moody Bible Institute – https://www.moodybible.org/
Timestamps
• 00:01 – Welcome and framing the core question: Why does your ministry matter?
• 00:57 – The aggressive and subtle challenges that make leaders question their impact.
• 04:13 – What ministry isn't rooted in: not titles, numbers, or visible success.
• 06:14 – A clear contrast between calling and ministry: definition, focus, scope, and meaning.
• 13:20 – Jeremiah as an example of steady calling expressed through shifting ministry.
• 16:22 – Four reasons your ministry matters: today, tomorrow, after you, and for eternity.
• 20:22 – How your faithfulness impacts students in ways seen and unseen.
• 22:54 – Your ministry's ripple effects across generations.
• 28:28 – The eternal significance of serving in God's story.
• 29:53 – This week's practical call to action.
NextGen Matters
Those leading in Next Generation ministries are navigating a complex landscape of relational, emotional, and organizational pressures that demand resilience, creativity, and deep community connection to sustain impactful ministry in a rapidly changing world.
Does this sound like you? Then we're glad you're here!
NextGen Matters and this podcast are here to guide you through the complexity by providing you with Biblically sound solutions to meet your ministry needs.
Why this podcast?
Our show helps NextGen ministry leaders overcome the stress of ministry by covering topics that matter for leaders that matter. With over forty years of continual practical youth ministry experience, Rich understands the journey of where student ministry has been, the challenges facing ministry leaders today, as we prepare another generation to follow Jesus into tomorrow. His desire is to see this podcast be a resource for those who are professional NextGen Ministry leaders, volunteer NextGen Ministry leaders, and anyone who cares about the Next Generation.
"If we are going to have spiritually healthy students, we must have spiritually healthy local church student ministry cultures, which must come from a place of spiritually healthy ministry leaders. This podcast exists for that reason! I want to come alongside you by engaging with you, encouraging you, equipping you, and empowering you to fulfill the God-given calling He has placed on you in your ministry to this current generation of adolescents." ~ Rich Brown
Each episode deals with the real issues today's youth leaders are facing with real solutions based on the timeless truth of God's Word. And that is a promise!
About our Host
Rich grew up in a small town in central New York, which featured one stop light and two gas stations. Born into a godly ministry family and consistently seeing and hearing the gospel, Rich gave his life over to Jesus as a young age.
During college, he met the young lady of his dreams! Rich says, "Jesus and Janet were the two best decisions I’ve ever made!” They have been married since 1985. Rich and Janet have three adult children (two married), and five grandchildren. His two sons are ordained pastors in ministry, and his daughter owns her own salon. Most important, they all love Jesus!
While in college, God called him to student ministries and Rich has been working with students ever since, even now volunteering in his church’s high school ministry. With over 20 years as a student pastor in the local church followed by over 20 years in teaching student ministry in higher education, he loves students and student ministry leaders. In 2019 God called him to begin his own ministry, NextGenMatters, where he seeks to “relationally equip today’s leaders for tomorrow’s generation.” While his primary ministry is now ministering to adults, it all centers back to seeing teenagers be fully mature lifelong disciples of Jesus.
He avidly follows baseball, loves landscaping on his two acres, is a history nerd, and doesn't know a day without coffee. His lifelong desire is to live out Colossians 1:28-29.
