Keys To Growing a Church Youth Ministry
Rev Brian Brandon

1. Believe in Youth
Youth are strongly put off by churches that are not willing to make adjustments to make them feel welcome in the church. They want to have their voice heard, as to the things they like. Some people are very critical of the way youth are so messy and their lack of responsibility and commitment. I've heard many criticisms of youth culture from senior members. Yes, they find difficulty in these areas, but they want to be accepted for the contribution they can make to the church, particularly to be recognised for their spiritual insight, vitality and creativity.

Believe in youth. Consider the following facts:

• Youth are absolutely essential to grow the church for the future.
• Youth can be radical for the gospel. Some of them have plenty of time and energy to commit to the Lord.
• They can grow the church in different directions. They have fresh ideas, and are willing to push beyond the boundaries.
• Youth are good at bringing their friends along to church activities. They are your prime evangelistic resource.
• Most people accept Jesus and begin their Christian life while they are youth.

A church that wants to retain a traditional worship format, and is not interested in new ways of doing things, is going to find it hard to attract youth or grow a youth ministry. It is not enough to decide to grow a youth ministry, or even to appoint a youth leader. The whole church must be happy with sharing with youth, and the minister must be willing to integrate the youth into the life of the church, as they are ready to be involved.

2. Spiritual Reality
Youth are attracted where there is something real happening in the spiritual life of a church. They are well able to pick up if the spiritual life is genuine. The best way to attract young people is to have a vital spiritual congregation, where a significant number of the congregation are completely open to the Holy Spirit, and where they can see the Holy Spirit is at work among them.

They are not interested in the traditions of their parents, but want something that is meaningful to the culture and issues of today. Preachers who can talk about the films that they see, and ways that young people think, will be lapped up by them. They are particularly interested in experiencing God. Talk is not enough if they do not see some immediate benefit for themselves. The church needs to provide enough opportunities for experiencing God to happen. This can be by prayer ministry that is provided in services or youth group classes. They need to see it happening also in their minister and leaders.

Some youth are going to be put off by a strong spiritual emphasis, because they are not ready to go that far. But this must not lead to a compromise by the youth leadership to cool down on the spiritual life they offer, because they will lose the keenest ones if they do. It is best to move with the commitment and vitality of your strongest spiritual leaders, rather than aim at a lowest common denominator, because it is harder to lift the spiritual level later if you do this. Those who are not ready to accept what you have to offer, may be ready later.

3. Encourage Ministry By Youth
A key means to grow a youth ministry is to encourage ministry by youth. In some churches it is only those who are elders or long time leaders who are given opportunities to lead worship or preach. This automatically shuts young people out. We have had someone as young as 16 preaching a sermon in worship.

A key area for youth is in worship with music and song leading. It is crucial to use their creative gifts in this area from the start. They can often do this better than anyone else. They feel that they have an important up-front role, and this grows their confidence. It also demands from them to have some responsibility for personal preparation. They learn accountability through being directly accountable to the congregation.

All of this involves being willing to take a risk for young people - but it introduces an atmosphere of stepping out in faith in the ministry that God has for young people.

If you allow opportunities for young people to do things, you can still be there to provide ideas, set the standards and give your support. Don't leave them on their own, because they will quickly feel the great divorce between young and old in the church, and will find it hard to bear the burdens of leadership, and quickly get burnt out.

You develop new leaders by letting your young people with ideas take up their new initiatives. They will own their projects and learn the skills of leadership as they go along. Don't look for the perfect leader because you will not find one. Look firstly for the ones with spiritual maturity and passion. Help them to do their work.

It means that the church has to be flexible. Mostly it is the job of the minister to push for youth initiated ideas, to get them through session. It may be too daunting for the youth themselves to go through all the channels to enable changes to happen. But with the support of a minister who helps things happen, then the work can grow.
AGAIN, PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR YOUTH MINISTRY OR YOUR YOUTH MAY DISAPPEAR.

4. Develop a Youth Leaders Team
As soon as you can, develop a regular meeting of your youth leaders. If you have only one youth leader, then get a few adult supporters to join the team at the beginning. A weekly meeting is preferable. The minister should be the one convening this and leading it at the beginning. If not leading the minister should be present. The reason for this is so that the youth are not left on their own, and so the youth work can be fully integrated into the life of the church. This is the best way to build up the kind of spiritual values and commitment that you are wanting as a minister.

In the team develop your vision for youth work - Why are you doing it? What opportunities do you have? Who are you reaching out to? What results do you want to see?

A youth leaders team is the best way to develop a sense of ownership of the youth work by the group. It is a support group for leaders, otherwise it is so easy for them to burn out or give up. It maximises leaders' talents, and of course brings spiritual unity and direction. There is an extra time commitment to do this, but this sets a standard of commitment to the youth ministry that is necessary to make it work. It doesn't actually help to cut corners and make it easier for your leaders. The purpose of the meeting is not just to plan the youth work, but to do personal ministry to each other. Where there are other ministry opportunities this may not be so necessary.

Young people will soon spot if there is a lack of planning and unity in their work. But well planned activities and programmes, high standards, and united leadership will inspire confidence in both youth and their parents that this is a good place to be.

5. Grow Your Own Youth Leaders
This will take time, but it is an investment that is well worth it.

• Your own youth leaders will have developed relationships with other youth in your church already. The success of youth groups depends on relationships more than programmes.
• When you know a young person and potential leader well already, you can design a position and programme to suit their skills, rather than look for a person to fit a particular programme.
• They will have their personal support base already in place.
• And the group will more likely have a sense of ownership of their leader, rather than them having a sense that this is something being done to the group.
• It is difficult to find youth leaders from outside your church.

In choosing leaders look for FAT (faithful, available and teachable) people. Make sure their position fits them, and grow the position as they grow. A reviewable job description is important for expectations on all sides. You will need to look at training.

6. Be Open To Outside Resources.
You don't have to do all your youth training yourself. There are plenty of good resources available, and people who are experts at youth ministry. Bring these people into your church, in the form of youth rallies, weekend missions, or just as guest preachers or teachers. Youth are open to being involved in the exiting things that are happening around.

Send youth leaders to camps, conferences or training courses. They will mix with bigger more encouraging groups and will be strengthened to return to their little local group. They will come back enthused and more effective leaders for your group. You won't lose them if you encourage them to go to these things, but you may lose them if you tell them that they shouldn't be going to them.

May 2001

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