Youth Are Either Leading or Leaving

• • 1. Youth Are Either Leading or Leaving What if… youth don’t leave? “I go to church because my church needs me!” Leadership takes on many shapes and forms. For youth it means opportunities that have meaning and purpose. It requires churches that value youth enough to intentionally equip, empower and allow youth to lead. Youth feel they are essential to the life and ministry of the church.
  • 2. Your New, “We Need You,” Plan What if… the words,“We need you!” are heard by every youth, active or not, at least twice a year?  “My church needs me.” Every youth – those seen regularly, occasionally, and those seldom seen – need to personally hear these words, “We need you,” ensuring a sense of valued partnership with your church.
  • 3. Assume Into Leadership What if… churches assume all youth are leadership partners? “Our adult leaders treat us as if we are one of them!” When adult leaders begin by believing their youth are vital partners in ministry, they see them differently. Youth are viewed as valued partners and the church as a place that equips, empowers, and allows youth to participate and to live ministry daily.
  • 4. Peer Ministry Leadership What if… youth were all trained in the PEER MINISTRY skills of caring, helping, and welcoming every neighbor? “I know I am a peer minister when I look into a person’s eyes while they are talking to me and I understand.” Youth learn relational people skills that underlie their leadership at church, as well as every relationship. It really is the Good Samaritan story, but instead of preaching and teaching it, repeatable, doable, and livable skills are learned.
  • 5. Youth-Led Youth Group What if… youth ministry evenings were led by youth? “Youth come because youth are leading. They are so accepting and welcoming of everyone.” Almost every element of your program has youth who are helping lead. Some, just for an evening, others are on a leadership team. Expanding and deepening youth ministry requires a team of youth and adults who model and mentor faith. Think of this group as if they were your own camp staff!
  • 6. Youth On Your Youth Staff  What if… youth ministry is led by a team that includes youth? “I get to be part of our Youth Staff at our church.” A single youth minister is relationally limited to a handful of youth. If you are the only leader, your ministry is likely smaller than it should be. Expanding and deepening youth ministry requires a core team of peer and adult leaders. These people are mentors who can each focus and care for a handful of youth. Think of this group as if they were your own camp staff!
  • 7. Culture Keepers What if… youth name important elements of their culture and share their own reasons for participating every time you meet? “We all live crazy busy lives. This is our place to ‘Come out of the traffic’ and de-stress. I come because I always feel listened to and appreciated for just being me.” Imagine the impact on participants as they hear other youth sharing the importance of various programs and how these programs shape their faith and life.
  • 8. The Spirit Nudge Question What if… we helped each other help others? “In our groups, we talk about Spirit nudges, things we have seen, heard or sensed this last week that concerned us. We talk about what we did or wish we would have done. We brainstorm with each other about what would be most helpful. People helpers! That is just who we are.” By asking and talking about Spirit nudges, your group becomes a ministry group. Your participants learn from each other how best to reflect God’s love.
  • 9. Worship Leaders What if… teens were leading in every worship? “I love helping during worship.” Involving youth in worship is less about a style and more about involvement and recognizing other youth who are leading. Youth need to hear their concerns in the prayers, their stories in sermons, as well as being allowed to participate in leading all the elements of worship. Youth sitting in worship see and hear their peers recognizing the church values them.
  • 10 WHEAT Cafe What if… youth hosted a WHEAT Cafe? “Our WHEAT Cafe is our way of getting to know all our younger youth.” Youth go all out, creating an atmosphere of hospitality as they prepare, invite, design, serve, and sit with younger youth, facilitating conversations that grow new connections.
  • 11 Confirmation As a Leadership Lab Of Love  What if…  we thought of confirmation as a learning lab for applying practical doable ways to live faith as love?  “I was surprised that much of my confirmation experience was about helping me to be a caring friend.” Learning faith leads to living a practical faith, one that helps participants apply loving every neighbor, loving God along with loving ourselves. A learning lab of faith brings head knowledge together with livable applications of the heart.
  • 12 Youth Leading Family Ministry  What if… young people become the teachers of family ministry? “I am asked to help demonstrate faith practices with families.” Youth teach and demonstrate various faith practices that can be repeated in households. When youth lead, everyone seems to listen. Consider family program gatherings and table demonstrations for families coming and going to worship.
  • 13 Burning Bush Conversations  What if…  church leaders had “burning bush” conversations that encourage youth to pursue professional ministry? “My pastor and youth minister invited me to lunch. They told me I would make a good church leader.” The church is in need of leadership. Learn to be the “burning bush” for youth. Be the voice that invites, affirms, and encourages. Naming gifts for young people will be one of the most influential things you will ever do.
