How to Build a Youth Ministry

Creating and building a viable youth ministry for your church is very important. It is also not always a particularly easy task. As a youth pastor, you have the responsibility of teaching, encouraging and inspiring the youth at your church to pursue Biblical principles, practice their faith among their peers and find their destiny in Christ. Young people need to feel that they have a sense of purpose and that your church cares about and meets their needs.

Instructions

1. Write a plan for your youth ministry, outlining your goals and purpose. Narrow down what you feel your exact duties should encompass.

2. Get a competent, creative staff to work with you to make sure things are organized and to contribute ideas for making your ministry more relevant and effective. Before hiring any staff member, however, a thorough screening needs to be done to ensure that they do not pose a risk to the safety of children.

3. Encourage volunteers to help out, especially parents. Getting adult church members involved provides you with additional mentors and role models for young people. Volunteers also need to be screened before being accepted.

4. Make sure you recognize special events by sending out cards to individual young people to mark their birthdays, graduations and the like.

5. Create a special newsletter dedicated to your youth ministry with special news on upcoming events, special recognitions, relevant articles, puzzles, etc. Make sure the newsletter gets distributed throughout the church.

6. Schedule enjoyable activities that hold the interest of young people. Activities that include games, contemporary Christian music concerts, Christian film viewing, sports, festivals, food and field trips appeal to young people.

7. Get input from the youth at your church. Give them a questionnaire and ask them what they like and dislike about your present youth program and what things they would like to see or do differently. Have group discussions to allow them to express themselves openly about topics and issues they have opinions on and are concerned about.

8. Present the Word of God to your youth in a manner that they can relate to. Tell them how they can apply Christian principles to their everyday lives and show them how they can make a difference in the world.

9. Encourage the participants in your youth program to pray for the needs of others. Teaching them how to have compassion for others, instead of only focusing on their own needs, is a good way to help them grow in their faith.

10. Reach out to the youth in the communities close to your church. Invite them to youth activities you are having. It may result in decisions to accept Christ.

11. Be honest. Do not make promises you may not be able to keep and, if a young person asks you a question about a spiritual issue that you don't have an answer to, let him know that. Kids appreciate truthfulness and are more likely to open up to you, when they know you are being upfront with them.

12. Realize that it takes time to build a strong youth ministry. Never try to rush or pressure people to respond to you, but give them a chance to get used to you and your method of doing things.

Resources

• YouthPastor.com