Three Questions From A Rookie Youth Pastor

Posted byEddy Barnes 4 Comments on Three Questions From A Rookie Youth Pastor

Instead of my usual ruminating, I have posted some questions that have been rolling around in my head. Leave your answer in the comments.

Three Questions About Youth Ministry

1. **How do you build momentum in a sustainable way?** One temptation of youth ministry to have events or activities that create excitement and a buzz atmosphere that encourages students to bring their friends and to become more involved. The problem is that a lot of the ideas are not sustainable over a long period of time. So how do you balance the desire to create an environment that nurtures growth while at the same time not creating an unsustainable pace?
2. **What is the right way to do youth ministry?** That is a loaded question. I just finished reading *Purpose-Driven Youth Ministry* and I’m working through several other books on ministry. There are several ways to approach youth ministry. Is there a right way? Is there a best way?
3. **What are some ways to measure growth?** There are more than one. But what are the specific ways to measure growth. Numerical, absolutely. But how do you measure spiritual growth? What about health?

I’m working out the answers to these for our ministry. How do you answer them for yours?

Published by Eddy Barnes

Eddy Barnes a husband, father, and the youth pastor at Grace Covenant Church.

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4 Comments

  1. My thoughts…

    1. I see “momentum” as the icing on a cake. It’s only truly sustainable with solid foundation. Also momentum is a work of the Spirit and that means He dictates the speed. Practical application: anchor the yg around small group bible study and relationships (student to student & student to leader). Then build activities on top of that. I see too many examples where this is backwards.
    2. Long, multi part answered squeezed down to one thought: we cannot let the congregation or ourselves see yg ministry as a glorified babysitting service. In other words, yg is not a “stepping stone” to “real ministry” to adult congregation! Youth ministry must be seen as a legit ministry in its own right and worthy of receiving all the glorious brainstorming power of a pastor as befitting any adult congregation.
    3. The best way to measure growth is regular lunch meetings with students. As you build a relationship with them, and they realize that they’re not a spiritual project of yours, they’ll begin to share what they’re learning in youth group. This, not numbers, is the best indicator of growth.
    Reply

    1. Thanks for the thoughts, Sam!

      What do you make of Luke’s note that “3000 were added to their numbers…” at Pentecost. Surely numerical growth is a helpful measurement, though perhaps not on its own. I totally agree that attendance does not equal disciples and we are called to make disciples. But more disciples has to be better than less disciples.

      Reply

      1. Surely more the merrier! But it’s still a work of the Spirit. As church leaders, we’d obviously want to be a positive piece in that process. But as Prof Peter Lee said once, the Lord works in spite of us, not because of us. So the Pentecost event with 3000 men saved is great, but I’m sure Peter didn’t start preaching with a numerical goal in his mind. In other words, he was just faithful to the command of Christ (preaching), and was probably shocked to see such wonders (salvation) wrought by the Spirit! Hope this helps.

        Reply
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