A question I often hear is, “Should my youth ministry have a name?” Our student programs have names: Uprising for high school and Resurrection for middle school. Although the names matter, they matter only if the marketing and branding are effective.
Yes, you can come up with a million names for your teen program. But if you don’t communicate the names correctly, no one will care. Although you should take time to create an effective and catchy youth ministry name, you need to do more than that. The more involves 5 considerations.
More Than a Youth Ministry Name
1. Develop a vision.
First, realize that the vision you have for your ministry must communicate what could and should be. What should your youth ministry accomplish? And is it clear to your team, the parents, and the church community?
Vision takes your youth ministry from a program to a movement. People start to recognize what you do as more than just hanging with teens. They see you investing in the future.
2. Embrace core values.
Every youth ministry has certain values, such as discipling the next generation. But other values make your youth ministry unique. These values focus on:
- How you behave
- What’s important to you
- How you’re built
Understanding these values not only helps you develop a brand. It also communicates what’s important. Your values give your youth ministry’s name integrity because people will know what it stands for.
3. Overcommunicate the story behind the name.
Every name has a story, so people need to know its origin. Stories are memorable and answer the question “Why?” The why helps you show the name’s relevance and gives your program life.
Don’t be afraid to overcommunicate the story behind the youth ministry name. New people will come along, and the story behind the name will help you revisit the vision behind the ministry.
