RESTARTING & REFRESHING

A YOUTH MINISTRY

BEFORE WE

BEGIN

• I s t r ugg le j us t l i ke you

• Ta l k i ng i n G ene r a l i zed t e r m s

• W e a r e seen as a se r v i ce

i ndus t r y

• The i dea o f “ Su r v i v i ng t he Day ”

MYTHS ABOUT

YOUTH MINISTRY

I NEED A BIG

BUDGET

T he re a re so many f r ee

r esou rces ava i l ab l e

and commun i t y i s bu i l t

i n i nexpens i ve ways .

I NEED AN

AWESOME YOUTH

ROOM

K ids a r e l ook ing

f o r c om m un i t y and

au t hen t i c i t y .

I NEED TO HAVE A

BIG YOUTH

GROUP

T he l a rge r you r g roup

ge t s t he more t ime you

spend wi t h i n t e rns &

adu l t s .

THREE THINGS FOR A YOUTH

MINISTRY OF ANY SIZE

Discipleship Building

Community

Opportunities to

Serve

TWO IMPORTANT THINGS TO

KEEP IN MIND

• 4-6 is the amount of teenagers that an adult can know

personally in a spiritual mentor type role

• Our youth groups have to be systems (mind-sets) & not just

programs (temporary)

• Example: a computer

DISCIPLESHIP

RESEARCH

Research shows that teens will only

remember 2 or 3 of our lessons

2 TO 3

LESSONS

NOTHING COMES FOR FREE

Research shows that teens learn better

1 on 1 or out of their comfort zones

COMFORT

ZONES

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER Tour of a jail, crossing a creek, visiting

a cemetery, when you were real

FORMER

TEENS

GET UNCOMFORTABLE Sometimes our greatest growth

comes when we are uncomfortable

FAITH

IT’S ACTUALLY EASIER Plan your lessons ahead of time

and do one every two months

SMALL

GROUPS

DIVIDE & CONQUER Retreats, small groups, & mentors look for

ways to make your teaching come to life

BIGGER

GROUPS

“W hen a l l i s s a id and done , t he l i f e

o f f a i t h i s no t h i ng i f no t an

unend ing s t r ugg le o f t he s p i r i t w i t h

eve ry ava i l ab le weapon aga ins t t he

f l es h . ”

D ie t r i c h Bonhoe f f e r -

The Cos t o f D i sc ip l esh ip

BUILDING

COMMUNITY

THINGS TO NOTICE

Each kid is special & created an

atmosphere to have fun & learn

MR. WHITE’S

CLASS

WALKING IN THE DOOR

Research shows they need to know

they are going to be accepted & valued

EVERY

TEEN

WE OUR FAMILY We need to encourage our teens to

look outside themselves to others

CONSTANT

REMIND

OUTSIDE THE WALLS Invite the whole group to go and

support another teen

ALL WEEK

LEADER REQUIREMENT Every patrol leader is challenged to do

one activity a week without a leader

BOY

SCOUTS

FIND WAYS TO GET THEM TALKING

Simply challenge them to reach out to those

who need it or Private Facebook page

COMMUNICATE

“Fe l l ows h ip i s a p l ac e o f g rac e ,

where m is t ak es a ren ' t r ubbed i n bu t

r ubbed ou t . Fe l l ows h ip happens

when merc y w ins ove r j us t i c e . ”

R i c k W ar ren

OPPORTUNITIES

TO SERVE

WHY WOULD THEY VOLUNTEER?

Why would college students

volunteer for no money or credit?

WHY SERVE?

RESEARCH SAYS THE OPPOSITE

Research shows the past 2 generations

are eager to invest if they are passionate

TEENS ARE

LAZY

TEENS WANT TO VOLUNTEER 68% of teens are either already involved or

want to be asked to help the church

CHART

TEENS WANT TO BE INVOLVED In their church and feeding the

homeless in their city

TOP 2

THINGS

NOT TOMORROW; TODAY Teens who are equipped and encouraged are

drawing people to their church or ministry

TODAY'S

LEADERS

TAKES TIME

Look for opportunities for our teens to serve

and keep coming back even after they say no

PRAY FOR

GOD’S

LEADING

W e f ee l wha t we a re do ing i s j us t a

d rop i n t he oc ean , bu t t ha t oc ean

wou ld be l es s w i t hou t t ha t d rop . “

Mo t he r Te res a

FULL FAMILY MINISTRY

DEALING WITH CURRENT ISSUES

WARMTH, CONNECTEDNESS, &

LACK OF AN AGENDA

The research showed that parents just

being present in the house showed

lower levels of depression, higher

school functioning, lower risk behaviors,

and better peer relationships if the

parents showed 3 things while at home:

Main point of the

research was “Many

parents feel their

adolescents hardly Need

them anymore” and the

adolescents “wish their

parents were Around

more often”

DECEMBER CBS NEWS REPORT

“POTTED PLANT PARENTS

THIS GENERATION OF TEENS IS DRAWN TO ONE

THING MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE

Authoritative • Goal of most parents

• Most effective & beneficial according to

psychologists

• There is a balance between involvement

& discipline

• High expectations with understanding

• Communicate without judgment or reprimand

Authoritarian • These are strict parents

• “It’s my way or the highway”

• There is little open dialogue

• Relies on punishment for obedience or

to teach a lesson

Permissive • These parents avoid confrontation

• Few rules are set or rules are inconsistent

• Parents want to come across as loving &

are afraid punishment will harm child

• Kids crave sense of structure to feel safe

Neglectful • Little care for child’s emotional or

physical needs

• Very selfish and/or addictive personalities

• Long periods of time away from home

• Finds excuses for not helping or

participating in child’s life

• Only gets involved if child is in trouble

YOUR JOB IS TO ASSIST PARENTS,

NOT REPLACE THEM

We a r e m en to r s , r o l e m ode l s , & sp i r i t ua l l eade r s

We w i l l neve r be ab le t o f i l l t he r o l e o f a pa r en t

BEGINNING THE

PROCESS

INTRODUCE YOURSELF

Setup a time to meet or just

leave a voice message 1

LEARN THEIR STORY

The more you understand their

struggles, the more you can help

2

YOU'RE ON THEIR SIDE

Always side with the parent even

when you do not agree

3

BE RESPONSIBLE Every event, game, or activity you

do provide a safe environment

4

COMMUNICATE Parents don’t feel equipped. Give

them information & resources

5

DON’T BE BULLIED

Never let anyone else run the

ministry God has called you to lead

6

Andy S t an ley onc e s a id , “ I don ’ t

have t he ab i l i t y t o f i l l anyone ’ s

c up ; I do have t he ab i l i t y t o emp t y

my c up f o r s omeone e l s e ”

FINAL THOUGHTS

REASSURE OR

NUDGE

Reas s u re t hos e

pa ren ts who

t h i nk t hey a ren ’ t

do ing enough

and nudge thos e

t ha t a ren ’ t do ing

enough .

FIND MENTORS

Be ing a pa ren t i s

d i f f i c u l t and the re

i s a l o t o f s t r es s

t hey f ac e da i l y .

F ind those who

have gone th rough

the j ou rney t o

as s i s t t hem.

PARENTS AS

LEADERS

I t ' s i n c red ib l y

d i f f i c u l t f o r a

pa ren t ( no t

impos s ib l e ) t o

make dec i s i ons

t ha t a re bes t f o r

t he g roup and no t

j u s t t he i r k i ds .

DREWAARON89@GMAIL.COM