The youth ministry varies from a church to another according to the church's size, conditions, vision and capacity, including fellowships, summer camp and choirs for the young.
The ministry may be carried out steadily and productively if you consider the following several aspects:
Youth fellowship
God's people have fellowship with God and others through worship. A youth fellowship refers to the worship by young people where they unite with God and each other through Christ's love. The unique fellowship belongs to the young members in a church, covering youth gatherings and activities conducted by other youth groups. In some way, it is a church for youth, a spiritual home for the young where they can learn spiritual lessons and lay a solid faith foundation through Bible studies, prayers and hymns.
Following the principle of Christ's holy love, they experience God's grace by rejoicing and mourning with one another, helping and caring each other. Meanwhile, their common sense in other fields like how to get along with others are increased.
Youth Sunday school
The spiritual levels of young members are different for some joined in the fellowship earlier, who may have a higher standard to study the Bible. However, fellowships preach the message mainly for the seekers. So the church should set up a youth Sunday school to feed them. Besides, the school ought to open specific subjects on different kinds of topics, leading them to view their life and the world in the eyes of Christianity.
Youth Choir
Praise and worship is a duty of Christians, one part of personal spiritual life and an honorable ministry.
There are young people who are good at music and enjoy glorifying the Lord with their voices. Youth choirs provide the opportunity for them to sing hymns in services, gatherings, activities or celebrations with other churches. More importantly, show them that joining a choir means serving the Lord rather than ordinary recreation.
The choirs will have a profound influence on the church by promoting youth into ministry.
Training programs for the young
Since young people always have enthusiasm while lacking spiritual knowledge, provide training programs for those who desire to work for the Lord.
Train the young backbones regularly. We can start the training with discipleship or some basic teachings that enable them to have an overall understanding of the Bible and practice the word.
Youth retreats
It's recommendable to hold retreats or gatherings on holidays for young people are busy with study and work at ordinary times. The most common ones are retreats held in the summer and winter vacations. Young members can also bring their friends to hear the gospel at that time.
The attendants are required to live in a religious fellowship, learn the truth and put it into practice in their life and work.
Youth activities
It will be more attractive to young people if you hold activities that suit them. They can know each other and be one through these activities that have no spiritual significance themselves. Young people are fond of sports matches, evening parties, traveling, charities and fellowship with believers from other brother churches.
At the same time, non-Christians can be invited by the church to attend activities where they can even show performances or speak publicly, which gives them a sense of recognition. Gradually, they may be unfamiliar with the church. Besides, some youth fellowships launch charitable programs that permit non-Christians to participate in to help the needy and their community.
If a church has held a youth ministry for a long time, it should reflect the ministry in a deeper and more detailed way as well as the effectiveness. Make the work into concrete and practical things, for instance, it can help with the youth ministry of other churches by working purposefully to serve society.
In a nutshell, based on the principle of the truth, youth ministry aims at the growth of young believers into units of fellowships. Then young members in the church can be like the saying of Paul, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12)
The author is a secretary of Fujian CCC & TSPM.
