Your First 5 Steps To Building A Youth Ministry From Scratch

Over three months ago I decided to start over in youth ministry. I started working at a parish with great leadership, a wonderful staff; however, there had been a significant gap in youth ministry.

What that meant was starting from the ground up. No problem, right? If you are starting out in youth ministry or trying to rebuild the one that you have it’s important to take these 5 STEPS:

STEP 1: ASSESS THE SITUATION YOU CURRENTLY INHERITED

There isn’t one type of program that is going to fit every church. In order to reach the teenagers in your community, you need to know who they are and you do that by:

• Visiting the schools and get to know it’s culture.
• Talking with the professionals (i.e. coaches, teachers, therapists) that are already interacting with youth.
• Meeting with parents and ask them about what currently has their teen’s attention.

On top of knowing the teenagers in your community, you need to know the history that your church has with youth ministry. You can do that by:

• Looking at what the church has done for teenagers in the past.
• Talking to current members and gaining their perspective on the next generation.
• Meeting with the teenagers that are connected and asking them about their current involvement.

The more information you can gather the more you will understand the obstacles you will face and the resources currently at your disposal. This will make it easier to put together a comprehensive strategy.

STEP 2: DECIDE ON AN IDEAL OUTCOME

Why are you a youth minister? Why do you even care about the next generation? That burden and passion that is on your heart should dictate the outcome you desire for the teens in your church.

Look at the characteristics you want the teens to develop as disciples of Jesus Christ. Think about situations and opportunities where teens would be involved that would show you that Christ is present.

The clearer the outcome the easier it will be to share this with others. People will grasp onto your vision and want to be a part of the bigger picture.

STEP 3: RALLY A TEAM AROUND A COMMITMENT TO CHANGE

There are always people willing to help you out, you just need to ask them. But, to find people who are committed to change takes a strong vision and a willingness to be pushed.

To build your core team you want to find people who are open to new ideas. You want men and women who aren’t afraid of failure and are excited to learn.

For more on your core team read Building a Core Leadership Team.

STEP 4: PUT TOGETHER MILESTONES YOU NEED TO REACH

You’ve got your team, your starting and end point, now it’s time to answer the question, “How will we get there?” This is where you start putting together goals and milestones (For more on goals read How To Set Big Goals)

Make sure the goals are stated clearly. Put together due dates and assign tasks to the appropriate people. When you reach a milestone celebrate it with your team and use the momentum to move forward.

STEP 5: DEVELOP A SYSTEM TO CONSTANTLY TWEAK WHAT YOU ARE DOING

On top of making milestones you need analyze your effectiveness. Are you reaching the goals on time? Are you being efficient with what you do? How can you improve your strategy?

Put together a system (For more on evaluation systems read How To Know If You Are Making An Impact) that helps you measure your progress and learn from your mistakes.

Don’t overlook this step. It might be tempting because it requires humility, but the return on your investment is worth it.

The task of building a comprehensive youth ministry for your parish can feel daunting if you don’t have a plan. For more practical strategies out my book Rebuilding Youth Ministry (Ave Maria Press 2015) or contact MYM for a free consultation by clicking below: