Ministry Interview Project:
Strategy Paper Assignment
Matthew Ethridge
Persons Interviewed: Drake Wilkes, Kevin Myfair, Katie Beth Underhill
YOUT 201
What I Learned: (at least 1 full page)
This project really highlighted the heart that the leaders and student leaders have for
ministry. Many times those of us in vocational ministry discount the call of a leader, we worry
about if we are asking them for to much or too little. In my interviews I learned that they have
their own strategies and ideas for reaching the lost teens in our community. Looking at the
mission field that is youth ministry I am greatful to have the leaders that I have but I know that in
order to reach the lost not only will the strategies have to be right but it will have to be enacted
by more leaders. Reaching the lost teens is a task not easily done, there is a harvest to be reaped,
we just need workers to do it.
Through my interviews I saw that youth ministry doesn’t have a one size fits all strategy.
By learning the leaders strategies I even made changes to some of my own strategies. In talking
to Drake, he explained that teens are flooded with whats next, so having an intentional strategy
or strategies is key to reaching the lost. Looking at all the strategies their intentionality is what
binds them together. We as the church need to have effective student ministries that are both
adaptable and malleable but rigid to good theology and doctrine. We need to meet the needs of
the students where they are at, this is an ever changing goal, as the culture around students
changes.
Seeing the youth through the eyes of the leaders and a peer of theirs gave me a renewed
sense of purpose to the ministry. Around the spheres of youth minsters and pastors there is a
drive towards ministry from the get go, seeing the same, if not greater, drive coming from those
who don’t work in the ministry vocationally is refreshing. Looking back at my point that we
worry about the asking our leaders too much or two little this ministry gives them purpose. This
is their chance to do kingdom work it is our job to empower them and build them up. Our
ministries in a lot of ways rests on their shoulders.
Prayer Strategy (1 full page)
Prayer often times becomes an afterthought when working in ministry daily, even though
it is a core foundation of the church. One of the themes that can be seen through scripture is the
power and importance of prayer. For many people prayer is a thing reserved for Sunday
mornings and mealtimes, but it should be more. Prayer is how we open ourselves to the presence
of the Holy Spirt and also his guidings. Our ministries should flow from our personal prayer life
and our leaders’ as well. During my interviews all three of the interviewees were adamant that
prayer should be something done both in private and in the community of the other ministry
leaders.
Based on the feedback I got from my interviews, I developed a three step prayer strategy.
Katie Beth said that prayer starts with you, so the first step is in my strategy is personal prayer.
As Christians we should strive to grow closer to God, and as Christian leaders we need to lead by
example. This is best demonstrated by a multi-level fountain. At the top is the leader of the
ministry, and as they lead a prayerful life it should flow into the next teir. The next teir is the
volunteers, as they follow suit it flows into the student body. A healthy personal prayer life that
starts at the top will gradually train leaders and students on how to be people of prayer.
The next step in my prayer strategy is a challenge for small groups. Drake conveyed that
when praying with in his small group he feels closest to the people around him. This next step is
called community. Praying in community is important, it builds a culture of praying in public. It
also forges bonds with the community you pray with, another thing Drake spoke of was the need
for good Godly community. This accomplishes both goals of training up and building
community.
The Third and final step of my prayer strategy is called activation. Kevin spoke into this,
saying that bringing prayer to the spaces and events that your in makes a powerful difference in
the morale of the team and the feel of the room. This is as simple as bringing the leadership team
together before a service and pray over the space, inviting the spirit to dwell within the space,
and getting “prayed up” as a team. This boosts team morale and pushes them to pray outwardly
for people that they don’t know or see.
Personal Connection Strategy (1 full page)
Developing a personal connection is integral to bulding relationships. A quote that I have
heard throughout the church is “they don’t care how much you know, till they know how much
you care. Without personal connections there will be no community which is something that all
three interviewies stressed is important to building a healty student ministry. Drake says that if
we want students to come to church and feew welcomed then we need to make a deep personal
connection with them.
There are two strategies that I talked through with Katie Beth and Kevin, the first being
centered on young adult leaders and the second being task driven. During the interview process
Katie Beth said that the older sibling model is how she builds relationships with her girls. This
works very well for those leaders that are young adults and used to having younger siblings. I fit
in to this category as well and its typically how I form relationships with students. This allows a
natural comfort and ease when it comes to things to do. Its as simple as just bringing a student
along.
On the other hand we typically say to meet the student where they are at. During Kevin’s
interview we discussed an alternative that he employs called inviting them to join. When using
this tatic you don’t just show up in a students life you invite them into yours. Any event is an
invitable event, some of the best success I have had is doing the mundane tasks like going to the
hardware store. These hangs seem completely unplanned and real and that’s what brings out the
authenticity of relationship.
Both of these ideals are valid and can lead to great intrapersonal relationships. My own
strategy is a combination of the two where I invite students into mundane or everyday things and
we make them fun and build relationships. Then it gives a place to speak as a leader that isn’t
seen as out of touch but also is respected.
Group Outreach Event Strategy (1 full page)
Group outreach is something that can be seen through out the early church of the new
testament. Within my church we have a scale for events called Know, Grow, Serve. Know events
are described as events that are wide, mean’t to be highly invitational, and easy to invite
nonbelievers to. Grow events are much more deep, meant for you to grow deeper in your
relationship with Christ. Serve events are primarily based on service as the name says and brings
groups together to do work projects.
During my interviews we all agreed that we don’t want to create events that are
emotionaly manipulative and verge on beign spiritually manipulative. The strategy that I emply
is called inside/out. Inside events are “know” events, they are invitational and fun. Most recently
my church had a Christmas coffee house where we had baristas and games and it was paired
down. It didn’t feel like a church event making it easier for nonbelievers to be invited. The
gospel will always be shared at events like this, and they should be semi-monthly to keep rhythm
and momentum. During Drake’s interview we talked about inside events beign culturally
relevant and enjoyable.
Outward events are “serve” events. These are great bridge events, they get you out in the
community around potentially unsaved people. Not only do these promote servant leadership but
they build community amongst your group. These events have opportunities to share the gospel
but are meant to allow gospel conversations to happen in follow ups and typical churchy events.
This builds relational equity amongst the community and espesically in student ministry allows
you to show them how to serve and lead with the example of Jesus.
Integrity Statement: (fill in the correct information)
I, (matthew ethridge), interviewed (Kevin, Katie Beth, and Drake) on (12/14/22) and have
followed all the necessary instructions.
