Teen Life: 10 Reasons Why I Am In Youth Ministry

Guest article…

People seem to have looked at youth ministry as “glorified
babysitting” or a stepping stone to “Real” ministry. When people
ask “Why youth ministry?” I answer, “Why not?” Here is a list of
top ten reasons to consider supporting a youth ministry within your
church.

1. Not only are youth the church of the future but they are the
Church today. It helps to train, equip, and rebuke them in
righteousness while helping them know God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16,
17).

2. Youth Ministry helps Students to “Go ….” More than ever, young
people are willing to be stretched, used, and challenged to step
out of their comfort zones. Mission Trips and Service Projects are
very important. Trips with your student ministry with groups like
YWAM, CIY, Group, and others help students and adults alike to “Go
ye into all the world …” (Matt. 28:19, 20).

3. Youth Ministry is now seen as a need or a “must-have” within the
church. It helps young people lead balanced lives from the mental,
social, physical, and spiritual aspects, and it clarifies the
expectations of them.

4. It makes disciples (Matt. 28:19, 20). The stats say that 80% of
Christians become so by the age of 18, with influences such as
conventions, camps, retreats.

5. It teaches (Matt. 28:19, 20). â€oe…teaching them to obey all
things …” This aspect of Youth Ministry covers education in our
Bible Schools, our Bible Colleges, and our campus ministries.

6. It helps simplify the Gospel. Where else can you teach the
basics of the faith and leave a heritage (Acts 4:12; Hebrews 11)?

7. It teaches unity (John 17). Youth ministry must and does
function with the rest of the body of Christ. It works with
parents, relatives and the family of God (1 Cor. 12). I recommend
the book “Parents’ Guide to Spiritual Mentoring of Teens: Building
your Child’s Faith through the Adolescent Years,” Joe White,
JimWeidmann. Tyndale House, 2001.

8. It builds community. Where else can you love God and love kids?
Be silly; know that God is there. I know Jesus spending a lot of
time with his disciples was one of the basics of forming community
(Mark 12:28-34).

9. It is relational. I know a young lady who has been teaching
Bible School for 67 years. Why? Her educational style has changed
but her relationship with those she teaches has not. She loves her
Lord, and loves the youth she teaches.

10. It is life-changing. The impact, the purpose, the philosophy,
support of families, and crossing the generations makes it all
worth it.

So Now we Know Why Youth Ministry. Now what?

One has to envision what their youth ministry is going to look
like. The premise or the purpose behind the reasons for their youth
ministry will help determine which direction they will go.

Here are some practical suggestions to start with.

1. Ask yourself the tough questions. What are we doing right now?
What can we change? How do we do it? What is the purpose? What is
our vision, philosophy or mission statement for the youth ministry
here?

2. Set some goals. Recruit. Have job descriptions. Screen your
workers, train them, have a budget etc. The “Youth Ministry
Management Tools” book from Youth Specialties comes in handy here.

3. Have ways to achieve the objectives. Do we have the staff?
Volunteers? Part-time? Full time? What do the youth want? Will
there be mission trips, conventions, classes, worship, and service
projects? How will we support the ministry to families? Be flexible
and balanced.

4. Follow through on your objectives. Start small and build from
there (Rome wasn’t built in a day either).

5. Don’t be discouraged. Youth Ministry is not easy, nor is it
meant to be. What you win them to is what you have to keep them
with. If it is all fun and games, guess what you get to continue
doing? Make the ministry your churches, have them own it. Again,
flexibility and balance come into play.

6. Actually this should have been number 1. Get the support of the
parents. Parents and families need to be ministered to as well.

7. Have some accountability. Set boundaries, rules etc. Never one
adult alone with a youth and so forth. I recommend the book “Better
Safe Than Sued” and Brotherhood Insurance’s “Reducing the Risk”.

8. Get the leadership behind you. Nothing makes or breaks a
ministry more than if the leaders are behind it or not.

9. Communicate. Over communicate. Nothing does better than to have
lots of PR. Sometimes, it helps to have some of those elderly
ladies hear that you have needs for refreshments. Plus it gets your
light out to the community.

10. Get some resources that can be adopted, adapted to meet your
students’ own faith journey needs.

So we discussed the “Why?” and the “What?” Now, the “Who?” and the
“Where?” are easy. “Who?” as in “Who can be involved in youth
ministry?” Anyone that loves God and loves youth. We actually do an
application and interview so that they know our mission, beliefs,
and philosophy.

The “Where?” is at your local congregation?

The last question seems to be “How?” as in “How do I do Youth
Ministry?” Where do I get some resources? Doing Youth Ministry
depends on your definition and purpose for the ministry. Ours is
based upon the LGLO principle. To Love God, Love Others. We are a
church which tries to have students develop a personal relationship
with Jesus Christ, and along with other youth and adults establish
a Christian community.

By Gerrard Fess

Your Partners in Youth Ministry
Paul & Al

Youth Ministry Resource Subscription

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Youth Ministry Discipleship 101

Youth Bible Lessons: Lesser Known Heroes of the Bible with Powerpoint, Outline, Class
handout and Discussion Guide:

Teen Life Ministries
http://www.teenlifeministries.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Zone from Teen Life Ministries now has over 1000 articles to
help you with youth ministry.

Yes, we know that’s more than anyone is expected to get through.
But there’s a lot of variety so you can be choosey.

You have permission to use these in your ministry. If you see an
article for parents that would help your families then just copy
and send it by email. Or print it and put it in the mail.

Email the daily Bible readings to your group each month.

Print out the monthly “Dawn Til’ Dusk” and take yourself on a one
day retreat. OR rework it a bit and hand it out to your teens.

Send the “Listen to Lisa” articles to the young ladies in the
group. How cool for them to get an email that’s designed just for
them.

These articles aren’t just for reading they are for USING within
your ministry.

Zone members, here is a direct link to the article section:

http://www.teenlifeministries.com/site.php/arti/main/

Your Partners in Youth Ministry

Paul & Al

Zone Members: Be sure to download and apply “Amazing Teaching” that
changes lives. Jesus amazed the crowds with his teaching and we should too!
Here’s how…

http://teenlifeministries.com/site.php/file/read/amazing_teaching/

http://www.teenlifeministries.com/thezone

Our group just got back from Mexico…

4. Problems. Teens are good at sharing their victories, but poor at sharing their problems. They play cover-up Christianity in an effort to appear all together. When problems become overwhelming and they feel they can’t live up to expectations, bailing out seems easier than fessing up.

Foster openness in your group by providing classes, devotionals, etc. expressly for problem sharing. Share some of your own struggles as well. You won’t appear weak, rather teens will be able to relate to you and the group better when they know everyone has problems.

5. Hurt by the church. We could all make a list as long as our leg of people who left the church because they got “offended.” Teens are no different. Offend or hurt their feelings and they leave. Hopefully they will go to another church, most likely they won’t go at all, and their parents won’t blame them.

When you feel justified in smarting off or pinching the feelings of a teen to “teach them a lesson,” remember Romans 15:1. “We who are strong ought to bear the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.”

6. Peer pressure. Part, if not most, of the reason a teenager becomes part of a certain church is friendship. Teens go where the crowd goes. Teens do what their friends do. And if a majority of their friends don’t go to church, they’ll probably dodge it every chance they get if they are not committed to Jesus.

Protect your group by promoting positive peer pressure. Encourage friendships among Christians, while evangelizing their non-Christian friends.

Your Partners in Youth Ministry,

Paul and Al

Want Free Youth Ministry resources and training? Just enter your name and email below…

1. Never converted. When a person grows up going to church, it’s easy to adopt a belief system without owning it. Verses may get memorized, but not internalized. Confession may be made, but not a commitment.

When teens graduate from high school they often graduate from church as well. Prevent it by helping teens develop a personal faith. A faith in Christ, not the church. A faith in God, not in an earthly person.

2. They hear their parents say one thing, but see them do another. When talking about the Pharisees, Jesus said, “Do what they say, but not what they do, because they say and do not.” Just like Jesus, teens hate a fake. Teens do not think it’s fair for their parents to expect one standard from them, yet refuse to live up to that same standard in their own lives. It says to them that Christianity is more about talk than life. So when they leave home, they leave the talk and life behind as well.

3. Teens rarely get an opportunity to do the work of the church. The youth group is a special place, but teens know it’s often viewed as a separate area of the church filled with “kids.” They hear about being the “future of the church,” and seldom get to be the church of today.

Let teens be part of your entire congregation by using them to help teach children’s classes, help in the nursery and other areas, to allow the “adults” to see them at work. These responsibilities may seem “small” to the teens, but will form a great impression on those around them and help them be considered for greater responsibilities.

Your Partners in Youth Ministry,

Paul and Al

Want Free Youth Ministry resources and training? Just enter your name and email below…

4. Lack of Parental Support. Even if you do everything you can to get parents on your side, there may be times when you lack the support you desire and need. As the youth minister, you may get blamed for a teen’s personal problems because, “You didn’t do enough.” Or you may not be going in the direction that the parents want you to.

Tip: Regardless of the circumstances, avoid overreacting. Treat parents with respect and honor through the hard times and the next time things get rough you may find that you have more supporters than ever before.

5. Lack of Staff Member Support. Even if the parents aren’t on your side all the time, you certainly want the staff on your side. These are the people you work with everyday – they’re hard to avoid!

Tip: Tensions on staff arise from multiple sources: envy, personality, salary, office hours, to name a few. Keep relationships strong by having a weekly share session to talk about problems, prayer requests, and dreams. Form a team concept among staff members.

6. Not enough time. There are only twenty-four hours in a day, and nothing will change that. You put in your office time, visit with kids after school, catch a quick supper, and then attend a school function of one of the teens. This cycle can seem endless when you suddenly realize you have to get a class, devotional, and leader’s material ready by this afternoon!

Tip: Prioritize your time. There never seems to be enough time when you don’t know what’s coming next. Review your day each morning and make every minute count.

Your Partners in Youth Ministry,

Paul and Al

Want Free Youth Ministry resources and training? Just enter your name and email below…

1. Losing teens. Whether to the world, another group, or relocation, losing a teen pulls a minister down. And it always seems to happen when the kid was making a breakthrough, or having a tremendous impact on the rest of the group.

Tip: Don’t take it personally when a teen leaves. It may be her parent’s decision. Or he may not have fit in well with the dynamics of your group and decided to try another group. Instead of being hard on yourself, pray and ask God to bless the teen wherever he or she may go.

2. Lack of Commitment. “How many want to get together and pray before school at your campus?…No one?..Okay, then how many would be interested in hosting a free car wash next month for the senior citizens? … Anyone?…No?…Okay, then how about…” In youth ministry cycles there come periods when no one acts like they want to do anything for the Lord. Casual Christianity seems to rule.

Tip: When no one wants to get involved, have the teens plan, and host the event. By giving them ownership, they put in the time and energy. Teens might not mind if your plans don’t work, but they will if their plans don’t work.

3. Poor Attendance. I remember showing up one Saturday morning to go with my youth group to a rally. Only the youth minister showed up out of a group with seventy teens. Do you know what my youth minister did? He took me to the rally!

Tip: Don’t worry about poor attendance. View it as an opportunity to give special attention to the handful that do show up.

Your Partners in Youth Ministry,

Paul and Al

Want Free Youth Ministry resources and training? Just enter your name and email below…