YM Principles « brianford.org

YM Principles

I began serving as the Youth Director at Bible Church International in NJ ten years ago. In 2002 my wife Kim and I joined the ministry of Interim Youth Ministries, Inc. I love God’s Word and have a passion to reach teenagers with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

After living a life of rebellion, running from the truth, and roaming the streets of Newark, NJ. I put my faith in Christ as a result of one man taking the time to share the “clear” message of the Gospel. Since that moment my hearts desire has been to grow closer each day in my relationship with Jesus Christ and serve God in youth ministry. Sharing the Gospel with teenagers across America and equipping them to know, live, share and own their faith.

My Youth Ministry Principles
Youth ministry today must and needs to be a team effort. Made up of the youth pastor/director, dedicated youth workers, parents, and the local church staff in order to meet the multiple needs of teenagers. Evangelsim and Discipleship needs to be the center of the youth ministry (Matthew 28:19-20) with the youth pastor/director being the model by a Christ-like lifestyle. The Youth Pastor/Director demonstrates, with hard work, how to live the obedient Christian life. A youth pastor/director cannot bring a youth ministry a pre-packaged box or latest “fad driven” curriculum and plug it into a church and watch true ministry take place. The most effective youth ministries in American churches are those in which the youth minister and youth leadership spend hours on their knees seeking God’s plan for the local church.

The youth leadership works as a team to bring together their input and ideas in the planning process. Youth, parents and adult youth workers feel a partnership to the youth ministry by being a vital part of the planning process. By using this process the youth, parents, and adult youth workers have ownership to the youth ministry.

Youth Ministry is not a separate entity from the rest of the church. Recreational events and other activities fit into each of the church’s programs. There is a purpose in every event sponsored by the youth group. That purpose may be to introduce new teens to the church’s youth and adults. An outreach event is designed to provide a non-threatening atmosphere for the non-Christian young person, (e.g.. a trip to an amusement park, beach). A retreat may be designed to challenge a regular church member to step into a deeper walk with Christ. This is called a discipleship event.

When we seek God’s plans through prayer for our youth ministry, God Himself will provide the resources. This means the local church should be willing and open to trying something outside of the traditional method. The gospel of Jesus Christ will never change, but the methods used to convey that gospel must change with new generations and different cultures. We must be culturally relevant.

If anything spiritual happens in a youth group, it will be because the Holy Spirit makes it happen. Youth Pastors/Directors and adult youth workers can never forget they are servants of the Almighty God. Servants work hard for their masters glory and not for their own personal gain. According to many youth ministry experts, who have been in youth ministry for 20 years or more, youth ministry is harder today than ever before. (These words were said in many different way during a four day Youth Ministry Conference September 30 - October 3, 1991 held in Arlington, TX. The conference was sponsored by Dawson McAllister and Shepherd Ministry.) Which means those who work with teenagers must work harder than ever before to win them to Christ and disciple them to win others to Christ.

**The above has come from years of successes and failures, the wisdom of youth ministry veterans across the country, and most importantly God’s Word.**

photo by Kaleena Lyles