Tips for Developing a Youth Ministry

Establishing a Strong Foundation:

  •  Clear Vision and Purpose:
    • Define your ministry’s goals: Faith growth, service, community, or a combination.
    • What impact do you want to have on young lives?
  •  Understanding Your Audience:
    • Know your youth: Interests, needs, and spiritual questions.
    • Solicit direct feedback from teens; don’t rely solely on adults.
    • Recognize their sacred worth and legitimate spiritual needs.
    • Shake off stereotypes; see them as active participants, not passive recipients.
  • Building Relationships:
    • Prioritize relationships over programs.
    • Be present, listen, and show genuine care.
    • Foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity.
    • Combat cliquishness and promote acceptance.
  • Partnering with Parents:
    • Acknowledge parental influence as crucial.
    • Equip parents to nurture their children’s faith.
    • Offer resources for home faith practices and discussions.
    • Provide support groups and address family concerns.
    • Consider intergenerational learning.
    • Teach parents the importance of “hanging out” with their children.

II. Creating Engaging and Meaningful Experiences:

  • Creative and Relevant Programming:
    • Be creative and innovative; there are no rigid rules.
    • Use current events, popular culture (music, movies), and relevant topics.
    • Integrate experience-centered learning and hands-on activities.
    • Balance recreation, study, devotion, and fellowship.
    • Schedule large events, that are easy for young people to bring friends to.
  • “Get Real” Christian Education:
    • Address real-life questions and doubts honestly.
    • Emphasize discussion and conversation.
    • Communicate core faith principles clearly and often.
    • Integrate “service learning” for practical discipleship.
    • Provide training in spiritual faith practices.
  • Meaningful Worship:
    • Give youth visible and meaningful roles in worship.
    • Make worship experience-based and relevant to their lives.
    • Encourage youth to write their own liturgies and prayers.
    • Allow youth to find their own ways to worship God.
  • Youth Leadership and Empowerment:
    • Encourage and develop youth leadership.
    • Give them real responsibilities and decision-making roles.
    • Start a youth-led worship service.

III. Ensuring a Safe and Supportive Environment:

  • Effective Adult Leadership:
    • Recruit knowledgeable, committed, and spiritually mature leaders.
    • Provide training for leaders, focusing on listening and discussion skills.
    • Perform thorough background checks and implement child protection policies.
    • Invest in the youth ministry through budget and staffing.
  • Consistent Structure and Boundaries:
    • Maintain consistent meeting times and locations.
    • Establish clear behavioral boundaries and discipline policies.
    • Divide junior high and senior high groups when possible.
    • Kids need and value stability, routines, and rituals.
  • The Power of Prayer:
    • Pray for your youth ministry and the young people you serve.
    • Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Key Takeaways:

  • Youth ministry is about people, not just programs.
  • Authenticity and relevance are essential for connecting with young people.
  • Empowering youth to lead and participate actively fosters ownership and growth.
  • Partnering with parents creates a unified and supportive environment.
  • Constant prayer and seeking God’s guidance is necessary.

Resources

Small Youth Ministry

At Small Youth Ministry, we’re dedicated to empowering leaders of small youth groups with carefully crafted, completely free resources compiled just for you. We understand the unique challenges you face, and we’re here to provide the support you need to thrive.

Home – Small Youth Ministry Resources

Code: SCCYFM25

Faith Lens

Faith Lens is a lectionary-based Bible study series posted weekly to be used individually and/or in small groups for your ministry context. Faith Lens is on hiatus over the summer months. Click here to review the archives and read the latest blog posts!

Ministry Leadership Center

Formerly Known as Center for Youth Ministry Training (CYMT)

It is a source for articles and free downloads.

Subscribe for the latest and greatest!

Subscription Center – Ministry Leadership Center

Cherish All Children

From Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, this site offers resources education, tools and actions to keep children safe from the dangers of exploitation and trafficking.

The Springtide Research Institute is excited to invite you to register for their FREE webinar: 

Journey to What’s Working: How Youth Ministries Effectively Connect with Young People! 

When: Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 11:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM CT / 2:00 PM ET

This 75-minute webinar and Q&A session will equip you with practical knowledge to better serve the youth you work with.

During the webinar, you’ll discover: 

  • Young people’s eagerness for connection and spiritual growth, and how adults hold the key to fostering these opportunities 
  • What youth truly value in a faith community 
  • What leaders prioritize when building meaningful relationships with young people 
  • The essential elements of community that encourage youth to return 
  • How to support and guide young people in your care

Pre-Registration is Required – Click here

Journey to Discover What’s Working – Springtide Research Institute

Social Message on Child Protection

On March 21, 2025, the ELCA released a draft social message on child protection and maltreatment, responding to a request from the 2022 Churchwide Assembly. Churchwide staff from Youth Ministry and Theological Ethics invite you to attend online hearings for children, youth, and family ministers to share feedback on the draft message.

Hearings will be held on:

– Thursday, May 15, 7:30-9:00 pm Eastern

– Tuesday, May 20, 12-1:30 pm Eastern

To Register: https://forms.office.com/r/ThGJkYhtR4](https://forms.office.com/r/ThGJkYhtR4…) to share comments, affirmations, and suggestions for improvement. All serving in children, youth, and family ministry, whether lay, rostered, paid, or volunteer, are welcome!

Social Message can be found here: [https://www.elca.org/…/current-social…/child-protection](https://www.elca.org/…/current…/child-protection…)

Has your church been asking, “Where did all the teenagers go?” You’re not alone.
What if, rather than going it alone, churches teamed up to create something better together? Join Building a Thriving, Sustainable Youth Ministry Cohort—a free, four-month online cohort focused on collaboration, not competition.
Space is limited—sign up and discover what’s possible when we work together!

Ten x 10

1,000,000 young people are leaving the Christian faith every year.  TENx10 launched a collaborative movement of diverse Christian leaders, organizations, denominations and influencers that are committed to making faith matter more for 10 million young people over the next 10 years. TEN×10 | Making faith matter more.

Pentecost

Pentecost: Why and How to Celebrate

It’s Pentecost, Let’s Party! 4 Ways to Celebrate at Church

Ministry Matters™ | Make a Big Deal About Pentecost!

Ideas to celebrate pentecost in the church

Graduation

21 Unique Ways To Honor Graduates In Your Small Church – Small Church Ministry

Practical Ideas for a Graduate Recognition Service | Lifeway

Church Graduation Program Ideas: 5 Ways to Celebrate Grads

How To Plan A Powerful Graduation Sunday For Your Church – Helping Youth Workers Build Successful Youth Ministries

Meaningful Gifts for Various Occasions

CYFM CABINET MEETING

June 21, 10am-2pm

Synod Office

Our synod’s CYF Ministry includes many ways in which youth are involved in leadership.

To suggest names, please contact me – deborah@scsynod.com  

For an application:  Youth Ministry Task Force Application – Google Forms

CAMP HUGG

June 29-July 3

Camp Kinard

Here’s the link to the Camp HUGG staff application form for 2025.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdKQ3SULffGAAZUJ9iOz6VTNm2igo9tT9jsDa0kfYQhCGWClg/viewform

ZOO PASSES NEEDED!

Camp HUGG needs your help again this year to collect Riverbanks Zoo Passes to use during our special needs camp this summer. We have 20 campers (and 25 staff) who really enjoy the opportunity to visit the zoo together! If you are a Riverbanks Zoo member and have extra guest passes, please consider donating them to Camp HUGG to use. We understand from zoo management that they are not issuing guest passes on paper anymore unless requested. If you have paper guest passes, you can mail them or drop them off at the synod office. If not, you can call the zoo and request they mail you your guest passes. When you receive them, you can mail them to the synod office (Camp HUGG, c/o SC Synod, 1003 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201). Thanks!

GRACEWORKS

July 13-18

What is GraceWorks? GraceWorks is a local servant camp for Midlands Youth who are rising 6th graders through recently graduated 12th graders. GraceWorks develops servant leaders as these youth serve various agencies around the Columbia area. Most of these agencies serve vulnerable children or adults. In addition to doing physical labor like painting, cleaning, yardwork, and organizing, youth also learn about the ministry of these agencies and often have opportunities to interact with those they are serving.

What does it cost: This year’s cost will be $50* per youth, this covers supplies, snacks, and our recreation day for all our participants. *Cost should never be a deciding factor for any youth. If the cost is a barrier please reach out to Walt Hampton at Zion for scholarship information.

Where is GraceWorks this year? Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1301 Richland Street, Columbia, 29201. This will be our home base, most of our service experiences will involve traveling offsite via bus or by foot.

When is GraceWorks this year? This year GraceWorks begins Sunday July 13th with a meal and worship. We will gather at Ebenezer from 5:00-7:00pm to get to know each other, learn about our service agencies for the week, and worship together. Monday through Friday, July 14th-18th, we will gather between 8:00 and 8:15am to start our day and will be finished and ready for pickup at 5:00pm. Your congregation youth leader will make sure you arrive and depart on time.

Registration is now live! 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWsfkmrBmWjz0TJ41UQ_rsJwKFXuUciCqL8FywIbjuFdSRcg/viewform?usp=sf_link