The Benefits of Youth Ministry to the Local Church
With our youth retreat this weekend, my mind went back to my own previous experience in youth ministry and all the benefits I received from my time serving students.
I was a youth pastor for four years. My wife and I remember that time very fondly. We met every week on Wednesdays. We got to organize games for them (including one that led to two boys each breaking an arm on the same night!), preach the Word to them, and meet up with them in various settings. We organized holiday parties, went to plays and graduations, and spent time just getting to know the students and their families. The parents were always there with an encouraging word and lots of prayer. Near the end of our time, more staff joined, and it was a joy to serve with an eager group of young adults who could run around with the students and provide the kind of care I was aging out of.
I learned so much about the church through serving in youth group. In fact, I would argue that youth ministry is perhaps the best place to see the church in a microcosm. Why? Because in youth group, you have. . . leaders, members, meetings where God’s word is taught, shepherding, evangelism, praise, prayer, and fellowship across generations.
So, here are some benefits of a youth ministry to the local church:
Youth ministry eases the transition from children’s to college ministry. It provides a safe, fun, and spiritual space for youth-aged students to “learn the ropes” of doing church as a burgeoning adult.
It gives students the opportunity to hear the God’s word in a way more tailored to them – to their needs, concerns, and makeup as middle to higher schoolers.
It gives students the opportunity to discuss the application of God’s word in a way that fits their life stage.
It’s an extension of the outreach of the church. Especially with churched students, it can be difficult to discern credible professions of faith. They know the right thing to say. Yet, over time, a student’s heart comes out as the staff has been sharing the gospel consistently in teaching and in conversation. Youth ministry then is serious great commission work.
It provides parents a place for other adult believers to model and speak the gospel to their children. So, the staff reinforce the shepherding that parents are already doing. Consider how this same dynamic happens with adults. With a married couple, for example, a wife should receive soul-care from her husband first and then from another sister in the church. That’s God’s intention for His church (e.g., “love one another”).
It provides opportunities for students to learn how to relate in kindness and love with those of different ages and temperaments. We know how hard that can be as older believers. Youth group is a good training ground for this.
It functions as a great incubator for pastors because it’s the church in microcosm. Interns and younger pastors can learn a lot about leadership by serving the youth.
Lastly, it helps parents “pre-release” their children to other believers before sending them off to college. Youth ministry serves as a transition for us parents as we progressively phase out of shepherding little children to “adults with training wheels.”
These are just some of the benefits of youth ministry. Students, parents, and the staff are all blessed in unique ways through youth group. So, please pray for our staff and the students, and encourage our staff for their service. And pray that this weekend’s retreat will prove fruitful in ways far beyond all that we ask or think (Eph 3:20)!