With each new generation, youth workers need resources designed to assist them with reaching Christian youth. Thanks to Christian magazines created for church leaders, youth ministry programs can be a successful unit of the church’s outreach endeavors. From ideas on how to grow as a youth minister to successful business and fundraising options, youth ministry tips are available for all Christian leaders.
Theological understanding is the primary objective for most youth leaders. Getting children and teens to understand and serve others helps develop character and carries out lessons taught in the Bible. Sometimes, in order to deliver the Bible’s Word, being able to understand today’s youth is important. From divorce, school and relationship issues, to modern day confusions relating to parental financial troubles, unemployment issues and potential homeless situations, today’s Christian youth need leaders who understand where they are coming from and can provide them with spiritual guidance to overcome these challenges.
Learning about Christian culture is another challenge for youth leaders. While sermons teach the Bible and how it relates to everyday life, denominational history is not discussed. Being able to learn about the founders of a chosen denomination, the church’s role globally and other issues relating to a particular branch of religion is an important aspect of Christian education. Seeing the church as an institution of world-wide service can inspire Christian youth to get involved and possibly spark their interests to volunteer for mission work.
Having faith, implementing Jesus’ teachings, and creating a personal relationship with God are all goals Christian youth leaders try to instill in their groups. Service project ideas, including fundraising ideas, are resources youth ministers need. Whether it is volunteering to cook a meal for the homeless or have a supply drive to donate needed items for the less fortunate, youth leaders can get ideas from others in the community by reading Christian youth leader publications. These success stories from others in the community are designed to inspire, give hope and relate information on how to be a better servant.
Providing resources to care for each child personally in a spiritual way is a necessity. This soul care helps youth ministers instill guidance and lend an open ear to those who may need it. While not all Christian youth deal with the same issues, being a trusted resource to them is important, regardless of need or want. Additionally, serving youth also means helping them develop stronger relationships with God and others. Since parents are responsible for raising their children as responsible stewards of God, planning activities where parents and youth can volunteer or work together is imperative. So too is encouraging parents to spend time with their children and reminding the youth to always have a servant’s heart. Special breakfasts, hand-made gifts and other tokens of appreciation are ways youth leaders can have their groups show appreciation for mothers, fathers, grandparents and the entire church community.
For many church leaders, having printed curriculum is sometimes preferred to reinforce Biblical teachings. Depending on policies, if Christian youth curriculum is desired, there are resources in place that provide honest opinions about Christian books and educational materials. From Sunday school learning guides to books suitable for the ministry’s library, pastor and peer-reviewed summaries are available. These can be found in youth leader magazines from Christian publishing companies.
Whether an experienced professional or starting a youth group from scratch, no matter what denomination, today’s Christian youth and their leaders need resources to instill teachings and implement them into actionable plans. By forming a relationship with others in the youth ministry community, leaders can mentor or rely on the experienced guidance of others to help make their youth groups as productive and serving as possible.