How to be a Good Host

Hosting isn’t just filling time on stage, it’s ministry.

Whether you’re giving announcements, leading a game, or transitioning the room toward worship, the moments you guide from the front shape how students experience church, community, and even God. In this 3-part video course, veteran youth ministry leaders Doug Fields, Josh Griffin, and Jessica Sanchez help you grow into a confident, prepared, and pastoral host who leads with both skill and wisdom.

You’ll learn why hosting matters more than most people realize, how to prepare and lead with clarity and energy, and how to pastor students well, especially in awkward, emotional, or unexpected moments. This course moves beyond stage presence and production to focus on creating safe, welcoming environments where students feel seen, valued, and ready to encounter Jesus.

Whether you’re brand new, a longtime volunteer, a student leader, or someone who was recently “volun-told” to grab the mic, this course will help you understand that what you do up front is not performance, it’s service. And it matters more than you think.

Session 1: Why Hosting (and Leading from the Front) Matters (Doug Fields)

Session 2: 15 Tips Before You Step on Stage (Josh Griffin)

Session 3: Leading With Wisdom: Pastoring Students from the Stage (Jessica Sanchez)

NOTE: If you're the lead youth worker, family pastor, CE director, senior pastor (basically, anyone overseeing youth ministry) you might want to check out our All Access, which gives you access to all courses, including 101-401, and covers the license agreement so your volunteers can receive on-demand training throughout the year.

Doug Fields, Josh Griffin, and Jessica Sanchez’s 70+ combined years of youth ministry experience is now available to help train, shape, and resource you as a youth worker.