Shutting Down Your Youth Ministry

Have you ever thought about doing this? I’m not talking about shutting it down, closing the doors and never opening them again. What I’m talking about is shutting down your youth ministry over Christmas break, march/spring break, easter weekend, or over the summer.

I’m seeing this more and more and as I speak to youth workers, this is not just denominational specific. This is

Design this, you have time to plan for your youth group.

happening right across denominational lines.

The reasons for this epidemic of shutting our youth ministry down are from paid  and volunteer youth workers:

• i don’t have the resources
• i’m not a paid youth worker
• i have a family
• i have vacation
• we are giving the kids a break
• we give pour volunteers a break
• most of our students go away at this time
• what's your reason?

My response:

• your kids don’t care about resources, they care about you in their life.
• you have not been a paid your worker the rest of the year.
• did you have a family the rest of the year?
• take your vacation. enjoy and rest. let someone else take the lead for the youth ministry.
• kids and youth workers take breaks all the time when they can’t make it out during the rest of the year.
• most of your students going away is not ALL. You need to get over the numbers game your playing and address this with God. It’s not about most but about one.

The one thing I know about youth workers, paid or volunteer, is that you are creative enough to over come obstacles. Just because the school calendar tells us that their is no school does not give us the right to say to our students that God has entrusted to us that their is no youth group scheduled.

There are many reason why youth workers honestly cancel youth group and here are three I have seen:

• insecurity
• control
• greed

Surprise your kids and church by not cancelling your youth group over break. Create a new plan and involve your students to help you accomplish it. They will surprise you, guaranteed! 

Pray and ask God:

Do what ever it takes in me

for your kingdom

for my freedom

so that others may see Jesus

The Youth Room - Part 1

If money was not an option, what would be in your youth room?

A few youth workers gave me their dream ideas:

• multiple game systems
• lounge/living room area (new not cast offs)
• ping-pong table
• foosball
• air hockey
• snack & beverage area
• lighting system
• sound system
• HD projector
• multiple HD flat screen tv’s
• open wifi
• stage
• seating around small round tables.
• mirrored disco ball
• full sized gym

What's would you add to this list?

Share your youth room photos here and I will post them next week for part 2 of The Youth Room.

Jeff Smyth is a youth worker who has been involved in both the local church and non-profit areas of Canada for  15 years. Jeff lives in Toronto with his wife Heather and son Nathan.
Jeff is online: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+

Three Ways to Connect with Teenagers During Christmas Break

Let’s face it, Christmas break brings an entirely new and short menu of ministry venues: Christmas Eve services, family trips, New Years Eve parties and regular late nights. Even during this short break there are plenty of opportunities for ministry during these two weeks.

But what are some of the best arenas where teenagers actually open up and talk during the Christmas break? And what are some tools we can give our adult leaders to seek out these times?

Here’s two ways that we can connect with teenagers during these Christmas break:

3) Scheduled: have your small group or a small group of students and other youth workers over to your house. This can be a relaxing time to eat all your chocolates and cookies while watching a Christmas movie or to play a group board game together. This time should be relaxed and fun. No agenda or Bible study, just a time to hang out and enjoy your time together.

2) Non-Scheduled Scheduled: post that your family is going to a public event (skating/mall shopping/McDonalds for lunch/etc…) and say that youth are welcome to join you there. This is a low key time together where they will see you with your family and where you will not have any responsibilities for a youth group event. Make sure they know that they are responsible for their own costs.

1) You Fill In the Blank: … yeah… I left this blank on purpose because you all probably have the best ideas! Use the comments below to let us in on your #1 tip for connecting with young people this Christmas Break!