| Youth ministry can be an overwhelming job. It is a | | | | seek God during their daily lives. |
| thankless job that involves sacrifice, effort, time, | | | | Equip youth to minister the Word of God to others. |
| attention and love. It is in fact a labor of love. Building a | | | | Hold corporate prayer meetings, encourage them to |
| successful youth group requires many things, but most | | | | lead classes in youth church and place them in |
| of all prayer. Your priorities must first be straight | | | | positions of leadership within the youth ministry. Send |
| before you do anything. A ministry is better if it is | | | | the kids into active ministry. No, they may not be able |
| blessed than stressed. Nothing that youth pastors do | | | | to go into full time ministry, but they can create prayer |
| that is self motivated will succeed the way that | | | | groups at school, street ministry teams and conduct |
| something will that is planned and ordained by the Lord. | | | | special outreaches. |
| As for building a lasting and effective youth ministry, | | | | One of the biggest mistakes that youth pastors make |
| the principles are simple: Connect, unite, develop, equip, | | | | is investing their money and resources into ministry. |
| send. Those five steps will turn every youth into a | | | | Though this seems innocent enough, any youth ministry |
| minister of the gospel. | | | | can thrive with little to no money at all. Instead, invest |
| Connect with youth by listening to their problems, | | | | your kids into your resources. They are your greatest |
| preaching relevant messages, hanging out with them | | | | tool for ministry. Youth do not need a babysitter. They |
| when you don't have to and praying for them. Once | | | | need somebody that believes in them and will push |
| they are connected with both their youth pastor, they | | | | them to be all they have been called to be. |
| are more likely to return week after week. | | | | Even the top youth pastors in the country know that a |
| Unite kids with each other to create a support system. | | | | youth ministry will follow its leader, and that leader |
| Dissipate cliques in favor of group gatherings such as | | | | needs good training. That leader needs to absorb |
| lock-ins, retreats and hang out nights. Develop the kids | | | | himself in good books and surround himself with people |
| with discipleship tools for spiritual growth. Teach them | | | | who love teenagers. There are several good books |
| the foundational principles of the Bible and encourage | | | | and resources that effectively ignite passion within the |
| them to not only come to church to be filled, but to | | | | hearts of youth pastors. |