YOUTH

MINISTRY
What it takes to start and build a
thriving youth ministry.

DM Arendse

All rights reserved David Arendse

TABLE OF
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 3
RESPONDING TO THE SOCIAL REALITY FACING YOUTH OF TODAY ............... 4
KEY NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE AGE GROUP ................................................. 9
Care: ...........................................................................................................................................................10
Compassion:..............................................................................................................................................11
Community: ..............................................................................................................................................12
Accountability: ..........................................................................................................................................12
Relevance: ..................................................................................................................................................13
Restoration: ...............................................................................................................................................14
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS........................................................................................... 15
Budget ........................................................................................................................................................15
Purpose ......................................................................................................................................................16
Leadership .................................................................................................................................................17
Community needs ....................................................................................................................................17
Strategy ......................................................................................................................................................18
CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................... 18
BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................ 20

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INTRODUCTION
There can be little doubt in any persons mind that interacts with young people
today that young people face, on a daily basis, a barrage of challenges. These
challenges define the reality that they find themselves growing up in, and often, if
left unchecked, will define the person as a whole for the rest of their lives.
Youth ministry is one of the most challenging ministries that anyone can find
themselves in. The challenges are ever growing as the world and context that we
find ourselves in continues to degrade the moral fibre of our society. The need for
a functioning, relevant, transformative and radical youth ministry has never before
been as great as it is in this very moment of human history.
This is not to degrade the needs of any other ministry, as all are as important and
needed to fulfil the workings of a functioning church. (Rom 12:4-5). But it is to raise
awareness of the needs of the generation that will ultimately inherit the church.
South Africa is a country that lives in denial with itself. On the surface we project
an image of a nation united, stable, and on the same path to prosperity for all. Yet
look a little deeper and you will begin to see the ever growing income gap, poverty
and uncertainty in the worst kind, and a nation that is unsure of its own identity.
In reality this image can be said for many youth ministries in churches around the
country and even the world. We like to think that what we are doing is actually
making an impact. That we are affecting change in the communities we work in,

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yet when we begin to look a little deeper. Beyond the glowing reports and
testimonies, we see an entire generation unsure of who they are and what their
role is supposed to be in society.
So what does this mean for the church as a whole? Before we can even table an
argument for what the church should be doing we need to explore what exactly is
going on in the lives of the next generation.

RESPONDING TO THE SOCIAL REALITY FACING YOUTH OF

TODAY
A church in South Africa is confronted with a very unique set of challenges. How
does it respond to them while staying true to the doctrines they follow? We all want
to be able to bring the light of Christ to the darkness around us, but how does a
person launch a youth ministry in a culture that seems to need so much more?
To begin with a youth ministry needs to identify a way for it to become relevant to
the young person down the street. So often youth ministries want to change the
world yet they fail to see the need in their own street. We are wonderful at planning
how to solve the issues of others yet we fail to see what needs to be done down
the road. Young people are craving acceptance, all that we see them do is an
outflowing of their deep seated need to be accepted. If as a youth ministry we are

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unable to give them that most basic need all the flashing lights in the world will be
wasted as they wont feel a need to attend.
Young people are constantly being pressured into heeding the ever persuasive
and loud call of the world, a call which simply traps them in a cycle of
disillusionment and pushes them to more and more destructive practices. It is a
path that seems so appealing yet ends in tragedy and heartache. The issue here
is that the church has been so afraid to confront this call, for many reasons ranging
from tradition to a lack of understanding, but be that as it may, we have before us
a scenario where the church has become irrelevant and instead the function that
it once played has been replaced with a culture of individualism.
Andy Stanley has said, and in many respects it is true;
As a leader it is your job to protect the missional integrity of the Jesus
gathering to which you have been called. It is your responsibility to see
to it that the church under your care continues as a gathering of people
in process; a place where the curious, the unconvinced, the sceptical,
the used-to-believe and the broken, as well as the committed, informed
and sold-out come together around Peter's declaration that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of the living God. (Stanley, A 2012:32)

We as people in ministry need to understand before anything else that our role is
to introduce people to God, guide them on their journey and support them as best
as possible.

