A youth group rarely develops on its own, but there are a variety of ways to build enough interest and community to get a youth group on its feet. Michael Anderson, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Orthodox Church of America, shares 20 practical ideas.
What can you do to start a youth ministry program in your parish? It is as easy as spending time with them and showing them the love of Christ.
- Ask the youth!
Young people want their church to be a great place. If asked properly, they are full of ideas. - Have a Youth Sunday
If the youth are not already an ongoing part of your parish or church's liturgical cycle or worship service, find ways to get them involved. Have them manage the candle sales, the offering baskets, and coffee hour. Gather a group of interested young singers and have them sing something as a group in the services. Have a young person write and preach a sermon with the help of the pastor or parish priest. - Plan a retreat
Retreats are a great opportunity for young people to grow in their faith while becoming more informed and articulate about their faith. They can even have fun doing it! Every retreat needs opportunities for the participants to just "hang" with each other. - Hold a fellowship event
Get the youth together to go skiing, roller skating, or bowling. Take a group to a football game, or other sports event. Let them know that you can be a Christian and still have fun. You can bring a spiritual element into the activity by beginning and ending with prayer. - Have a youth auction
Offer services to members at a small fee for a Saturday or summer day and donate all proceeds to charity or a church sponsored missionary. - Plan a visit to a nursing home
Make cards for residents with photographs of the people that made them as well as a personal note about themselves. - Visit the homebound
Bring a meal, and most importantly your love! The time you spend with them will bring them—and your youth—a great deal of joy. - Volunteer to serve at a local soup kitchen once a month
You might also want to explore the possibility of helping at a homeless shelter. - Start a tutoring program for people who can't afford to pay
Use the church as a meeting place. - Find out if the church needs anything
Instill a sense of ownership among the youth by holding a fundraiser to pay for a needed item at the church (i.e. candles, church school materials, new front door, etc.). - Visit parishioners in the hospital and pray with them
Create thoughtful cards or deliver other expressions of love and concern. - Have a lock-in fast to raise awareness about world hunger
End with a short Service of Thanksgiving for all God has given and a prayer for the needy. - Start or help out a local food pantry
Look into your area's agencies that deliver meals to homebound individuals, such as Meals on Wheels. Offer your services. - Record audio tapes of inspirational books for people who have trouble reading
Ask your priest or pastor for help in making appropriate selections. - Make a video or cassette tape of your church's weekly mass, liturgy, or worship service
… to encourage those who homebound. - Ask your priest or pastor if your group can bake and bring the church bread for a Divine Liturgy or communion
Organize a group to do the baking together. - Serve a meal
… to the parish, or maybe a group in the church, such as the ruling board, the elderly, pastor or priest's family, etc. - Offer to greet the visitors at church for a certain number of Sundays
Invite the visitors to attend coffee hour after services. - Seek out adults who want to share their faith and lives with young people
Get together with them and examine what youth ministry is, and get them involved. - Ask the youth!
None of us like meetings and activities being planned for us. Get everyone together and include them in your planning. Some of the most effective youth ministry occurs when youth minister to each other.
Michael Anderson is director of the Orthodox Church of America Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries.
Copyright ©2004
