Vision, Training and Safety

Topics

Vision, Training and Safety

Every youth ministry is tasked with having a clearly stated vision.

Without vision, the people perish… [Proverbs 29:18a]

Every youth ministry is tasked with having a clearly stated vision. In order to enact that vision, strong and faithful leaders need to be properly supervised and trained in providing spaces of unconditional love and acceptance for young people. This requires support from and engagement with the entire faith community. When all of these things provide the undergirding of a youth program, that program cannot help but grow in breadth and in depth.

Training Modules

Envisioning, Building and Sustaining Thriving Youth Ministries

Envisioning, Building and Sustaining Thriving Youth Ministries

Leading theologians and pastors explore the importance of youth ministry and how developing a mission and vision statement can help...

Recruiting, Training and Supervising Youth Workers and Volunteers

Recruiting, Training and Supervising Youth Workers and Volunteers

Leading theologians and pastors discuss the importance of attracting, training and supervising both youth workers and volunteers to lead thriving...

Quest for Life

Promulgating and Implementing Church Safety Guidelines

Theologians, philosophers, and pastors discuss the importance of maintaining boundaries, creating church safety guidelines, and instituting a system of regular...

Integrating Youth Ministry into the Wider Congregation

Integrating Youth Ministry into the Wider Congregation

This course explores the place of youth ministry within the congregation and how the church can better thrive when youth...

Curricular and Sample Materials

New Youth Leader “Crash Course”

Best practices for new youth workers and volunteers.

Nurturing Joy: Emotional Health 101

This lesson focuses on the important concerns of depression and suicide among youth.

Advisor-Leader Handbook

A sample handbook for training youth leaders.

Youth Group Handbook

This is an example of a youth group handbook outlining the philosophies and plans of youth program(s).

Parent-Guardian Meeting

This lesson provides an outline for a meeting with parents-guardians at the beginning of a youth group program year.

Youth Group Fall Schedule

Example of a fall schedule of youth group programming.

Safe Conduct Resources

A listing of denominational resources on church safety policies.

Developing and Implementing a Church Safety Policy

These are resources for researching, creating and enforcing a church safe conduct policy.

Internal Check List for Hiring Youth Workers

This list outlines suggested steps to take around church safety when hiring youth workers.

Safe Conduct Reference Check Questions

Examples of questions for a reference check to be in compliance with safe conduct concerns.

Safe Conduct Teen Volunteer Disclosure Form

Sample disclosure forms for teen volunteers in youth ministry.

Interview Questions for Youth Workers

These are examples of interview questions for people applying for youth worker positions.

Articles and Readings

Envisioning, Building and Sustaining Thriving Youth Ministries

Articles and resources on building and sustaining thriving youth ministries.

Recruiting, Training and Supervising Youth Workers

Further reading on how to build and supervise your youth ministry team.

Supporting the Emotional and Spiritual Lives of Adolescents

An essay by Nadja Reilly, Sarah F. Farmer, and Katherine Hyde on adolescent mental health from the Joy and Adolescent Faith and Flourishing project.

Mentoring Youth for Joy in Anxious Times

An essay by Allan Hugh Cole, Jr. and Philip Browning Helsel on anxiety and adolescents from the Joy and Adolescent Faith and Flourishing project.

Fake Joy: Substance Abuse and Young People’s Search for Wholeness

An essay by Joyce Mercer and Charles E. Atkins, Jr. on substance abuse from the Joy and Adolescent Faith and Flourishing project.

An Open Letter to Youth Ministers – Allen Hilton

Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton, founder and executive director of House United, a nonprofit initiative that helps groups collaborate across theological and political differences, writes an open letter to Youth Ministers.

An Open Letter to Youth Ministers – Amanda Mbuvi

Dr. Amanda Mbuvi, Assistant Professor of Religion at Highpoint University writes to youth ministers.

An Open Letter to Youth Ministers – Eric D. Barreto

Eric D. Barreto, Associate Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary writes to youth ministers.

An Open Letter to Youth Ministers – Laura Carlson Hasler

Laura Carlson Hasler, the Alvin H. Rosenfeld Chair in Jewish Studies, Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies and Religious Studies at Indiana University writes an open letter to youth ministers.

An Open Letter to Youth Ministers – Matthew Croasmun

Matthew Croasmun, Associate Research Scholar for the Yale Center for Faith and Culture writes to youth ministers.

An Open Letter to Youth Ministers – Michal Beth Dinkler

Michal Beth Dinkler, Associate Professor of New Testament at Yale Divinity School writes an open letter to youth ministers.

Belonging: Paul’s Notion of Autarkes

This reading is a segment by Michal Beth Dinkler from “Joy: A Guide for Youth Ministry”.

“Holding Lightly”: Cultivating Playfulness in Youth

An essay by Courtney Goto and Lakisha Lockhart on the importance of playfulness for adolescents from the Joy and Adolescent Faith and Flourishing project.

Integrating Youth into the Wider Congregation

Articles and resources on the place of youth ministry within the wider congregation.

Youth Wisdom: Pointing Towards Joy and Flourishing

An essay by Mary Elizabeth Moore and Yara Gonzalez-Justiniano on the wisdom of youth from the Joy and Adolescent Faith and Flourishing project.

Best Practice Videos

Promulgating and Implementing Church Safety Guidelines

Building Your Ministry – The Essentials

Recruiting, Training, and Supervising Youth Workers and Volunteers

Practicing Responsible and Effective Stewardship

The Wider Congregation

Integrating Youth Ministry into the Wider Congregation

Parents and Families

Ministering Effectively with Parents and Families

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