Below are some questions to ponder pertaining to children’s, youth and family ministry. The purpose of the questions are to get folks thinking deeper about the purpose, meaning, and vision of the ministry to young people in your congregation.
If you decide to use these questions in a church meeting we suggest choosing a select few and distribute them ahead of time. Using the entire list at one time is overwhelming.
1. What is the vision for our congregation’s ministry to young people? Can people clearly articulate the vision?
2. What is the youth ministry philosophy or model for ministry that our church has adopted?
3. Describe the vision or outcome we wish for our young people to embrace as a result of growing up in our congregation.
4. How does the ministry to young people fit into the overall vision of our congregation?
5. Does our congregation have a safeguarding systemin place? Is it up to date? Is our congregational attorney happy with our system? Is our congregational insurance agent happy with our system?
6. Name any impact eventscurrently going on in our church. How about in the ministry to our young people? (An impact event is an activity members are truly excited about that they feel they “can’t miss." It may meet weekly, monthly, annually, etc…)
7. How are young people immersed in the life and mission of our congregation? How about the wider church including global ministries?
8. What are we doing right now that inspires young people and families to discover their passion for mission?
9. Where are the opportunities for familiesto serve together or accompany people who are suffering or living in poverty?
10. Where are youth and parents of youth serving beyond their comfort zone?
11. Who are the trusted members of the congregation that youth know and whose faith-walk they admire?
12. How are adults that work with youth chosen and trained?
13. Where do youth get a chance to ask questionsabout faith?
14. Where do youth get a chance to learn, pray, deepen relationships, study scriptureand talk about Jesus?
15. Where do young people get to lead, teach, and share their faithstory?
16. Where do young people get to share their gifts with the congregation?
17. Where do adults and youth get a chance to pray for the ministry to children and youth?
18. How are we helping our youth to discern their personal leading in life & then equipping them with the necessary faith skills to live out this leading?
19. Where do our youth interact with those both older and younger than themselves?