You want to start a youth ministry at your church (or perhaps you’ve been kindly asked by your minister)? That’s great! Youth ministry is an important ministry but where do you start?
Well here is a series of posts that I’ve written on starting a youth ministry from scratch!
There will be more posts to add in time but for now, feel free to click on the relevant links below or open and download this PDF(2.5MB) of all the posts together with discussion questions to help guide you as you think through the process of starting a youth ministry form scratch or revamping your current youth ministry.
My hope is that these thoughts, tools and resources will help you to organise, co-ordinate and lead a faithful, God-honouring Youth Ministry in whatever context you’re in.
Mike.
PDF of the posts (with discussion questions) (2.5MB)
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Blog Posts: Starting a Youth Ministry from Scratch!
- How to start a youth ministry from scratch! (Part 1) - You want to start a youth ministry at your church (or perhaps you’ve been kindly asked by your minister)? That’s great! Youth ministry is an important ministry but where do you start? There are probably a thousand different starting points for a youth ministry, many of which probably generate out of circumstance and a pressing … Continue reading How to start a youth ministry from scratch! (Part 1)
- How to start a youth ministry from scratch! (Part 2) - OK, given that this website is all about resourcing a “Bible Focus” type of youth ministry (from these 3 choices), we’re going to follow the process for starting up a model for this type of youth ministry from scratch. (Haven’t yet thought about what type of youth ministry you want to start? click here) The … Continue reading How to start a youth ministry from scratch! (Part 2)
- How to start a youth ministry from scratch! (Part 3) - If you chose the “Bible Focus” youth ministry model based on your theology, values and principles (part 1), and you’ve recruited the right leaders and have the systems in place to look after them (part 2), then here is step 3: look after your families! If you’re wondering why this is the next step, it’s because … Continue reading How to start a youth ministry from scratch! (Part 3)
- How to start a youth ministry from scratch! (Part 4a) - If you chose the “Bible Focus” youth ministry model based on your theology, values and principles (part 1), and you’ve recruited the right leaders and have the systems in place to look after them (part 2), and have designed a program that looks after your families (part 3), then step 4(a) is to structure your regular youth group … Continue reading How to start a youth ministry from scratch! (Part 4a)
- How to start a youth ministry from scratch! (Part 4b) - If you chose the “Bible Focus” youth ministry model based on your theology, values and principles (part 1), you’ve recruited the right leaders and have the systems in place to look after them (part 2), and you’ve designed a program that looks after your families (part 3), then as a continuation of structuring your regular youth group gathering (part … Continue reading How to start a youth ministry from scratch! (Part 4b)
- How to start a youth ministry from scratch! (Part 5) - If you chose the “Bible Focus” youth ministry model based on your theology, values and principles (part 1), and you’ve recruited the right leaders and have the systems in place to look after them (part 2), and have designed a program that looks after your families (part 3), and have structured your regular youth group gathering and how … Continue reading How to start a youth ministry from scratch! (Part 5)
- YM thoughts - This horticultural analogy reminds me of church services which are based on a narrowly age defined Homogeneous Unit Principle… Let’s go for a youth ministry permaculture in our churches!! “two aspects of permaculture. It opposes ‘monoculture’, where only one crop is grown in an area. Permaculturists know that monoculture temporarily increases yield. But it strips … Continue reading YM thoughts
- An Integrated Church – introduction - My senior minister and I haven’t ever sat down and designed a grand master plan for an integrated church with children’s and youth ministry, but what we have had is a continuing and developing conversation about how our church practice can integrate people across generations and, by extension, integrate the full diversity of people. This is what … Continue reading An Integrated Church – introduction
- An Integrated Church – Truly Human - Download and read pdf version here Our starting point in this framework for an integrated church is that intergenerational ministry is first and foremost a human reality. A Human Reality… Children’s and youth ministry is a human reality, that is to say, it is a necessary consequence of our creatureliness. It’s not a result of … Continue reading An Integrated Church – Truly Human
(x) christian (m) ministry (2) to (y) youth 
Hi,
Ok so I found your website and so far what I’ve read is very helpful. I wanted t ask your opinion. I started going to this brand new church, it actually just opened it’s door maybe two months ago. I’ve never tried a new church, we’ve generally gone to big established churches. This church has recruited me to start a young, youth group on Thursday. Nights. I was asked because I was wondering about the future plans for my ten yr old daughter. I should be excited but I’m actually very unsure of this commitment. I’m not a pastor or teacher, just a mom. This group is very small. One other very busy mom offered to help. On Sundays, generally there are only 6 kids of all different ages. Should we just worry about Sunday youth and when it grows more, go forward with thur night youth group. The teens already have a group going together. What do you think? Need help
I thank you for having these awesome resources!!!!! They really helped me a lot!