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It is therefore the role of the church, and the youth ministry, to facilitate a space
where a young person can feel genuinely accepted. Where they do not have to be
afraid to be themselves because of the freedom that comes from salvation. Where
they can feel they belong no matter who they are or what they have done or still
do. As a ministry we need to become proud of what we offer and stop hiding from
the world. We need to be passionate and loud in what we do.
A worrying trend in local churches is that we are unsure of our response to the
crises of the world around us, we fear that our theological understandings are no
longer relevant. However that is not the case, instead it is our understanding of the
world itself that has become irrelevant. Root explains that;
The understanding that theology itself is contextual has gained great
momentum in the past few decades. Some argue that theology is
always responding to issues within a context, but theology is also done
in a place, which means its perspectives are always laced with
contextual situations. (Root, A. 2011:91)

It is not a lack of Biblical instruction it is a lack of understanding on the part of those

in ministry. When was the last time you had a coffee with a person who is not in
your youth ministry? Or asked them to take you to their favourite weekend spot?
Would they even trust you enough to take you there?
It is not our role to give consent for the behaviour of those in our care, but it is our
responsibility to know them, to gain their trust, and to show them though our lives

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and acceptance of them however they may be, that there is another way. This is
not to try and overcome the noise of the world but instead to become a voice that
can be heard in it. In my limited experience I have seen many things. The biggest
of them has been the success of a strategy such as this. Young people do many
things and behave strangely, however for so long we have simply tried to confront
issues that come up and stare us in the face. The problem with such an approach
is that it is simply the lazy approach and fails to identify the real issue, the deep
seated problem faced within society; a lack of a sense of belonging, a lack of
purpose and a lack of direction in the lives of our young people. (Part from Lerner,
M. 637:2009)
Why arent we targeting the head boys/girls of our high schools? Or the captains
of the major sporting teams? Is it because we are so afraid that they wont listen
to us? Instead we run after those that seem like softer targets. Perhaps we as
youth ministries need to force our way into the lives of our schools instead of asking
those that arent leaders to lead change in their schools.
The problem is big, and will not be solved overnight. However from where I am
standing there can be little doubt that as a youth ministry, throughout South Africa,
we have failed to remain relevant and as a result what we are seeing is a growing
culture that no longer feels the need to be a part of a church or a community of
believers.

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These people are also referred to as teenagers. In many respects this age group
is very difficult to influence, but at the same time, failure to do so, will more than
likely result in a person never coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus as Lord and
Saviour.
These years are when a young person moulds their beliefs, understands their
world view, and develops their own opinions on matters. This is true right across
the board, black, white, male female, it does not matter. Young people, especially
those in this age group, will often make the decision as whether or not they wish
to be Christian during this phase.
As this group of people inevitably will become the guardians of the church in the
future, it is safe to say that the very future of the church rests in the hands of those
that seek to reach the lost in this age group, and we need to be intentional about
doing so with a view of educating our youth so as to empower them to become the
guardians we wish them to be.
People who are in this age group are often described as; difficult, opinionated,
stubborn, impulsive, care-free, reckless and adventurous, the list can go on
forever. They are, especially in the modern era, heavily influenced by the media,
this includes music, television shows, movies as well as Hollywood as a whole.
(SABC. 2009)

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KEY NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE AGE GROUP

With the above in mind, it is important to unpack the key needs are of those within
this age group. It is clear from the outset that the greatest need within this group
is the need to belong, to have community, and to be seen and noticed. It is a very
image driven age group, and as such their key needs reflect this. The points below
show a simple strategy that if implemented can confront almost every need of a
young person today. This isnt the surface level obvious needs, but instead the
needs that confront their very identities.
A recent study which has been conducted by a national newspaper in South Africa,
The Mail and Guardian, titled; what is the biggest issue facing young people today?
Found that the greatest issue facing young people today is the effects of negative
stereotyping. (The Guardian: 2009)
There is a desperate need for Christ and as a church it is our responsibility to find
a way in which to engage with this generation. The media as a whole, as well as
the rest of the world, have recognised the importance and significance of this age
group, which is why they drive everything at them. As a church it is imperative that
we do not lose them in the face of heavy competition.
As much as this ministry is of great importance and significance, one can often be
caught up the action and doing of the ministry. We need to at all-time hold onto
what the vital principles are for this ministry.

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Despite their sizeable presence, youth are a surprisingly underserved

and under engaged demographic. Young people increasingly face
challenges that are universal- few opportunities to contribute to their
communitys development, rising unemployment rates, difficulty in
accessing education, mounting health concerns and the degradation of
their environments. (YCI: 2009)

Care:
Young people, especially in this generation, are in desperate need to be cared for.
It would seem that in the business of the world that we find ourselves in, we have
forgotten how to connect with each other in a meaningful, compassionate way.
Youth work is full of ethical tensions and dilemmas. As one of the
occupations working within the welfare system it shares with social
work, nursing and medicine the classic dilemmas between respecting
individual choice and promoting the public good; and between
empowering and controlling. (Banks, 1999:29)

As youth pastors it is imperative that we care for all those that are within our
ministries. Young people desperately need to be cared for, to be shown that they
matter, and to be made to feel that they are needed. These are key human needs,
however with young people the need is compounded.

