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Organizing Leadership for Youth Ministry
Roles:
Commission or Coordinating Committee
Oversee the overall ministry development, set policy, assess efforts, liaison to other leadership groups, advocacy, etc.
Program Planning
Creates plan for specific activities, secures needed resources and people, manages registration of youth, etc.
Program Leaders
Help to facilitate specific programs and activities with the guidance of the program planners.
Support Staff
Assist with the "behind the scenes" tasks for the overall ministry and/or specific programs (keeping records, office tasks, telephone calls, organizing supplies, etc.
Nature of the Responsibilities:
Direct Roles:
Adults interact with the young adolescents and act as models, mentors and ministers for the young people.
Ministry Guides - develop and maintain an ongoing relationship with a group of youth such as: catechists, sponsors, mentors, group leaders, etc.
Event or Program Facilitators - lead a particular event or program, but other adults function as the direct leaders with the youth (a team of adults organizes and facilitates a "scavenger hunt night", but other adults are the group leaders for each team).
Support Roles:
Adults do not interact with youth, but rather complete tasks that support the ministry (office tasks, planning, shopping, driving, setup/cleanup, organize supplies, telephone calls, computer tasks, etc.)
Setting:
Individual one-on-one
Small group
Large group
Focus:
Clarify the focus and intent of the activity - people will be interested in leading different types of programs: catechetical, prayer and worship, justice and sen/ice, outreach, advocacy, social and fellowship, outdoor recreation, etc.
Format:
Gathered: youth and adults are gathered together for the activity (at church or some other site)
Non-gathered: does not require the church to gather people for the ministry to occur- it could include things such as: birthday card ministry, attending and supporting youth at school and community activities such as sports and music concerts, bus stop greeters, prayer support network, "email pals," etc.)
Commitment:
One time - chapel-one at a dance; cook on a retreat; help with a bulk mailing
Periodic - quarterly service projects; Advent/Lenten prayer services; seasonal social events
Ongoing - catechists; monthly fellowship groups; "adopt-a-youth" for a year (Big-Brother style)
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