Meaning of First a Follower

What does it mean to be "First a Follower" and why did we pick that name for this podcast? Nina Edwards came up with it, so let's ask her! We also have youth ministry legend, Lynn Ziegenfuss, joining us to unpack why abiding is not only incredibly important, but crucial to thriving in ministry.

Nina Edwards has served in Youth for Christ For almost 38 years, both as part of a local chapter and YFC USA the National Service Center, currently serving on the Leader Formation team. With years of experience in developing and empowering leaders, Nina has come to love equipping people and creating spaces for people to encounter Jesus in fresh ways. Nina is also trained in walking with people through grief and has learned much about the grace of God in watching people integrate loss into their lives. 

Lynn Ziegenfuss is a leadership development and spiritual formation specialist. Her passion is to encourage, equip and empower followers of Jesus to move toward spiritual maturity, emotional wholeness and Kingdom effectiveness.   

Lynn is a 40-year veteran leader of Youth For Christ, having served as a Campus Life Director, an Executive Director, as the National Training Director and VP of Leadership Development. After a time away, she returned to YFC part time to the role of Missionary Care and trainer/consultant in spiritual formation.   

Currently, Lynn serves as a consultant with the Looper Foundation overseeing grants focused on formation, soul care and discipleship. One of the best ways Lynn gets to live into her passion now is as a spiritual director and by serving on the Christian Formation and Direction Ministry faculty to train others in spiritual formation and direction. 

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First a Follower is a podcast created and produced by Youth For Christ/USA, Inc. (“YFC”). It exists to support youth ministry leaders by offering practical guidance, relevant resources, and conversations designed to strengthen the spiritual formation of those discipling the next generation.

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