A while back, one of my favorite bloggers, Josh Griffin, posted about things that aren’t going to change in youth ministry anytime soon.
He hit on 4 key points:
- Caring adult leaders: “Youth ministry will change, but the need for people who love God and love students won’t.”
- 1-on-1 time with students: “At the heart of youth ministry must always be the individual student.”
- Bible-based curriculum and teaching: “The Bible has been and must be at the center of youth ministry.”
- A devoted follower of Jesus leading the group: “You can talk about leadership, experiment with the latest and greatest gadgets, tools, core values and even have a great youth ministry blog – but if you’re not in love with Jesus and devoted to Him regularly it will eventually implode.”
As key as those four points are, there’s at least one more unchangeable element of youth ministry: Teens leading teens. Solid youth ministry should be more than just adults doing ministry to youth, but rather youth DOING ministry.
If our ministry is helping teens encounter Christ, we have to assume that like Peter (Acts 4:20), Andrew (John 1:41), and Phillip (John 1:45), those same teens will be sharing that encounter and bringing their friends to Christ. The important question, is whether or not there is a place for them to do so within our ministry? Do you have programs or practices in place that encourage, prep and allow teens to share the gospel with and invite friends?
Are we preparing them to be sent out and reach their friends, their family, their world for Christ? How are you doing so? What more could you be doing?
