A cord of three strands is not easily broken. One of the strands that makes youth ministry strong has to do with the church. By church, I refer in this article specifically to the local church—the group of believers that meet in a particular geographic location which the youth ministry springs from. Here’s what I want to emphasize: strengthening the youth ministry’s relationship with the local church makes it almost unbreakable.

But trying to describe what that relationship is exactly, is tricky because there is no one-size-fits-all description. Youth ministries and the churches they belong to differ from location to location and come in all sizes and shapes. Still, here are some ways I see, of what that relationship between youth ministry and the church should ideally be:

1.         The youth ministry should be INCLUSIVE of the church, not EXCLUSIVE from the church.

I recall my being a student of the GYMN Level 2 training when I and fellow youth leaders were going over the plans and programs for the youth ministry in the year ahead.  As we discussed, we talked a long time over a particular issue we couldn’t find a solution to. Our trainer came over and as we continued to talk about it, he suggested that perhaps it was a problem that wasn’t really in our jurisdiction. And he was right.

It may be because most youth leaders are young, but oftentimes the road map we envision for the youth who enter our ministry does not include the church as a whole. Meaning, our plans often intend for youth to be involved at all times (when they get to our building) in youth programs and if they learn anything about the church it is often incidental or accidental. But I have found it to be a much richer experience if young people get to know and participate not just in the youth group but also in the church from where it springs.

2.         The youth ministry is UNDER the church’s authority, not of EQUAL authority to the church.

In setting direction, it is best to follow church leadership. Here’s where having a purpose statement can come in handy. If there’s a clear picture of where the church is headed and what the priorities are for the year ahead, you can check your purpose statement to see if this is where the youth ministry is going as well. And if it’s not going in the same direction, then time can be spent discussing with both church and youth leadership on how the youth ministry can unite its goals with the church’s goals.

That may seem a waste of time, especially for those who have already planned out their goals for the year ahead, but taking this additional step will minimize conflict, frustration and wasted effort.

In fact, one potential area of frustration for youth leaders is their relationship with those in authority over them within the church. But when we turn from authority to lift up ourselves, history and the many experiences of people I know point out that no good comes from doing so. Indeed having this authority over you is beneficial. One reason is that through it we can demonstrate obedience and humility to our youth. Authority structures also differ from church to church so a proper understanding of these structures is important. (This paragraph is based on a past YC article on authority, “Working For My Pastor and Church Leadership?”)

3.         We should see our youth ministry as but a PART, with the local church as the WHOLE.

If the local church was a flower, then a youth ministry could be one of the petals–giving beauty to but not a crucial part of it. Or if the local church was a chair, a youth ministry could be a leg of that chair—taking it away would make the chair lose its function. I’m not sure what your ministry is more like but surely the church would be less than it is without your ministry. Still we shouldn’t act as though we were the only ministry.

Youth workers often voice out how little attention, time or budget is given to youth ministry, but for all these, one of the reasons we youth workers do what we do is to build up the local church. We may be passionate about our role but let’s appreciate that we are not the only ministry of the church. There may be other ministries of the church as vital as ours. What is important is that we all serve the same purpose in Christ Jesus.

Now, if you agree with all these or if these put the relationship of the youth ministry with the local church in a new light for you, the practical question is: how can we strengthen the relationship with our church? Here are some suggestions:

1. Know more about your local church. Learn the history of how the church started and get interested in the people who make up your church. Knowing more will make you more connected and increase your love for the church. Also read more about the local church. Much can be found in Biblical passages (like Ephesians 4:1-16, 5:25-32, 1 Corinthians 12:27-14:12), books (try “Stop Dating The Church” by Joshua Harris) and blogs (Jeff Lacine has a great series on the local church starting with this one).

2. Establish relationships with those who build up the church and not just with those involved in the youth group. I love the dedication youth workers give to their young people but there are few who intentionally build relationship with other adults within the church. Establishing a friendship with just one person outside the realm of youth ministry will be of great benefit not only to you but also to the youth under your care as well.

3. See where the church is going: what is the vision being cast by the senior pastor or church leaders? Know what the emphasis is for the year ahead, and get in line with that. Integrate your annual youth plan with the church’s annual plan. This way, resources can be pooled together and the activities of the church also complement the youth activities.

4. Look for ways that youth activities can be merged with adult activities. Too often youth ministry goes it’s own way and the rest of the church does its own thing, but how much more are people built up spiritually, how much more do we become a testimony when we work together on things. There can certainly be events that are specifically focused particularly for young people but there are also programs that are more meaningful if they are not just involving the young people.

There is more to be said about the local church but my intent is to get you to appreciate it more and not neglect it. Make your church a partner of your ministry to young people. And I hope that even as you come to know deeper this unique creation of Christ, you come to know Christ deeper still.

