"blank" driven youth ministry
"blank" driven youth ministry
joshua griffin
Your youth ministry is driven by something. They all are. In their eagerness to do good youth ministry, many well-meaning youth workers get caught in the trap of being driven by something other than a sound, biblical philosophy. Maybe they are simply basing their ministry on what they knew when they were in youth group. Maybe the latest youth ministry fads were too hard to resist. Either way, the key to long-term, healthy youth ministry is not to rely on personality, fads, or programs - but to discover balance in your ministry and the eternal purposes of God. Here’s a look at a few of the youth ministry models that are potentially flawed.
Personality Driven Youth Ministry - the youth worker with the most charisma wins. Everything is about the person leading the ministry, as long as he or she doesn’t burn out. The church went out and found the sharpest, funniest, most outgoing youth worker they could. The youth ministry ends up being a mile wide and an inch deep.
Entertainment Driven Youth Ministry – bigger and better is the idea of the day here. Lights, camera, action! All flash with no substance. Entertainment, media and creativity certainly have their place in youth ministry, but without the proper balance this ministry puts on a good show that impresses but rarely sees life change.
Program Driven Youth Ministry – in this model, a youth group that has students out every night of the week is a successful one. The emphasis here is on attendance, where the busyness actually pleases church parents and keeps the elders off your back. People are always secondary to programs.
Babysitting Driven Youth Ministry – just keep everyone happy. Gather the students together in their holy fellowship huddle and teach them the Bible for discipleship. Parents love it because they have some adult time and you are teaching their students the Bible they aren’t getting at home. The discerning youth worker will eventually realize the shallowness of this approach.
Here's another approach that's geared towards building a healthier youth ministry foundation focused on God's purposes.
Purpose Driven Youth Ministry – a youth group that is balancing the purposes of God’s church. The ministry focuses on the Great Commandment and the Great Commission - evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and worship. The design is simple, the process is clear. There is more of an emphasis on spiritual growth, on their own, as opposed to attendance of programs. The ultimate goal is that every student is reaching out to their unchurched friends, connected in a small group, developing spiritual habits on their own and involved in ministry.
joshua griffin
Your youth ministry is driven by something. They all are. In their eagerness to do good youth ministry, many well-meaning youth workers get caught in the trap of being driven by something other than a sound, biblical philosophy. Maybe they are simply basing their ministry on what they knew when they were in youth group. Maybe the latest youth ministry fads were too hard to resist. Either way, the key to long-term, healthy youth ministry is not to rely on personality, fads, or programs - but to discover balance in your ministry and the eternal purposes of God. Here’s a look at a few of the youth ministry models that are potentially flawed.
Personality Driven Youth Ministry - the youth worker with the most charisma wins. Everything is about the person leading the ministry, as long as he or she doesn’t burn out. The church went out and found the sharpest, funniest, most outgoing youth worker they could. The youth ministry ends up being a mile wide and an inch deep.
Entertainment Driven Youth Ministry – bigger and better is the idea of the day here. Lights, camera, action! All flash with no substance. Entertainment, media and creativity certainly have their place in youth ministry, but without the proper balance this ministry puts on a good show that impresses but rarely sees life change.
Program Driven Youth Ministry – in this model, a youth group that has students out every night of the week is a successful one. The emphasis here is on attendance, where the busyness actually pleases church parents and keeps the elders off your back. People are always secondary to programs.
Babysitting Driven Youth Ministry – just keep everyone happy. Gather the students together in their holy fellowship huddle and teach them the Bible for discipleship. Parents love it because they have some adult time and you are teaching their students the Bible they aren’t getting at home. The discerning youth worker will eventually realize the shallowness of this approach.
Here's another approach that's geared towards building a healthier youth ministry foundation focused on God's purposes.
Purpose Driven Youth Ministry – a youth group that is balancing the purposes of God’s church. The ministry focuses on the Great Commandment and the Great Commission - evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and worship. The design is simple, the process is clear. There is more of an emphasis on spiritual growth, on their own, as opposed to attendance of programs. The ultimate goal is that every student is reaching out to their unchurched friends, connected in a small group, developing spiritual habits on their own and involved in ministry.
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