This article is about youth ministry and the different types of events in youth ministry.

Source: New Horizons, 1985. 2 pages.

Youth Ministry Ideas: Muddle or Model?

My parents recently bought a tricycle for my little boy, Geoffrey. The words on the box it came in said, “easy assembly,” but I was surprised to learn that a tricycle had so many parts! It could have taken hours figuring out how to put together in right order bushing A, washer C and the axle endcap. One thing saved me: a picture. Besides instructions, the manufacturer had kindly included a model showing how all the parts fit together.

In the local church those of us who have responsibility for youth ministry want to have a sense of confidence that the various things we do fit together properly. One model has been particularly helpful for me. Unlike the tricycle, this model need not be followed slavishly to achieve a good result. Rather than dictating a program, it simply offers an evaluative tool. It provides a way of thinking about the various elements of our youth ministry in their relationships to each other.

The model is pictured here as an inverted pyramid. The different levels indicate the kind of student involvement you would like to see. The broadest level in the pyramid would be those events to which you wish every student would bring two or three friends. Examples of this might be a purely social event like a progressive dinner or a special evangelistic program using a Christian drama troupe. Any event that you would like to see as many students attend as possible would fit into this level of the pyramid.

The next level down would be those programmed events that you see speaking directly to the needs of your youth group. You might want to arrange a weekend retreat focusing on spiritual growth or a board game night followed by a message that you hope will promote group identity.

The value of the model may become apparent. As youth leaders and students plan events, they can ask themselves evaluative questions: What is the purpose of this event? Who are we addressing in the message or Bible study? How can we best prepare ourselves as a group for this type of event? How will we promote this event?

The next level of the model is extremely important. The Sunday school is foundational. Here students not only encounter biblical material but also acquire skills to analyze, interpret and apply God's life-giving Word. A youth group will often include students outside of the church family who will not be part of the Sunday school. The events that are further up in the model with broader appeal have as one of their purposes the opportunity to establish relationships. Through these relationships one goal would be to have each student participating at each of the levels of ministry.

Students often have specific questions that cannot be adequately addressed at the first three levels. For addressing special needs, doing leadership training or engaging in specific studies, small groups with a specific focus might be formed. Reading and discussing John Stott's Basic Christianity in six weeks would be an example of such a group.

Finally, at the bottom level of this model is individual contact with students. All of the above, in one sense, function to make these times together the most meaningful experience possible. Most youth leaders desire nothing more than to present Jesus Christ and his teachings in the context of a warm and open relationship with students. At this level the students' ministries with one another should not be overlooked; peer ministry is often the most powerful.

Again the value of the model is apparent. I can check up on my own ministry by asking some questions: How am I doing as far as systematically meeting with the individual students in our group? Am I aware of any needs that deserve the attention of a small group? Have I done anything special with our student leadership recently?

The model is only a tool. Outside of the model are a number of things like parent support groups for example. The model is not able to provide a goal for youth ministry; this must be found in the Scriptures. The model also is unable to take into account all of the personalities in our churches who are doing youth work. Therefore each youth program will have a character of its own.

The model can help by encouraging us to plan carefully and purposefully. It reminds us of the importance of developing relationships with students. Finally, it gives us one way in which to evaluate our youth program as we look ahead to a new school year.

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