Car4You - YFC

01 …Has His Youth Ministry Rooted In Core Values Of Faith

Is the youth ministry in this church Christ centred?

At the end of the day youth ministry is not about the activities and curriculum, but about connecting the heart of the next generation to Jesus. A church that is Christ centred will help to do that.

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Is the youth ministry focussing on transformation, seeking the work of the holy spirit?

We believe that the holy spirit is God at work, able to really change people, including the next generation from the inside out, That is the essence of transformation.

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Is the youth ministry able to differ between essentials and non-essentials of faith?

You might consider an essential of faith is that Jesus is the Son of God, an non-essential of faith might be beliefs surrounding eschatology. A young person can belong within this ministry without having to believe all the same things the leader does.

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Is the youth ministry kingdom focussed, rooted in God’s desire to reign in all spheres of our lives

It is important that a holistic youth ministry impacts youth and encourages them to live out their faith in all areas of their lives e.g. their relationships, studies, work, creation care, justice, rather than just during youth and Church meeting.

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Is the youth ministry connected to the global body of Christ?

E.g. a youth group in ILPA loves to pray for other Christian communities and youth around the world, as a group they make video encouragements and send messages of support whenever a disaster happens that affects believers in other nations. In a community very isolated, it is very encouraging for the youth to feel like they are part of something bigger and connected to a wider calling.

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02 … Enpowers Youth Participation In The Church And Society

Is the church able to demonstrate the potential of the next generation?

Throughout the bible young people are called for the ministry of God. Isiah, Joseph, Daniel, Esther, Mary, Barnabas. Although they might not feel equipped, they are empowered and bring change because God saw their potential where others would not have. This framework helps to display the potential of the next generation and empower them to lead in different areas.

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Is the church able to demonstrate the role of the next generation in church today and tomorrow?

Youth is not the church of tomorrow, like elder people are not the church of yesterday. We need to see their place in the church today, so that they can have impact that will last to tomorrow. Including giving young people leadership responsibilities.

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Is the church able to demonstrate how they are part of their society and make that relevant for the next generation?

From the perspective of church as a centre of hope in society, the ability for a church to help their youth to understand the role of it in their society, show the relevance for that, adds to the sustainability of youth ministry.

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Is the church able to empower the next generation to take a leading role in Church?

Leading make sense if you have people to follow, but it also make sense if you are able to prepare a next generation to lead. This is not something that lays in the far future, but starts today. Like Jesus was walking alongside and often challenges his disciples to lead.

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Is the church able to empower the next generation to take a leading role in society?

From the perspective of church as a centre of hope in society, the ability for a church to help their youth to take a position in that society, show the relevance for that, adds to the sustainability of youth ministry.

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03 …Is Investing In Development Of Youth Leaders

Is the church able to facilitate people with a passion for youth, in leading youth and understanding nuances of age and gender?

A Church that actively invests it’s resources into the youth ministry and raises up new youth leaders, and can successfully understand and cater to the needs that can be different for girls and boys / younger and older youth

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Is the church able to give responsibilities to young leaders to lead youth as well?

The Church and the youth ministry are not one man shows but encourages all its members to use their gifts regardless of their age

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Is the church able to empower youth leaders when it comes to designing relevant youth programs?

Relevant connects two elements: the nature of the gospel and the reality of the daily life of the next generation. Because of the changing of times every time and context is in need of their own ‘relevant’ programs. Not because the gospel is changing, but the daily life of young people is.

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Is the church investing part of their resources in empowering youth leaders?

Actions speak louder than words, not only saying that the next generation is important, but also showing that by investing part of their resources (money, goods, manpower, trust) makes that statement count.

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Is the church willing to be accountable for youth leaders in their church?

Church leaders and members can invest in youth leaders and support them. The youth leader knows that the Church or the Church leader has his / her back.

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04 …Understands catering to the need of the next generation

Are youth leaders able to build relationships with the next generation in youth ministry?

Paul was saying: I was so full of love for you that I didn’t only shared the gospel with you, but also my own life. This is the core of relational youth ministry. You can share the gospel, but if you don’t have love for the next generation, this may lead to nowhere.

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Are youth leaders doing life together with their youth? Eat together. Have fun together. Live life together.

The youth meetings are not just about the youth sitting in silence while the youth leader teaches but they experience different aspects of life together and have genuine fellowship. The youth leader is involved and invested in the lives of their youth (also outside of the youth meetings).

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Are youth leaders able to combine fun, creativity, and relevant biblical teaching?

The ability to bring those elements of fun, creativity and relevant teaching together often builds the bridge between the daily life of the next generation and the word of God. Fun is not the sole aim, but can be a tool to open up the heart, mind and ears for the deeper truth.

