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Effective Youth Ministry in the Effective Youth Ministry in the 2121stst Century Century
Missionary Baptist State Youth FellowshipMid Winter Conference
November 22, 2008
Facilitator: The Rev. Shaun Ellison Jones,Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries
Baptist General Convention of Virginia
Workshop ObjectivesWorkshop Objectives
Identify the purpose of Ministry To and
For Youth.
Utilize their church’s (context)
demographic in the development of their
youth ministry.
Assess the effectiveness of their youth
workers
Develop spiritually mature youth
Assist their youth as they deal with BIG
problems
Create a culturally relevant yet reverent
youth ministry.
By the end of this workshop participants will be able toBy the end of this workshop participants will be able to
Purpose of Ministry to/for YouthPurpose of Ministry to/for Youth
Ministry for Young People to Young People by Young
People and Adults.
Purpose-Driven Youth Ministry
Discipleship- educating God’s people with the Truth
Evangelism- communicating the good news of Jesus Christ with those who
don’t yet have a personal relationship with God.
Fellowship- incorporating God’s people into a family where they can be
known, cared for, held accountable, and encouraged.
Ministry- demonstrating God’s love by meeting the needs of others with
love.
Worship- celebrating God’s presence and honoring him with our lifestyles
What do these purposes look like in your ministry?
3
Scripture: Matthew 19:13-15
The important point is that Jesus places an EMPHASIS on
ministering to children … even when the adults thought
they would not be a significant ministry focus for Him.
There are still many churches where children and youth are not
treated with the level of SIGNIFICANCE and RELEVANCE as they
should. There is sometimes a subtle (sometimes not too
subtle), indication that young people are really not the focus of
church. There is an element of: “Run along kids and go and
play – this is for grown-ups.”
We should not be satisfied to have youth ministry as a “HOLY-
HUDDLE” of Christian kids getting together each week but a
ministry where UNCHURCHED youth would want to be apart.
Purpose of Ministry to/for Purpose of Ministry to/for YouthYouth
Understanding Your Understanding Your DemographicsDemographics Urban Locations
Limited Mobility- public transportation might be student’s only
way to youth group activities.
Acute Family problems- young single mothers, absentee father
and often grandparents and other family members are guardians.
Violence- for inner city kids, it’s a daily concern, and they may be
afraid to attend youth group events because of it.
High Student Turnover- youth group kids may not stick around
because of their parents’ employment situations or other family
problems.
Understanding Your Understanding Your DemographicsDemographics Rural Locations
Tiny numbers- there aren’t many families to draw from (yet)
Paid youth Workers? Ha!-sometimes small rural churches can’t even
afford part-time youth workers for the few kids in attendance. Violence-
for inner-city kids, it’s a daily concern, and they may be afraid to attend
youth group events because of it
Travel problems- distances between friends, schools, and church can
be huge, and bad weather will add to the difficulty of these long trips.
Schools and Community involvement- schools and communities for
better or worse, may desire involvement in church youth programs.
Seasonal Event- harvest time, county fairs, local parades, high school
sports, are highly important.
Reverend Shaun Jones, BGC Dir. of Youth & Young Adult Ministries 6
Essentials for a Ministry Team Essentials for a Ministry Team High Quality Adult Volunteers (1st Samuel 16:7)
Be selective when choosing adult volunteers
Invite don’t recruit
Persons should not feel forced
Age/ gender/ occupation should not limit volunteers
Look for those who will help teenagers grow spiritually
Encourage current leaders and youth to identify potential
volunteers
Don’t overlook or overuse parents
Spiritual giftedness and talents
Provide a job description
Roles and responsibilities
Commitment and Time =Stewardship
7
Essentials for a Ministry TeamEssentials for a Ministry Team Look for those who will provide a safe place for youth
Background checks & screeningsInappropriate Relationship
Develop a plan if physical interaction takes placeDevelop a plan if sexual misconduct takes place
Develop a plan for disciplinary actionsCode of Silence
Training (Proverbs 2:6, 9-10)Helps the entire team catch the visionDetermines volunteers’ areas of specificity Have old volunteers mentor new volunteersInternal training periodicallyExternal workshops/training
Getting Youth On BoardGetting Youth On Board
One major reason young people leave the church is lack
of INVOLVEMENT.
So too, we are to make the call to young people to follow
Christ, and to DISCIPLE them, and EMPOWER them to do
ministry.
Train them and have them do REAL ministry, not just
token positions. (Matthew 4: 18-20)
Helping Youth Grow SpirituallyHelping Youth Grow Spiritually
“In Christianity, we tend to have great OBSTETRICS, but
lousy PEDIATRICS.”
