The six practices of effective youth ministry

When we talk about youth ministry, what do we mean?

What makes ministry to ‘youth’ unique or even necessary? 

While there are debates around the necessity of specialised ministry to youth, we argue that young people are a distinct group in our society. They are identified through language, legislation and culture as being in a unique phase of life. They have specific social and developmental needs that mark them as different from other age groups. They also are experiencing their adolescence at a particular time in history, facing issues and social contexts that other generations before them have not. 

Because of these factors, they require a specialised expression of ministry to address their needs and help them grow and develop as followers of Jesus. This is what youth ministry is.

But what does ‘good’ youth ministry look like? Youth ministry has taken different forms across history, especially in response to times of great social change.