the Reconciling Ministries Network Since 1992 |
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the Reconciling Ministries Network Since 1992 |
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Definition: Youth ministry is a mission to help the youth grow into healthy, happy, mature adults. It is a collective effort on the part of parents, youth, pastors, the congregation, and the youth-adult council to participate in the personal growth of the community. This growth manifests itself in joy, self-confidence, love, respect, trust, and mutual encouragement. These are the qualities that help youth overcome the strains of adolescence, and find their uniqueness as adults.
Model: The means of facilitating this growth is relational. Youth will be contacted regularly by the council, other youth, and the pastor and youth director to demonstrate a love and concern for the youth. The youth of the community are diverse, but their struggle for acceptance, independence, and growth unify them. In a relational youth model, we hope to enter the phenomenological world of the youth and make our assistance readily available.
Program: With the thrust of youth ministry is relational, we will provide programming to help youth stretch toward personal maturity. The programming can be divided into the following three interrelated prongs:
1. Spiritual growth - Youth will be introduced to the beliefs and values of many world religions, with comparisons between those religions and a mature Christian faith. The youth will be challenged to understand in what ways religion can be relevant and helpful to their own lives, as well as those of others.
2. Psychological growth - Youth will be asked to engage with their emotions and relationships and attempt to understand them. Loneliness, friendship, frustration, trust, stress, etc. will be examined. In this exploration of themselves, they will gain an awareness of their commonality with their peers and elders and gain self-confidence.
3. Ethical investigation - Youth will engage the world through problem solving and service. They will examine the issues of hunger, abortion, euthanasia, weapons of mass destruction, etc., and render personal judgments. Youth will also participate in service to the hungry, sick, elderly, SPCA, etc. to heighten their sensitivity to humanity and the suffering in the universe.
Activities: - The particulars of the prongs include cooperative trust games, adventure courses, service projects, discussions, group affirmations, retreats, worship involvement, and more.
Requirements
1. Hold biweekly youth group meetings, as well as service and recreational activities as often as is practical.
2. Communicate to parents and youth through Update and Newsletter as well as YAC attendance.
3. Develop Youth Adult Council (YAC) consisting of all interested parties including the youth director, youth, parents, volunteers, and other members of the community.
4. Use and/or write appropriate curricula.
5. Participate in fund raising.
6. Encourage youth to be involved in worship as ushers, singers, direction-callers, etc. or to work with Children's Ministry.
7. Communicate with pastors, leaders and church community at retreats, meetings, etc.
8. Active involvement in the life of Trinity through community events, service activities, etc.