HOW TO BUILD AN EFFECTIVE YOUTH MINISTRY

如何建立有效青少年事工

Rev. Ed Lee 李景明牧師

        Youth ministry is vital and essential. It includes training our young people in spiritual discernment, promoting effective communication between teenagers and parents, and assuring them that their faith is genuine, personal, and cultivated.

        An effective ministry bears spiritual fruit: people coming to know the Lord, lives changing into Christlikeness, teenagers walking with God and desiring to serve Him with their gifts and talents. It is both desirable and rewarding to have an effective youth ministry.

        A sound youth ministry is the joint effort of involved parents, supportive pastors and concerned counselors. A Bible centered program that emphasizes spiritual disciplines and discernment is also essential in preparing the youth for an independent adult life.

    A. The Involved Parents 關注的家長

        It is important to engage parents in ministering to teens. God has placed these teenagers in the stewardship of parents to nurture and prepare them for adulthood. Youth ministry workers should work alongside to complement, not to compete with, the parent's endeavor.

        When temptations strike, especially those hidden in an ungodly relationship, the best chance for victory is a consistent practice of the basic disciplines of the Christian life: fellowship, worship, prayer, devotion, personal Bible study and witnessing. This must be emphasized in the home as well as in the church if we are to effectively ground our teens in the faith. Thus, parent involvement is crucial.

        Parents can play a more active role in youth ministry. They should be encouraged and have the freedom to visit the regular youth programs. However, if they do attend they should act as if they were one of the teenagers instead of standing aloof as spectators. Active participation like this can serve as a bridge to enhance the relationship between a particular parent and teenager. It will also increase the trust between parents and youth counselors. Parents can also help by serving as chaperones, accompanying counselors on home visitations, and providing transportation and refreshments.

    B. The Supportive Pastors 支持的牧者

        A supportive pastoral leadership is essential for an effective youth ministry. They might help parents maintain realistic expectations of the church's youth programs. Too often parents expect miracles from the youth ministry. Some think that if only we had the right program and the right people in our youth ministry then the teenagers fragile relationship with their parents would be mended, their character flaws corrected, and their protection from negative influences guaranteed. Disappointed parents who express frustrations due to unmet expectations can demoralize youth workers.

        Pastors can support the youth ministry tremendously by helping parents understand the ministry’s complementary role. Through family seminars and parenting workshops, pastors can provide the impetus to enhance family harmony and communication between parents and teenagers. Through the pulpit pastors can elevate the important role of parents in grounding their teens in the spiritual disciplines of the Christian life.

    C. The Concerned Counselors 關懷的輔導

        Youth counselors are an invaluable asset to youth ministry because they wear so many hats. They are big brothers and sisters, wise friends, lay counselors, program planners, motivational leaders, Bible teachers, and godly role models. However, their primary contribution is in counseling. Much of this counseling is done on informal settings based upon a trust relationship built over time through consistent caring.

        Trust is not automatically given but earned. Youth counselors earn it by spending time with teenagers and showing genuine care and concern. This takes sacrifice of time and energy outside of the regular youth meetings. However, we need to be cautious since the degree of trust may involve emotional bonding. We have to pay special attentions to who counsels whom. Male counselors should limit themselves to counseling guys while female counselors should limit themselves to counseling gals unless on those rare occasions that a different perspective is needed from a member of the opposite sex.

        Youth counselors can establish trust faster in small groups. Dividing up the large group into smaller groups is more conducive to personal sharing. Each small group should have a female counselor and a male counselor. When there are personal issues too awkward to be brought up in a mixed company, the small group has the flexibility to subdivide into separate gal and guy groups. These two counselors are the shepherds of this small group. As shepherds they counsel and minister to the teens‘ specific needs, guide them in Bible studies, hold them accountable in the disciplines of the spiritual life, and motivate them to serve the Lord.

        Because of the awesome responsibility of spiritually influencing these teens and the emphasis on spending time building relationships, we need to choose counselors carefully. Mature counselors who have the time to invest into the lives of young people is essential to an effective youth ministry.

II. The Prescriptions of An Effective Youth Ministry 有效青少年事工的良方

        We must design an effective youth ministry to reach the goal of all Christians, namely, Christlikeness. We need to spell this out to build trust and confidence among parents as it enables them to understand the rationale behind why one does what in the youth programs. Although people might have different approaches and philosophies, they will usually allow you to cultivate your strategy to fruition. What some parents appreciate is just the chance to contribute their suggestions and input toward the formulation of an effective youth ministry.

    A. A Dualistic Approach 品格與信心並重

        A reachable and desirable approach for youth ministry should be dualistic, emphasizing both character and faith development. Whereas character development is a spiritual grounding ministry emphasizing the consistent practice of spiritual disciplines, faith development is a college preparatory ministry that emphasizes on acquiring the knowledge and skill to defend one's faith and Christian conviction.

        Since the teenagers will be off to college in a few years, they must be helped to prepare for the hazards and temptations of college life. In addition, seniors should be taught how to select a church along with the importance of serving in and being held accountable spiritually by a local Bible believing church. Students should also be encouraged to attend retreats or conferences that will help them to defend their faith.

    B. A Bible-based Ministry 本於聖經教導

        We need to emphasize Bible studies where teenagers find relevant answers to problems in their lives. We should direct teens toward God and His Word for ultimate guidance. This emphasis should be reflected in all aspects of our youth ministry. In counseling, dependence upon the Word should be emphasized instead of on the advice and opinion of an individual counselor. In Bible studies, searching the Scriptures and training teens to draw biblical principles for application should be the overriding approach instead of lecturing or preaching. In mall group activities, teenagers should be held accountable in the faithful reading and application of God's Word.

