Youth ministry in a local church tends to fragmented. It is not uncommon to find little or no interaction between ministries targeting the same group of young people. Is it possible to co-ordinate our efforts and develop an organisational strategy that will lead to more effective ministry among youth? I believe that there is a way. It involves moving from a department-based approach to an age-based approach to youth ministry.
1. Department-Based Youth Ministry
This diagram shows that even though many ministries are provided for youth there are departments that exist independently from each other and which function in opposition to each other, or at least without complementing each other at all. Here youth are ministered to on a Sunday morning at Sunday School by one group of workers, and on a Friday night by another group of workers. Little if any interaction takes place among the leaders - and each group are trying to evangelise, disciple and equip their audience for service and leadership. Is there a way to increase effectiveness?
2. Age-Based Youth Ministry
This approach divides youth ministry into different age group categories - the example shown here is not meant to be prescriptive, but illustrative. Whether you would divide teenagers into junior and seniors would depend on the size of your church and other factors. The focus of this organisational strategy is to place an emphasis on the need to co-ordinate all ministry that takes place at an age group to ensure maximum effectiveness.
A church considering the implementation of the model should consider aiming for ministry that is:
1. Focussed at Age Groups
Youth ministry structured around departments tends to result is uncoordinated ministry where effort is duplicated and consistent development is lacking. Youth ministry structured around age groups (ie. pre-schoolers; children; teenagers and young adults) results in more effective co-ordination of ministry for each age group and events aimed at different levels of spiritual commitment.
2. Overseen by Age Group Leaders
Each age group, for example: pre-schoolers; children; teenagers (possibly divided into younger and older teens) and young adults, must be led by a trained and equipped leader who is responsible for the total ministry that is targeted at that age group. That person works closely with the youth pastor in developing the ministry. Mentoring and training is provided for the leaders to facilitate personal and ministry growth.
3. Co-ordinated by a Youth Council
Representatives from each age group ministry form a youth council to coordinate the direction of the groups, to track the movement of youth between age groups; to share resources; to develop leaders and to arrange events that bring the groups together.
4. Assisted by Leadership Teams
The leading of each age group is assisted by a team of leaders that comprise both student and adults leaders. These teams are responsible for the programming of the various events and ministries within that age group.
5. Targeted at All Commitment Levels
Ministry at each age group must take into account that people are at different levels of spiritual commitment (ie. Some are seekers; others are new converts; still others are ready for service, etc.). Each age groups seeks to move youth from being irreligious to fully-devoted followers of Christ who are actively involved in ministry.
In order to realise this vision, it is necessary to:
1. Move to Age-Based Ministry
This does not mean rushing in and closing down all existing departments, but identifying ways to change the focus from departments to ministry at each age group. For example, for minsitry among among children, you should identify all the groups that reach children in some way, for example: Friday group; Sunday School; Holiday Clubs; Missions Events; etc. Members of these different groups meet together to identify their unique role in ministering among children and together the departments develop a comprehensive approach to evangelise, disciple and mobilise children that avoids duplication and ensures maximum effectiveness.
2. Identify and Equip a Leader for Each Age Group
Next, identify one leader who will be responsible for ministry at each age group. This person must be chosen for their passion for ministry with that age group and for their ability to equip others for ministry. They will be mentored and trained by the youth pastor or overseer of youth ministry in the church, work closely with him/her and receive ongoing training and support.
3. Develop the Youth Council
The youth council should meet together each quarter at least to co-ordinate ministry across the youth ministry spectrum.
4. Develop a Leadership Team for Each Age Group
Each age ministry needs to develop a ministry team consisting of youth and adults that is involved in the planning and running of events. These teams need to receive ongoing training for ministry and spiritual development to ensure that they work effectively together.
5. Implement Commitment-Based Ministry
Each age-based ministry must develop a strategy to move youth from being irreligious to active followers of Christ. They will target different events at different levels of spiritual commitment and seek to guide youth towards deeper levels of commitment. All programmes and events are chosen and developed according to the commitment level that is being targeted.
To staff youth ministry in a church the following positions should be created:
1. Ministry Overseer
One ministry overseer for each age group should be identified and trained. The age ministry overseers perform the following functions:
A. Consulting
As consultants they are responsible to: (a) develop the age group ministry according to the purpose driven and commitment level philosophies of ministry; (b) inspire a vision for ministry that is relational, incarnational and purposeful; and (c) create strategies and programmes that accomplish the objectives of the age ministry.
B. Coordinating
As overseers they are responsible to: (a) develop an age group ministry team to oversee ministry at the age group; (b) recruit leaders and teachers; (c) guard the transition of youth into and out of the age group so that youth are not lost to the church; (d) guide what is taught in different ministries within the age group; and (e) organize events that bring the whole age group together.
C. Caring
As shepherds they are responsible to: (a) transfer ownership to leaders under their care; (b) reward them verbally and visually; (c) avoid unfair criticism being directed toward them; (d) stand up for them as advocates; and (e) be involved in their lives as spiritual mentor and friend.
D. Communicating
As spokesperson they are responsible to: (a) report directly to the youth pastor; (b) report to the church to inform them of the church of ministry at their age group ministry; (c) encourage youth to impact adults and adults to impact the youth; and (d) form part of the advisory body known as the Youth Council.
The leadership pattern they will follow is found in 2 Timothy 2:2: "And the things you (Timothy) have heard me (Paul) say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." They will function in a mentoring and role (as a Paul) to ministry leaders (Timothy's) who run ministry their age group. It is their responsibility to minister into the lives of the leaders under their care. While the youth pastor’s assistance may be sought, the responsibility lies with the ministry leaders to ensure that it happens. They will fulfill an equipping role to ensure that all leaders under their care are equipped for ministry.
At Honeyridge Baptist Church we emphasise the following roles for the ministry overseer: (1) To enter into a mentor relationship with the youth pastor. (2) To develop a comprehensive strategy for their age-based ministry: (a) Building - to ground new converts; and grow believers in the faith; (b) Equipping - to train believers to care for and evangelise their peers; (c) Winning - to mobilise youth to lead their peers to Christ; and (d) Multiplying - to develop shepherds for each level of ministry. (3) To co-ordinate the venues and scheduling of their age-based events. (4) To build into the lives of the leaders in their age-based ministry. (5) To handle or refer counselling to the youth pastor.
2. Leadership Teams
These teams are responsible to plan and co-ordinate ministry at each age group. Initially each team could be made up of representatives from each department that is being merged into an age-based ministry at that age group.
3. Ministry Teams
Where separate ministries are run within an age group, smaller teams should be formed to plan and oversee each level of ministry. For example, under children's ministry there will be a children ministry director and a leadership team of around six to eight people who oversee the entire ministry aimed at children in the church. Then there will be ministry teams that plan and run the Friday night event; the Sunday morning event; and other events such as holiday clubs.
Return to Model of Youth Ministry