Form: Full-Time Youth Ministry Proposal

We need to focus our resources for ministry based on these statements of purpose and mission. If making disciples of Jesus Christ is our mission (and purpose,) then we need to fulfill this mission in the most effective ways possible. I believe that HUMC can be most effective at fulfilling our mission by investing our resources into expanding our present part-time youth ministry position into a full-time position.

In a recent article I read it says, "In the poll 'Megatrends of the Church' done by Abilene Christian University, one statistic revealed that '85% of people who do not accept Christ by age 18 will never accept him.' Ministry to young people is absolutely vital to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. If this is true, then the church should be concentrating its resources and energies in this area of ministry. This can be done most effectively when there is a full-time person dedicated to the task. Churches without full-time youth pastors often suffer and soon lose their effectiveness. Similarly, our church's youth programs are suffering at present because of a lack of full-time workers. When more churches begin to employ full-time youth pastors, we will see effective youth ministries that really make a difference in the lives of the young people in this country. When a youth pastor is dedicated to a career of youth work, the most important element of youth ministry is initiated: i.e.consistency. Youth work is most effective when it is long-term. The young people will not open up to someone they know will be leaving within a year or two. A youth pastor who is prepared to commit his life to young people will get to know those young people, and as they grow up and even leave the church, they will always have a link back through a youth pastor who knows them and who prays for them. Full-time youth pastors must be prepared to go through the tough times with people. This is something very few volunteer leaders would do (or have time to do)."

Jesus' ministry is the supreme example for all pastoral positions. For youth ministry in particular, we must concentrate on Jesus' incarnational ministry. He was prepared to get alongside people and make them feel significant. He gave of himself and looked to others potential and helped them through their failures and struggles in life. This is the goal of youth ministry - to help young people become mature in Christ.

What are some of the struggles that young people are dealing with today? Here are some statistics:

• A recent CNN article reported that 11.4% of Junior High school students report monthly use of marijuana, cocaine, or other illicit drugs in 1996 -1997.

• Nearly 25% of senior high students reported monthly drug use, up 2 % from the previous year.

• Last year, every 17 seconds on average, a violent crime was committed somewhere in America including:

  • A forcible rape every 5 minutes
  • A murder every 23 minutes
  • An aggravated assault every 28 seconds
  • A robbery every 51 seconds
  • In addition, larceny or theft occurs every 4 seconds, burglary every 12 seconds and a motor vehicle theft every 20 seconds.
  • Every day, 15 children, aged 19 and under, are killed with guns

• Firearm homicides is the leading cause of death for black males 15 to 35

• Firearms kill more people between the ages of 15 and 24 than all natural causes combined. Firearms are the number two killer of men and women 10 - 34 years of age...second only to motor vehicle accidents

• A fact: In 1992, handguns were used to murder 36 people in Sweden, 97 in Switzerland, 60 in Japan, 128 in Canada, 33 in Great Britain, 13 in Australia, and 13,495 in the United States

• Nearly one fourth of the 262,300 people arrested for weapons offenses in 1993 were younger than 18

• There was an increase of more than 100% in Juvenile arrests for weapon offenses in an eight-year period, from just under 30,000 in 1985 to more than 61,000 in 1993.

• In 1992, an estimated 1,261 children were known to have died from child abuse. Those who survive often suffer long lasting pain and even disability from serious injuries and emotional traumas

• In 1992, an estimated 2.9 million child abuse incidents were reported in the U.S.

• Being abused or neglected as a child increases the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 53%, as an adult 38%, and for a Violent crime by 38%

You may see these statistics and think, "yes those statistics may be true, but here in Mercer County, KY things are pretty good." Wrong! In the past three weeks at Comprehensive Care, the following adolescent cases have been seen: a seventeen year old struggling with depression, a 13 year old with felony charges for theft and possession of marijuana / drug paraphernalia, another 13 year old expelled from school for selling marijuana at school, a victim of sexual abuse since about the age of three, a 14 year old whose mother abandoned the individual by going to another state for an undisclosed amount of time who left the individual with $50.00, some food stamps and money to pay two utility bills, two siblings whose father abused them physically since they were approximately age four, a 14 year old who was sexual abused by their sibling for a period of three years, etc. etc.

We at HUMC must address this astounding need to minister to the young people in our church and community, if we are serious about fulfilling the Great Commission and our mission statement. To minimize and ignore these needs is unacceptable! Our resources simply must be designated to ministering to young people, especially in light of the fact mentioned earlier that, "approximately 85% of people who do not accept Christ by age 18 will never accept Him."

The good news about all of this is found in a recent article entitled, "The Role of the Full-Time Youth Pastor in the Local Church," which states:

You may be asking yourself what are some of the tasks that a youth pastor could possibly do that would consist of being full-time. Here is a list:

• Prayer
• Being accountable to the church
• Helping with the Christian Education needs of the young people
• Interacting with the young people "where they are..."
• Planning youth lessons and activities
• Planning special monthly activities
• Preparing special talks / lessons
• Preparing resources to ensure the youth ministry program functions smoothly
• Discipleship
• Evangelism
• Bible studies
• Visitation / making personal contacts
• Counseling
• Writing personal notes
• Supporting the extra-curricular activities the young people are involved in
• Coordinating the youth calendar
• Overseeing the youth ministry finances
• Organizing communication and advertising
• Providing ministry to families
• Attending committee / council meetings
• Involvement at local schools
• Training the youth ministry team to "do" ministry
• Building relationships with youth, parents and youth ministry team members
• Integrating young people into the broader life of the church
• Setting direction / vision for the youth ministry
• Evaluation of the youth ministry and the youth ministry team members
• Assisting with worship and music
• Working as a part of the church staff team
• Being involved in the community in positive ways
• Identifying and tracking youth trends
• Being available

In conclusion, I would like to quote an article found in the November 1997 issue of Family Research Council's "Washington Watch" magazine. The article is entitled, "JAMA study No Surprise to Pro-Family Groups." It states:

What kids are seeking today is nothing different than what they were seeking 40 years ago:

• Love and Acceptance.
• Someone to listen to them.
• Someone who cares.
• Someone who wants to be their friend.

We at HUMC need to make a commitment to fulfill the Great Commission with new urgency and dedication by increasing our resources that are being directed towards our youth ministry program. It is only then that we will be able to effectively reach out to our young people and meet the plethora of needs that they have in our very troubled world. I pray that the Lord will give us His wisdom and vision, as well as put a burden on all of our hearts for the young people in our church and community as we consider this proposal to move our youth ministry program to a new level by hiring a full-time youth pastor.

Thank you for your time in considering this request.

Respectfully Submitted,

Tim Berger, Youth Pastor

November 9, 1997