Comments on RETHINKING YOUTH MINISTRY: Rethinking Staff Driven Youth Ministry

i agree 100% with youth driven ministry, but it is...

2009-07-19T20:00:51.546-05:00

i agree 100% with youth driven ministry, but it is hard. We try to do this, but sometimes even the best intentions by youth leadership don't get carried out. In order to set youth up for success you have to be willing to spend the time working with them and developing the process for how to be a leader--a process that often gets rushed and overlooked. I too am guilty of the "it's just easier to do it myself" syndrome.

Though I've often been guilty of the "it's just ea...

2009-07-18T11:06:25.017-05:00

Though I've often been guilty of the "it's just easier to do it myself" style of leadership, I resonate with Danny's suggestion of youth driven ministry. I've tried a variety of approaches to encourage youth to take leadership within the ministry. I've found that, with adult guidance and help, youth are capable of doing just about anything in the ministry, including teaching, worship leading, planning mission trips, etc. And what a great way to help youth see a more holistic and realistic picture of what it takes to make the church "go" (as opposed to ministries that simply focused on keeping teens comfortable and entertained.)

As I continue to work on developing the youth prog...

2009-07-18T10:03:53.998-05:00

As I continue to work on developing the youth program at my own church, I'm pondering a youth driven youth ministry. As a youth and now as an adult, I've been involved with scouting, where the adults are their for guidance, but the actual hands-on leadership is provided by the youth themselves. In church, I've seen this at a regional level, where regional youth leaders are given responsibility for planning and running various aspects of regional camps...

David, thanks for commenting. Our friend Jeremy a...

2009-07-17T23:08:50.705-05:00

David, thanks for commenting. Our friend Jeremy at the Small Town Youth Pastor blog has said several times that he believes the future of youth ministry will see the end of the professional youth pastor and I tend to agree. A good youth pastor should see her (or his) work as that of "equipping the saints" -- helping the laity to find their calling within the youth ministry.

Interesting discussion. Personally, I think there...

2009-07-17T14:12:46.909-05:00

Interesting discussion.

Personally, I think there is too much staff-driven youth ministry, especially when Biblically speaking the responsibility to raise spiritual youth falls on their parents. Sorry if this is stepping on toes, guys... :)

As a lay youth director, I see the push within my church to hire a full-time Youth Pastor. The only problem with that, is that those calling for this Youth Pastor aren't volunteering now, and I certainly don't expect them to volunteer after he/she's hired. In fact, I expect all volunteers to back away from the ministry, since after all we've "hired someone to take care of our youth". And that's not fair to the Youth Pastor, or to our youth.

I'm sorry, I just believe that youth ministry is the church's responsibility.

David

Great suggestions. I wholeheartedly agree that w...

2009-07-17T10:14:43.406-05:00

Great suggestions. I wholeheartedly agree that we need to "call" folks into youth ministry based on their gifts, not just on who raises their hand when we ask for help.

Jacob(and anyone else reading this), what are your thoughts on caveats when using parents as regular volunteers to actually lead activities? I've done this, but only sparingly.

good observations and suggestions. the vol/staff b...

2009-07-16T14:36:27.820-05:00

good observations and suggestions. the vol/staff balance is a hard thing but very important. i slide back and forth over the years on the balance in what i do, too often erring on the me-doing-too-much side. thanks for reminders and ideas on how to do better.

ypguybrit, thanks for the affirmation. If it help...

2009-07-16T09:51:54.487-05:00

ypguybrit, thanks for the affirmation. If it helps, please use this however you would like.

Keystone...thanks for the comment. Having the support and awareness of parents is definitely crucial.

Great thoughts, I like the idea of having a planni...

2009-07-16T09:26:36.495-05:00

Great thoughts, I like the idea of having a planning meeting. We usually involve only leaders, but its an awesome idea to invite parents to the planning meeting as well.

hey man you mind me using this with my staff, and ...

2009-07-16T01:22:33.566-05:00

hey man you mind me using this with my staff, and more for myself. some great reminders to myself on how to equip and lead others in making disciples not myself being the lone ranger