        We must clarify upfront the priority of Christian values over cultural values. Chinese parents tend to place cultural values over Christian values. There is so much to appreciate about the Chinese culture. Yet when teenagers see their parents emphasize the relative values of Chinese culture more than the absolute values of the biblical principles, they become confused as to what is really important. Instead of being trained to think biblically these teens have been trained to think culturally. Unfortunately, this has a watering down effect on Christian values and thinking resulting in spiritually impotent Chinese Christian teenagers. Sometimes parents are not aware of this mind-set. Often they are unaware of the values that they are unconsciously holding. An example is when parents faithfully ask their teens about the completion of their homework and the practice of their musical instrument with little concern for their spiritual well being. Youth ministry workers must gently bring this to the attention of parents if Christian values are placed over culture. An effective youth ministry must emphasize the priority of biblical principles and Christian values over that of any opinion or cultural practice espoused by an individual.

III. The Practice of An Effective Youth Ministry 有效青少年事工的實踐

An effective youth ministry program should have the following elements: social activities that promote outreach, small groups that contribute to building relationships, relevant Bible studies that direct teens to depend on God's Word, teens who participate in the program to give them the opportunity to serve, and discipleship that seeks to train them to disciple others.

    A. Social Activities Conducive to Outreach 藉社區活動以接觸群眾

        A youth group can grow inward, stagnant, and down right boring when outreach is neglected. Excitement brews when the youth group grows. Part of the excitement is attributed to seeing new faces and getting to know new people. But the real excitement is felt when the regular attendees observe how God is working in bringing unbelievers to faith and causing young believers to grow spiritually. This serves as a catalyst for further spiritual growth for regular attendees. However, this is not to say that outreach will become the only stimulus for excitement and spiritual growth.

        Outreach to unbelievers only serves as a complementary stimulus for growth in addition to the emphasis on building a strong spiritual foundation for existing believers. However, if outreach is ineffective and de-emphasized then stagnation results, boredom sets in and a downward spiral towards spiritual malaise is felt both among counselors and teenagers.

    B. Small Groups that Contributes to Relationship Building 藉小組模式以建立關係

        An effective youth ministry must emphasize relationship building first and programming second. Too often youth workers have mistakenly placed programs ahead of relationships. Programs are only a means to an end but a caring relationship will reflect the emphasis that Christ had in his ministry. Organizing and planning are sought after responsibilities by youth counselors. We must guard the youth counselors from the temptation to want to plan and organize as opposed to spending quality time cultivating caring relationships among teenagers. A godly and caring relationship offered by a youth counselor best demonstrates the loving hand of God that is too often missed by homes that emphasize acceptance based on performance. Relationship that facilitates acceptance, warmth, empathy, and concern will be remembered more than any slick youth ministry program.

    C. Relevant Bible Studies that Promote God Dependency 適切研讀聖經以培養對神的信靠

        An effective youth ministry needs a relevant and biblically based approach to equipping teens. Too often a particular youth ministry is surrounded by and depended upon an individual or on a charismatic person. Such an emphasis can prove detrimental to the young person when the elevated youth counselor relocates or leaves that particular ministry. Surely it feels great when teens can hang on every word you say but there is a real danger when teens become spiritually dependent on a particular person.

        The goal of every effective youth ministry should emphasize cultivating a dependence upon God and teaching them the skills to walk with God and spiritually feed themselves. Focus should be given to elevating the relevance of God's Word in addressing common problems that young people face. Directing teens to rely solely on God and His Word for counsel, guidance, and wisdom, offers the best strategy for spiritually victory in the future.

    D. Teen Participation that Encourages Service 鼓勵青少年參予服事

        Chinese teenagers are extremely busy. They have tremendous academic pressures. They are highly encouraged to play a musical instrument or get involved in "culturally" accepted and academically reputable extra-curricular activities. Because of academic pressures, school activities, and the concerns of parents, student leadership can be given low priority in youth ministry. There will be plenty of opportunities in college to develop leadership skills. However, teenagers can have a limited leadership role in the youth group by leading songs and games. This allows them to serve the Lord and their fellow believers. Also, they can suggest where to go on monthly outings. Participation like these will enhance ownership of the group and build self confidence.

        Student leadership should never be elevated above the priority of spiritual life. Misplaced emphasis on student leadership tends to mislead young people to overestimate their spiritual condition. At this age and maturity level of teenagers an over emphasis on student leadership might promote an atmosphere of competition, misunderstanding, and a false estimation of one's spiritual condition. Thus, we should emphasize consistency in spiritual disciplines of the Christian life, not student leadership.

    E. Discipleship That Results in Multiplication 倍增門徒訓練

        Discipling others is our Lord‘s mandate for us. Youth counselors should work with faithful, available, and teachable students and train them with the intention of encouraging them to train and influence others to be more Christlike. This, no doubt, will take time to prepare. However, there are plenty of materials offered at Christian bookstores that can make this challenge more palatable for busy counselors. This is what ministry is all about -- making time to influence others for Christ and training them up to lead others as they progress in their spiritual pilgrimage.

IV. A Final Note: Enveloping Ministry Based on Biblical Operates

        Although the faithful application of the materials above can contribute toward building an effective youth ministry, nothing can take the place of prayer. Youth ministry is a spiritual ministry. Satan is always trying to render our ministries ineffective. One way to do this is by enticing us to neglect enveloping this ministry in prayer. All youth ministries belong to the Lord. Our effectiveness is a result of what the Lord is doing in and through us in answer to our faithful prayers and dependence upon Him. Prayer is the most important ingredient for an effective youth ministry. Without faithful prayers we might only operate out of the flesh and bear little fruit for the ministry. Jesus reminds us clearly in John 15:4, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."

Rev. Ed Lee （李景明牧師）is the English pastor of Dallas Chinese Bible Church and an experienced youth worker.