In this episode of Youth Down South, we’re highlighting another great resource coming out of the territory. Emma sits down with Ashley Escobar from the Women’s Department to talk about the Open Air Podcast—a podcast created to encourage, equip, and connect women through meaningful conversations about faith, life, and ministry. Ashley shares the vision behind the podcast, who it’s designed for, and the kinds of topics listeners can expect when they tune in. If you’re looking for encouragement and practical insight for your faith journey, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

In this episode, Emma is joined by Melissa Powell and Kara Rodriguez to talk about one of their favorite parts of ministry—getting out across the territory to visit camps, youth councils, and divisional events. They share why these visits matter, what they’ve learned from youth leaders and young people, and how the Youth Department hopes to encourage those serving on the front lines of youth ministry.

REPLAY! This episode first aired in June 2025, but it is still relevant every year. If you listened the first time, listen again! If you missed it the first time, you won’t want to miss it now!

In this episode, we take a bird’s eye view of officer moves within the Southern Territory—how the process works and how we, as church members and leaders, can support officers and their families, especially children, during a season of change. Lt. Colonel Janice Riefer, Territorial Secretary for Personnel, shares her expert insights, and Jon Avery, Social Media Manager, joins the conversation with personal reflections and a look at a recent social media post about this topic that gained a lot of positive feedback.

Here is the link to the social media post referenced in the episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIOG3yPxXax/?igsh=MXI5ZDBxOHhlZjVkNQ==