Youth Ministry Experiment, part 1

I was a youth pastor for 10 years. It all started for me when I was a sophomore in college and was paid $300 a month to be the Youth Pastor at Woodside New Life Assembly in Marysville, WA. But I couldn’t wait to get out of school and go full-time.

I couldn’t wait. Couldn’t wait to change the world. Love on kids, preach to hundreds, visit schools, eat pizza and lead the masses to Christ.

Then I graduated, went full-time and learned all about administration. Seemed like my days filled up with paper, meetings, errands and more meetings.

So we’re trying it a little different here at Brooklake. We are forming a Youth Ministry Team where every key position is filled by another staff member that is already leveraging their gifts on the team.

  • Our Worship & Music Director will oversee the youth worship.
  • I’ll lead the speaking team.
  • Our Youth Directors (part-time husband and wife team) will take care of the details as well as take charge of the team.
  • Our Small Group Team oversees the youth small groups too.

The #1 question that I hear (from churched people) is don’t we need that “Youth Pastor” charismatic, goofy type person? We think that this is a question that only someone who’s been around youth ministry would be asking so we say, maybe not.

We’ll let you know how it goes. It all goes live in September.

[UPDATE: I forgot that our newly hired Creative Director will also be involved in the Youth Team too!]

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This entry was posted on Thursday, May 27th, 2010 at 3:54 amand is filed under Brooklake Church, Leadership. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
  • Scott Tidwell

    Scott,

    I have been personally involved in influencing youth and young adults to pursue Jesus and His teaching for over 20 years. And because I know oh too well what it “REALLY” takes to do things right! I have tremendous respect for “ANYONE” who desires to be an influence into todays youth and youth culture. I also believe in using a “TEAM” concept to achieve a relevant youth program.

    It’s not that you necessarily need a, charismatic~goofy type… You ultimately need “ANYONE” who is involved within your program to have a genuine, real love for young people! Way too many youth do not have any real support… Meaning “IF” youth know you really care they will listen to you! REALLY LISTEN TO YOU! Therefore, a member of my team “WILL” attend various “school events” either band &/or sporting events to show real support.

    I guess what I’m trying to say… you can have an awesome staff, you can have an awesome building, you can an awesome budget (probably not J/K) and it’s “ALL” a bunch of noise if you are not really involved in the youth and the youth culture of the given area of influence you and your team have map out… I say this because as a leader, I have seen so many miss the simple things!

    I’m now birthing a new church plant… “The Sanctuary” and I’m moving on from just being a YP. we currently use a youth team leadership approach lead by a YP. I’m just about to turn 45 years old, yet still have a huge passion to see youth ministry done and done right. Soooooo I felt compelled to respond… Keep up the good work! I f you ever want to bounce ideas once in a while… please feel free to contact me!

    Shalom,

    Pastor Scott Tidwell

  • http://www.jenileejoy.com Jenilee

    Love this!! It creates the opportunity for discipleship to be seamless across the board! awesome!! :-)

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  • Bob Briggs

    Scott, innovative, as you always are. I have just returned to student ministry putting together an all volunteer team including myself looking to demonstrate a church, with budget restraints in the economic downturn, can put together a dynamic ministry to youth with all the bells and whistles made up with people who have passion for this generation. We launch this next Wednesday. I will be interested in seeing how your vision works out

  • http://johngruber.us John Gruber

    I have been a youth pastor for almost ten years and I think this looks great. I struggle with trying to “do it all” in my ministry. I can’t wait to hear how this works.

  • http://www.studentlife.com J. Roger Davis

    Scott,

    Thanks for letting us participate in the conversation.
    Blessings to you and the students and families there at Brooklake Church.

    J. Roger Davis
    Student Life

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