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Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry Congregations have . . . Warmth, Challenge, and Grace Engaged Parents Opportunities to Serve and Lead • Congregations foster an open and honest environ- ment where youth share joys, questions, crises, and doubts, knowing God's Word will be spoken in love. • Congregations share personal stories of grace, failure, challenge, and joy. • Congregations are willing to engage in tough spiri- tual conversations. • Congregations have a dedicated, developmentally appropriate space for youth where they grow as disciples with their peers. • Engaged parents prioritize faith development by encouraging daily faith practices, especially during times of transition. • Engaged parents invest in the lives of their children by understanding their child's vocation and the culture around them. • Engaged parents participate in worship, personal spiritual practices, and service. • Supportive congregations provide parents encour- agement and support from other Christian adults. Supportive Adults • Supportive congregations seek to connect every youth with at least five engaged Christian adults. • Supportive adults deliberately invest in and value long-term, intergenerational relationships. • Supportive adults prepare for and respond to cele- brations, transitions, and crises. • Supportive congregations have adults who cham- pion young people and dedicate time and energy to developing teens as disciples of Jesus Christ for life. • Congregations identify gifts and skills in youth that can be used in service, leadership, and vocation inside and outside the church. • Congregations invest in youth by providing consis- tent opportunities for meaningful contributions. • Congregations engage and support youth in service inside the congregation, in the community, and beyond. • Congregations empower young people to be load-bearing leaders by providing training, men- tors, and space to learn. 6 Lutheran Life

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