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Looking Back to Look Forward: Five Lessons I’ve Learnt Through a Pandemic

- by Matt Meek, Youth Pastor: Riccarton Community Church, Christchurch Relationally deep programmes are comparatively easy to adapt Throughout the pandemic, youth ministry has for many churches been one part of church life that has suffered the least. Even when “online” hasn’t been as good as the real thing, young people who have a deep relational connection to each other and to those who disciple them, have remained connected. The lesson learnt here is to invest even more heavily in deve...

Caring for Our Volunteers

Recent reports about one church’s alleged treatment of interns are alarming but while extreme, such poor treatment is sadly not unusual. Over the years I’ve seen and heard of some disturbing mistreatment of young people who have undertaken internships in churches and for Christian organisations. Most recently, some of our own church’s interns came back from a block course shocked at the stories they heard from other interns. Some had even told them they would never work for a church after ...

Characteristics of an Effective Youth Ministry: 28. Communication

Good lines of communication exist between the youth ministry and all interested parties. So on twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan the king’s secretaries were summoned, and a decree was written exactly as Mordecai dictated. It was sent to the Jews and to the highest officers, the governors, and the nobles of all the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. (Esther 8:9)     We live in a time in which communication is easier than ever before. In Biblica...

Characteristics of an Effective Youth Ministry: 27. Database

An accurate database of useful information for all young people and parents is kept and maintained. Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and those living in the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed at Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus. Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters. (2 Timothy 4:19-21)     If you’ve ever set out to read the Bible from cover to cover it w...

Characteristics of an Effective Youth Ministry: 26. Curriculum

There is an intentional long and short-term approach to planning a curriculum. You shall teach [these commands] diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6:7)     If you were to ask your child’s schoolteacher what they intended to teach in the coming year and they replied, “I’m not sure. We’ll just take it week by week”, you would rightly have some concer...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 25. Planning

Programmes and events are well planned by a team of leaders with tasks delegated and shared. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it. (Luke 14:28)     I started leading a youth ministry as a volunteer. All week I worked a full-time job and when Saturday arrived I would sit down to plan a programme for the following day. At that time there was not much in the way of youth ministry materials availa...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 24. Excellence

Programmes are prepared and run to a high standard and effort is made to continually improve their quality. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. (Colossians 3:23) Amidst the pressures, challenges and expectations of youth ministry, it’s easy to forget what a privilege it is to serve God. If in the world’s eyes, we were called to a position of great responsibility we would do all we could to ensure our work was done to the very best ...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 23. Missional

Young people understand the importance of mission and are engaged in service and evangelism. But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? (Romans 10:14) Central to the gospel message is the concept of mission. Jesus left His place of power and privilege to become one of us, serving those He met and giving His life as a ransom for all (Philippians...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 22. Appropriate

Programming is effective in meeting the needs of those at various stages of maturity and Christian growth. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready. (1 Corinthians 3:2)     In my first year as a volunteer leader of a youth ministry, one girl stopped coming to our youth group. When I talked with her she told me how she had started going to another youth group and had made a commitment to follow...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 21. Comprehensive

The youth programme seeks to build well-rounded disciples through Bible study, fellowship, worship and prayer. All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)     As we have seen previously a key purpose of any youth ministry is to make disciples. This should be kept at the forefront of our minds as we put together our youth programme. But just what is a discipl...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 20. Culture

The youth ministry is a safe place where acceptance, affirmation and encouragement is experienced by all. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another…” (Hebrews 10:24,25a) Being a relational youth ministry means more than keeping track of individuals and making newcomers feel welcome. A truly relational youth ministry is one in which the quality of relationships be...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 19. Newcomers

Newcomers are made to feel welcome by youth and leaders alike and quickly gain a sense of belonging and involvement. I was a stranger, and you invited me in... when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ (Matthew 25:35b,40b)    The culture Jesus lived in placed a high value on hospitality and the welcoming of strangers. To turn away a stranger in need was unacceptable. Jesus took this even further when He said that when we welcomed...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 18. Attendance

Attendance at programmes is monitored and leaders follow up absentees letting them know that they were missed. If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? (Luke 15:4)   One of my favourite parables is the parable of the lost sheep in which the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep to find the one that was lost. (Luke 15:4) The underlying message...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 17. Individual

Every young person who comes to the youth programme is individually cared for and prayed for by at least one leader. O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. (Psalm 139:1,2)    One evening I was passing a couple of young people in the street. One was from one of our church families and had regularly attended our youth ministry over the previous few years. I greeted her by name a...

Less is More

“Less is More” is a saying made famous by the German designer and architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe who is regarded as one of the pioneers of modernist architecture. This style contrasted with the architectural style of the day that had featured decorative and ornate lines and shapes. It was best described as simple or even minimalist, with its geometric shapes and straight lines. “Less is more” aptly described the style – stick to the essentials, avoid clutter and pursue ut...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 16. Transition

The youth ministry successfully manages age-related transitions into and out of the youth ministry. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:11)   I always approached one “start of year” task with mixed feelings. Each January I would contact those young people about to transition into youth group and arrange to meet with them.  The awkwardness and even nervousness wasn’t all one way! Rarely ...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 15. Family

The youth ministry acknowledges the importance of the family and seeks to work with and support parents. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. (Deuteronomy 6:6,7) A youth ministry that sets out to effectively disciple young people must of necessity build strong relationships w...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 14. Belonging

Young people regard the wider church as “their” church and are engaged and involved in its activities. I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. (1 Corinthians 1:9)  Years ago, a girl in our youth ministry stopped attending. As we followed her up it turned out she was in a relationship with a young man who had n...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 13. Body

The youth ministry is an integral part of the church body and young people are known, valued and supported by all. [Christ] makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4:16)  When I accepted a call to work with young people in my first church, they had been without a paid youth pastor for quite some time. The ministry had been held together by a...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 12. Youth-led

Leadership responsibilities, training and opportunities to serve are given to young people. “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ (Matthew 25:23) When we consider that our purpose in youth ministry is to make disciples it’s possible to make this primarily about teaching young people to know and understand the Bible. Of course, that�...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 11. Diverse Leadership

Those involved in leadership in the youth ministry are drawn from a wide range of ages and personalities. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to do good. In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. (Titus 2:4-7 abridged) There is a well-known proverb that says, “it takes a village to raise a child”. It’s based on the conviction that the more insight and experience a young person is exposed to, t...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 10. Trained Leaders

Youth leaders are experienced and receiving ongoing training, mentoring and support in their leadership role. Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive His approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15) At times I’m asked why I think I’ve stayed in youth ministry for so long. I think one important reason is that I was well trained. I interned at a church alongside an experienced and capable youth ...

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry: 9. Exemplary Leadership

Youth leaders are good role models for young people showing maturity and a genuine Christian faith that is evident to all. Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (1 Timothy 4:12) At the primary school I attended a local minister would come in each week to teach us about the Bible. It was a long time ago and for all the times he led our class I can only remember on...

Characteristics of an Effective Youth Ministry: 8. Assessed

The youth ministry regularly assess itself and identifies areas which need to be strengthened or developed. Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. (2 Corinthians 13:15) A church had invited me to come and do an assessment of their youth ministry. Some questionnaires were completed and I arranged to meet with a cross section of leaders, parents and young people. My fir...

Characteristics of an Effective Youth Ministry: 7. Strategic

The youth ministry has a clear sense of direction and is working purposefully toward achieving God-given goals. Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3) If it were not for a deep belief in the sovereignty of God and the headship of Christ over the church, I could easily be a control freak! There is something incredibly satisfying and comforting about sitting down at the start of a new year and mapping out exactly what I expect to achieve and how. It gives an...