It doesn’t take a Bible scholar to conclude that youth ministry outreach ideas are essential. Every youth-focused church program provides opportunities to witness for Jesus. It’s up to leaders to harness those opportunities while building relationships so we earn the right to be heard.
To create a successful youth ministry outreach strategy, first we need to internalize several key points.
5 Main Truths for Your Youth Ministry Outreach Ideas
1. God focuses on individuals.
God cares deeply about each of us and about our wanderings.
2. God is patient as we wander.
Three-year-old kids wander to the point where they often get lost. Our God allows humanity to nimble our way to “lostness.” God allows for process. We as the youth workers need to be okay that we’re the planters of the seeds. We aren’t in a business that produces an overnight product.
3. God pursues us.
God is the greatest seeker of all time. Jesus Christ is on the move, seeking the lost. We get to follow him and walk with him. Instead of falling into typical evangelism, we have to pursue it!
4. God rejoices when we respond to his initiatives.
He eagerly awaits our return to him!
5. God restores us.
When God says he tells us the truth, he means business.
Bottom line: The heart of all youth ministry outreach ideas is that we have the heart of Christ. The things that motivate Jesus motivate us. We must have a commitment to an individual.
Next, let’s explore two specific youth ministry outreach ideas: Contact & CPR
Strategy #1 involves Contact work. This is where it all begins. Go build contacts with kids. To establish trust, these three levels of contact work must be evident:
1. Be seen.
For example, go to kids’ football games and eat lunch with them at school. To be heard, you need to be seen. Being seen is the staple move for being an incarnational witness.
2. Talk with all types of kids.
Talking with kids allows you to identify where they are and helps you understand their world. Ask a lot of questions. You shouldn’t be doing a lot of the talking; rather, you should be doing a lot of question-asking.
3. Do something together.
First Thessalonians 2 demonstrates how Paul did contact work. He visited and talked and hung out with the communities to which he was writing.
When doing contact work, steer away from the danger of just hanging out. At some point, you must communicate the message of reconciliation to God. Being an incarnational witness must be attached to a message of Jesus.