In Southeast Asia, the less urban the locale the more likely one will hear of spiritual encounters and many people in this region often take such things for granted. That being the case, there is a need for and a lack of practical resources for how one would deal with this in the youth ministry context, especially for Asia.

This reminded that we actually had one session in our Level 1 seminars “Cults and Occults” that we used to teach regularly. Past tense, since it no longer part of our basic curriculum. However, I still have the slides and I’d like to offer them as a resource to anyone who would find it useful:

Youth and Cults

If you’re in the Philippines, here’s one resource on Halloween by Ronald Molmisa a.k.a. Big Brother.

I found myself wrestling with a major ministry decision. I was sitting in a very peaceful location by a small lake of water in a wonderful atmosphere, but in my soul, I was far from being at peace. I was grappling over a big decision. Being highly analytical,  I was making my list of why I should or should not take the step laid before me. Finally, I set down my journal and got up from the table I was sitting at and took a walk. I had taken walks previously around this same lake, but this one was different. Instead of analyzing and wrestling, I simply said, “Lord, Jesus, let’s take a walk”. Within the first 10 steps I asked the Lord about this decision. In the time it would take to lift one foot and put it back down, He spoke to my heart (not audibly, but through His Spirit). The words short and simple yet profound, He simply said, “Feed my sheep”. Wow! He answered quickly and clearly. Of course, I then said, “but what about this area or that area?” Nothing…just “Feed my sheep”. I got it, plain and simple but profound and powerful:

Feed my sheep.

I have been following the steps to answer this call in my life. As I have been taking these steps, He has been teaching me that these three words are each critical in what I do and what you get to do in youth ministry. Let us look at each of these key words and their impact individually.

Feed My Sheep

When I think of food I can list all the things I like and do not like. Some are good for me, some are not so good for me. Allow me to contrast two extremes: candy and meat.

Candy is not a healthy food. Yes it can sustain you for a little while, but usually it has little or no significant nutritional value. Oh, I like candy; in fact there are some chocolates that I love. But, I cannot live by candy alone. In contrast meat is sustaining and provides key nutrients and proteins that not only sustain us but also make us strong. Meats and proteins are critical to a healthy physical and spiritual diet.

The Bible speaks about meat and it compares it against milk several times in the New Testament. Milk is for babies mainly. We do not need milk as adults. However, meat is not best for babies, as they cannot chew it.

Hebrews 5:12–14 speaks of teachers who need to go back to the infantile milk. I do not want to be in that list nor would I want those in my care to be singled out as ones not mature. Jesus also talked about spiritual food and feeding in John 6:35-58, where He is the bread of life.

So allow me to ask the hard questions: “Are you feeding the youth in your group Christian candy (what makes them feel good, but that is not sustaining)? Or are you feeding them the pure meat and bread of the Word, even Jesus Christ?”

I know you have different levels of youth in regards to spiritual maturity, but you should be able to move part or most of your group to a meat and bread level (the growth level and ministry and leadership).

One way to consider this is to use more expository preaching and teaching. Expository teaching is a style where you dig into a given bible passage/section to see what it says (like our Bible Study Methods of Level 2 trainings), then exposing that truth through teaching that Biblical truth. This helps us as teachers to not teach topically, which is very risky. In contrast, topical teaching is where we start with an idea or topic and find or place passages to back up that topic. You and I can make the Bible say anything we want by picking passages from different locations, but going verse by verse protects the truth of the Word and insures that you and those you lead will be exposed to and wrestle with the deep truths of Scripture.

FeedMy Sheep

It is important as shepherds to remember who the sheep belong to. When we think the ministry or those in it are ours versus His, we stand in need of correction. It is a delicate balance between caring for and about others versus thinking they are ours.

This sense of too much ownership can burn you out. We cannot do ministry on our own. He has to do the work in His sheep. Scripture says in Philippians 1:6, “For I am confident of this very thing,that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Never forget that the youth are His, not yours.

Feed MySheep

If you have this idea that working with pretty, clean, lovable, “white as snow” sheep is going to be so nice and fun, think again. First, I remember that I am a sheep, and though I can display fruits of the Spirit and be lovable by others, it is not naturally easy to be in that state. In fact, all of us as sheep are smelly, disease-prone, full of bugs, sores and blemishes. Without the ointment of Christ, the Good Shepherd, we are simple animals headed over a cliff. Shepherding sheep requires getting in the dirt and stink and laying down our life, as mentioned in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

The number one role of any minister is to be a shepherd of sheep. We would say yes to that statement when it comes to a pastor, but we may not always think of ourselves in youth ministry as shepherds. We are not to be an activity director, babysitter, janitor, transportation guide, fund raiser, trip coordinator, teacher or counselor. Yes, we do these things, but our main goal should always be to shepherd. Shepherding involves the spiritual feeding, leading, guiding and directing of people toward Christ. Without that key element we are no different than any other social agency.

In ministry with youth, you have a higher calling from Christ, the living Savior and Shepherd, a calling to “Feed My Sheep.”

I am not sure where you are with this area of ministry. Maybe you read this today feeling like Peter did in John 21 when he received this calling and command. Peter was feeling inadequate and probably guilty as well. He had recently denied Jesus in public prior to the crucifixion. He not only denied him, but lied about it and ended up swearing as well (Matthew 26:69–75). If you are like Peter, feeling guilty and inadequate, come to Christ, the loving shepherd. Allow Him to care for you personally before you worry about the youth in your care. What the youth in your group needs is a healthy you.

Maybe you are healthy in your walk with Christ, but you have been or are now sensing that the Lord is asking you to stop offering candy and to begin offering meat to those in your care. I am convinced that we sell short or make it too easy for people these days. People and especially youth are up for challenges. Through countless sacrifices, youth excel in sports, they do great things in education and they do great things in industry. So why would we allow them to remain spiritual babies while at the same time have adult-like responsibilities in many other areas of life?

The Good Shepherd will soon call each of us by name to be with Him. I want to hear Him say well done my faithful sheep shepherd. How about you?

Chris Davis
Global Youth Ministry Network

I used to take the farthest seat in the auditorium.

Unless I was tricked by my cousin from the church’s choir, chances for me to attend the youth ministry were slim to none. Youth Alive sounded like an organization you have in school. When I was invited to come, I imagined that it was a non-profit group that aims to protect the youth from drugs or from things of that sort that’ll do us harm. I read from a flyer that its “ALIVE” stood for “Attract young people, Lift up God, Inspire them to be Vessels of truth and Encourage one another.” The critic thought “Wow. You squeezed that in?” I concluded that it was good but I wasn’t sure if I liked it.

The day I fell hook, line and sinker to attend YA, I was in the “Let’s get this over with” mindset. So, I sat quietly, unsmilingly at the back, praying that they do not persuade newbies to introduce themselves in front. Observing everyone, I saw the place was filled with happy people. Too happy, I didn’t understand why. I groaned a bit when a quick ice-breaker was held. I reluctantly joined in, but it was so fun, I had trouble keeping my excitement to myself. They also have this “Love si Lord!” tagline which everyone exclaimed every time “Youth Alive” is mentioned. Which I dismissed as the effect of mass media, McDonald’s “Love ko ‘to” was a hit back then.

That day was the first-ever engaging worship I’ve experienced. I’ve been in the church for years, and it is good. But this was new for me. The intimacy was unmistakable. The excitement was thick in the atmosphere. The energy was on levels I didn’t know existed. It felt as if the ground was erupting to take you up to space. My heart was pounding. I felt like I could touch God’s face. The dancing, singing, jumping, shouts and cries assured you that behind it all was sincere worship. It was a huge wave slapping on the shores that were us. And it was contagious.

The message was delivered with much humor and in terms everyone would understand. There was a very funny skit presented, laughter burst from time to time, yet the Truth pierced you as it was intended to be. The call for salvation is always done at the conclusion of the service, and a second call to pray for the challenge to take effect in every individual’s life. I went home that night excited to tell everyone about it. I had no understanding what Youth Alive was and what it stands for. All I knew was that it was the coolest place to be.

For a year, I kept on sitting at the back, and didn’t bother to remember anybody’s name if someone would introduce themselves. I was happy with my “Ate.” I wasn’t friendly and I didn’t know there was something wrong with that. I didn’t attend regularly. I made excuses from time to time, and wouldn’t come without my Ate.

Graduating from High School, It felt like I should be involved in something. It was a stirring I couldn’t ignore. I was tired of routine at school, and I felt empty. I braved one Saturday to come on my own. I was surprised how Youth Alive had grown, and yet those who shook my hand before still knew me. I felt comfortable especially when two BFFs (I kept forgetting their names before) seemed glad I was back. I kept on coming, and shortly, I was invited to join a cell group.

