Some Tips for Youth Ministry

by David A. Livermore

Though the current needs of global youth may seem overwhelming, there are some things we can do by partnering with churches in the U.S. But whatever we do, we must place a high priority on equipping nationals to reach, build, and equip their youth. Here are some tips for missionaries.

Though the current needs of global youth may seem overwhelming, there are some things we can do by partnering with churches in the U.S. But whatever we do, we must place a high priority on equipping nationals to reach, build, and equip their youth. Here are some tips for missionaries.

1. Leave your youth program files at home. Actually, I do use my resource files whne I am overseas, but only as a means of creative brainstorming. The programs are secondary. The answer to reaching youth does not lie in trying to recreate all the youth events that have worked well for us at home. While a basketball tournament can be an effective outreach tool for me in Western Michigan, traveling choirs appear to be a much more effective tool in Nairobi, and soccer on the beach in Brazil. We need to take the principles of a biblical philosophy of youth ministry that transcend the cultures of the world. And it is imperative that youth ministry be based in the local church.

2. There is no substitute for having an individual or couple make a career out of youth ministry. Churches and missionaries must recognize youth ministry as a valuable aspect of church planting.

We need more people to follow the example of Mark Edwards, who left his stateside position with Sonlife Youth Ministries to go to Costa Rica with International Teams. Mark plans in his first term to work alongside Costa Rican believers to develop a model youth ministry. He plans to equip others and, long term, would like to see a network for youth ministry developed throughout Latin America, much like what exists in the U.S.

Long-term people willing to be specialists in a given culture are the ideal equippers of nationals for youth ministry. Generally, nationals will be far more effective at reaching their youth than a foreign missionary will be.

3. Jump on the short-term bandwagon. If bus ministry was the ministry of the ’70s, short-term youth missions trips are it for the ’90s. Rather than criticize all the potential pitfalls, we need to capitalize on this trend. While long-term, career missionaries will likely make the most impact for reaching youth, we shouldn’t neglect this short-term craze.

I took a group of 26 from my youth ministry to Brazil. I have told them time and time again that while God may allow us to have a small degree of ministry, we will be impacted by being there to a much greater degree.

There are a number of ways the missionary can use the short-term wave. Challenge the youth group of one of your supporting churches to adopt the youth group in your overseas church or region. They could begin to write each other and send videos back and forth.

Consider hosting the supporting church’s youth group for a summer or spring break missions trip. Members could spend time with their sister youth group. Further, bring together a group of national pastors or lay youth workers and have them spend some time with the stateside youth pastor.

4. Be sure that your visiting youth pastor understands the importance of communicating philosophy and not programs. This could be an incredible learning experience for both sides! Perhaps the youth pastor could come before the group, or stay after them to teach a one- or two-week youth ministry module in your local Bible institute or seminary.

I, a couple of other youth pastors in my area, and a church planter in São Paulo are developing a five-year strategy of sending our youth groups and ourselves to build a vision and lay a foundation for youth ministry in São Paulo. We are praying for a career youth missionary at the end of the five years.

In English-speaking countries, a youth pastor or recent youth ministry graduate could work with a missionary for a year or even six weeks and help develop some youth ministry principles. Youth are continually wanting to pursue youth ministry degrees in college. Why not challenge them to serve as the youth specialist on your field?

While some parachurch youth agencies have not supported the local church, my experience usually has been theopposite.Again, you must beware of American biases that may be innate to some organizations and their programs, but use them to work alongside your local church to disciple the youth in your congregation.

Exciting things are happening in places like Eastern Europe, where organizations such as Cadence, International Teams, and Sonlife Ministries have all teamed together in what they have called the Josiah Venture. The goal of the Josiah Venture is to see a movement of God fan into flame among young people overseas as they mobilize the local church to evangelize and disciple youth. Cadence is providing key staff to launch the venture. Dave Patty, the founder of Malachi Ministries (the youth division of Cadence) has 10 years of youth experience in Europe and has extensively researched the needs of the countries in the former Soviet Union. International Teams will oversee the work in the field and will provide training forums for their staff workers. Sonlife is the arm of the partnership that oversees the training process and product and recruits veteran youth pastors with an international vision.

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EMQ, Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 156-157. Copyright © 1996 Evangelism and Missions Information Service (EMIS). All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission from EMIS.

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