Youth Ministry Ideas for today's Youth Pastor
Hello everybody, How are you feeling today?
First of all I would like to take this time to say thank you for stopping by and reading my Youth Ministry Ideas blog.
In this short blog, I am going to share some youth ministry ideas that I have been able to put into practice as a youth pastor.
These ideas are not something that I have gotten from a book or just made up, but these are proven youth ministry ideas that are guaranteed to take your youth ministry to another level.
In this blog I am going to share 3 ideas that have helped me throughout the years, as a youth pastor. Now I know that sometimes we like to depend on youth ministry games, ice-breakers and different things to attract crowds and I am not against those things, but this is not a blog about the best youth ministry games. These ideas are not going to just attract a crowd, but these ideas are guaranteed to help grow your young people and your youth ministry.
3 key ideas for the youth pastor
1. Have a vision
- It is very important as a youth pastor to have a vision of where you would like to take your youth ministry. The popular scripture in Proverbs 29:18 says “18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he..”
In order to lead the young people in my youth ministry, I need to know where I am going. That is why it is important to have a vision of where I would like to go.
There are a few things that having a vision will do for you:
- A vision will give you direction
- A vision will give you meaning
- A vision will give you purpose.
What is the reason that you gather with your young people on the day you have youth night. Is it to hang out? Is it to have fun? Is it because I have to go I am the youth pastor? Or is it because I have a vision of where I would like to see our youth ministry and our young people?
If you are a youth pastor today I encourage you to get a vision for your youth ministry.
2. Talents and Gifts
Encourage young people to use their talents and gifts for the honor and glory of Jesus.
The good thing is that all of us have been given at least one talent or gift that we can use for Jesus.
As a youth pastor I would really encourage you to challenge and motivate the young people to be faithful in using their talents and gifts for Jesus.
See that is another good thing about having a vision. Because now we can ask the young people that have gifts and talents in certain areas, to use those gifting s to help us move toward our vision.
In order to find our a young person's gifting or talents I usually ask them 2 questions.
- If you could do anything for God and knew you wouldn't fail what would you do?
- If you could do anything for God and money didn't stop you what would you do?
Usually the answer to these 2 questions will tell me a young person's gifting, passion and power spot.
It is very key to place young people in their power spots because that is where they are going to be the most effective.
If you would like more information of placing young people in the power spots I have a Free online class entitled “How to build a youth ministry with the team concept” that goes into more detail.
3. Keep Growing as a youth pastor
The challenge for every leader is to keep growing. The saying goes if the leader stops growing then so does the ministry. You may be thinking hummm where is this in my youth minister job description.
It is important as a youth leader or youth pastor to keep yourself up to date in youth ministry. Yes youth ministry games or good, ice-breakers are good, concerts, outreaches and so are crowd breakers , but there is nothing like having a youth pastor or youth leader who continues to grow in their capacity.
I want to encourage you as a youth pastor, youth leader or youth worker try to continue to grow in your capacity. The more we grow as leaders the more the people that we lead are able to grow.
Example: If my leadership is a 7 then I can lead 6's and under, but if my leadership is a 9 then I can lead 8's and under. I can't lead higher than my capacity as a leader.
Try to become a specialist in your area of ministry, then you will see phenomenal growth in yourself and your ministry.
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog: if you would like to get a hold of me, you can email me at pastordre@pastordre.com
