Models of Youth Ministry… Philosophical
Model One: Church at the Centre (Church Cultured)
- Youth ministry aims to get church youth and their friends to church
- Hope is to tap into churched, Christian young people, involving them in the church
- Works predominantly/exclusively with churched young people
- Identifies with Christian young people
- Young people seen as an opportunity for church growth - on church’s terms
- Agenda and opportunities for ministry with youth determined by what the church sees as important and can or will provide
- Church and its buildings are paramount, centres on programs
Model Two: Middle Ground Model (Outreach Centred)
- Youth ministry aims to get any young people to church
- Hope is to tap into Christian and non-Christian young people, involving them in church
- Works with any young people, works best with young people from sub-cultural grouping similar to Church culture
- Identifies with any young people, centred on Christian values
- Schools/youth gathering points seen as place for evangelism, church as the place for discipleship
- Agenda and opportunities for ministry with youth determined by church, with some knowledge of student needs.
- Church, homes, schools etc. seen as important.
Model Three: Society at the Centre (Mission Centred)
- Youth ministry done to take the gospel to new places in new ways
- Hope is that a youth-contextual Christian faith community is nurtured and grown
- Works with any young people
- Identifies with the hurts/hopes of any young people
- Schools/youth gathering points seen as an opportunity for mission, church as a new initiative
- Agenda and opportunities for ministry determined in consultation with school
- Places where youth gather, gym/oval, school grounds are paramount. Centres on relationships
Instruction Manual: