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.

Why I Am In Youth Ministry

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

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