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?

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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

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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

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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 ????