1. Youth Ministry Events
as Faith Formation
Part One

2. Exemplary Youth Ministry Study
44 assets - Divided into 4 categories:
1. Congregation as a whole
2. Direct ministry with young people
3. Family/household in which young people live
4. Leadership
Event Ministry falls into the category of Direct Ministry
with Young People.

3. What is Event Ministry?
Event Ministry happens when:
we gather young people together in community
for the purpose of growing their faith
and building up the body of Christ.
Event Ministry takes many varied forms.

4. When Event Ministry is done
well..
There is a:
1. Sense of the presence and activity of a living God
2. Emphasis on spiritual growth, discipleship, and vocation.
And the events:
3. Promote outreach and mission
4. Reflect congregational priority and support for youth
ministry
5. Foster significant relationships and sense of community
6. Develop committed competent leadership

5. Partner Sharing
Share a story about a young person you have
worked with in ministry and how an event
had a significant impact on their faith life.
You may also tell a personal story.
What was the event?
How did you see transformation in the young
person or yourself? What was different about
the person or their faith as a result of the event?

6. Bridge Analogy

7. River of Youth Culture
What did you
hear during the
landscaping
section of this
training about
the current
state of the river
of youth
culture?

8. Build a Bridge
Use the supplies provided to build a bridge
over your “river of youth culture” (blue
construction paper)

10. Kenda Creasy Dean Quote:
“When you’ve got more than five people, you have to
structure things. Programs never replace
relationships, but they can create space and offer
nutrients for relationship that wouldn’t take root
otherwise. Ideally, a youth program allows teenagers
to befriend people who are united in Christ but not
much else. It allows teens to create paths where
youth and Christian adults can practice together
being faithful to God and each other.”

11. Confirmation
peer ministry retreat Bowling
Mission Trip
Bible study Youth worship
service event
small group discussion
ELCA Youth Gathering

12. Begin in Discernment and Prayer
What are the needs of your youth?
What is God up to and how is the Spirit
leading?

13. Program Pyramid

14. Ask:
What are you hoping to accomplish
through the event?
Who are you hoping will attend?
What are your goals?

15. Discuss:
Think of events you have had in your
congregations. Write them on the Program
Pyramid. What types of events were they? Did
they accomplish the intended purpose?

16. Steps to Planning
Communicate purpose and intended
audience to the team planning the event.
Create a timeline
Assign tasks and set deadlines
Create permission slips and paperwork
Recruit adult leaders and youth

17. Planning Grid
Parts of the Event Jobs that need to be done Person responsible Deadline
Gathering game Pick up supplies: Shivon 3/4
marshmallows
toothpicks
Dinner in mentor Order Pizza Tanner 3/5, 5pm
groups Copy discussion handouts Maggie 3/4
Find volunteers to serve Jessica 2/26

18. Deciding Who to Invite: Youth
Not all youth should attend all youth ministry events.
Events should be designed with specific purpose and
audience in mind
There should be discernment and prayer on the part of
youth and adults

19. Spiritual Interest Levels of Youth
Disinterested
Attending Resisters
Status Quo
Seeker
Committed

20. Activity:
Reflect on the youth in your congregation.
Write the names of youth that fall into each
category.
Consider:
To what type of event might you invite an
attending resister? A seeker? A committed?

21. Getting Youth to Attend an Event
Make youth and adults aware early
Flood youth with information: posters,
announcements, postcards, email, Facebook, text,
website
Have past participants share
Direct invitation
Hold a meeting for youth and their parent/mentor
Set registration deadline early.
For larger events, get a financial commitment

22. Share:
What successful
ideas have you
used to promote
events within your
congregation.

23. Deciding who to Invite:
Adult Leaders
Different Levels of Investment in Youth Ministry:
Coordinator/Point Person
Leadership and Planning Adults
Relational Ministry Adults
Consistently Involved Adults
Task Oriented Adults
Aware and Supportive Adults
Unaware or Disinterested Adults

24. Activity:
Take a moment to
think of and list
people from your
congregation that
fall into each
investment in youth
ministry category.

25. Jesus’ Model
Crowds
Sending of the Seventy two
12 Disciples
3 Disciple Inner Circle
Task specific: Zacheaus provided dinner, women
annointed his feet, someone provided the donkey

26. Be Intentional
• Do NOT fill spaces:
 Ex. We are looking for anyone able to help with Wednesday
nights. Sign up in the narthex.
Discern and Choose
Be specific about the roles
Watch adults interact with youth. Look for abilities,
experience, and potential
Ask youth who they see as caring adults
Pray for God’s guidance

27. Activity:
As a group, pick a type of event from the Program
Pyramid. Describe your event.
Design the ideal leader. Choose a volunteer from
your group to be your “adult leader”. In your group
think of qualities you will be looking for in your adult
leaders for this event. Write the qualities on post it
notes and stick them to your volunteer.

28. Qualities to Consider
A committed faith centered in Christ
Cares deeply for youth and able to relate well
Mature
Focused on youth and their needs
Can be firm with boundaries and limits
Flexible and patient
Posses good common sense
Sense of humor
Committed and reliable
Makes good decisions under pressure

29. Activity:
Find others with pieces from your puzzle.
Assemble the puzzle together.

30. Debrief:
Was it hard to find your group?
What happened if someone brought pieces to the wrong
puzzle?
What happened if you were missing a person?
Did it take more people and time to complete some of the
larger puzzles?
Did some people bring more pieces to the puzzle than others?
How is this activity an illustration for team ministry?

31. Build a Team
Male/Female Ratio
Extrovert and
Introvert
Big picture and
Details oriented
Specific skills

32. How to Ask Adults to be Leaders
Set up a time to meet with them
Explain why your congregation is investing in this event
Explain why you are asking them. Be specific.
What qualities do they bring? Did youth request them?
What special skills make them an asset?
Explain expectations
Ask for questions
Give them time to prayerfully consider
Follow up by a deadline.
Do background checks* - More at Fall training

33. ELCA Youth Ministry Network
Adult leaders benefit from opportunities that provide:
Renewal
Education
Building of connections
Desire leaders competent in areas of:
Theology
Youth Ministry Theory (Why we do what we do)
Youth Ministry Skills (How we effectively do what we do)

34. Train Adult Leaders
What areas of theology do your adults need
to be trained in for this event?
What areas of youth ministry theory would
help prepare your adults?
What skills will they need for this event?

35. Face to Face Trainings
Spring 2011
Fall 2011
Spring 2012

36. Online Webinars
Lutheran theology: How God works in the World
Lutheran Theology: How Lutherans read the Bible
Leading a Small Group
Your Role as a Leader
Planning for the Unexpected
Strategic and Intentional Planning
Faith Conversations with Teenagers

37. Ministry with Adults
Adult Leaders set the tone and example for
the entire event. Make it good.
Receive their questions and input.
Opportunity for relational ministry with
adults.
How does your work with adult leaders and
volunteers point Jesus?

38. Discuss:
Pick an event you have coming up in your
congregation.
What type of training could you offer that
would improve the experience and
effectiveness of the program for youth
and adults?

39. Congregational Community
Remind congregation of Baptismal
promise:
“People of God, do you promise to
support this child and pray for them in
their new life in Christ?” (ELW)
We do.

40. Congregational Community
Help youth ministry be visible to the congregation.
Create church wise intergenerational contact points.
Develop ways for young people to be involved in
worship.
Create ways for adults to pray for specific young
people
Inform the congregation about the program and its
impact.

41. Congregational Covenants
“And you, people of God, will you support these youth,
sent by God to serve God’s people with the Gospel of
hope and salvation? Will you pray for them, help and
honor them for their work’s sake, and in all things
strive to live in peace and unity in Christ?” (LBW
Occasional Services)
We will.

42. Brainstorm:
Group 1: Ways to be visible in congregation
Group 2: Ways to create intergenerational
contact points
Group 3: Ways to involve youth in worship
Group 4: Ways to help congregation pray for
youth
Group 5: Ways to inform congregation about
the impact

44. Prayer