5 Things: Here Are Some Characteristics of Church Ministries That Help Young People Go On For God

So, what type of youth ministry helps its high school graduates transition into the overal life of the church - and what kind of church builds its various ministries harmoniously around a consistent philosophy? It is a powerful thing when the youth ministry, adult ministries, and parents and families are all on the same page. We must not forget that God instituted two distinct institutions – the family and the church. (By the way, there are some excellent books available that tout this same premise such as Think Orange by Reggie Joiner; Together by Jeff Baxter, and Family-Based Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries.)

I am absolutely convinced that a church’s ministry philosophy must be consistently applied and implemented throughout its’ structure and programming for all age groups. Of course, your children’s ministry will look differently than your ministry to teenagers and other generations. The various age groups have different needs, different methods of learning, and will be at varying levels of maturity. However, the philosophy and direction of ministry should be the same. The purpose or objective should be the same. All ministries must be focused on developing genuine and lasting spiritual maturity (Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:11-16, and 2 Timothy 3:10-17.) We are all trying to produce people who live for God and who go on growing in Him throughout their lives.

Here are 5 suggested ingredients that all churches should endeavor to include then within the fabric of their total program for all age groups.

1. Life-Related Bible Teaching – James 1:22 “…prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers…”

Youth ministry has long led the way on incorporating the Bible into its structure. Youth ministry has taught us all about the importance of daily devotions, Scripture memory, and preaching via the ubiquitous “youth rally.” But, one of the most important aspects of youth ministry has been its emphasis on implementing Biblical truth into life. Youth workers understand that the ultimate test of Bible teaching is not a one-hour lecture on Sunday mornings. It’s living out your faith 24-7, all week long. That’s something the church as a whole must learn – from the Sunday morning worship services to the adult Bible fellowship classes. High school students who have experienced the value of life-related Bible teaching while they were in high school would be much more likely to successfully transition into adult ministries if the church as a whole was set up to do that as well. This fact should be a clear mandate for all church leaders to make sure the Bible is indeed taught this way throughout every ministry of their churches.

2. Strong Inter-Generational Connections – 1 Thessalonians 2:8 “Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.”

It is imperative for churches to be intentional about developing positive, growing, and Godly inter-generational relationships. (That’s why I am such a fan of church-based mentoring. There are several posts on this subject on my blog below.) Older people need to see and sense the life, energy, and enthusiasm of youth; and younger generations need to learn from the wisdom, maturity, and life-experiences of older people. This mutual sharing and the life connections generated by it are what the church is all about. I really believe that high school graduates and young adults are much more likely to stay active in church if they have developed healthy and growing relationships with significant older adults. Young people are prone to walk away if their only true relationships in the church are with people their own age.

3. Parental Consistency – 2 Timothy 1:5 “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure it is in you as well.”

Remember high school algebra? If A = B and B = C, then A = C. In mathematics there are specific formulas with guaranteed, definite results. However, we all understand that the process of raising children does not come with pre-packaged, pre-arranged formulas. It’s not that easy. In fact, parenting is one of the most difficult, yet most rewarding adventures in life. It is through parenting that one generation passes along the priorities of faith, belief, customs, traditions, and even life itself. Parents are the ones who normally develop the habit of church attendance and involvement into the lives of their family members. Parents are the ones who can make participation in church youth group a top priority – even higher in importance than school work, activities, jobs, sports, or other involvements. If church (and faithfully living for God for that matter) is a top priority for parents and if they are consistent in demonstrating that priority to their children, it is much more likely that the kids will grow up seeing church involvement as important for their lives as well. It’s a manner of being genuine and being faithful over the long haul.

Churches and parents working in tandem will be a potent force in the lives of today’s Christian young people. As I mentioned briefly above, God developed two institutions – the family and the church. Wise parents and church leaders must work together with the common goal of seeing young people go on for God as they transition from infancy, through adolescence, and on into adulthood.

4. Local Church Involvement – Ephesians 4:11-16 “…held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part…”

It is important to remember that we are developing a ministry, not a program. Communities and man-made organizations can develop programs; but true ministry finds its’ foundation within the local church. It is imperative for “big church” and youth ministry to work together to make the church as a whole a place where everyone can be involved, not just attend. That’s the picture found in passages like Ephesians 4:11-16. Therefore, getting students involved must be a significant ingredient of overall church life. It should be the expected norm for most (if not all) church ministries to include an intentional, inter-generational mentoring aspect where older, established members train and develop younger members. Also, youth workers must begin to teach and train young people to serve the Lord in and through the local church, to give financially to the church, and to actively participate in church-wide endeavors such as preaching, discipleship, fellowship, outreach, and worship. We must remember that we are involved in one church – not various age-group churches meeting separately in the same building.

5. Welcoming & Accepting Body – 2 Timothy 3:14-15 “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings…”

There’s a final ingredient which also must be addressed, and that is the important of making intentional and purposeful transitions between the various generational ministries of the church. Children, adolescents, and adults are uniquely different generations and therefore require unique and distinctive peer-based approaches to ministry. I believe in the generational advantages of age-based children’s ministry, youth ministry, and adult ministry. But, let’s face it; most churches are notoriously weak at helping people transition between the various ministry age groups. Youth workers should help pre-teens transition into youth ministry, and the church must help graduating high school seniors and maturing young adults transition into the overall life of the church. Too many times, we kick graduating high schoolers out of youth group without helping them transition into the church’s adult ministries. Again I’ll refer to researcher Chap Clark who says that a teenager needs strong relationships with 6 adults in the church (other than parents) in order to keep going to church once they graduate from high school. Churches should work hard to develop an accepting and welcoming environment in their adult ministries that actually encourages young people to actively participate in the life of the church.

Maybe I’m being somewhat idealistic here, but I believe this can happen. I believe that various church ministries must be on the same page, with the same objective – to see our maturing and growing young people grow up and go on for God! I really believe that if “big church” was organized purposefully to include the very best aspects of youth ministry and if churches developed a harmonious and unified philosophy of ministry throughout the various age groups, our young people would be much more likely to remain actively involved in church as teenagers and beyond their adolescent years long into adulthood.