Podcast
Youth Group Chronicles
Hosted by Youth Group Chronicles · EN
Unbelievable, hilarious, and sometimes horrifying stories from youth group — shared by listeners from around the world every week.
Have a story for us? Email it to stories@ygcpodcast.com
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
237: Forbidden Cheese (LIVE at Uproar Conference Maine 2026)
1w ago00:34:17Tap to summarizeRecorded live at Uproar Conference in Charleston, Maine, Sam is joined by Tim Stearns and Buddy Jenkins for an episode packed with unbelievable youth ministry stories. From the legendary tale of the "Forbidden Cheese" to a pastor whose sermon illustration goes horribly wrong, a camp game that takes gross to a whole new level, a youth group survival experiment that may have gone too far, and plenty more stories involving conferences, camps, road trips, and questionable leadership decisions, this live episode delivers nonstop laughs and unforgettable moments. If you've ever wondered how youth ministry can go from inspiring to absolute chaos in a matter of seconds, this episode is for you.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →236: The Crucifixions (John Scarborough & Dustin Coe)
2w ago00:35:54Tap to summarizeText YGC to 64000 for your 2 free gifts with the purchase of any Pocket Hose Ballistic hose. By Texting 64000, you agree to receive recurring automated marketing messages from Pocket Hose. Message frequency varies and data rates may apply. Text STOP at any time to opt out. Text HELP for additional Information. No purchase required. Terms apply, available at PocketHose.com/terms.This week, Sam is joined by John Scarborough and Dustin Coe for another round of unbelievable youth ministry stories. They kick things off with one of the wildest Easter production mishaps you'll ever hear, when an emotional crucifixion reenactment in front of thousands of students took a completely unexpected turn. Plus, there's the youth pastor who convinced an entire room they'd been exposed to a deadly amoeba, the breakfast apology involving a machete that left everyone speechless, a camper determined to escape with a homemade grappling hook, an awkward prayer request that no one saw coming, a Bible verse that perfectly matched one student's attitude, a camp moment that accidentally made Christianity look like a cult, a student with a bizarre popcorn seasoning obsession, and the small group discussion that somehow ended with the church being evacuated. As always, these stories prove that youth ministry is never boring.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →235: The Second Coming (Cory Asbury)
3w ago00:50:08Tap to summarizeThis week on Youth Group Chronicles, Sam is joined by Cory Asbury for one of the wildest church stories we've ever heard—a late-night encounter involving a mysterious "Jesus dude" that had an entire church unsure of what was going to happen next. Along the way, you'll hear about a lock-in interrupted by an unexpected visitor wandering through the church, a middle schooler's fiery attempt at improving a Pop-Tart, a camp speaker whose illustration brought actual police officers to the scene, a sleepwalking student who created absolute chaos on retreat, a youth game that nearly ended in arrests, and several other stories that prove youth ministry is never boring. From hilarious misunderstandings to moments that left leaders questioning everything, this episode is packed with the kind of unforgettable stories only youth ministry can produce.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →234: Trippin’ and Strippin’ (Sha Racks & George Johnson)
Jun 1700:46:57Tap to summarizeJohnCristComedy.com/tour, for tour dates and tickets.This week on Youth Group Chronicles, Sam is joined by Sha Racks and George Johnson for an episode full of youth ministry chaos, questionable field trips, and moments that went sideways fast. The main story follows a youth group trip that became unforgettable when one student secretly made a dangerous decision in the city and things quickly spiraled back at the hotel. The episode also includes a trash pickup outreach that turned terrifying, an icebreaker that ended in instant regret, a church mascot incident that went way too far, a summer camp injury no one saw coming, a Christmas party quote with the worst possible timing, and a youth leader’s idea of a “fun” field trip that left the entire group traumatized.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →233: The Sacrificial Middle Schooler (John Scarborough & Dustin Coe)
Jun 1000:43:41Tap to summarizeText YGC to 64000 for your 2 free gifts with the purchase of any Pocket Hose Ballistic hose. By Texting 64000, you agree to receive recurring automated marketing messages from Pocket Hose. Message frequency varies and data rates may apply. Text STOP at any time to opt out. Text HELP for additional Information. No purchase required. Terms apply, available at PocketHose.com/terms.This week on Youth Group Chronicles, Sam is joined by John Scarborough and Dustin Coe for a collection of stories that prove middle schoolers are capable of almost anything. From a bizarre camp “sacrifice” that somehow went unchecked, to a youth group prank that spiraled much further than intended, to a longboard disaster during worship and a retreat bathroom mistake no one can ever unhear, this episode is packed with the kind of chaos only student ministry can produce. If you've ever worked with teenagers, survived a youth retreat, or wondered how some students make it to adulthood, this episode is for you.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →232: Christian Red Flags & The Worst Church Traditions | After Hour Series (Cole Clark & Buddy Jenkins)
