Developing A Healthy Junior High Ministry

Who Should Minister to Junior High Youth	Learn About the Young People in Your Ministry
Getting Started	More Ideas

There may be no more important, challenging and just plain fun ministry in the church as that which is done with junior high young people.

Nevertheless, those hooked on ministry to, with and among God's young people between the ages of 12 and 15 would agree. The "important" and "challenging" might get little argument. It is the "fun" description which is up for debate. On a good day, those adults who enjoy playing crazy games, listening to hurts and hopes, and serving along side a group of God's most unpredictable people might win that debate.

Who Should Minister to Junior High Youth

Wayne Rice, author of Junior High Ministry (Zondervan), says that junior highers are often neglected by the church. He says adults are intimidated by their restlessness and behavior extremes. Too often the result is that "the junior higher is simply put on hold while we wait for him (or her) to grow into someone to whom we are better equipped to minister."

Rice maintains that "junior high ministry can bring personal satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment unequaled anywhere else." The key, he says, is to understand the sweeping physical, social, mental, emotional, and spiritual changes taking place in the adolescent. It's important for those who work with junior highers to have some understanding of adolescent development. But mostly, it's crucial that they:

Once you've convinced yourself (or whatever committee or person is necessary) of the high calling of youth ministry with junior high people, it's time to begin.

Getting Started

Start by forming a task force of junior highers and adults who fit the above description. They may be parents (whose young people don't mind them being involved), young adults, those middle-aged, or senior citizens.

Then, decide on the purpose of junior high ministry at your church. You may even want to form your own mission statement if one doesn't already exist. For instance, "the purpose of junior high ministry at First Church is to provide a safe, friendly place for junior highers to have fun, grow in their faith, and serve God." Decide how that will be done, and under what structure:

Leadership may already exist on the task force, but be creative in finding additional people. Although parents often have the highest level of interest and commitment in "getting something going" for their sons and daughters, they are not the only potential advisors. Utilize other church members, such as high school or college students, singles and couples of any age, an official "youth group grandma and grandpa." Involve them in Youth Group planning, and train them with curriculum and video tapes that are available. Contact your synod or the national church office for helpful leadership training ideas.

Perhaps your task force will decide the adult leaders should: help lead activities, supervise and provide "crowd control," support the group and help youth lead, be good listeners, participate along with the youth in all activities, share their faith, not take over. You may want youth leaders to:

Learn About the Young People in Your Ministry

Discover what young people in your church want to do or discuss a "youth group." Develop your own survey, offering concerns/ideas that are easily checked.

My Top Five Worries or Concerns Are:

_____making and keeping friends
_____getting good grades
_____divorce
_____drinking and drug abuse
_____my relationship with God
_____money
_____sexuality concerns
_____suicide
_____making a sports "team"
_____feeling good about myself
_____getting along with my parents
_____loneliness
_____death
_____other_______________________
_____other_______________________

Five Things I'd Like to do with Other Youth at Church Are:

_____go on a retreat
_____help other people
_____join an athletic team
_____play games
_____discuss issues important to me
_____go to a museum
_____attend a sporting event
_____attend a concert
_____learn more about God
_____hear a great speaker
_____meet kids at other churches
_____go skiing
_____watch videos
_____get support from an adult friend
_____serve my church

The book, Determining Your Needs in Youth Ministry (GROUP), has many sample surveys and suggestions for writing and taking them.

More Ideas

Once you've developed and taken surveys from your junior high members, meet to plan the year (or at least the first six months). Try to provide a variety of experiences for your church's youth. They're not all athletes, nor are they all interested in digging into Bible stories. Focus on fun, because that's what hooks junior highers. But, remember the one who brings you together: Jesus Christ. Even at a "fun" event, find a way to include devotions and prayer. Occasionally offer opportunities to serve. Junior highers like to work on, and complete, projects. They might appear to be God's most self-centered people, but they're also some of the most sensitive in the body of Christ. Give them a chance to live, serve others, and feel good about themselves.

Once the leadership is gathered and trained, the masses have been surveyed, and the structure decided and program planned, begin to publicize, publicize, and publicize. Continue to minister with God's young members who bring spirit, doubt, caring, creativity, tears, love and laughter to the body of Christ.

And, be assured there may be no more important, challenging and just plain fun ministry in the church as that which is done with junior high young people.