Discussion Thread: Ministry Philosophy Notes
200 words
For each reply, include a full-sentence quotation from the thread that you
are responding to. You will also want to follow these guidelines:
Summarize the previous discussion succinctly and accurately by
providing a few lines at the beginning of your reply that reminds the
reader of the thoughts in the classmate’s thread that you are
responding to. Include a specific quotation from the thread. For
example: Steve, as I read your thread, I was intrigued by what you
said when you stated, “Based on what I have seen in my
interactions with students, I believe the greatest influence among
adolescents today is peer relationships.” This has caused me to
consider…
Commend at least 1 good point that your classmate made in his/her
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Zachary,
We did not have the exact same core values but I fully support everything
you listed. You provided a wonderful example of how to effectively run a
student ministry as opposed to just planning events for youth. If your
purpose is to prepare students to be followers of Jesus in their daily lives,
each core value needs to point to that. The values you listed help foster your
main purpose for being in student ministry.
I especially loved your example of a student ministry being a hospital, “ This
ministry will provide encouragement, help and accountability to help students find
their healing in Christ.” The youth group I grew up in provided all of these and more.
Because my youth group was a family to me I was able to have a close group of
friends. My youth group welcomed others who needed healing and we encouraged
each other through our sin and hard times. I loved attending my youth group
because I had a connection with the others but I also was challenged in my faith by
studying and learning. I am praying Hebrews 12 over you and your ministry. Fix our
eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 12:2)
-1. Help the youth have a relationship with God- Equip students to
grow in their faith and live a Christian life. Growing in spiritual wisdom by
teaching youth the foundational truths of God's Word. Help students know
and love God's word. Teach students how to apply the Bible to their
everyday life. (2 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 6:1, Colossians 2:6-7, Colossians 1:9-
10)
2. Partner with families- Come alongside parents and partner with them
through prayer, offer resources and encouragement, show up at
extracurricular activities and events Act as a bridge between the church and
home. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Ephesians 6:1-4)
-3. Focus on building Christ-centered relationships within the
student ministry- It is important for students to feel like they belong
somewhere. To have a feeling of belonging and close friendships, offer
activities that foster team building by getting closer to each other. Help
foster a strong sense of community and belonging. (1 John 1:7, Romans
1:11- 12, Hebrews 10:24-25, Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 12:25-27)
4. Learn to serve others- We all have spiritual gifts, and a student
ministry
needs to give opportunities to serve. Ministry leaders must provide ways to
serve at church, whether in the youth group or the church as a whole.
Opportunities to serve within the community include service projects,
mission trips, and church service. Help students realize their spiritual gifts
and use them to serve God and others. (Matthew 25:35-40, Ephesians 4:12-
13, Ephesians 6:7)
Purpose Statement: Help teens to develop a deeper relationship with
Jesus and to create a caring community of students who follow Christ so that
they will reach their peers and the community with Christian love and truth.
The primary purpose of the student ministry is to learn about the Gospel and
share it with others. When teens love the Lord and His Word, they want to
follow what it says.
Five core values of a healthy student ministry:
-5. Sharing Christ with peers and the world- One of the easiest ways for
students to share Christ is to invite their friends to attend youth group with
them. I have seen spiritual and numerical growth when teens take ownership
of their faith and become leaders who live out The Great Commission.
Empower students to share Jesus with friends and nonbelievers. Throughout
church history, young people have advanced the Gospel in powerful ways.
Live for Christ and His cause of making disciples of all nations. Equip
students to reach out to their peers and point them to Jesus. (Matthew 28:19-
20)
We are
committed to teaching the whole counsel of God and equipping students to
apply it to their daily lives.” Having a firm biblical foundation is important for
teens to grow in their relationship and they will not be able to live a Gospel
centered life or reach out to the peers, the community and the world without
having strong biblical teaching.
The values you listed are applicable to the church as a whole not just student
ministyr.
Caroline,
I really liked your post and agreed with all of your core values and purpose
statement. Our purpose statement was very similar and we had several of the same
core values but we worded them a little different. If your purpose is to disciple teens
and help them grow in their relationship with Jesus and to help them impact the
world, the values you listed will help foster that outcome. Student Ministry is a place
to build community with others who believe like you do and encourage you to live a
godly life. Building that community is important for teens to feel like they belong
somewhere. It can be a challenge to disciple without having a close relationship
with the teens so I think the order of your values is insightful also.
I really loved how your first value was Biblical teaching and the part, “