We tend to like to put on big events, or evangelistic outreaches,
have kids raise their hands, come forward, sign the decision card
– all good things – but with no real MEANS OR PLAN to make sure
they are followed-up. Sometimes we don’t even have enough
staff or volunteers to ensure that they even could be followed up.
And significant results in ministry can only take place with a
LONG-TERM commitment to it.
Helping Youth Grow Spiritually Helping Youth Grow Spiritually What does spiritual Growth Mean?
Ephesians 4:13
Questions to ponder?
Does our worship invited them to relate with god through Jesus
Christ?
Does our bible study or Sunday school class help them grow in
knowledge of God and of God’s says in the world?
There must be a balance between spiritual growth, learning,
and fun, so what is it?
This depends on the mean age of the youth ministry, there level of
maturity in the faith, and where you feel comfortable leading them.
Practical means to achieve spiritual growthPrayer- both private and publicBiblical StudyRegular Worship with the congregation that is
meaningful and comprehendible.Regular participation in the Lord’s Supper.Christian conversation, by which he mean being
involved in a group where people both support one another in their faith struggles and hold one another accountable when they are less than faithful.
Missionary Work- meeting needs with God’s love.
Helping Youth Grow SpirituallyHelping Youth Grow Spiritually
Helping Youth Deal with Big Helping Youth Deal with Big ProblemsProblems
Pray, seeking God’s wisdom to minister not counsel
Be AVAILABLE (be close enough to talk without being their
friend)
Be aware of your issues (it may affect your ability to minister)
Be encouraged because all of us are “Wounded-Healers”
Be a good, empathetic listener
Be OPEN! Not judgmental or condescending
AFFIRM, ENCOURAGE AND MOTIVATE while ministering
If possible be prepared to involve Pastor, Parents, and
Professional help
Reverend Shaun Jones, BGC Dir. of Youth & Young Adult Ministries 13
Helping Youth Deal with Big Helping Youth Deal with Big Problems Problems
Make sure your Bible study/Sunday school is purposeful and
relevant to BIG issues from a scriptural standpoint (Not Your OWN)
Be resourceful, It takes a Village to Raise a Child/Teen
Develop relationships with parents, teachers, counselors, etc…
Keep a handbook of resources for teens regarding…housing, scholarships,
medical care, substance abuse, crisis intervention and prevention, etc…
Form relationships with other Youth Workers
Be aware of issues that youth are facing
Sexuality, violence/gang activity, eating disorders, suicide, pornography,
substance abuse, depression
Enter into their culture (hip-hop, technology)
Pray, seeking God’s Wisdom.
Reverend Shaun Jones, BGC Dir. of Youth & Young Adult Ministries 14
“The Bible not only endorses adapting
the presentation of the gospel message
to be culturally-sensitive, but DEMANDS
it!”
- Tommy Carrington-
A Biblical Framework for a A Biblical Framework for a Relevant Youth MinistryRelevant Youth Ministry
I heard it said so often that we are not supposed
to
“ENTERTAIN” kids.
It is merely a tool to “hold their ATTENTION.”
The rest of the program is solidly BIBLICALLY
based.
In fact, we do have “BIBLICAL PERMISSION”
to be culturally relevant and contemporary.
There is a Biblical rationale for being
contemporary.
A Biblical Framework for a Relevant A Biblical Framework for a Relevant Youth MinistryYouth Ministry
I Corinthians 9: 19-23 (NIV)
A Biblical Framework for a Relevant Youth A Biblical Framework for a Relevant Youth MinistryMinistry
19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make
myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as
possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the
Jews. To those under the law I became like one under
the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as
to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the
law I became like one not having the law (though I am
not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so
as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I
became weak, to win the weak. I have become all
things to all men so that by all possible means I might
save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel,
that I may share in its blessings.
PLACE HOLDER FOR ‘PATCH
ADAMS’ VIDEO
Principle # 1: Our priority must be LOYALTY to the Gospel
of Christ.
You must ensure that with your means of creativity,
you NEVER compromise or water down the MESSAGE
of the Gospel.
Principle #2: Our STRATEGY must include a FLEXIBILITY
in proclaiming the GOSPEL.
Guiding Principles for A Biblical and Relevant Youth Guiding Principles for A Biblical and Relevant Youth MinistryMinistry
“We cannot be effective if we continue to cling to
the old ways, the old strategies, the old
assumptions. We do not live in that era, and we
cannot be effective if we behave in a manner
relevant only to the past.”
George Barna, Evangelism that Works
Devotions /Opening
Announcements
Offering
Message
Closing / Altar call
Dismissal
Send everyone home
Youth Ministry in A BoxYouth Ministry in A Box
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Youth Ministry Outside the Youth Ministry Outside the BoxBox Dance
Video Clips
Interactive Discussion
s
Creative Games
Drama/Skits
Contemporary Christian Music
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ????