EP27: What Happens When Great Ministry Minds Share a Room?

About this Episode
What happens when ministry leaders are given the space not just to learn, but to be cared for?

In this episode of The YDisciple Podcast, Pete Burds and Annie Grandell pull back the curtain on the Youth Discipleship Sprint, an immersive gathering hosted by NET Ministries that brings together youth ministers, diocesan leaders, campus ministers, pastors, and faith formation leaders from across the country. Rather than creating another large conference experience, the Sprint is intentionally designed to be relational, practical, and deeply rooted in discipleship.

Pete and Annie share the vision behind the Sprint, reflecting on why ministry leaders need more than inspiration—they need meaningful relationships, practical tools, and a community of peers who understand both the joys and challenges of ministry. They discuss the unique role of working groups, the importance of modeling discipleship rather than simply teaching about it, and how authentic hospitality can become a powerful form of ministry in itself.

The conversation also offers a preview of the themes shaping this year’s Sprint, including sacred listening, incarnational ministry, transformational confirmation preparation, creating curiosity-driven content, and building teams of adults who can accompany young people in faith. Throughout the episode, Pete and Annie highlight a central conviction: discipleship is best learned through experience, relationship, and intentional accompaniment.

Whether you're a youth minister looking for practical support, a parish leader seeking new ideas, or simply curious about how discipleship movements are forming leaders across the Church, this episode offers a hopeful vision for what can happen when ministry leaders gather not just to learn—but to grow together.

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Reflection for This Week

Ask yourself:

• Who are the ministry leaders, mentors, or peers helping me grow—and how am I investing in those relationships?
• Where do I need more practical support, encouragement, or collaboration in my ministry?
• How can I create spaces that prioritize genuine accompaniment and discipleship rather than simply delivering information?

Pray for the ministry leaders who serve the Church every day. Ask the Lord to renew their strength, deepen their joy, and remind them that they do not labor alone.