Youth Ministry Development
By God’s grace the youth ministry meeting last night was an encouraging and exciting time as we thought through our future ministry to youth. For those of you who missed the meeting here is a summary of what we covered.
For those of you who were there here are a couple of statements that will help refresh your memory.
Overall Goal- That students would embrace the gospel for their salvation and then live out the gospel as they grow in holiness and spread the gospel to the world around them.
Strategy- We believe an age specific ministry to students will be most effective towards this goal only as students are:
1. Practically involved in the whole church body and
2. Genuinely relating to and learning from their parents.
If these two aspects are priorities and we are committed to effectively living in and reaching our community we will find it a necessity to guard against schedule domination as we think through what student ministries will look like.
All parents and students (it might be helpful to brainstorm and discuss together) here at ASG now have an assignment: to give ideas and input for what the youth ministry will look like. Below I have given a series of questions to help you think through the different areas that we will need to develop. It may seem a bit overwhelming so feel free to use it as you wish. Be thoughtful and creative.
As you seek to answer each of these questions be ready to explain how your answers fit into our overall goal and our strategy for most effectively reaching this goal.
Consistent Meetings-
- How often?
- When?
- Where?
- Who?
- What activities should these meetings consist of?
Parent Equipping/Encouragement/Support-
- What are different forms that resources for parents might take? In other words, where might help and encouragement come from?
- What are different ways that these resources can get into the hands of parents?
Service Projects-
- In what ways can students (and possibly their families with them) serve the body here at Auburn Sovereign Grace Fellowship?
- In what ways can students (and possibly their families with them) serve the community of Auburn?
Parent/Student Relationship Building Activities-
- What kinds of activities and events can we plan that will provide an opportunity for genuine and open relationships between parents and students to be developed?
- What kinds of resources can we provide that will help parents and students to come together on their own time in developing genuine and open relationships?
Whole Church Involvement-
- How can we encourage and facilitate the development of relationships between students and older, more mature members of the church?
- How can students be involved in the life of the church as a whole in a way that is meaningful and according to God’s design?
Peer Fellowship-
- How often should activities, events, and trips take place in order to fit with our overall strategy?
- What kinds of activities, events, and trips might effectively encourage peer fellowship?
Here are several links to churches that are doing youth ministry from a similar perspective to ours. They are fairly similar to each other but may give you some ideas.
http://www.covfel.org/pages/index.php?pID=938
http://www.vistanewlife.org/ourlife/youth.htm
http://www.covlife.org/ourlife/youth.php
As I was thinking about this whole process I was reminded that we are not seeking to develop some sort of magical process or program that will automatically convert or grow students. We seek, by God’s grace, to be faithful and then rely fully on His grace to change hearts and mature individuals.
Please use the reply function below to submit your ideas (this will allow us to see each other’s comments and get ideas from one another). If this is too complicated feel free to e-mail me or to write me a note. Thank you so much for investing your time in this way.
June 30th, 2006 at 6:16 pm
Tim, I greatly appreciated the vision that you put forth for our youth at the meeting on Monday, mostly because it was so balanced– addressing the legitimate need for ministry to and from our youth while upholding ideals that need not be compromised. In our home we’ve been big on upholding high ideals but in the process have neglected some legitimate needs of our children during this season of their lives, which makes me sad. Thankfully, we hope in the infinite mercies of our God, and rejoice in His faithfulness– not our efforts. We have indeed seen His kindness in the lives of both of our children. Nonetheless, we are still in the midst of the battle:) and realize that we are not the only ones. My copy of Age of Opportunity is well worn (our children are 17 and 19:)) with more pages dog-eared than just about any book I’ve ever read. One of the moms at the meeting mentioned going through this book as a group. We would be interested in getting together with other parents (with or without our youth) to go through Age of Opportunity and pray for the “age specific” needs of our young people (and ourselves as we face the challenges and blessings of parenting them). Are there any other parents that would be interested in doing this on a monthly or bi-monthly basis? –Teri Rowland
June 30th, 2006 at 7:32 pm
Hi Tim,
After I emailed you the other day I have been thinking a lot about youth ministry. I believe the goals of our church for the youth are exactly as they should be. How to reach those goals is THE question obviously. I agree with Teri 100% . . .we face the challenges and blessings of parenting too! And I feel like we need so much help!
I would really like to see some Parent ministries. I think Age of Opportunity would be a great study for us parents to go through together. Focusing on youth minstries without strengthening our parenting skills might be like putting the cart before the horse. I really think an effective Youth ministry is one that addresses the parenting needs as well as the youth needs. I know mine crave a more expanded social life. Youth activities are fine for that, They give our teens a way to connect with each other and with pastor Tim (Who my teens think the world of), but I think the bonds will grow as well if we do some multi-family activities. I am not talking about park picnics, although we love them and I don’t think they should stop.
Look at church Bunko. I really enjoyed the 5 minutes of meeting everyone in the room, sometimes more than once. Imagine some activity like that where it was not only adults, but our youth as well. 5 minutes of conversing with someone you never talked to before won’t change the world by itself, but it IS a start. I think the youth have many barriers that are keeping them from feeling like they even belong to the same family (of God, that is). I don’t see groups of high schoolers initiating groups after church for socializing for example.
I know they can effectively serve individually (I saw that with AWANA), and I love the AWANA programs for Bible instruction, and also, because there are organized events like Bible Quizzing and AWANA Games, the kids do learn team spirit in an amazing way. I have been to many high school AWANA events and kids who only meet once a week know how to work as a team and develop healthy relationships. That is a weekly club, so you might have to modofy it if families want to use the program but not meet as often.
Also, as I viewed the other church websites on your link, I did like the idea of Girls and Boys having some group time apart (Like you said, retreats, etc.). Our group is small though, and sometimes that intimacy is actually very intimidating.
One last thing, I know this has been a long post, but . .
Maurice is involved in a business mens Bible study for the past year. One thing they do at EACH weekly meeting is go over a check list of about 10 things. It is an accountability list. I think it is a great Idea, not to make us just see our successes and failures, but identify our needs (strengths and weaknesses). I think our kids need it as much as we do!
Well, I hope this helps. I don’t know the answers, I sure hope someone else does!
Pindi Munoz