Flipbooks

This is about Jesus. This is a team effort. This task is worth it. This is possible for any congregation. Youth ministry is nothing but loud games and banging dodge balls if it is not rooted deeply in the love of Jesus Christ. From community-building to Bible study, the cross and empty tomb should be at the center of everything we do. Healthy youth ministry should seek to point everyone back to Jesus' love and the forgiveness we receive through His death and resurrection. Caring for young people in the church cannot be the responsibility of a single person. It must be a task shared with a variety of people, including parents and guardians, elders, pastors, and other volunteers. No amount of passion or energy is going to be enough on your own, so bring in other teammates along the way. God has called these youth into His family through Baptism. Our ministry with and for them can have a lasting impact today and for eternity. When you are a part of youth ministry, you are doing something extremely valuable for your teens and for the Church at large. Thank you for dedicating your time, heart, and energy to the care of today's youth. C. F. W. Walther (the first president of the LCMS) once reportedly said to his seminary students, "You cannot use your time to better advantage than by serving well the young people of the congregation." If you are taking the time to read this material, we hope you believe Walther's sentiment as well. We can become overwhelmed and even wonder why healthy youth ministry is important at all. It is easy to forget the whys of ministry after time, repetition, or busyness have taken their toll. Take time to remind yourself and others why healthy youth ministry (or healthy ministry for any age) is important. Reminding longtime members and explaining it to young or new members can reinforce church culture. A congregation's ministry values should be communicated regularly and reinforced with actions. When a congregation prioritizes youth ministry, youth will be able to both hear and see their value and place in the congregation. May God bless you richly as you serve the youth of your congregation. LCMS Youth Ministry is praying for you and desires to serve you as you build healthy congregational youth ministry. w Location, resources, and the level of teen involvement do not qualify or disqualify any congregation from healthy youth ministry. The devil discourages ministry by focusing our attention on limitations. Yet congregations with two or three teens or only a few resources do some of the most amazing youth ministry. Vibrant, healthy youth ministries exist in suburbs and in rural areas. We have done our best to present practices that can translate to any congregational setting. Ministry will look different for each congregation. Your task is to find what these practices look like in your unique context. Lutheran Life 5

• Cover