Youth ministry is a sensitive ministry. The current trend of events worldwide calls for immediate action to the discerning mind. The world is heading towards mass self-destruction, and those who should be concerned are keeping mute.
The Church, whose business should be to rescue those who are perishing, seems to be sleeping or busy with matters of no consequence to God’s kingdom.
Watch of the Church
Before the watch of the Church, the youth who should be battle axes in the hands of God are being recruited massively into the devil’s army for his end-time exploits.
Anything targeted at the youth is not only for the present but also targeted at the future. Hence, danger looms for the Church if nothing is done to change this trend of events.
One of the best ways to rescue the world from this evil trend is to strategise to bring this generation’s young people to Christ. This is a serious mandate that sensitive and obedient children of God need to pursue in this generation.
The Church Needs
The Church needs to be intentional in carrying out the plan of the Master which is: “To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:18).
The Goal of the Church
This should be the goal of the Church for the generational youths. Achieving this is not an easy task. It calls for urgent and deliberate action to bring humanity to godliness before the final whistle is blown.
Any church that has less concern for the youth, either in or outside the church setting, is playing with the Lord’s mandate and the future of the Church. Churches, especially in Africa, should be careful not to allow what is going on presently in churches in Europe and America to happen in Africa. This is the time to rise and act fast.
The Objectives
This goal is what the International Centre for Youth Ministry (ICYM) is set to pursue. One of her major objectives is to equip youth ministers/workers in local churches for effective ministry. Local churches are expected to be the bedrock for youth ministry. This is where young people ought to be saved and discipled for the fruitfulness of the kingdom’s purpose.
The Training Institute
We can achieve the above goal if ICYM sets up a training institute. The training institute is to equip youth ministers/workers to carry out their ministries using the biblical pattern to win and disciple the young people for Christ. This manual has been prepared to serve as a guide for the training.
The training class
As a matter of policy, admission into this training class will be based on the recommendation of your pastor/minister or the church. This is because we want all our trainees to be accountable to their pastor/church and have a platform where they can put into practice what they have learnt without causing any confusion to the body of Christ. This training will be as practical as possible to help the trainees apply the principles therein without much difficulty.
It may be chaotic to have a school without any specific mark to pass an examination. Planning starts with knowing where you are going and what you want to get done. Therefore, to succeed in any endeavour requires goal setting.
Sadly, many go into youth ministry without any planned goal or outcome in mind. Thus, one of the first things you need to settle in youth ministry is to have a goal.
Goal of Youth Ministry
The goal of youth ministry should be the same as that of the local church, and the goal of a church ministry should be rooted in the Word of God. It is noteworthy that every church needs to fulfil the five-fold functions of worship, fellowship, evangelism, discipleship and service.
Hence, with these in mind, it will be easier to come up with a goal so that the church youth ministry efforts do not end in chaos and frustration. Whatever the church’s goal is has already provided the basis for the goal of youth ministry.
There must not be division. A house divided against itself will fall. Two separate visions will give division, while the same vision leads to unity, accomplishment, and progress.
In setting the church youth ministry goal, the questions of who, what, where, when, and how are considered. Why must it be answered so that the goal may serve as guidelines and fulfil the purpose of setting the goal?
Goal setting serves as a source of direction, a means of measurement and a means of staying on track
Steps in Setting Youth Ministry Goals
The following are the steps involved in setting a church-based youth ministry goal.
- Identify the goal of the church.
- Describe the kind of youth the church intends to raise.
- Identify the main teams for the youth ministry programmes.
- Outline topics related to each theme that are relevant for particular target groups
- Write goals for the topics
Some Concepts for Effective Youth Ministry
Some of the concepts in youth ministry are as follows:
Relationship building
The average young person seeks a sense of belonging. The search for belonging makes it possible for youth ministers to build relationships with young people. Hence, adult youth workers are to guide them into proper, acceptable relationships. Relationships will help young people to resolve issues relating to matters of identity. However, relationships grow when people are sincere, truthful, unassuming, understanding, caring and kind.
Exemplary leadership
Youth ministers are role models. It implies that adult leaders recruited should be knowledgeable, committed, spiritually mature, and effective in communicating with young people.
Love and acceptance
Youth are loving and want to be loved and accepted. Learn the preferred love language of the youth around you. Youth workers should understand approaches to demonstrate attitudes towards accepting young people.
Attention Seeking
Every human wants attention; children and teenagers want attention all the more. Hence, youth workers should give undivided, active attention before, during and after programmes and regularly. They are happy to hear from, see and spend undivided time with parents, disciples, mentors and role models. The time spent with young people is a worthwhile investment and a part of the discipleship process.
Teachability
The youth minister should be teachable and willing to learn to remain relevant as a youth minister.
Involvement
Young people should be fully involved in the life of the church; they are not to be treated as reservoirs to receive all the ministry. Rather, they should minister also! Equip youth for service by involving them in ministry.
Openness
Youth ministers should demonstrate openness in handling activities in youth ministry. Youth are drawn in love with those who are open, transparent, willing to learn and truthful about their own shortcomings; who do not pretend to be perfect.
Novelty
Creativity is noted as the oil of youth ministry, while relationships are the key. Youths do not like things to be monotonous or boring.
Salvation and Discipleship
This is the ultimate purpose of youth ministry. The process involves conversion, integration into the church, studying God’s Word, developing compassion for the lost, and becoming consecrated.
Honesty
Deal honestly but in a Godly way with matters related to sexuality, betting, cultism, etc., among young people.
Inclusion
A balanced youth ministry provides for the inclusion of youth living with challenges. There are youth living with physical, psychological, mental, social and other challenges. Youth ministers should objectively evaluate their physical, emotional and spiritual environment to ascertain whether they are inclusive of those who are not typical like others.
Parental Inclusion
Parents are important in effective ministry to young people. It is necessary to practically involve them.
Strive for Effective Youth Fellowship
Youth ministers should do all things with commitment and surrender to God in humility. They should never feel, speak or behave as if they are self-sufficient, but live in total surrender to God.
Conclusion
Goals are indispensable in teaching, learning, and ministry. They must be properly set so they will serve as a lamp to light the way in the dark corners and the hazy weather of ministry as well as the benchmark for judging what is done.
More so, understanding the concept of youth ministry and using it is important for effective and productive youth ministry.
