Help! I'm a Small Church Youth Worker: Achieving Big-Time Success in a Non-Mega Ministry (Paperback)

Chapter One

It was the end of the day-and the end of a week of inspiring youth ministry seminars. We were a cheerful group of about a dozen youth workers, comfortably seated around the dinner table, all of differing ages, regions, denominations ... and church sizes.

Our conversation began innocently enough, sparked by what we'd heard from seminar leaders earlier in the day. But then one of the large church youth workers asked the dreaded question:

"So ... how big is your youth ministry?"

The large church youth workers responded immediately and with great enthusiasm, listing their expansive, active memberships, noting their state-of-the-art ministry resources, and sharing their awesome visions and strategies for additional growth. Feeling woefully inadequate, we small church youth workers grew increasingly quiet. Our confidence and cheerfulness evaporated.

Later in the evening, a few of us vented in the hotel lounge (actually we were completely exasperated!). After some reflection, we noted a number of ways that our churches differed from large churches-mainly in areas related to environment, expectations, and goals. And it became clear to our group: We need something different, because we are different! Not incompetent-just different.

In other words, small church youth workers need a specialized approach to youth ministry.

Chapter Two

Why are there so many small churches?

It's important to keep in mind that a huge percentage of small churches couldn't be anything but small. Why? Because there aren't enough people living around them! In vast stretches of our country, there simply isn't the population density for large churches-or the numbers to allow for huge youth ministry programs.

The midwestern city of Columbus, Ohio, has almost 660,000 residents; the entire state of Wyoming has fewer than 500,000 residents.

Why does church location affect my ministry?

There are small churches everywhere, from the big city to the farmland. Their geographies directly affect their special cultures and needs-their particular personalities, values, and traditions. So ... everything from cultural and ethnic issues to transportation and travel can (and will) have an enormous impact on how youth workers in small churches develop their programs.

But before you begin ministry at your small church, you should be aware of some location-specific issues for churches in urban, inner-ring, suburban, small-town, and rural locations.

Urban Locations

Youth workers in small, urban churches face a number of issues that other small churches don't face. Be prepared for the following:

1. Limited finances-even less cash than the average small church.

2. Safety-crime and dangerous areas might affect meeting times, locations, and frequency.

3. Multi-ethnicity-not just African Americans and Latinos, but also Europeans, Southeast Asians, Russians ... in short, every nationality!

4. Acute family problems-young single mothers, absentee fathers, and often grandparents and other family members as guardians.

5. Limited mobility-public transportation might be students' only way to youth group activities.

6. Significant poverty-many single mothers struggle to provide, and fathers might be out of work.

7. Poor health-often families can't afford medical assistance.

8. Violence-for inner-city kids, it's a daily concern, and they may be afraid to attend youth group events because of it. (Between 7 and 9 p.m. in the summer can be the most dangerous time to hold youth group meetings in the inner-city.)

9. Fear of teenagers-older people in the community might suspect their young neighbors are "always up to no good."

10. Dilapidated buildings, limited space and out-of-date facilities-the church sanctuary might be the only decent meeting room available to you.

11. High student turnover-youth group kids may not stick around because of their parents' employment situations or other family problems.

If you plan to do youth ministry in a small, urban church, these sorts of issues must factor into the way you structure your programs. Kids in inner-city churches are aware of these issues, and if they and the congregation realize you're aware, too, you'll eliminate at least one hurdle.

In urban churches, you might have to deal with gang-related issues. If you don't have experience dealing with gangs, don't attempt it without help from very experienced people. (And even if you do have expertise-seek help anyway!) There are ministries established specifically to deal with gang members.

Inner-Ring Locations

The "inner ring" is positioned between suburban and urban areas and is often made up of older neighborhoods. The churches here are usually older, too. Often these churches grow slowly and don't attract new families. It's not uncommon for them to have a mix of blue- and white-collar workers. Generally, youth workers in small, inner-ring churches will face these issues:

Try starting youth group meetings at 7 or 7:30 on weeknights to avoid traffic tie-ups. Consider an after-school program if you live near a school.

1. Competition from larger churches with aggressive outreach programs-in small areas, the word about good programs gets around pretty quick!

2. Transportation problems-rush-hour traffic and bad weather can dissuade students who have to travel more than 20 minutes to youth group events.

Obtain athletic and activity schedules from school districts represented in your youth group. Plan all activities well in advance, balancing them between school calendars, your church's schedule, and ministry opportunities.

Plan fundraisers and inexpensive retreats and events. Doing this will increase participation and therefore build community. Make this a part of your youth ministry programming-don't view it as an add-on.

3. School and neighborhood loyalty-kids from rival schools and areas may not want to hang out with your kids (this can apply to adults, too!).

4. Financial difficulties-inner-ring families on fixed incomes usually don't have a lot of discretionary cash.

5. Denominational loyalty-adults in various congregations, particularly those in leadership, are often dedicated to carrying on their families' denominational traditions ... and are suspicious of others.