Jun 601:47:05Tap to summarizeIn this After Hours episode, Sam hangs out with Buddy and Cole for a completely unfiltered conversation that somehow covers everything from wisdom teeth removals and past surgeries to hunting, sports, hobbies, and trying to hit your daily protein goals. The guys also debate Christian red flags, rank bands against bands, discuss the worst Christian traditions they’ve experienced, and chase plenty of random rabbit trails along the way. It’s the kind of conversation you’d have sitting around after an event with friends—part serious, part ridiculous, and all over the place in the best way possible.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →231: Tree Rizz (Buddy Jenkins & George Johnson)
Jun 300:40:35Tap to summarizeVisit https://grace.edu/landing-page/YGC, fill out the form, and they’ll send you a starter box of Grace merch and info, including a gift for the youth pastor.This week, Sam is joined by Buddy and Geo for stories that somehow keep getting weirder. A youth pastor spends an entire night guarding a cabin only for one student to sneak out the second he leaves, a game of hide-and-seek at camp turns into a full-blown search operation, a church festival costume goes horribly wrong, and a student’s shocking confession years later completely changes a story everyone thought they knew. Plus, a worship service comes to a screeching halt, a youth leader accidentally gets the police involved, and one winter retreat prank explains why certain rules have to exist in the first place. If you've ever wondered how youth ministry stories keep topping themselves, this episode is a pretty good example.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →230: Four Lanes of Chaos (Cole Clark and John Cuomo)
May 2700:39:10Tap to summarizeText YGC to 64000 for your 2 free gifts with the purchase of any Pocket Hose Ballistic hose. By Texting 64000, you agree to receive recurring automated marketing messages from Pocket Hose. Message frequency varies and data rates may apply. Text STOP at any time to opt out. Text HELP for additional Information. No purchase required. Terms apply, available at PocketHose.com/terms.Sam is joined by John Cuomo and Cole Clark for an episode full of stories that somehow keep escalating every few minutes. From a homemade mission trip trailer turning into an interstate disaster, to a youth group accidentally leaving a student alone in the woods at night, to a youth leader receiving a text that definitely wasn’t meant for him, this episode is complete chaos from start to finish. Plus, the guys react to a student bringing a gun to youth group, a brutally awkward eyepatch interaction, a mission trip hotel that should’ve been condemned, and several moments that left everyone involved questioning every decision that led them there…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →229: The Baptism Attack (Buddy Jenkins & George Johnson)
May 2000:34:18Tap to summarizeVisit https://www.grace.edu/landing-page/ygc/, fill out the form, and they’ll send you a starter box of Grace merch and info, including a gift for the youth pastor.Sam is joined by Buddy Jenkins and George Johnson for an episode full of absolute youth ministry chaos, including the now-infamous “Baptism Attack” story where a late-night spontaneous lake baptism takes a completely unexpected turn. Along the way, the guys react to stories of a wedding sermon that ended with a dollhouse getting obliterated by a baseball bat, a youth pastor crashing a motorcycle onto the church stage, a donut game gone horribly wrong, and one camp prank that escalated way beyond what anyone expected. From awkward moments to unbelievable camp stories and near-disasters, this episode is nonstop proof that no one survives youth ministry with their dignity fully intact.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →228: The Urgent Prayer Request (Ruslan)
May 1301:02:11Tap to summarizeText YGC to 64000 for your 2 free gifts with the purchase of any Pocket Hose Ballistic hose. By Texting 64000, you agree to receive recurring automated marketing messages from Pocket Hose. Message frequency varies and data rates may apply. Text STOP at any time to opt out. Text HELP for additional Information. No purchase required. Terms apply, available at PocketHose.com/terms.Cole Clark joins Sam Moss for a chaotic episode recorded four stories underground in a New York City greenroom with special guest Ruslan. From a camp prank involving a fake bear attack that sent students into full panic mode, to a youth pastor accidentally traumatizing an entire Christmas caroling group, to one student learning the hard way why hot pepper challenges come with very specific safety precautions… this episode somehow keeps getting worse in the best possible way. Plus, a sermon illustration goes horribly wrong, a leader accidentally creates the most uncomfortable parent meeting imaginable, and one camp director gets blindsided by a newlywed couple with very unexpected news…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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