The deck from our webinar with Tom Schwolert asking some key questions about the current and future state of youth ministry.

2. +
Questions about the Future
Of Youth Ministry
Welcome

3. +
Meet the Presenter
Tom Schwolert
Partner for First Third
of Life Ministry & Coach

4. +
“Do you love me?” John 21:10-19

5. +
Years of questions…

6. +
What is youth ministry?

7. +
Is the current way we(you) are doing
youth ministry effective?

8. +
What is effective youth ministry and
how do you know if it’s effective?

9. +
Are you hoping for a ripple effect?

10. +
Have we abandoned the ministry of
Christ to satisfy our own needs?

11. +
Have we stepped away from deep,
faith-nurturing relationships and relied
on the ministry of “bells and whistles?”

12. +
Have we walked away from generations
of faith development learned from the
core Biblical story?

13. +
Has youth ministry become nothing
more than a “product” to convince
young people they
need(consume)?

14. +
Have we neglected daily relational
faith practices for a style of ministry
that pushes so hard on getting people
to participate in programs that we are
burning out?

15. +
What are your questions?

16. +
Is there a better way?

17. + What we know…
• Age group ministry matters but is
not enough
• Intergenerational works
• Home works
• Online is a real place

18. + What we know…
• Concept of “church” is always
changing
• Context matters
• Deep, abiding, longterm, faith
nurturing relationships are a key
thread for faith formation

19. + What we know…
• What would be some other things
that you have learned?

20. + A way forward…
• Do less program and more
relationship
• Meet with families
• Interview youth
• See people as faith vessels
• Provide young people with multiple
relationships (of all ages)

21. + A way forward…
• Get to know your context
• Understand the reality of
people’s lives
• What’s happening in the
community? Where do people
spend their time, etc.?

22. + A way forward…
• Ask hard questions about what
you are currently doing.
• How effective are the activities
I’m currently doing?
• What am I willing to let go of?
• How does our faith community
view young people?

23. + A way forward…
• Regularly look at the questions
that Jesus asked for inspiration?
• “What are you looking for?”
• “Do you love me?”
• “Do you want to be healed?”
• “Who do you say that I am?”

24. +
Asking questions is dangerous.
Questions lead us to
transformational ministry.

25. +
Questions about the Future
Of Youth Ministry
Thank you!