3 Things That Are Changing in Youth Ministry
There has been a lot of talk this year about the changing shape of youth ministry. As we wrap up one of our last articles of 2011, we thought it was a good idea to talk about a few of these changes … and point out a few things that don’t seem to be changing anytime soon. Up today, a few ways youth ministry seems to be evolving.
There are now many, many voices
It wasn’t that long ago that you would go to a youth worker training event or check out the youth ministry books online and see just a handful of resources by a handful of people. Today, youth ministry is rapidly expanding to include scores of voices from all sizes of churches and experiences. Thanks to the world of blogging, podcasts and Twitter, you can access the wisdom and experience of countless of youth workers with the click of a mouse or a push of a button on your cell phone while sitting at a red light (wait, is that even legal anymore?). There is room for your voice, too! The best voices are from the trenches of day-to-day youth ministry – so blog, tweet and podcast away!
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**NEW FREEBIE (7of10)**
SYM’s 10 Days of Christmas
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Emphasis on parent ministry
Youth ministry is no longer just about students (actually, it has never been just about students, but we are finally waking up to this reality), it is about reaching, equipping and empowering parents to be the primary discipler of their teenager.
Team-based ministry
Youth ministry was never meant to be done alone! One of the radical shifts still gaining steam is the networking and collaboration of youth ministries worldwide. Everyone is beginning to understand the value of sharing resources and pooling our creativity to inspire others and share the timeless message of Christ.
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**NEW FREEBIE (7of10)**
SYM’s 10 Days of Christmas
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Church together
Youth ministry is no longer an island to itself. Churches and youth ministries are actively seeking out ways to serve together, worship together and learn together. By all means there is still plenty of room for age specific, segregated ministry to happen, but connecting adults and students together in healthy spiritual mentoring relationships is a needed and welcome change.
What else do you see shifting in youth ministry right now?
Conversation
I see that youth ministry is
I see that youth ministry is more than the typical "pastoral care" that we were once trained to administer in a seminar. Its moving toward providing specialized care with strategies for youth and their families to move successfully to greater depth of spiritual and family health. Its not just "shot-gun" message delivery, where you fire out a message and hope it lands, but rather a strategic method of having students understand where they are in the spectrum (in life, spirituality, etc.) and what the one next step will be to move them one level of growth. Then its celebrating those achievements!
Blessings,
I think that todays youth
I think that todays youth ministry is starting to be very social media led...I mean when we want kids to know what is going on we text them in a mass text. Even the parents now get texts if they sign up for it. It is a great thing to have the internet and cell phones to be able to get in contact with kids in a minutes notice. Facebook groups for Youth Ministries are becoming very popular because that is what kids will look to for information on an event or upcoming series. You can send home all the pieces of paper you want but ultimately they will go to their computer or their phone to check what is happening that day and or night.
I'm pleased to see that
I'm pleased to see that websites like Sunday School Lesson Connection are having a positive impact on youth ministry. In addition to the three changes you mentioned in your article that I have always advocated I also suggest the possibility that the youth leaders consider working as volunteers while holding another regular job. This works for me. In addition I can usually fund my ministry to avoid being a drag on the churches budget. There is a lot of ministry that can be done on limited budgets. Keep the teaching times and look critically at spending on other activities that don't really have an effect on the kids faith or relationships.
With team building, I understand that it is difficult to approach older adults to help out. But, people you'd view as Grandparents, who have successfully raised and discipled their own children, can be a valuable, willing resource. Kids really gravitate to loving adults. All the adults need is to feel a little empowerment, that they're welcome to pitch in, and are valued for their experience. You can read more about that at my youth ministry blog: http://freesundayschoollessonplans.blogspot.com/2009/02/dont-underestima...
I hope you enjoy the free youth lessons at my website: http://sundayschoollessonconnection.com/ Scan the "Continuing Education" page to find resources to keep your passion for youth ministry pumping. P.S. Simply Youth Ministry rocks.
Great article and spot on
Great article and spot on with today's observation of things that are changing in youth ministry. I would also like to add the change of the role of the family ministry director/pastor. Someone who can coordinate, collaborate and execute a strategic plan within the children's, student's and parenting ministries. This person really encompasses the three things that were mention in this article: Emphasis of Parenting ministry, Team-based ministry and Church together. Once this leader is able to lead in this capacity you can expect all the ministries to minister more effectively, work more efficiently and lead their ministries to places they would of never have been able to by themselves. As a Youth Pastor who made this change to Family Ministry Pastor recently, all I can say is, I wish I did this years ago!
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