Session 3 - Wes Black
What is the best effective student ministry? This is the thought that fills the minds and hearts of youth pastors around the world…”how can my church have a more effective ministry to teenagers?” It crosses the minds of many pastors that better buildings, better programs, and more up to date technology is the answer to building a strong effective youth ministry. However, Wes Black shared a new study that has just been completed on what makes up the most effective student ministries around the country.
This is the latest research in student ministry, the Exemplary Youth Ministry study, which answers many questions and provides a portrait of the best in youth ministry. They contacted churches of all sizes from seven denominations. Six thousand youth and adults completed an extensive questionnaire (265-354 items) about all aspects of a church’s youth ministry and then 21 congregations were selected for in-depth onsite visits. After three years they came up with a massive data bank to help guide and shape youth ministry.
Here are the top 9 things that make an eeffective student ministry:
1. It’s about God!
Exemplary youth ministry is marked by a sense of the presence and activity of God. Prayer, worship, and the presence of God are emphasized in the group.
2. This God wants to transform and claim students’ lives.
Exemplary youth ministry places an emphasis on spiritual growth, vocation (being the people of God), and discipleship. Spiritual gifts are identified and put into practice and there is an emphasis on knowing and doing. The purpose of the ministry is about changing lives.
3. This God is passionate about using kids and adults to change the world. These youth groups are active in mission trips, community service projects, and inviting friends to hear the gospel message in their youth services.
4. Unless youth ministry matters to the congregation, it doesn’t matter. If your youth ministry does not have the emotional, prayer, verbal, and financial support of the church as a whole it will most likely be unsuccessful.
5. All of this works out through quality relationships. Personal sense of relationships among the group between both teenagers and adults creates a strong group. This includes support for the youth minister, strong relationships between youth and adults, and strong family relationships.
6. It takes a team to do youth ministry. Longevity of the Youth Minister and the adult leaders makes a big difference in the quality of the group. The longer the Youth Pastor and adults have been involved the stronger the relationships will be. The pastor cannot do it on his own either, it takes a team.
7. It’s about family and the families influence. The youth group should seem like a big family. In successful youth ministries there is a strong family relationship between teens, adults, and parents and each one knows their role.
8. There are basic common practices that are effective. Do some of the same things you always do, but do them excellently. Don’t be afraid of traditions.
9. There are unique, innovative, creative practices that are effective. Long term strategies, putting ideas into context and exercising a long term plan thinking years in advance is another characteristic of sucessful youth groups.
If you are interested in more of this study with teenagers then look for the book entitled The Spirit and Culture of Youth Ministry coming out in 2006 by Roland Martinson and Wes Black.
More resources you can check out:
The Faith Journey of Young Adults (Journal of Youth Ministry, 2006, www.aymeducators.org)
National Study of Youth and Religion www.youthandreligion.org
Youth Ministry That Transforms www.linkinstitute.com
Makes sense to me. Young people are the most likely to work to “change the world”. When you’re older and have been more battered, the idea seems like a vague dream.
I think you can see “financial support of the church” as being against the youth’s ambitions across the board as well. Try proposing for church funds for something like the World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine or getting church funds for helping church members that have poor or no health insurance. You’re more likely to end up with a $200,000 car canopy or a 10 million dollar building that is used for 4 hours out of the 168 hour week. Or a raised pastor salary so he can upgrade from a 2000 Lexus to a 2006 Jaguar. I’m not saying all churches are like this, but I see it all the time here in Tennessee.
Something I found is that most youth groups are filled with kids who more or less have to come to church. Very few kids come on their own free will (at least in Southern Alabama).
It is hard to teach a disinterested person anything, no matter how critical it is to their life. The first bridge we must cross is getting kids excited and eager about the youth ministry. A little excitement can cause a bland workbook study into a powerful life impacting presentation. The best way to excite is through fun and humor. Always keep it lite and the light will shine through. First step in reaching kids is to become the person they WANT to listen to.
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