When a youth ministry has a healthy structure, the youth pastor’s main role is casting vision and developing adult volunteers. This is contrary to some youth ministries where the adults help the youth pastor reach out to the students. This misconception on how youth ministry works creates a sandwich effect. The students and the adults are the bread and the youth pastor is the meat, who usually is spread too thin. We all know a great youth pastor can only minister and mentor 3-5 students at a time. When we ask him/her to reach all the students the tasks becomes impossible. A healthy youth ministry looks like this:
Youth pastor/worker sets the vision and direction of the ministry. Their main focus is developing adult volunteers by giving them coaching and training.
Adult volunteers reach out to students; they fill a role according to their passions and strengths. They may serve the students through a logistic role, disciple through a small group, or mentor one student. They are the hands and feet of the ministry.
Students discover God. The main core focus for students is growing a healthy relationship with the Savior. We want them to discover who He is and how much He loves them. We want them to discover the unique plan and mission He has for them.
When we align our ministry to this model good things will happen.
