#unikoi

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Aaron, how did you make Unikoi Questions? 

I knew that most high school students didn't listen to podcasts, but they were into YouTube. So I found YouTube to be a great way to host the podcasts. I made a Tumblr site because I knew that questions could be submitted anonymously. Jess helped me make a logo.

Mat and I would Skype on the weekdays in the evening, normally Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays. I used to just record using my Apple Earpods, but I later switched to using my higher quality condenser microphone. Mat got better at answering questions on the fly, and I was really impressed at his ability to remember the Bible verses he needed to answer the question. 

We would normally record a couple questions at a time, and I would spread them out on a publishing schedule. We took breaks periodically and that helped me break the episodes up into different seasons. As Mat got closer to being married and starting his new position at his new church, I knew it was time for Unikoi Questions to come to a close. It's been a great run, but I'm excited to see what God has in store for both of us. 

View more Unikoi Questions here.

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Aaron, what is the story behind Unikoi Questions? 

Hi everyone this is Aaron and today I am going to be answering a question. 

I get asked what the origin story is behind Unikoi Questions, and to answer that we need to go back a couple years to some videos we did when my friends Jon, Justin, and Mat were interning together at FCBCW. We were at my parents house at the time and I asked them if they would be open to doing a Q and A just for fun. It would be a video time capsule for us to see how far God would take us in the future. You can still find those videos on the Unikoi Films YouTube channel -- they're in a playlist called Vintage Unikoi Questions.

Fast forward to when Mat Pau became the high school youth pastor for FCBCW, and I wanted to do something together with him for the youth. I was getting into podcasts at the time, and I wanted to do what Ask Pastor John podcast did -- except I wanted to tailor it for the youth of our church. Mat was on board, and we found that Skype was not only a great way to record the podcast, but it was a great way to keep up with each other for ministry and also to see what was going on in each other's lives. 

View more Unikoi Questions here.

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Aaron, how have you grown during Unikoi Questions?

Hi everyone this is Aaron, and today I want to answer the question of how I grew during the duration of Unikoi Questions.

Our first episode was published on Sept 10, 2013. I had just got married that year in July -- so I was in my first year of marriage. I was also starting nurse Anesthesia school at the time. Jess and I were living in Alhambra. 

At the time I'm recording this episode, it's January 2017. So let's just say it's been four years since our inaugural episode. Jess and I have been happily married for almost 4 years, and we're still living in Alhambra -- except now we're in a condo instead of an apartment. I am no longer pursuing anesthesia, but i have found a fulfilling career as an RN Clinical Analyst working in the field of Healthcare Informatics. 

There's been more growth in other areas -- I've recorded more music and produced more albums, my band Earth To Jupiter has released music, videos, and we even played a show for NPR, Jess and I are owners of a poke and boba shop and we're currently waiting for adoption. Mat is now a married man. 

But I think the biggest growth that is most significant for discussing on this podcast is how I really came to embrace the Internet as a tool for worshiping God. I've always loved creative works, and though I'm not good at it, I still continue to go at it. I've been tinkering away on my blog and finding a presence online with YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter -- it's crazy to think that the Internet and our methods of communicating online are still in its infancy. 

I think I've grown a passion to use every tool at my disposal to have joy. But I don't want it to be a joy rooted in the empty promises and entertainment that this world has to offer. I want to find it in the source of true joy -- Jesus Christ -- and his sovereignty. So for now, I plan to keep growing in my understanding and use of the world wide web and wield it as a tool for the glory of God. The word is the weapon, the rest are tools to support and strategize the use of the weapon. 

Mat's answer to that first question of Unkoi Questions -- how can a high schooler best worship God at school -- was to live a lifestyle worthy of the gospel. Be a witness in how we live, and be a witness in what we proclaim. A lot of our lives are online -- email, social media, work, and entertainment. I want to keep growing in my use of the Internet as an instrument for the glory of God.

View more Unikoi Questions here. 

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As we near the end of Unikoi Questions and get ready for our new podcast, I’m starting to answer some questions. You can read the transcript of my answer below. Get caught up on previous episodes here.

Hi everyone,

This is Aaron and as we approach the final episode of Unikoi Questions, I'm going to be answering some questions. 

One question I get asked a lot is what podcasts I listen to - and I listen to a lot of podcasts - so today I want to highlight three podcasts that are in the Q and A format that have kept me inspired to do Unikoi Questions.

The first podcast is the Ask Pastor John podcast from John Piper and Desiring God. John Piper gives in-depth, 5-7 minute answers on a range of topics from the practical to the theological, and he does it passionately. It's worth mentioning that they have an APP for their podcast -- just search for the ask pastor john podcast in the app store -- and it's a quick and easy way to get all of that content in a searchable, instant archive.

The second podcast Ask Anything by Albert Mohler. He sometimes does Weekend Episodes of his main podcast The Briefing -- and for these special weekend episodes he does them in a Q and A format. Albert Mohler is a quick thinker and he's always ready with a compelling answer. His podcast The Briefing is my favorite podcast of all time because no one presents a clear Christian wordview like he does in such an articulate and timely way.

The third podcast I would like to mention is Bible Q and A with John MacArthur. These podcasts are only 1-2 minutes long, and John MacArthur goes directly to the  text to answer Bible questions. It's quick and clear and authoritative. I listen to podcasts on my Apple iPhone 6s. I usually listen when I'm exercising, driving, doing chores, or doing busy work on the computer. The Overcast app is my podcast player of choice. If I'm using earphones then I'm using my Apple Earbuds, and if I need something louder than the phone I listen on my UE mini boom bluetooth speaker. In the car, I connect to my car speakers using an AUX cord or USB cable. 

Thanks everyone for listening - see you soon. 

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I quietly released the penultimate episodes of Unikoi Questions last week. Get caught up here. 

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MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH THE STUDENTS TO IMPROVE LEADING MUSIC IN CHILDREN’S WORSHIP

Auntie Katy was so kind to record an episode of Unikoi Questions with me! In this episode, she says that making connections with the students will improve Children's Worship. One way to do this is to learn the children's names. A second way to do this is by saying hello to them outside of the worship time. A third way to do this is by taking the time to have a conversation with them. It's a mindset of ministering to the children. Establishing a personal connection helps to build relationships. It also increases their reception to the music leading.

This was a noteworthy episode because this is something I need to work on. I've been serving in Children's Worship for a while, and I am sad that I do not know a lot of the children's names. I think it's hard because I don't help out with the children outside of the music ministry. I spend more time with the youth and young adults. Also, my focus has been on the music leaders. I need to be more intentional and more relational with the children. The irony is that one way to improve leading music is not related to the music at all -- it's about the children. The priority for myself as a leader should be the people I am leading.

I am thankful that Auntie Katy has been patient with me as I continue to learn and strive for excellence. The children can learn to have serious joy in a sovereign God. I need to let the children come to him.