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PLANNING FOR YOUTH MINISTRY IN THE LARGER CHURCH: ACASE STUDY , A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY SOUTH HAMILTON, MASSACHUSETTS IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY M. KEVIN MCKEE MARCH 4, 1995 ABSTRACT This thesis addresses how a youth ministry may grow spiritually and numerically without compromising or crushing the life and integrity of the youth leader. The youth leader's character, vision for ministry and ministry context are the foundational issues to such growth, not merely programs and activities. This case study takes place in a church with a membership range of500-1000. A leader's personal character is reviewed from the accountability structures of prayer and relationships' with others. Vision is addressed as a life encompassing instruction from God. revealed through personal prayer and study. Finally, the youth leader is guided through a process of analyzing ministry programs considering the God-given VISIOn and the local church context. Instruction is given on how to implement and review possible changes. Principal insights from the project are that prayer and personal accountability structures are central to leadership development and VISIOn discernment. Furthermore, numerical growth and maturity of the local church youth group are directly linked to a youth leader's submission to God's vision both personally and professionally. VITA The author, Michael Kevin McKee, is a lifetime resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was born January 10,1963, to Larry and B.J. McKee. Kevin graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1981. He attend Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science. Kevin briefly left Baton Rouge to obtain a Masters of Theology Degree in Pastoral Ministries form Dallas Theological Seminary, but he quickly returned to Baton Rouge in 1991 asthe Youth Pastor to The Chapel on the Campus. He began his work at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1992 in conjunction with the Arrow Leadership Program ofLeighton Ford Ministries. Kevin completes his Doctor of Ministry Degree in May of 1996. He IS currently Assistant Pastor of Student Ministries at The Chapel on the Campus. Kevin is married to Mary Hook McKee and has three children: Monica, Stewart and Joanna. TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE............................................................................................................ Vi CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION TO THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING 1 Setting ofthe Case Study............................................................................ 1 Philosophy ofYouth Ministry, Overview................................................. 7 Methodology Overview................................ 10 II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 16 Introduction....................... 16 Youth Ministry Material......... 17 Pastoral and Leadership Material............................................................... 21 Classical Literature 34 III. THEOLOGY OF MINISTRY: PETER'S CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND VISION FOR MINISTRy................................ 43 Introduction 43 Peter's Character Shaped and Focused....................................................... 44 Peter's Character Shaped by Prayer 45 Prayer Taught and Demonstrated............... 45 Being with Jesus -- A Prayer Relationship for an Apostle... 48 Peter and Prayer after the Ascension.................................... 51 Peter's Character Shaped by Relationships ofAccountability........ 53 John: A Life Long Friend................................................... 53 Paul: A Confrontational Relationship 56 James: A Relationship ofRespect....................................... 57 Jesus: A Relationship with the Messiah.............................. 58 Conclusions Regarding Character Development through Prayer and Accountability........................................................................... 60 Peter's Vision for Ministry Clarified and Focused................. 61 The Development ofthe Vision 61 Vision Clarified: A Changed Identity 61 Vision Clarified: A New Mission........................................ 63 Vision Fostered through Time with Jesus 64 Vision: Experience and Authority 66 Vision Focused :.. 68 Vision Forged in Failure....................................................... 69 Vision: Larger than Self............ 71 Peter's Personal Vision in the Larger Mission Context 73 Conclusion Concerning Vision................................................................... 75 IV. PROJECT DESIGN 77 Phase One: Focusing the Youth Leader . 78 Focusing the Leader Starts with Personal Character Sensitivity . 78 Personal Character Sensitivity: Initiated by God- Dominated Prayer . 79 Action Point One: Practice God-Dominated Prayer and Develop Accountability Question . 81 Personal Character Sensitivity: Forged by Relationships of Accountability . 82 Action Point Two: Pursuing an Accountability Relationship .. 86 Personal Character Sensitivity: Practiced through Faith Acts 86 Action Point Three: Establishing a Faith Act.. . 90 Focusing the Youth Leader Continues with the Leader's Personal · · M' . V1S10n l~or imstry . 90 Personal Vision: Begins by Knowing Your Past.. . 93 Action Point Four: Reviewing'Your Past for Ministry Vision .. 95 Personal Vision: Broadened by Looking Ahead .. 96 Action Point Five: Dreaming about Your Ministry . 99 Personal Vision: Advanced through a Philosophy ofMinistry . 101 Action Point Six: Devise a Ministry Philosophy . 104 Personal Vision: Imparted to Ministry Team Through Communicationofa Vision Statement .. 105 Action Point Seven: Writing and Communicating an Initial Vision Statement.. . 109 Focusing the Youth Leader is Finalized by Understanding the Leader's Church Context. .. 110 Action Point Eight: Knowing Your Church Context .. 118 Cautions and Possible Problems in Interaction with Church .. 119 Summary ofthe Analysis ofthe Youth Leader's Context .. 