A Look Into The Impact Of Youth Ministry On The Church

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission from purchased products at no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

If you’re looking for a way to bring in more young people to your church or you’re wondering how to reach the ones you already have, perhaps you need a youth ministry. There are differing views in the church today about what youth ministries should look like. From the attractional model to the relational model to the missional model, it seems everyone has an opinion on how it should be done, or whether it should be done at all. In small churches, it can be a challenge to determine the best approach to use. It is certainly easier to fold the youth in with the rest of the congregation for lack of volunteers or lack of space. 

I’ve volunteered in youth ministry with and without my youth-pastor-husband for 25 years now and I’ve worked with groups from 3 to 350. Large or small, for better or worse, I will always be an advocate of ministry focused on teens. 

I currently serve with the youth in our 5-year-old church plant. We consistently run 8-10 kids. We have tried different models and combinations of models with and without worship music, at church, in a home, large group, small groups, fun nights, individual mentoring. Guess what. The same kids come every time. They care more about the fact that they are loved when they get there than what style of service we are having. So, don’t stress over the program. Focus on the people. And be patient, it takes time. 

Recently, two of our girls made a decision to follow Jesus. This was after 3 years of welcoming, teaching, loving, and investing in them. God reminded us that He is always at work, even when we don’t see it.

The Important Role Youth Ministry Plays In The Church

Scripture tells us that the church body is a family unit. (Galatians 6:10) In any family unit, the neglect of one member affects the whole group. (1 Corinthians 12:26) If someone misses a meal or doesn’t get enough sleep, everyone knows it! The same is true with our church families. When all parts are healthy, the church is healthy.

However, sometimes we miss the signs of malnutrition. Adults have their services, kids are tended to by a volunteer or distracted with toys so parents can participate, but what of those quiet teens? They may sit and listen, but don’t let their silence fool you. They have unique needs as well. When those are unmet, the whole body suffers. It may be difficult to detect at first, but left unchecked over time, the deficiency becomes undeniable. How can you spot it early?

You may need a youth ministry in your church if …

• Your seats after church are littered with offering envelopes covered in scribbles and doodles.
• You see teenager heads bobbing during the service.
• Your teens don’t sing along to the worship songs.
• Your teens don’t bring friends to church.
• You have more than one teenager in your congregation.

These are characteristics and behaviors of teens who are unengaged and therefore are not likely to be growing in their faith. A church youth group can change that!

Youth ministry provides an environment where teens can have meaningful conversations with other people who have a shared cultural experience. It provides a safe place for asking hard questions, allowing them to make sense of what they are taught in church in light of what they see and experience outside those walls.

It is a place where they can hear the Word of God, maybe for the first time, and learn to see the world, themselves, and others through the eyes of Jesus. It’s a place made just for them, where people speak their language, and they can belong just because of who they are. It’s a place where their faith is safe to grow. 

Looking At The Impact Of Youth Ministry On The Church

Imagine what your church would look like if you had a young person greeting at the door, singing or playing instruments, or serving in other ministries. How is that related to youth ministry you ask? A well-rounded youth ministry will have results that are obvious.

Beyond participating in youth ministry programs and Wednesday night youth services, when teens love God it shows and they inspire us to be more devoted to Him as well. Here are a few ways you might notice the effects of a healthy youth ministry in your church family.

