Implementation: Ministry To Children And Youth

written by Kristina Kettleton, Consultant - Children & Youth

For healthy churches of all sizes where all generations are growing in faith together.

When we think about how ministry to children, youth and young adults can or should look like, the most common picture is of a big, busy children’s church or a large, loud, fun youth ministry. These are the romanticised memories of the good old days, when whole communities went to church, or at least when parents would drop their children to Sunday School because they wanted their children to be taught and exhibit Christian values. For some of us, this was our experience of church when we were younger. For others of us, it is something we have never experienced, but have heard others reminisce, and long for our churches to be filled with young people just like they were. There can be deep grief and guilt associated with this as many feel as though we are failing parents, grandparents, and even our own children. 

This might even be your experience. If you feel like this, you are not alone. For most churches, a big, vibrant youth and children’s ministry is not their current experience, or even in their future reach.

The truth is that the goal should not be size, but instead health. In churches with a healthy ministry to children, youth and young adults, success is not measured by numbers or programs, but instead by a culture that values young people and chooses to minister to them in a variety of contexts. Contexts that extend beyond a Friday night youth group, or Sunday morning Kids Club, or even a Sunday night youth and young adults service.

In some ways, hearing this feels liberating for churches - to hear that young people can be discipled in ways that are achievable for smaller, older congregations can be freeing and empowering.

At City to City, when we engage with churches looking to strengthen their children’s and youth ministries, we take a whole church approach. We advocate for five foundational convictions that churches wanting a healthy ministry to young people need. We recognise that there is no ‘correct’ model, but when a foundation is build on discipleship, family, leadership, reaching out and when young people are seen to be contributing members of the body of Christ, there is a strong foundation. We work with the resources available to a church - what they already have, then look forward to imagine what could be.

This is a strengthening that does not provide programs as solutions, but instead engages with the unique context of each church to see how they can best minister to the young people in their context, while also reaching out to the young people and their families in the community. For some of them this ministry will be through an age-specific program, but it will not be the only focus. 

When we focus on health not numbers it means that a new or improved ministry to children or youth or young adults can start immediately, there doesn’t need to be a ‘critical mass’ of young people, or a large number of volunteers. It can start with equipping and supporting Christian parents to disciple their own children. It can start with one adult who wants to see young people discipled investing in one young person in a safe, intergenerational mentoring relationship. It can start with a serving team inviting a young person to serve alongside them as they use their gifts in music or hospitality, or it can start with one young Christian being empowered to invite their friend to church.

To be effective in this ministry churches need volunteers, not necessarily youth group leaders, but adults who are willing to invest in the discipleship of the younger members of their church. Investment in leaders always begins with safety (screening and training according to government and denomination guidelines and regulations), but continues with ongoing training, support and development.

A culture that values children, youth and young adults isn’t just good for the younger people in our church, in fact,  when we invest in the younger members of our church and our community, the whole church benefits - “stronger ministry to young people bulks up the ministry muscles of the entire congregation, and vice versa”.  

When we build on a strong foundation, there is no one correct way to minister to children or youth or young adults. When we think creatively and contextually there are endless opportunities.