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Compassion:
Young people go through more in their lives than most adults will experience in
their entire adult life. They are confronted with questions that impact their very own
identity. It is clear that those responsible for working with young people understand
where their young people are at, what they are being confronted with, what life
really is like for them, what they are constantly exposed to and the type of people
they are interacting with.
One strand of evidence to support the view that family background is linked to
difficulties in independent living is the high risk of homelessness being brought
up by a lone parent also increases the risk of experiencing social problems
(Harding, 2004: 124)
Our society has forgotten the youth, and as such, this generation is at a very real
risk of fulfilling the idea of a lost generation.
With that in mind we need to be showing compassion to them, this means that we
see where they are and meet them where they are, not where we expect them to
be.

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Community:
There is no doubt that people have a massive desire to belong. It is so strong that
it can impact who a person actually is and who they believe they need to be. The
sense of belonging can ultimately drive a person in the direction off their life. For
young people that desire is made even stronger in the sense that often they
themselves are not even sure who they are yet. It is for this reason that youth
programs have to make space to create a sense of community and belonging. This
is not a dream world or made up desire to be friendly, but an intentional,
constructive and genuine drive to make people feel welcome and accepted. To
give young people a place where they will want to come back to, not because the
program is amazing but because they feel a deep connection to the people that
are around them.

Accountability:
This is often an aspect that people dont like to think about or put into practice.
However without there can never be a functioning ministry. Young people are
exposed to things that even I, as a young person myself, could never ever imagine
being faced with at the age that young people are exposed to in this modern age.
It is therefore imperative that a culture of accountability is introduced at all levels
of ministry, not to enforce a set of rules and regulations, but to help young people

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face all that they are exposed to knowing that there is a support system behind
them, helping them and walking with them through these important developmental
years.

Relevance:
Something that all too often is not followed, yet without it your ministry will always
be a lame and boring place, compounding the stereotype that church is a place
where old people go.
Reaction is more of an attitude. It is always negative. It is a knee-jerk
response that rejects culture simply because it is culture. Reaction takes
place before and kind of explanation can be given. Reaction is given
without much thought and is based more on emotional preference.
(Vukich, 2002:64)

If we want young people, in this generation to be attending church, we need to get

off our proverbial high horses and meet them where they are at. This does not
mean that we water down the Gospel, or lose our fundamental beliefs and
practices, but instead that we discover what excites this generation, how do they
communicate, what they actually want in terms of what they look for from the
places they attend for social outings.
Young people need to be made to feel they are special and important, and what
better way to do that than to discover where they are and take your ministry to a

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place that meets them where they are, instead of always expecting them to meet
you where you are at, and then wondering why young people are never excited to
be there.

Restoration:
Finally, but by no means least important, is the need for restoration. So often in
our pursuit of being relevant or providing all of the above, we seem to lose sight of
what it is we are truly meant to be doing, and that is to bring about restoration
among young people.
The ever-growing moral void is manifest in behaviour in every corner of our
society. Our schools have been especially hard-hit by the rise of postmodern
amorality. (Muellar, 2006:138)
As youth pastors that is what it is all about, yes all of the above are needs and they
need to be met, however if we forget who we are and what we are here to do, we
lose the soul of our ministry, and instead run the risk of becoming a social club with
no depth and real growth.

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PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
Having unpacked the core needs of a young person the next step is to unpack how
one implements and initiates a new ministry to them. There are a couple of
practical implications that need to be looked at before launching a new ministry.
Some are theoretical in nature while others are practical, yet all are as important
and integral to the successful implementation of a new ministry. Yet if we are to
ever hope to implement a ministry that is able to provide for the needs of young
people we need to observe a few practical implications that would affect any
proposed ministry launch.

Budget
Before launching anything new the most important thing to look into is the financial
standing of the entity that will be asked to fund the ministry. It is pointless to attempt
to start something that will become unsustainable and place an unnecessary risk
on the greater church as a whole. As a result before attempting to start anything a
complete vision, calendar and accompanying proposed budget must be completed
and then worked through with the financial team of the church. It is better to start
smaller than you think and build sustainable momentum than try to over extend
yourself and end up losing momentum as you lose the ability to sustain the hype.
Budgeting is a vital aspect to any ministry and without the correct due diligence no

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ministry can ever hope to get off the ground or become sustainable and grow.
(Banks 1999:49)

Purpose
The next question that must be asked is why is the ministry being started? There
can be little doubt that in South Africa there is a very real need for transformation
to happen in the lives of our people. However not every church is called to work
among young people or to have massive youth programs. Instead of attempting to
replicate the church down the road local churches need to be aware of their
purpose in the community. While some may flourish in certain areas others flourish
in different spheres. (Harding 2004:76)
As a person wanting to launch a new ministry, or a youth ministry in particular one
needs to observe the mission and vision of the local church they wish to work with.
If that church or the leadership dont have a mandate to work among young people
the job of the youth leader will instantly become that much more difficult. However
if they feel that they are called to start something regardless that cannot be
discounted. It is possible for a church to be called to focus on certain areas in
certain seasons of that churches life and one needs to be aware of where the
church is and whether or not launching a youth ministry in the church would be the
best thing for the church as a whole.

