Mobilizing the Next Generation: How Student Missions Shape Lifelong Discipleship

Is your student ministry just taking trips—or forming missionaries? In this episode, Elevate host Evan Kunz sits down with Amy-Jo Girardier and Mac Johnson to explore how student mission journeys can do far more than fill a summer calendar. You’ll hear stories from over two decades of ministry, get practical frameworks for building mission partnerships, and discover how short-term trips can spark long-term calling. Whether you're shaping your first student mission trip or deepening your church's sending culture, this episode will help you equip the next generation for a life on mission. Episode Guests: Evan Kunz: Brentwood Baptist Student Minister Amy-Jo Girardier: Brentwood Baptist Women's Minister, former Girls & Student Mission Mobilizer at Brentwood Baptist Mac Johnson: Global Worker/Pastor at The Point Church, former Student Minister at Brentwood Baptist Timestamps: 00:00 – Why student missions matter 03:00 – How the student missions strategy began 08:00 – From student minister to global worker 13:00 – Shifting from trips to discipleship 20:00 – The “Here, There, Everywhere” model 27:00 – Teaching mission theology to students 33:00 – The power of long-term partnerships 42:00 – What makes a mission trip stick 48:00 – Helping students pray, give, and go 53:00 – Training students to share their faith 59:00 – How short trips spark lifelong calling 1:08:00 – Preparing students—and their parents—for life after the trip 1:14:00 – Creating co-pilot moments for the next generation Resources Mentioned: Acts 18 and the “Here, There, Everywhere” strategy The Point Church, Vancouver, BC Reborn Community Church, Chicago, IL Mission 615 Elevate Church Conference | September 9, 2025 Join us for the Elevate Church Conference at Brentwood Baptist in Nashville, TN. Learn from seasoned church leaders, grow your ministry team, and gain practical tools for your church’s next chapter. Register now at elevatechurchconference.com