Reaching youth will mean establishing relational youth ministries

By Brian Hardesty

The teen years are wonderful, exciting, terrible! They’re also a time of intense spiritual need.

God cares about teenagers and hears their cries – in the misery of homework and divorce, in the joy of accomplishments and friendships. And God sends friends who can care-fully connect with teens.

God calls us into lifegiving ministries. And how do we connect with those youth? We have a plan!

Step 1. Go to the Word. Christians start with scripture because the Bible is the road map of God’s caring love. With your leadership team, study Exodus 3. Then discuss the following:

• How are teenagers like the suffering Israelites?

• Who is going to deliver them? (Don’t forget verse 8!)

• How did God reach out to those in need?

• Moses had questions about the assignment. What questions for God do you have?

• Who will be with you (verse 12)?

Now read Luke 19:1-10

• Was Zacchaeus an insider or an outsider?

•Why do you think Jesus reached out to him?

•How did Jesus connect with Zaccaeus?

•Whom did the son of Man come to seek out and save (verse 10)?

•How might all this apply to reaching out to teens?

Step 2. Pray. God told Moses how to reach out. Pray for guidance.

Step 3. Look and listen. We're looking for ways to connect with teens. We're listening for ideas. Listen to the youth - and parents, school officials, community leaders.

Real-Life Options
Here are some real-life ways to reach out to different kinds of youth:

1. Active Church Youth
Reaching youth will mean establishing relational youth ministries. Create ministries that will interest youth and foster their faith. And examples of such ministries?

•Youth Worship team

•Youth Choir

•Instrumental music ministries

•Clown ministry

•Drama ministry

•Youth Bible study

•Camps and retreats

•Sharing groups

•Visitation team

•Prayer ministry

•Missions events and trips

•Liturgical dance group

2. Inactive Church Youth
Try contacting this group by phone or mail. Often active youth in a congregation still have social contact with kids who have quit coming to church, so use that channel. Consider these options:

•”Second chance” party (try a kick-off time of year)

•Lost and Found, a 3-week Bible study of Luke 15

•Buddy system linking active and inactive kids

•Groups from the list above, tailored for inactive kids

3. Youth at School
School administrators welcome anything that will add to the lives of students. Expect guidelines and work with teachers and school leaders. One principal said to me during a lunch room visit, “We’re glad you’re here. You’re welcome to talk with the students. They need your positive influence.”

Is God calling you to connect with youth at school?

4. Teens Who Hang
Reaching out to these youth may involve new ministries. Just hang with them, relating one-to-one. Your team can be role models, listening ears, and guides to the abundant life found in relationship with Jesus Christ. You can affirm the values and ethics of the Christian life. Adolescents need to interact with adults who are not their parents. You can be one! Where?

•The mall

•Shops

•Mall parking lots

•bowling alley

•A rodeo

•Skating

•Sports events

•The beach or a lake

•Movie Theatres

•Convenience stores

•Eating places

•Arcades

•Where youth work

•A park

•Scouts, 4-H, FHA,

•Pool halls

•Rock concerts

•Night clubs

Pre-Teens
As the demands of life affect youth earlier and earlier, you have new opportunities for connecting with pre-teens:

•Tutoring

•Religious arts club

•Reading ministries

•Adventure trips

•Afterschool ministries

Kids Who Are Different
We often reach out to folks just like us. How can we connect with kids who are different? Try these approaches

•”Cross the tracks

•Check out “other parts” of town

•Contact 12-step programs like AlAnon (try the yellow pages)

•Consult with mental health professionals and social workers

•Call the local GED program

•Try local juvenile courts

So?
There are many ways to connect with youth. By studying Scripture, praying, and looking and listening, you can compile a list of real-life options for reaching teenagers with lifegiving ministries. Pick one; then carefully make it happen!

Brian Hardesty is a youth minister in Dallas, Texas

From Lifegivers, © 1997 by Abingdon Press. This material may be reproduced for educational purposes.

Brought to you by your youth ministry colleagues at Cokesbury.

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