Youth Ministry Philosophy
Models of Ministry
Here are some thoughts on various models and philosophies of ministry. Start with the "Questions That Need Answers" section. Then think through the following...
Family Ministry:
There are several wonderful Family Ministry models to choose from. Each of the following ministries offers a plethora of ideas, programs, and concepts worth checking out. Even if your congregation does not fully jump into Family Ministry, these organizations have ideas worth adopting.
Here are some highlights.
Vibrant (www.vibrantfaithathome.org) has wonderful resources and programs. Click on the link and scroll your cursor over the "activities" tab on the top tool bar. That will lead you to a drop-down listing of tabs for every season of life. There are great resources and activities for adults, couples, families with all age children and a special kids area.
They also have a super program called "Milestones." It's premise is to get parents and children together at the altar at various times between birth and high school graduation. Their Milestone ministry manual gives you 18 milestones with easy to implement activities.
Orange (http://whatisorange.org) has so many ideas it will take you months to get a handle on all that is offered. Do not let that deter you. Orange majors in four areas curriculum, training, events, and resources. Just get to their site and browse through the offerings along the top tool bar. You can pick and choose what woorks for you.
I would recommend attending The Orange Conference (Held late spring most years) or visit their visit to get acquainted. You especially want to check out their (Parent Cue).
Faith Webbing:
Faith Webbing is wrapping your children and youth in a web of faith so loving and caring that children and youth will know Jesus and always want to be part of a local congregation. Faith Webbing focuses on surrounding children and youth in meaningful intergenerational relationships. Over time congregational members become surrogate family members to each other. Faith Webbing can be a model of ministry or an underlying philosophy that can be weaved into most models or structures of ministry.
Outcome-Based Youth Ministry:
This philosophy of ministry starts by asking the question….What Faith Skills do we want to build into our children and youth by the time they graduate High School? Or said another way, What is the vision we have for our children and youth and what do we need to equip them with in order to help them work towards that vision?
The Four Models of Youth Ministry:
There are various models/philosophies of youth ministry. Four of them are highlighted in the book, “The Four Models of Youth Ministry.” Below is a summary of the concepts. This sheet can be used to start a discussion among those looking to revisit how a congregation goes about children’s, youth, and or family ministry.
According to the book (by Mark Senter Zondervan 2001) there are four main views of Youth Ministry.
The Missional approach: This approach sees youth ministry as a mission. The idea is to view school and community activities as opportunities for church youth to reach out to their non-believing friends. The main goal is to train youth to use intentional evangelism and discipleship techniques in order to bring their friends to faith and into their established congregation.
The Preparatory approach: This approach places its main focus on preparing youth to be future members of the existing congregation. An emphasis is placed on coaching youth in the traditions and rituals of the current church system so they made one day take on the role of leadership within the church.
The Strategic approach: This congregational approach divides its programming by age groupings with the intentional (or unintentional) result being to create various congregations of people within the larger church context. The paid youth staff person or volunteer leader becomes the main “face” of the congregation for youth. Youth tend to revolve their church life around a defined system of activities within a congregational youth department.
Here are some thoughts on various models and philosophies of ministry. Start with the "Questions That Need Answers" section. Then think through the following...
Family Ministry:
There are several wonderful Family Ministry models to choose from. Each of the following ministries offers a plethora of ideas, programs, and concepts worth checking out. Even if your congregation does not fully jump into Family Ministry, these organizations have ideas worth adopting.
Here are some highlights.
Vibrant (www.vibrantfaithathome.org) has wonderful resources and programs. Click on the link and scroll your cursor over the "activities" tab on the top tool bar. That will lead you to a drop-down listing of tabs for every season of life. There are great resources and activities for adults, couples, families with all age children and a special kids area.
They also have a super program called "Milestones." It's premise is to get parents and children together at the altar at various times between birth and high school graduation. Their Milestone ministry manual gives you 18 milestones with easy to implement activities.
Orange (http://whatisorange.org) has so many ideas it will take you months to get a handle on all that is offered. Do not let that deter you. Orange majors in four areas curriculum, training, events, and resources. Just get to their site and browse through the offerings along the top tool bar. You can pick and choose what woorks for you.
I would recommend attending The Orange Conference (Held late spring most years) or visit their visit to get acquainted. You especially want to check out their (Parent Cue).
Faith Webbing:
Faith Webbing is wrapping your children and youth in a web of faith so loving and caring that children and youth will know Jesus and always want to be part of a local congregation. Faith Webbing focuses on surrounding children and youth in meaningful intergenerational relationships. Over time congregational members become surrogate family members to each other. Faith Webbing can be a model of ministry or an underlying philosophy that can be weaved into most models or structures of ministry.
Outcome-Based Youth Ministry:
This philosophy of ministry starts by asking the question….What Faith Skills do we want to build into our children and youth by the time they graduate High School? Or said another way, What is the vision we have for our children and youth and what do we need to equip them with in order to help them work towards that vision?
The Four Models of Youth Ministry:
There are various models/philosophies of youth ministry. Four of them are highlighted in the book, “The Four Models of Youth Ministry.” Below is a summary of the concepts. This sheet can be used to start a discussion among those looking to revisit how a congregation goes about children’s, youth, and or family ministry.
According to the book (by Mark Senter Zondervan 2001) there are four main views of Youth Ministry.
- Which view or combination of views most closely coincides with the type of ministry currently going on in your congregation?
- Which view or combination of views would you most like to see implemented in your congregation?
The Missional approach: This approach sees youth ministry as a mission. The idea is to view school and community activities as opportunities for church youth to reach out to their non-believing friends. The main goal is to train youth to use intentional evangelism and discipleship techniques in order to bring their friends to faith and into their established congregation.
The Preparatory approach: This approach places its main focus on preparing youth to be future members of the existing congregation. An emphasis is placed on coaching youth in the traditions and rituals of the current church system so they made one day take on the role of leadership within the church.
The Strategic approach: This congregational approach divides its programming by age groupings with the intentional (or unintentional) result being to create various congregations of people within the larger church context. The paid youth staff person or volunteer leader becomes the main “face” of the congregation for youth. Youth tend to revolve their church life around a defined system of activities within a congregational youth department.