Launching Youth Presence in Georgia

In May and June, the Diocese of Georgia will launch its Youth Presence Initiative with the same meeting repeated in Augusta, Tifton, and at Honey Creek to maximize participation. This new initiative is designed to guide congregations through a process to create an effective youth ministry for their context. Congregations of every size hoping to positively impact their youth and others in the community are highly encouraged to put together a team of six adults for those first meetings in May.

At the heart of creating and supporting a strong youth presence is what is called the The Three Phase Approach to Youth Ministry. This approach has been proven very effective over many years and provides the framework for any context for a vital ministry with teens. It should be said at the start that this development and training come from a strong belief in youth led ministry and the gifts that our young people bring. We also believe that the presence of youth transforms a congregation and is essential to congregational health and vitality.

Phase One: Creating the Vision

The first step is to create a vision. Youth ministry must emerge from the situation and context of your congregation. There is no perfect youth program that works for everyone or one person who can single-handedly attract youth. Thriving ministry with and by young people comes from God’s vision for you in the place where you are. During the May meetings, participants will be guided through a visioning process for the particular congregation and the community.

Phase Two: Raising up adult teams

A core value of this approach is that youth ministry requires a team of adults not a single person or pair of people. Most churches think it is difficult if not impossible to find more than one or two to work with youth people. Some churches hire someone thinking that is the solution. Experience shows that it takes many gifts and many people and that several adults can be raised up if we know how to do it and are committed to it. Once the adult teams are identified they must be trained. The Diocese will provide that training in September through this initiative.

Phase Three: Youth Led Ministry

Youth Presence’s strongest core value is to raise up young people as leaders and that it is not only their presence but their leadership that transforms congregations. The vision and adult teams must be in place first in order to build a foundation of support, but this is not hierarchical approach of adults who make all the decisions and who tell young people what they should do, feel and believe. Youth Presence affirms the extraordinary gifts of teenagers and believe that their ability to use those gifts to make a difference in our congregations and the world. We also are convicted that leadership training of young people is as essential as it is for adults. Training for youth will follow, but is not reflected in the schedule below.