1. For starters, teens, by nature, have energy. Yes, even the quiet ones. (Get those shy girls together with no boys around and you will see a new side of them.) When that energy is directed toward the pursuit of a relationship with Jesus Christ, their energy becomes contagious. When that energy is directed toward serving in the church, they bring new life to dry places. They bring a vibrancy of spirit to our ruts and routines. If we allow it, they can even revitalize the tired and mundane and remind us that there is much to be excited about when it comes to the kingdom of God. Like the Woman at the Well, when they meet Jesus in person, they will run to tell others. (John 4)
2. Caring for the members of the family keeps everyone healthy. In a healthy family, the older members teach the younger generations, and vice versa. Yes, we can all learn from each other no matter our age. Whether it’s learning to tie your shoes or remembering how to play in the rain, a healthy family provides for each other in different ways. Multi-generational connection is key to a healthy church body. Teens need to be with other teens, but they should not be exclusive. In a healthy church, teens serve with the rest of the body. Spiritual growth is paramount, but faith without works is dead. (James 2:26) When every member serves, the whole body wins.
3. Teens are the bridge between those living in the middle of today’s pop culture and those of us who are increasingly separated from it, whether by age, interest, or lack of exposure. You don’t have to stay long in the presence of teenagers for that distance to be revealed. (Skibidi rizz, anyone? And what is a Doja Cat, anyway?) If your church body and especially your church leadership is to minister to the world around it, you must be able to relate to the people there. You must be able to explain how a spiritual and personal relationship with Jesus is valuable. Know the lingo, the prevailing mindsets, the latest lies the enemy is pushing them to believe. If you know your enemy, you can fight him. Teens need people who can meet them where they are and talk about the things that matter to them. I’m not saying let the influence of the world into your church. I’m saying a healthy church will meet teenagers where they are.
4. A primary goal of any church of any size should be spiritual growth for everyone who attends. The very purpose of youth ministry is to help teens grow spiritually. When the Word of God is taught in a way teens can understand, considering the context of their culture and the world they see every day, they learn what the Bible teaches about God’s love, their identity in Christ, healthy boundaries, truth, and how to combat cultural lies that seep in daily. Armed with this understanding and the ability to see the world as Jesus does, they will develop a love for God that transcends their circumstances. You will see it. This is a lasting faith that extends beyond their time in your church. When they ultimately leave the nest, as they should, they will carry this faith with them, because it has become their own.

Recognizing The Lasting Impact

Teaching the next generation of deacons, evangelists, and Bible study leaders how to faithfully live a life that is pleasing to God is not just for their benefit. The impact continues with those who will come after them. The important role of youth ministry as a concentrated, youth-specific environment for teaching spiritual truths cannot be over-emphasized.

We have only a small window of time to mentor these teens through the difficult terrain of adolescence. When we meet them where they are and teach them to take the hand of Christ, they find what it truly means to know Him, to love Him, and to be part of the family of God. When they find this sense of belonging in a Christian environment, they lose the desire to seek it elsewhere. 

These awkward, goofy kids are the future leaders who will be running the world someday. The impact we have on their lives does not stop. We are all links in a chain. Their faith will pass on to their children and their children’s children because we value teens enough to invest ourselves in helping them to know Christ.

If you feel that youth ministry isn’t your gift, teens make you tired, and you can’t understand a word they say, you can still love them. You don’t have to be the youth pastor or even a youth leader to have an impact. Be a good family member. Just notice them, make eye contact, say hello, and compliment them. A kind word goes a long way at that age. Pray for them. Sponsor them on a spiritual retreat or missions opportunity. Invite them to assist you in your ministry or area of service. Help them to know Christ by being His example. (Titus 2:7) Even if they look at you funny, they will remember what you said. 

What You Do Matters

Let us take good care of each other as we “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24, NIV). Let us remember that the younger ones are still a part of us. Let us offer spiritual guidance and welcome their energy. As we tend to the needs of each other, we learn to bridge the gap between “us” and “them” and become “we.” We grow healthy and we ensure that the gospel moves forward after we are gone. You have more impact on the life of a teen than you realize.

Whether your youth gathering is a small quiet discussion of scripture over a meal or a boisterous gathering of rowdy boys, whether you have 2 or 20, whether you have a paid youth pastor or a volunteer leader, when they see that you love them they will listen to you. And you can share the treasure you have found in Christ. You may plant seeds of faith or water them, but only God makes them grow. (1 Corinthians 3:7) Keep your chin up and know that what you do matters. All of it matters. You may not change the whole world, but you could definitely change theirs.

Read More:

Keeping Kids Safe In Church Youth Group 

Youth Prayer: Praying For Youth And Teaching Its Importance 

Build Relationships Within Your Youth Group – Small Church Ministry