In a few weeks, our Junior High and High School teams head to our annual “Staff Camp” for a couple days of big-picture planning and fun.
This year, we are going to spend some time brainstorming how to implement three goals I have for our youth ministry this year:
1) Collaboration between JH and HS
I realize our ministry is fairly unique in that we have completely separate teams, budgets etc. for JH and HS. The unintended consequence of this is there is a lot of redundancy, wasted effort, hidden talents etc. This year I am hoping our team members begin to see themselves as part of the WHOLE team who happen to focus on a certain age-group. We’ve made steps this direction, but I’d like to see us collaborate and benefit from one another even more.
2) Anchoring our students in basics of faith
Not sure how this will unfold, but I do know that just because teenagers are part of a bible-teaching youth group doesn’t mean they automatically become well grounded, or anchored, in the foundational truths of faith. I want 2013 to become the year we become more intentional in this area.
3) Equipping them to more confidently share Jesus
Our youth group does a great job of bringing their friends to church…but I’d like to see them equally excited/confident about the idea of bringing their friends to Jesus. Sure, church is a great place to meet Jesus, but I think our ministry has taken our foot off the gas pedal here. In the past, we have had a fairly strong emphasis on equipping our students to not only be “salt and light” but also a verbal witness. It’s time to regain some of that.
If you have insight into any of these three areas that you’d be willing to share….please do!
Kurt Johnston leads the student ministries team at Saddleback Church in Southern California. His ministry of choice, however, is junior high, where he spends approximately 83.4% of his time. Kurt is also the founder of www.simplyjuniorhigh.com, and he writes, speaks and looks for opportunities to encourage other youth workers. He likes to surf, ride dirtbikes and hang out in coffee shops. He is married to Rachel, and they have two teenage children, Kayla and Cole
Latest Tweet
Scott Rubin is the Director of Elevate, the junior high ministry of Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago. He's mostly a middle school pastor, but he also writes some, speaks some, and blogs some. He's the co-author of the book Middle School Ministry, and a few other titles too. He likes sports, summer, his wife Lynette, his 3 sons, and often wishes that Lake Michigan was actually an ocean.
