Does your ministry network reflect a biblical, global picture of youth ministry-and the mission of the church?
Most of us understand the "marching orders" Jesus gave us in Matthew 28:18-20 - the passage called the "Great Commission." If we heed those orders, everything we do needs to ultimately aim at fulfilling the Great Commission while living out the Great Commandment of love (Mark 12:29-31). The distinctive of a Christian youth worker is that our lives reflect this purpose, and every part of our lives align with it. Our ministries should train "Great Commission disciples" (also reflected in 2 Timothy 2:2). And our local networks should be intentional about obeying that commission.
Using the metaphor of train tracks, a "missional" ministry network goes somewhere. Did you ever get an electric train at Christmas? With all its twists and turns, the train ultimately only went in a circle — unlike the tracks of your network which should lead toward the destination of making disciples...globally!
Second, an effective network's track runs on two "rails:"
Relationship and Strategy - both are needed for a successful partnership.
Third, a good network is built section by section: the heart and life of the youth worker, building an intentional ministry environment, partnering relationships, strategies you adopt as a ministry network, sharing resources and planning events that result in more Christ-following youth. All you do should point students oward the world that Jesus died to save. He wants to involve them in the excitement of reaching the planet.
The illustration shows how the sections of track build on one another, and how a purposeful network fits in:
Personal Life Style
Youth workers in a networking community set their hearts toward a Personal Lifestyle that demonstrates obedience to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment in everything they are and do. In relationship with other ministry network members, they support, exhort and encourage one another to stay "on target."
Ministry Environment
The same adults labor to create a Ministry Environment in their youth ministries that helps train young people to be "multiplying disciples." They read books, attend seminars, seek counsel, and help one another keep their focus sharp so their ministries are on target.
Network's Activities
The Network's Activities intentionally support the personal lives and ministries of its members. The network's prayer, discussions, and activities focus on cooperating to fulfill the Great Commission in the community. That's personal and missional...both tracks.
Campus/Community Strategies
The ministry network prayerfully decides on the Campus/Community Strategies to reach and equip every teenager in the community. Many strategies and workers may already be in place to reach different niche groups, but there is a spirit of cooperation and being of "one mind" as they bring these strategies to the table where they can be coordinated.
Materials and Resources
People in the network identify Materials and Resources (videos, curricula, people, etc.) to use in implementing the strategies. Youth, adults and youth workers are trained to use the materials as they carry out the strategies.
Events
The local network sponsors or supports Events that train believers (students, parents, youth workers, teachers, etc.), create opportunities for evangelism and build God's kingdom in the community. These may include prayer gatherings, outreaches, leadership training, parenting seminars, supporting crisis pregnancy centers or reaching out to the homeless. Youth themselves go from being recipients to being the ministers, working alongside adults.
Mature Graduates
The goal is to disciple Mature Graduates who are launched from a community like this, and who go on growing as they make a global impact-their lives oriented toward the same target.
Is your ministry network intentionally steering toward the Great Commission or is the train "off track?"
Making Relationship and Strategy Tracks
Like a train, a network runs on two "rails." In a network, those rails are Relationship and Strategy. It is built section by section, towards the target. Everything we do needs to ultimately aim at fulfilling the Great Commission while living out the Great Commandment. Consider these questions to help you and your network stay on track.
Personal Lifestyle
- What can you do in your network to encourage a lifestyle of living out the Great Commission and Great Commandment?
- How do you sharpen one another, like "iron sharpens iron"?
Ministry Environment
- How can you help each other - including volunteer-led groups in your community - to create healthy ministry environments that train youth to be Christ-following disciples?
Network Activities
- How can you encourage both the soul care of your members and strategies for working together to reach and equip teenagers within your network?
Campus/Community Strategies
- What strategies at schools and with non-students are you implementing or championing for equipping students to make disciples?
- How do you evaluate these strategies in light of their ultimate purpose?
Materials & Resources
- What resources and training are available in your community to effectively equip youth and leaders in the disciple making process?
Events
- What events can you work on together as a network?
Mature Graduates
- What ways can you mature and graduate teenagers for global impact?
- What are some ways to continue encouraging those who have graduated from your youth group?