I have enjoyed reading Family-Based Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries. Before writing one of my book recommendations I am posting a three part summary of the book. The first part HERE dealt the need for family-based youth ministry. The second part HERE deals with what family-based youth ministry actually is. The third part below suggests 12 things (taken from the suggestions given at the end of each chapter) that you can practically do to make your youth ministry family-based.
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12 things to do to make your youth ministry family-based
- Begin by being faithful in providing a ministry to the students God has given to your church.
- Keep accurate lists of the teenager’s names and addresses, and check in on them if you haven’t seen them recently.
- Look for ways of getting teenagers to spend time with adults.
- Make participation in weekly corporate worship with the entire church family a priority.
- Get teenagers serving in a ministry alongside an adult in the church.
- Have a prayer partner programme which matches teenagers to Christian adults.
- Have a prayer meeting for youth ministry / provide prayer newsletters.
- Make sure the pastors get to know the young people.
- Visit parents of teenagers personally.
- Find ways to equip parents (e.g. parenting seminars).
- Involve parents in a volunteer capacity of youth ministry.
- Do at least one thing a year to communicate to parents that they have a supportive partner in the church family.
