Effective Youth Ministry

By Doug Franklin November 25, 2009

The size of a church has nothing to do with the quality of its youth ministry. In fact some of the worst youth ministries I have seen have been in America’s top ten largest churches. So what are the key factors that lead to healthy youth ministries? This is not scientific but it’s what I have seen over the past 25 years in youth ministry.

1. Spiritual focused adult volunteers
When youth groups have adults who want to build spiritually significant relationship with students, transformation happens. At the end of the day this is the point of youth ministry.

2. Partnership with parents
Youth ministry is at its best when it supports parents as the primary faith influences in students’ lives. I know this is harder and harder as families crumble but we must pursue partnership with parents no matter their spiritual situation.

3. Student leadership
I believe youth ministry is at its best when students are leading it. Youth workers need to get over themselves; it’s not about you it’s about your students reaching their world.