EP9: Let's Get Practical with Elena Pope

About This Episode
In this episode of The YDisciple Podcast, hosts Pete Burds and Annie Grandell are joined by Elena Pope, junior high youth minister from the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes in Dayton, Ohio.

Elena shares her unexpected journey into youth ministry, how the Holy Spirit led her from a career outside the Church into eight years of missionary discipleship, and why junior high ministry holds such a critical—and often overlooked—place in the life of the Church.

Together, they dive into what effective junior high ministry really looks like: prioritizing relationships, creating spaces for real encounter with Jesus, building strong core teams, and offering meaningful faith experiences that go beyond talk and into lived prayer. Elena unpacks how her parish approaches ministry as a renovation project—honoring what’s already been built while renewing hearts, minds, and faith foundations.

The conversation also explores the realities of ministry within a family of parishes, including geographic distance, transportation challenges, and diverse parish cultures. Elena shares how listening closely to the Holy Spirit led to creative solutions—from a transportation ministry to restructuring junior high and high school leadership—that are bearing real fruit.

This episode is filled with encouragement for ministry leaders navigating change, uncertainty, or resistance, and a powerful reminder that Spirit-led ministry begins with attentiveness, courage, and the willingness to ask a new question: What does this make possible?

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Reflection for This Week

Ask yourself:

• Where in my ministry or leadership have I been focusing on what isn’t working?
• What might the Holy Spirit be inviting me to notice or change?
• What does this situation make possible that I haven’t considered yet?

Take time this week to pray with openness and courage, asking the Holy Spirit to guide your next small step forward.