I believe there is a lot of misunderstanding out there about what exactly a healthy youth ministry network does. Some see it as a bunch of youth workers sitting in a coffee shop complaining about their senior pastors. Some might fall under the category of a "good ole boys club" where youth workers come together and affirm one another without challenging or sharpening one another in their journey with Christ. Some are stunted by growth from a strong personality that wants to control the agenda and be seen as "The Leader" in the their community.
So lately I have been journaling observations and thoughts about what makes for a healthy network:
- They pray together constantly and work hard to find the needs of their community and figure out a way to meet those needs as a unified effort.
- They are not afraid to work with "secular" youth organizations to touch lives of students. By getting to know those invovled in Big Brothers/Big Sisters, United Way, Boy Scouts/Girls scouts, teachers, guidance counselors, principals...ANYONE who has a desire to positively impact teenagers, they are able to advocate for the faith-based members of their community. I am suprised by how many of these "secular" organizations/institutions wish the local churches would patner together to positively impact students using our unique influnce.
- Define the "clicks" in your community and figure out how they can be reached with the Gospel. If there are skateboarders bring in Untitled Skateboards. If there are artists bring in Eric Samuel Timm. Have drama students? Bring in the Skit Guys...you get the picture.
- Serve your city like Allies of Kenosha deos every spring. Instead of stretching budgets and trying to convince parents to get their kids to go to Mexico over spring break they partner with other youth ministries and do a week of missions in their own home town. They serve the schools, rake yards, help missionaries and so much more.
- Help churches without a youth pastor become part of youth ministry in your community by offering corporate worship gatherings and have the full time/part time staff help the other churches develop a ministry calendar for their own church incorporating community events as part of their plan.
These are just a few thoughts to start with. I would like to invite the rest of you to the conversation and see if we can drum up our own compilation of 99 Thoughts on Networking! Please keep your thoughts bite-sized and practical.