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Are youth leaders able to be relevant, in touch with the everyday life of their teens?

Youth leaders that show understanding of the day to day challenges that teens face are able to connect biblical teaching and life application of biblical truths better to the next generation. Their teaching just make sense more. This is not only on an artificial level, like the use of words, but also on a deeper level, give context to the challenges a next generation faces.

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Are youth leaders able to align different activities during the year?

Different examples showed that the combination of different activities grows the relationship with and between young people deeper. Also the variety of different activities cater to the need of different teens and helps them to understand things from different perspectives.

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Are youth leaders able to connect youth to deeper value of traditions and sacraments?

E.g. a traditional Church that is able to explain the catechisms, sacraments, liturgies, icons etc. in a way that is moving, relevant and impactful for youth in their day to day life

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Are youth leaders able to challenge youth to look outside church into society?

E.g. a traditional Church in IQ that invested all their resources into the youth group, helped them understand their own needs and the needs of others which led to the young people being able to reach out into their wider community and be a blessing to those outside of the Church community.

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Are youth leaders able to use the Bible to play a role in (coming to) faith of young people?

Are youth leaders Bible literate and able to explain the Bible in a way that makes sense to youth who are both inside and outside the Church.

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Are youth leaders able to be a role model shaping lives of young people?

The youth leader is someone that the youth look up to, they set a positive example for the youth and the youth follow their example, therefor it is important that they are transparent to youth.

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Are youth leaders able to build resilience with youth as individuals and in their communities within and outside the Church?

Growing up in a society that is not always tolerant towards Christians asks a certain resilience from the next generation. Helping to grow their ability to bounce back under different forms of pressure will show a more sustainable way of youth ministry.

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Are youth leaders able to create a save environment where youth are welcomed, and all participate and use their gifts?

The youth ministry is a safe space for youth and the youth can trust their leaders even with the difficult things. Leaders are welcoming to all young people and encourage them to have a role and use / discover their gifts and make mistakes without shame or condemnation within the group

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Are youth leaders able to fill the gaps where national infrastructure fails e.g. sports tournaments, youth activities?

In some cases it has shown that the government is not able to reach out the next generation of their country. Reaching out to them with different activities can open up a great opportunity to engage with the teens on a deeper level, and give a different message for them than: you don’t count.

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Are youth leaders able to create an environment where believing kids want to bring their friends to activities?

The youth group is fun, they don’t use language that is alien to those outside the Church, everyone is welcome and it feels like a family even to an outsider looking in.

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Are youth leaders able to understand the needs of girls can be different to the needs of boys in youth ministry?

Sustainable youth ministry is not one size fit all. Being a boy or girl does matter. Being a teen or a young adult as well. The more you understand that needs can change because of that, the better you are able to grow a form of sustainable youth ministry.

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Are youth leaders able to understand the impact of persecution on young people?

Youth leaders can recognise and identify persecution and understand how youth experience persecution. This understanding informs how they minister to youth and how it differs between boys and girls they lead.

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05 …Inderstands how to engage the church community for the next generation

Are change agents for youth and youth ministry able to bring change from inside of church whilst respecting authority?

The experience of different churches is that if you have buy in of the church authority to engage with the next generation, and maybe more than that, the support of the church community, that it will help to connect with the next generation more fruitful. Praying elderly people are more helpful environment than a nagging older generation when it comes to youth.

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Are change agents for youth and youth ministry able to work ecumenically and interdenominationally?

Change agents for youth and youth ministry are not discouraged from working and collaborating with other Churches and denominations to impact youth

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Are change agents for youth and youth ministry able to build trust with leadership?

Change agents for youth and youth ministry have a good relationship with the Church leaders. The Church leaders are supportive in their work with youth and there is mutual trust.

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Are change agents for youth and youth ministry able to highlight positive results?

Change agents for youth and youth ministry can think strategically about the needs of youth and are able to tell when an activity or resource is working well for their youth

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Are change agents for youth and youth ministry able to respect the structure of a church when finding the route in?

Change agents for youth and youth ministry are able to influence and impact in a way that honours the Church, it’s leadership and structures.

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Are change agents for youth and youth ministry able to involve other stakeholders for youth, e.g. (grand) parents?

Change agents for youth and youth ministry are also connected with parents, teachers, family members, other leaders etc. and their ministry with youth also enriches, involves and blesses these wider stakeholders.

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If you look at what you just filled out, what does it say about the youth ministry in your church? *

What does it say about the area’s that are your strength? *

What does it say about the area’s that you can grow in? *

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