Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Victory Church: Paul Daugherty
Episode: Raising the Next Generation: Building a Healthy Culture in Ministry | Episode 35
Date: October 9, 2025
Host: Pastor Paul Daugherty
Guests: Pastor Josh Kahm, Pastor Joseph Kellogg, Pastor Jordan Camilo
Theme:
This episode dives deep into how Victory Church is shaping a healthy and sustainable culture in its youth and young adult ministries. Through candid personal stories and practical discussion, Pastor Paul Daugherty and his team unpack what it takes to reach and raise the next generation—both spiritually and organizationally—while staying rooted in authentic relationships, intentional leadership, and a heart for true impact over mere growth. The episode is rich with real-life experiences, leadership wisdom, and encouragement for anyone leading in ministry or looking to make a difference among young people.

Introductions & Personal Journeys (00:00 – 19:21)

Meet the Team

• Pastor Josh Kahm (Youth & Young Adults Lead, 18–30s)

  • From Chicago, raised in the Philippines; eight years at Victory Church.
  • Inspired by his father, Dr. Chindo Kahm, an evangelist pivotal in bringing the Burmese community to Tulsa.
  • “I’m just thankful I get to be a part of building and growing a global church with a heart for the next generation.” (00:58)

• Pastor Joseph Kellogg (Lead Youth Pastor, since Summer 2025)

  • 24 years in youth and next-gen ministry; long-time friend and collaborator with Victory.
  • Father of four, has shepherded students through challenging eras (e.g., 9/11) and sees longevity as key to impact.
  • “Consistency brings the breakthrough.” (06:20)
  • “In youth ministry…you have that mindset: I’m raising you up to release you out.” (08:07)

• Pastor Jordan Camilo (Youth Pastor, Boston native, Brazilian background)

  • Life transformed after a near-fatal accident (2022), which led to a radical turnaround and move to Tulsa.
  • Personal experience of being mentored, then volunteering tirelessly, eventually joining staff.
  • Passionate about reaching public school students and breaking the mold of ministry limited to church walls.
  • “I want to be someone for these kids that I wish someone was for me when I was younger.” (18:04)

Key Quotes & Moments

• On Calling & Longevity:
  “The longer I stayed in youth ministry and really saw the kingdom impact… I thought, man, I want to be at the epicenter of that.” — Joseph (07:45)
• “It’s not how many we have at our youth service… It’s realizing the multiplication: wait, on a Wednesday, we’re making an impact on 100,000 students, not just 100.” — Joseph (08:49)

Principles for Impacting the Next Generation (19:21 – 26:51)

The Power of Presence

• Jordan describes how serving in local public schools—starting with no established relationships—led to hundreds of students getting connected to church, giving their lives to Christ, and creating real community.
  • “The best way to reach your own community is to be present in your community.” — Paul (22:00)
  • “To reach a community, you’ve got to be in the community.” — Joseph (23:21)
• Consistency, not flash or technology, is key. Being seen “in the stands” (games, lunches) speaks louder than any social media campaign.

Notable Quotes

• “Consistency compounds, but consistent presence makes lasting impact.” — Joseph (24:52)
• “Abandonment is what they expect. If you just show up consistently over time, you beat that expectation.” — Joseph & Paul (24:55)
• “Technology can help, but physical presence is what changes lives.” — Paul (22:00)

Building Healthy, Sustainable Ministry (26:51 – 40:12)

Growth: More Than Numbers

• Focus isn’t on numbers, but health and sustainability.
• Health indicators: number of leaders developed, student leaders, first-time guests becoming followers of Christ, and systems that support foundation over hype.
• “Healthy things grow, but big doesn’t mean healthy… Swelling goes down; growth lasts.” — Joseph (27:45–28:11)
• Avoiding “incentive culture”: “If you create an invite culture, they’re coming to grow in Christ.”—Joseph (29:44)

Foundations and Slow Growth

• Ministry takes time (“build your house on the rock”): slow growth is sustainable; quick hype is not.
• “We don’t serve numbers. Numbers serve us.”—Jordan (31:47)
• Emphasis on reconstructing culture from the inside out (deconstruction of unhealthy elements to rebuild a healthy, mission-focused team).

Student Ownership

• Students, not just staff, are taking initiative and inviting others. Leadership and healthy culture are replicated through modeling, not mandates.

Culture & Leadership Red Flags (40:12 – 55:09)

Recognizing What’s Unhealthy

• Red flags: lack of challenge to leadership, division, isolation, “Eeyore syndrome” (persistent negativity), turnover without evaluation, leaders not growing.
• “If you can’t challenge an idea privately and leave united publicly, that’s a red flag.”—Paul (44:17)
• Leadership issues often trickle into team culture; systems, buy-in, and self-reflection matter.

Assessing and Protecting Culture

• Evaluate regularly: Why is one area thriving and another stagnant? Is it a will issue (attitude) or skill issue (ability)?
• “You’re always one step away from stupid.”—John Maxwell quote (51:04)
• Accountability, healthy confrontation, and willingness to be developed are essential.

Heart of Ministry & Lasting Impact (55:09 – End)

Rooted Identity and Faithfulness

• The “success” of ministry is measured by faithfulness, not popularity or numbers. Personal stories highlight the need for trust, submission to leadership, and serving the local vision.
• “You can’t be over something until you come under something.” — Paul (56:45)
• “Well done, good and faithful servant. It’s not well done, good and popular, or exciting—it’s about faithfulness.” — Josh (54:47)

Notable Final Quotes

• “Our value… does not change based on how big the youth group gets, how many volunteers are serving… Our Father in heaven is proud of us.” — Paul (61:39)
• “We’re impressed by all these numbers, but the church is meant to do more than impress; we’re meant to impact.” — Josh (55:09)

Memorable Moment

• Visual Object Lesson (59:00):
  Paul shares a plaque from his desk: “Your father is well pleased with you,” signifying unchanging identity and value before God—apart from performance or results. He encourages every leader to remember their worth and approval begins with being a son or daughter, not an achiever.

Key Takeaways

• Relational ministry trumps digital strategies — Consistency, trust, and real-life presence are irreplaceable.
• Health > Hype — Building solid, healthy foundations is less glamorous but leads to lasting impact and legacy.
• Leadership humility & accountability — Vulnerability, team buy-in, and honest assessments guard against toxicity.
• Identity in Christ — Ministry success is rooted in knowing God’s pleasure is based on relationship, not results.
• Invitation to examine — Listeners are challenged to identify what unhealthy systems, attitudes, or barriers they need to deconstruct and rebuild for lasting, kingdom impact.

Segment Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introductions / Pastor journeys and backgrounds
• 06:20 – On longevity, calling, and raising up students
• 10:00 – The value of finding and staying in your unique ministry lane
• 16:05 – Jordan’s testimony: from crisis to calling
• 19:25 – Public school outreach stories: presence over programming
• 23:21 – Principle of “showing up” in community
• 27:19 – Defining and measuring healthy growth in ministry
• 31:47 – Student-led culture and buy-in
• 37:22 – Deconstruction / Reconstructing healthy culture
• 41:22 – Red flags in ministry, leadership, and team culture
• 50:18 – Staying green: keeping your heart healthy and humble
• 54:07 – Trust, submission, and the true measure of success
• 59:00 – “Your father is well pleased” object lesson and closing reminder
• 61:39 – Final encouragements & episode sign-off

For Listeners

Whether you’re a ministry leader, volunteer, parent, or anyone passionate about impacting young people, this episode is packed with encouragement, gritty real talk, and wisdom for building something that lasts—one life, one relationship, one step of faithful presence at a time.