Wondering how to start a youth group or ministry? Lots of youth workers ask that question. Especially when they’re trying to figure out how to start youth ministry in a smaller church. Where do you begin if you’re attempting to launch a new program for teenagers? Here’s my advice.
How to Start a Youth Group in a Smaller Church
1. Start with prayer.
That may seem like the biggest cliché ever. And you may be tempted to skip this altogether. But it’s a truth I can’t stress enough: You need to start with prayer. Before you do anything else, before you call any meetings, plan any events, or think of themes for youth services, you need to pray.
If your work as a youth leader isn’t based on prayer, it will be in vain. Here are some things to pray for as you start a youth ministry:
- Get a list of all the teens in your youth ministry and pray for each of them. Ask God to help you see kids as he sees them. Ask him to fill your heart with love for teenagers. Pray for parents, that they will love their teens and be an example for them, especially in faith-related things.
- Pray for all your leaders and volunteers. Ask for wisdom for them, for love for the teens. Pray for their families, that they won’t suffer.
- Pray for your (senior) pastor and the church leadership. Ask God to give you a servant’s heart that’s willing to serve people in authority over you.
- Ask God to give you insight into what the youth ministry needs, where it’s at, and what the biggest issues are. Pray to be open to all signals.
- Pray for yourself, that God will keep you close. Ask for strength, wisdom, and humility to lead and serve well.
2. Start with listening.
If you’re new to the job, even if it’s in your own church, first ask loads of questions. Then listen carefully. Talk to all volunteers as soon as possible. Schedule “dates” with key leaders or decision-makers. Ask the senior pastor or elders about any known issues. Have parents expressed genuine complaints? Set up a meeting and listen to their concerns.
In the first three months, focus on getting the bigger picture. Identify key issues. The good news? You can get away with asking “dumb questions” during those first few months!
After that, people expect you to have the answers. So take that initial time to seek opinions. Keep an open mind, and don’t jump to conclusions too soon. Take the time to gather information and then analyze it. That will pay off later on.
3. Start with quick wins.
Want to make a good impression from the start, thereby earning credit you’ll need later on, when you must make tough decisions? Then look for some quick wins. These issues are big frustrations but easy for you to solve.
When I started at my last church, conflict existed about the teen small groups. A student wanted to change groups because all her friends were in another group, but she wasn’t allowed to. One of my first decisions was to let her change groups. I didn’t do it just because it would win me points. (It did, by the way…with her, her parents, and her new small group.) But I wanted to communicate that people matter more to me than rules.
What quick wins can you identify? Maybe the youth room has been a mess for ages and needs a cleanup. Maybe an event had been canceled but everyone wants it back. Are people are complaining they never know what’s going on in youth ministry? Then start a monthly newsletter! Look for something you can fix easily to earn much-needed goodwill.
