Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/80

Contributor - Dixie Amerongen

Title - Thoughts On Youth Ministries

Topic - Youth

Youth ministry in your church can be exciting! On Saturday, September 6, 1980, the Senior youth leaders in the Ontario Classis were invited to participate in a workshop conducted by Rev. John Schmidt, field secretary for youth ministries in the Synod Of Michigan. For those of us who did attend, we came away with many useful program ideas and a suggestion as to how to organize for youth ministries.

Youth ministry does not mean just leading your local youth group although this group is very important. There are four basic levels of youth that you are or should be working with:

1. Core young people - those whom you can count on being there every time.

2. Fringe members - young people who are there if the program is interesting or if they have nothing else to do.

3. Other church youth - young people who attend church, but not youth activities.

4. Unchurched Youth - young people outside of the church.

These four groups each have distinctive needs and each person within your group has individual needs. Find out what those needs are by getting to know your young people as individuals. What problems does he have? What's important to him? What are his hobbies? Where is he in his relationship to God? Finding out answers to these questions will help you in ministering to the individual as well as to the larger group as common needs will surface.

Your youth ministry should have a goal to strive towards. The purpose of youth ministry in the Reformed Church in America is to:

1. Equip youth as growing disciples of Jesus Christ,

2. Interpret the mission of the RCA for youth,

3. Empower youth through all the resources of the church for the life and work of the Kingdom, and

4. Be the church of Jesus Christ for youth in the 20th century.

There are many resources available to you as youth leaders to meet the needs and goals described above.

Learning through direct observation or experience is often neglected in our youth groups and yet is one of the most effective learning tools. It means doing something rather than just talking about it.

Simulation activates are games or activities that will help the young person to experience the situation on an individual basis. Many films are available to address a large variety of subjects that your youth group may be interested in. Preview the films before hand and be ready to lead a discussion afterwards.

Promote free and open discussions on the subject. Use discussion openers that will encourage your group to discuss their feelings. Don't be embarrassed to admit you can't answer all their questions but promise them you'll find someone who will be able to help them and then follow through on your promise.

Research the Word of God for scriptural references and guidelines on the subject and discuss your findings with the group so that they may realize that the Bible is as applicable today as it has been in the past.

There are many resources around to help you in your task of ministering to your group. Make as much use of them as possible. Add some variety to your meetings. Consider spending more than one meeting on a single subject. School subjects are not taught in one class, neither should we limit ourselves to one hour at a youth meeting to discuss a subject that will meet the social, moral and spiritual needs of our young people. There are enough resources available to effectively program one idea into more than one meeting.

Consider a one day seminar or a weekend retreat for your youth group idea. The possibilities are there. with all the programming around one

Don't fall into the same pattern week after week. Youth ministry is too important to let it get boring.

Make sure you follow-up on your program ideas. Did it meet the needs of the members? Has it helped them in their relationship to God and to others?

Finally, youth ministry is not the responsibility of one person or couple in the church, but it involves all those who are in any way working with young people. This includes the minister, catechism teachers, choir director and, of course, the parents. Working together and doing His will, youth ministry can be exciting.

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