I love Youth Ministry, and I believe it is important (hence me being a Youth…
I’ve never been big on purpose statements for Student Ministry. It has always been my belief that the Student Ministry has the same purpose as the church it ministers in. In fact, all churches have the same purpose and mission in theory (Matthew 28:19). The vision of each church and each ministry within each church however is unique. The question is how do we specifically accomplish the mission we have been given. Likewise we must have an idea of what characteristics we want in our students when they leave our ministry. If we are unsure of our target we can never know if we are hitting anything. Here are the five characteristics we want in our students when they leave our ministry:
A Passion for God’s Word
If we instill one characteristic in our students it would the a passion for God’s Word. If our students can root their lives in Scripture and see the indescribable riches found within it, we set our students on a course for long-term faithfulness.
A Brokenness Over Sin
Conviction and condemnation are often easily confused by many. Conviction ignored leads to a callous heart. Brokenness over sin drives us to repentance. Oh may our students and may we be broken over sin in our lives.
A Burden for the Lost
This is the mission after-all. We have been called and given a ministry of reconciliation. We want to turn loose students who are unashamed of the gospel and unwavering in their pursuit of the lost. Students who consistently pray for the lost. Students who notice the lost in the world around them.
A Love for the Church
If our students leave our ministry with a love for youth group and a resentment of the church we have failed them. We want to call our students to something bigger than themselves. We are not inviting students to be a part of a “youth group.” We are inviting students into a body of believers that God loves and deems beautiful. This body is made up of a flawed group of people who He gave His life for. He loves the church, our students need to as well.
A Heart for the Nations
This reinforces the mission we have all been given. I want our students to recognize the mission field He has placed them in daily, but also be aware of those beyond their everyday reach. I want them to have a love for missions and a love for taking the gospel to the nations. Again…something bigger than themselves.
Every ministry is different. Every vision will not look the same. If you have not taken the time to think through what characteristics you want your students to have when they leave your ministry, I strongly encourage you to do so. Use a mind mapping tool like Bubbl.us or use Evernote (my favorite). Do not cookie cut someone else on this. Take the time to think through and pray through these. Do so as a team as well. Then aim your ministry to build those in your students.
What about you? What characteristics do you want to see in your students when they leave your ministry? What are you doing to build those in your students? Have you clearly communicated those characteristics to those in your ministry? Leave a comment and share below!
Photo credit: Mufidah Kassalias / Foter.com / CC BY-ND