From there, I abandoned what used to be my favorite seat. Joining the crowd in the middle, the view was better. It was all brighter, and the backs and shadows I saw from so far away are gone. I was thirsty for something worth involving myself into. I didn’t recognize it was the impending growth coming. The group required shakes and stirs for this private-schooled brat to fit in. A major character makeover and a “heart surgery” came into place, and then I learned that Youth Alive doesn’t stop at “Attract young people”. The foundations of a Christian were laid down. A series of lessons were instilled. From Salvation, Lordship, Faith, how to pray and what is Devotion, to Spiritual Warfare and everything else in between. The “Encourage one another” part looks like it was supposed to be written at the beginning of the ministry’s mission, because it is ever-present anytime and anywhere the group meets, physically or even online. For the Basic Christian lessons, I should mention it was “basic”, but I then understood that it is as crucial as a life survival kit, when it was my turn to teach. So, “Vessels of Truth.”

The seats looked too far away each time I look behind my area. Thank God for the better seat.

The vessels were broken and molded time and again, each a transformation from glory to glory. We were kids. And it takes time for us to figure things out. But God arranged for the path to lead us to Him. The Truth wells up inside these jars, and overflows, as it is meant to be poured out to all the other jars. The reminder is constant that we are willed by Him to enjoy Him, to live in line with His purpose, and whatever our hands and feet find to do, it is to “Lift up God.”

I haven’t decoded what Youth Alive’s ALIVE entirely is. All these revelations I was introduced to seem like just a peek of what is larger than life. For quite some time I led a group of youngsters myself, yet it took me long enough to realize that what we are doing is building up leaders, and from these leaders rise another group of leaders.

Taking the seats up front is a whole different thing. Many dislike it. I don’t know why, but maybe it is because the front seats are too exposed? I thought it was daunting, looking at it from the back. But sitting here, there isn’t a reserved sign we can crown ourselves with. The way I see it, it is a better view, with a larger scope of what is happening. From here, I think it makes you understand what you are seeing, and what to do with what you witness.

Just as circles have no beginnings and no ends, I think we go through the same things. But as we run through the paths we once walked on, perhaps each time, we gain more insight of what the view is, and how to go through it. Each time we ride along its heights and dig deep into its lows, our eyes open up wider, to take it all in, the better to see things with, and we breathe it in, each breath fresher than what we breathed before.

This post was written by Abigail Felix, recounting her experiences as part of Youth Alive, the youth ministry of Word of Hope in Quezon City, Philippines. She also tells about her Father’s joy over at her blog.

It’s got to be a Big Event for our youth group every last Sunday of the month. At this time, it is the only special event existing in our youth group. From the first to the third Sunday of every month, the youth leaders are active and busy after our Sunday service, preparing for the Big Event. All of us in the youth leadership team work hand in hand for the success of this affair—to enjoy the fellowship with other young people, to learn, and above all to give God the glory that belongs to Him alone.

Last July 30, we had our first Big Event. With the theme, “Statement Shirt Day: What’s on Your Mind?”. It was fantastic!  We were overwhelmed with the number of young people who were present. There were about 150 young people who attended the event. Most of us were wearing our statement shirts and we really had a great time reading different statements written on our shirts. Some were funny, some were inspiring and some just didn’t go well with the person wearing the shirt.

The event started at exactly 4 o’clock in the afternoon and ended just in time, 6 o’clock in the evening. The youth were being registered the moment they arrived. A craft which is a paper t-shirt with a statement written on it served as our waiting activity, so that they won’t get bored while waiting for others to arrive. An award was given to the best craft before the program ended. The program formally started with a welcome address. New sets of leaders of our youth group were introduced and the old ones were also called up. The youth leaders then gave a dance presentation to officially welcome all the guests and to show how glad we were to see them all. Each guest was assigned to a respective team for the games. There were four teams: Red, Blue, Green and Yellow.

After having much fun playing and energizing, we then listened to the Word of God—the most exciting part of the program. It was the highlight of the Big Event. Sharing God’s word is our main intention of having this kind of event in our youth group. We were so blessed with the message God has given us through His servant, our very own Kuya L.M. (Louis Mark Plaza). More meaningful information was being added to our learning. We’ve heard comments from some of our visitors that they liked the message which means they’ve been blessed!  And we really praise God for that. After the message, everybody intently listened to the response song “Walk on the Water” sang by Jonah Avelina.

The Lord our God is truly a great provider—He is Jehovah Jireh. If an activity glorifies Him, He provides. We’ve been amazed by how He worked with our finances. The budget for our food was really that small. It couldn’t feed 150 young people. But the God whom we serve is the owner of everything, He is sovereign… He is great! He was the God who fed the five thousand people. He was also the God who fed us that time. And like the story, there were plenty leftovers. The fellowship we had was really awesome!

We’re all excited for our next Big Event. We’re expecting more fun, more learning, more food, more surprises and more of our Lord Jesus Christ! It is our great pleasure to meet various young people from different places with diverse personalities and lives. All youth are invited and are welcome to join the Big Event as all are invited in our Lord’s Kingdom.