121 iii Phase Two: Adjustments ofthe Youth Ministry in Light ofMinistry Focus........................................................................................................... 123 Adjustments Start with the Youth Leader 123 Action Point Nine: Adjustments in the Youth Leader's Life 125 Adjustments Extend to the Youth Ministry 126 Adjustments in Youth Ministry Resources 127 Appraisal ofYouth Ministry Programs and Events 128 Action Point Ten: Listing Possible Adjustments for the Youth Ministry 130 Adjustments are Finalized Through Interaction with Others 131 Action Point Eleven: Making Adjustments and Communication with Others 135 Summary ofAdjustment Phases...................................................... 136 Phase Three: Re-Focusing on Program Modifications and Changes ........ 137 Re-Focusing on the Youth Leader................................................... 139 Re-Focusing on Adjustments in Youth Ministry............................. 139 Action Point Twelve: Re-Focus ofMinistry and the Youth Leaders......................................................... 143 Conclusion 144 V. FINAL OUTCOMES AND RESULTS OF THE THESIS PROJECT...... 147 Outcomes and Results ofPhase One: Analysis ofthe Youth Leader........ 147 Character.......................................................................................... 147 Character Issues.................................................................... 147 Relationships ofAccountability........................................... 149 Accountability in Prayer..................... 151 Accountability through Acts ofFaith 151 Vision for Youth Ministry. 154 Shaping ofVision................. 155 Character Development: Effects ofVision 157 The Youth Leader's Understanding ofthe Church Context............ 158 StaffChanges during Thesis Project 158 Outcomes and Results ofPhases Two and Three: Adjustments and Review ofAdjustments ofMinistry in Light ofthe Vision........................ 160 Elimination and Additions 161 Leadership Training 162 Outstanding Additions.. 165 Continual Ministry Vision Focus 166 IV VI. SUMMARY REFLECTIONS OF THESIS PROJECT 168 Summary Reflections ofPhase One: Analysis ofthe Youth Leader.......... 168 Vision for Ministry 173 Ministry Context.............................................................................. 176 Summary Reflections ofPhase Two: Adjustments of Current Ministry Structures 178 Summary Reflections ofPhase Three: Reviewing Modifications 179 Conclusion.................................................................................................. 180 VII. APPENDIXES.... 182 Appendix A: Defining Character Issues... 182 Appendix B: Relationships ofAccountability.......... 192 Appendix C: Faith Acts.....:....................................................................... 195 Appendix D: Timeline Phases :........................... 200 Appendix E: Vision and Ministry 216 Appendix F: Ministry Philosophy 218 Appendix G: Vision Statement.................................................................. 236 Appendix H: Adjustments in the Ministry 238 Appendix I: Defining All Ministry Programs............................................ 240 Appendix J: Addition and Elimination to Ministry Programs................... 243 Appendix K: Understanding Ministry Structures.. 245 VIII. BIBLIOGRAPHY 248 Books 248 Journals 253 Reference Materials.................................................................................... 253 v CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION TO THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING Setting:ofthe Case Studv Life for teenagers grows increasingly more difficult, violent and confusing. Each year over 6.000 teenagers in the United States take their lives. The number I of children from divorced homes continues to increase. The jails in our country overflow with teenagers conv}cted of violent crimes. Gangs have become the family for many teenagers. The United States Justice Department suggests that - there are 125.000 to 250.000 aanz members across the countrv.' Drug use and , ...... .,; -. teenage pregnancy are also on the rise.' There is an increasing concern for children living in all backgrounds: the inner-city, suburban and rural areas of our country. Today, many groups are responding to the problems our children are facing. The Pope's 1993 visit to Denver focused on youth. Our public schools are responding with school counselors, drug awareness programs and sexuality courses. Various responses are coming from civic and government agencies IJerry Johnston, Who's Listening? (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan PublishingHouse, 1992), p. 22. 2Ibid., p.42. 3Ibid., pp.70-85. 2 concerned about teenagers. Churches are responding to the needs of their youth and surrounding communities with more and varied programs. An example of the quantitative response by the church was the 1993 National Youth Workers Convention (NYWC). It was the largest NYWC ever held, with over 2200 youth leaders" and youth ministry volunteers from around the country attending. This number does not include the numerous smaller churches around the country who did not attend, indicating that the number ofyouth leaders is even larger than those actually represented by the NYWC. The youth leader is beainninz to have credibility in manv communities. Once full-time youth workers - - .... .I were a luxury; today they are becoming a necessity in even the smaller churches. There is no doubt that the teenage years are full of struggles. Add to this stressful time suicide, violence, drugs and alcohol, and these years can be quite troublesome. Broken homes are as common as two- parent families. Stepfamilies and blended families (half-siblings) are the norm. Often the first question that this youth leader asks is, "Are your parents together?" Ministering to these hurting children and their families can compound a youth worker's already intense situation. 4In this setting and throughout the thesis. the "youth leader" is considered the person in charge ofthe oversight and leadership ofall the components ofthe youth ministry ofthe church. "Church leadership" includesthe governingbodyorbodies ofa local church.