Suburban Locations

Of all the small churches, suburban congregations tend to have the easiest access to materials and leadership. In addition, the members of these churches are typically young, white-collar workers who are educated and business-minded. Youth workers in small suburban churches should be prepared for the following issues:

1. Turnover in student population-parents often move because of transfers and promotions.

2. Education-parents expect their kids to go to college, and most kids expect the same.

3. Mobility of students-they or their friends typically own cars.

4. Social sophistication-students are concerned about their social status and are introduced to social events early.

5. Overbooked schedules-involvement in sports, clubs, and other activities leaves little time for youth group.

Tweny minutes is the magic time limit! Although your sophomores, juniors, and seniors might be able to drive to events-even ones more than 20 minutes away-parents must drive your junior highers and freshmen. And if parents have to drive more than 20 minutes, often they won't-and those kids will stay home.

Because kids in suburbia are so busy, Sunday night is often the only night they have available to devote to youth group.

6. Potentially less support from parents-because of their own schedules, youth group might be low on parents' priority lists.

7. Conflicting schedules-many different schools, public and private, might be represented in your youth ministry and their schedules often conflict.

8. Expansion-many small suburban congregations want to grow.

9. High expectations-they have higher budgets to pay youth workers ... and they expect their money's worth.

10. Often more corporate-though still family-oriented.

11. Cash flow-often families with money to spend will move on quickly.

Small-Town Locations

Statistics show that two-thirds of all small churches come from small towns of 10,000 or less-that's 200,000 churches! There are, perhaps, more small churches in small towns than anywhere else in the country. Depending on the industry and history of the small town, the types of people in these congregations can vary widely. Similarly, there is no one dominant denomination in these churches. There are, however, some issues all small town youth workers should know about:

1. Loose denominational commitments-neighbors and friends may attend different churches, so they feel comfortable crossing church borders.

2. Lack of community growth-but the metropolitan and suburban areas are expanding.

Because they don't have the policy restrictions of larger, city schools, small town schools might be willing to work with the church to establish youth programs.

Work in harmony with (and often deference to) schools and other community programs; you might get to see your students more often this way.

3. More church-member involvement in youth group-for better or worse, more people in the church feel responsible for the kids.

4. More time-students' schedules might not be super-packed, so they have more free time for church ... or for not-so-good activities.

Rural youth workers should not be surprised if they encounter problems similar to those that plague urban and suburban kids. In January 2000, a study entitled "No Place to Hide" was presented at a mayors' conference. This study listed the following statistics for rural eighth graders in comparison with urban eighth graders:

It's more than twice as likely that rural eighth graders have smoked cigarettes and nearly five times as likely that they've used smokeless tobacco compared to rural eighth graders.

It's 29 percent more likely that they've used alcohol.

It's 70 percent more likely that they've been intoxicated.

It's 34 percent more likely that they've smoked marijuana.

It's twice as likely that they've used amphetamines.

It's 83 percent more likely that they've used crack cocaine.

Rural Locations

Unfortunately, when most people think of small churches, they picture tiny, dying churches in Podunkville. But don't be surprised if thousands of rural churches in America start growing. Eric Pooley, in an article titled "The Great Escape" (Time, Dec. 8, 1997), reports that in the last decade, "rural America has enjoyed a net inflow of 2 million Americans.... Thanks to the newcomers, 75 percent of the nation's rural counties are growing again after years of decline." Keeping this in mind, the rural youth worker should be aware of the following issues:

1. Tiny numbers-there aren't many families to draw from (yet).

Don't fight the County Fair! Incorporate it into your program.

Rural people tend to appreciate hard, physical labor. When visiting your rural students, consider offering to help bale hay, feed the animals, and water the garden. Your credibility is at stake here!

2. Paid youth workers? Ha!-sometimes small rural churches can't even afford part-time youth workers for the few kids in attendance (or full-time pastors!).

3. Limited resources-buildings might be old, and money is mostly scarce.

4. Limited education-many adults have attained a high school education (or less), and many of the students may not get much further. So be careful how you talk-avoid sophisticated airs with some.

5. Travel problems-distances between friends, schools, and church can be huge, and bad weather will add to the difficulty of these long trips.

6. Low participation-parents of rural kids are more likely to require their teenagers to help with the business or the house before they can go to youth group.

Keep the seasons in mind (and the special communal and individual needs associated with them): Field work is done in the summer; harvest and county fairs are in the fall; travel is "iffy" in the winter; and planting is done in the spring.

7. Seasonal events-harvest time, county fairs, local parades and events are highly important.

8. Schools and community involvement-schools and communities, for better or worse, may desire involvement in church youth programs.

9. Cultural preservation-rural folk expect their youth workers to value the rural lifestyle.

(Continues...)