  • 14 Youth as Mentors What if… youth are facilitated in caring conversations with other youth? “As an eighth grade girl it is so cool to have an older and wiser friend who I can talk to about anything.” Think of mentoring as connecting youth with other youth for conversations about faith and life. Such one-on-one conversations are remembered, affecting the faith and life of a young person far beyond most other educational methods.
  • 15 Sending Graduates What if… graduating seniors are prepared and “SENT” into their next ministry? “My church says I am an extension of their ministry no matter where I go.” Youth move on to colleges and on to other areas of life after graduation. Leadership ministry intentionally sends youth to new ministries, writing recommendation letters to campus ministers or other ministries that best fit each young person.
  • 16 Trip Hosts What if… every church outing had youth along as trip leaders? “I get to go on fun church outings to make sure everyone is welcome and included.” On any group adventure away from the church, at least two youth go for free! They lead a welcoming circle, including a short prayer, before the group leaves. They are attentive to relationships throughout the event, keeping their eyes and ears open for opportunities to converse, welcome, and affirm.
  • 17 Beyond Your Church What if… your church invested and sent youth to various leadership building opportunities? “My church sent me to a weeklong summer leadership program at our seminary.” There are a number of excellent leadership programs sponsored by colleges, seminaries, camps, and other places. Youth may attend with a small group or go by themselves. Take advantage of these. Get the youth there! Let others help grow their faith and leadership.
  • 18 Youth Leading Children’s Ministry What if… youth led much of the children’s ministry? “I come to church because I get to teach Sunday School.” Children’s ministry and youth ministry work hand in hand. Teenage youth work in Sunday school, vacation church school, and other children’s ministries. Children look up to these teenage youth as they model and mentor their faith.
  • 19 Youth And Social Justice What if…  youth helped change and make life better for marginalized and excluded people? “I feel I can make a difference in the world as my church helps me learn how to make life better for others.” Social justice is a term used talk about how we love and include every neighbor. Following Jesus’ examples means being aware of those who may be forgotten or pushed aside and improving the systems that may be preventing better living.
  • 20. Youth Leading Before School Groups What if… your youth led and learned faith where they live it? “I help lead a group before school starts every Friday.” Most schools allow for space and time to use their facilities. Before school meetings allow youth to begin the day talking about and practicing faith. Youth as faith leaders, on their most familiar turf, has a significant modeling influence for other youth.
  • 21. Let Youth Speak  What if… youth have multiple opportunities to speak, even preach? “At my church I often hear my peers give talks about their faith and life.” When youth share their stories, everyone listens. Consider opportunities to speak during church services, at youth events, for your confirmation, even in your own youth ministry times. Why not invite youth to share at your adult education?
  • 22 Working My Committee What if… youth lead by planning, organizing, advocating, policy making, and being change agents? “My church includes me in planning our Youth Ministry” Churches and various groups that support churches empower youth by giving them a voice. Not every youth enjoys or has the skills for this work. Those that do, those that learn these skills of leadership, often continue to be leaders in the church.
  • 23 Sing It, Ring It, Slam It, Jam It, Play It, Dance It, Act It, Draw It  What if… youth lead the church with artistic expressions? “My church invites me to share my talents.” Art expressions have led the church for centuries. Incorporating youth’s talents in traditional rituals, introducing them to ancient expressions, as well as adding new artistic forms that are most familiar to youth, tells young people that the church also belongs to them.
  • 24 Listening What if… youth are listened to? “My church asks to hear my thoughts and ideas.” If you want to improve your youth and church programs, listen to your youth. Listening to youth empowers, includes, and values them. We make youth into leaders when they are included in evaluating and planning our own programs

Lyle Griner, Peer Ministry Leadership Director. A writer, trainer, speaker and spiritual director, working across the country, with multiple denominations to expand and deepen their abilities for youth, young adults and, adults, to find purposeful ministry in caring for every neighbor by teaching relational skills that are doable, repeatable and livable. 

There are so many possibilities and ideas!  I would love to work with your network or even your church.  I am available to join you…

• Speak at your event or conference for Pastors or youth workers
• Consider including at your Synod, Diocesan or other Judiciary gatherings 
• Consult / Coach with your church in developing a youth ministry that includes all youth, active or not
• Meet or Zoom in with your network 
• Be a guest on your podcast 
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