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Leadership
So often people launch ministries without the support of a close knit leadership
team. It is vital that before running with a ministry that the leader surrounds
himself/herself with a team of people they trust and who can support them in their
mission. (McGrady 2006:92) This team helps to run the actual ministry but also
serves to hold the leader accountable. Leaders hit burn out when they attempt to
do too much in their own strength. Part of not doing it in your own strength is
allowing others to lead with you. As a result identify a few people early on who you
can bring alongside you in order to help grow the ministry.

Community needs
Youth leaders are guilty of following trends. Whether we want to admit it or not we
are easily swayed by what has worked with others. As a result we sacrifice
community engagement for blind replication. Who decided that youth on a Friday
night is the perfect time? No one knows the answer yet every youth seems to be
obsessed with the idea of holding Friday night programs. Instead of simply
replicating what others are doing, a leader needs to engage with the community
they wish to impact. Perhaps the idea of a Friday night program is not appealing
instead a Saturday afternoon is? Observe and find out what the needs of the

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community are and attempt to meet them through the strategy you undertake. Just
because it has worked in Sydney, Australia does not automatically mean it will
work in Alexandria, Johannesburg.

Strategy
It cannot be stressed enough that in order to launch a successful ministry a solid,
sound and well thought out strategy must be undertaken. Without a guiding
document the ministry will run out of steam as it thunders along. No leader can
carry the ministry themselves and as such developing a sound plan helps to keep
everything in check. Young leaders are often found guilty of running blindly into
things only to see them die out before moving to the next thing. Sustainability is
about planning; one cannot plan too much. Develop a strategy that can
complement your vision. (Muellar 2006:58, Fields 2002:64)

CONCLUSION
Ministering to youth is incredibly challenging, yet even more rewarding. We cannot
even begin to imagine the impact we are having on this generation through the
faithful work that we are doing. However one can never lose sight on the why and
the how of what we do what we do.

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One of the critical issues facing Christian Churches today is that of maintaining
the allegiance of youth. (McGrady. 2006:34)
This age group is ever changing and evolving, and if we do not adapt and remain
relevant to them in the way that we reach out to them, we risk the very survival of
the churches we come from.
Implementing a successful youth ministry program requires hard work,
perseverance and sound strategy. When you are able to create an environment
where those three things work in harmony while holding onto the calling to create
disciples you will begin to see solid and sustainable growth in your ministry and
ministries going forward.
Everyone will have a different approach, and each will put in place lesson learnt in
a different way, however what is important to remember, is that whatever we do,
as Youth Pastors, we must be doing it from a desire to bring restoration and
transformation within the lives of those within our ministry.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
A.U.

2014.

South Africa | Economic Indicators. [Online]

Available. http://www.tradingeconomics.com/south-africa/indicators
Banks, S.

1999.

Ethical Issues in Youth Work. Routledge: New York

Dwyer, P.

2001.

Youth, Education and Risk: Facing the Future.

Routledge Falmer: London.

Fields, D.

2002.

Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry:

Personal and Practical Guide to Starting Right. Grand Rapids: Zondervan

Glenn, M.

2009.

In Real Time: Authentic Young Adult Ministry as it

Happens. Broadman & Holman.

Harding, J.

2004.

Making it Work: The keys to success for young

people living independently. The Policy Press: Great Britain

Lerner, M.

2009.

Handbook

of

Adolescent

Psychology:

Third

edition. John Wiley & Sons: New Jearsey.

McGrady, A. 2006.

International Handbook of the Religious, Moral and

Spiritual Dimensions in Education. Springer: The Netherlands

Muellar, W. 2006.

Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture: Bridging Teen

Worldviews and Christian Truth. InterVarsity Press: Illinois

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Root, A.

2011.

The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry. InterVarsity:

SABC, et al. 2011.

Key issues affecting the Youth of South Africa

IL

today.

[Online]

Available.

http://www.sabc.co.za/news/f1/baac7b0047fe3e60907bd103564fc271/Keyissues-affecting-the-Youth-of-South-Africa-today-20110817
Stanley, A.

2012.

Deep & Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched

People Love to Attend.

The Guardian. 2009.

What is the biggest issue facing young people

today?

[Online]

Available.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/poll/2009/apr/15/young-people-poll.
Vukich, L.

2002.

Timeless

Youth

Ministry:

Handbook

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successfully reaching todays youth. Zondervan Publishing; New York

YCI.

2009.

Our Approach to Youth Development. [Online]

Available. http://www.yci.org/html/what/

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