this is an amazing list. you are right the future of YM hangs on how youth pastors implement this list.
i am really fascinated with the idea of taking youth group outside of the church walls. i think we will see more and more youth ministries become smaller and detached from their youth group. Rather youth ministries will start to claim territories in their town/city as their sacred and communal space.
the goal will be to get more students to belong before they believe. i think youth pastors try really hard getting non-believers into their “church space”, which is not attractive to them at all. youth pastor assume their cool/hip youth room will be the place and space non-believers will instantly feel comfortable and at ease.

Incredible list. Thanks so much for sharing…
Gives me a lot to think about/pray about…

“Provide inspiring training for the parent of the students”
Amen. Would like to hear some ideas on how best to accomplish that.

A year ago I would’ve looked over this list and thought (a bit sarcastically) , “Okay, I’ll do all these things AND take more time off for my wife, for personal retreats, etc…”
I’m learning that the key for me (and anyone else who tends to lean toward debilitation when they look at lists like this) is to take 1 or 2 things and just start doing them… to not over-analyze and/or drown in wishful thinking, but to just write an encouraging note to a kid, or call a (potential) mentor, or any of these other things on the list.
God bless you all.

If you do end up following up on this, I’d like to read a bit about the distinction between “theologically” and “methodologically” in your first bit. It sounds right, but when I thought about it for a moment, I realized I had no idea what you meant.

It is when you say things like these that I recall again the reasons why I so much enjoy ministering with you. Thanks.

One thing ,please forgive, Not one who just has to add.
1. I see cliques that are permitted from on gen-age to the other
focusing on that would be a priority.
2, Well another,,,,,,,,, Serving the needy, we send kids on mission
trips where there has to be a “reward system”ala Surfing in
CR… When… there are needy@ the door of the church. It should
not be Habitant for Humanity but service to the hood by the
local church, starting with the college group being in complete charge and passing this down to the teens,,,
thanks for a great stimulus( a real one) by Faith………
D

I was a youth minister for eight years, and have now been a priest for ten. I feel like I did a lot of things “right.” But here is what I would say:
You are a youth minister. You have a limited time with these kids. You will run afoul of some people, and eventually you will be fired or forced to quit, no matter what you do. Accept that. So be unafraid. Without fear or apology, know nothing but Christ and him crucified. Do not even attempt to entertain or compete with entertainment culture. Do not be an agent of parental morality or control. Instead, point these kids to Jesus and his Kingdom in everything you do.

What iHaj (8) said is exactly true.
If I were to go back into youth ministry I would make teaching and seeking to live the Jesus Creed the central and organizing principle of the ministry

@Nate #5, a good discussion of theological youth ministry is found in the book “Starting Right” (published by zondervan, edited by Dean, Clark, and Rahn), which is a collection of essays on youth ministry, and a book I highly recommend.