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The call to reach young people often begins with one person saying yes. Jim and Meghan sit down with Randy Raus, President and CEO of Life Teen, to explore why Catholic youth ministry is experiencing what he calls a super tide moment. A convert to the faith who was challenged to pay attention at Mass by his college girlfriend, Randy shares powerful stories of priestly witness, the Holy Spirit moving in the lives of teenagers, and the critical importance of parishes investing in youth ministry now. From Mother Teresa's simple advice to lead teens to the Eucharist, to a boy who encountered Christ at adoration, Randy invites families and parishes to embrace the incredible hunger young people have for the faith.

What’s in this episode:

• The super tide analogy and why youth ministry is experiencing record growth
• Randy's conversion from the Lutheran church through a simple invitation to Mass
• Mother Teresa's advice to keep youth ministry simple and Eucharist-centered
• A powerful story of a skeptical teen encountering Christ at adoration
• The challenges teens face today with loneliness, anxiety, and smartphones
• Why 33% of US seminarians come from Life Teen parishes
• How young men are increasingly taking their faith more seriously
• The importance of relational ministry and being prayed up as a youth leader
• Frontier parent-teen camps that restore family relationships through faith
• Why parishes must make youth ministry a priority, not a sidebar
• One resource every Catholic family should know: Take advantage of local parish teen programs or find parishes with vibrant youth ministry; Frontier Camps (parent-teen experience at life teen.com)
• Book he is currently reading: Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Jacques Philippe
• Advice to his younger self: Focus more on relationships rather than putting on perfect programs
• Final wisdom for listeners: Young people matter, and the faith does matter to them; we need to bring it to them in a vibrant, Catholic way

Resources Mentioned:

Life Teen – Movement of the Catholic Church leading teens closer to Christ in over 2,000 parishes

Frontier Camps – Parent-teen retreat experiences offered by Life Teen

Randy Raus on Facebook – Connect with Randy for updates and inspiration

Raus About on Instagram – Randy's Instagram feed focused on training youth leaders

Life Teen on Instagram – Follow Life Teen's social media ministry

Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Jacques Philippe – A 90-page book on how to maintain peace in daily life