E³: Engaging, Encouraging, & Equipping Christ-Powered Youth

Statement of Philosophy and Ownership

Bethany’s Youth Ministry is not limited to youth.  It is a ministry of every congregant of Bethany Lutheran Church.  There are, however, core members of this ministry.  Youth in grades 6-12 and college-age adults are members of this ministry.  Secondly, every parent or guardian who is responsible for those children is in the Youth Ministry.  Last, but in many ways, least, the Youth Board is part of the ministry.  The Youth Board is comprised of parent and youth volunteers, the Director of Youth Ministry, and a Pastoral Administrator.

Like every ministry, Youth Ministry is relational.  It grows and thrives by God’s grace and by the relationships between believers.  In every relationship the question is asked, “What are our responsibilities to each other?”  The Bethany Youth Ministry is a three-way partnership and each set of partners has specific roles and responsibilities.

Youth Board and Youth Ministry Director

The Youth Board and Youth Ministry Director primarily provide opportunities to the families of Bethany Lutheran Church.  We are obligated to provide opportunities supporting fellowship and spiritual growth.  It is important to understand that the Board’s role is limited to a supportive role.  Our job is not to extract the child from their family.  Our responsibility is to foster an environment for youth and their families.

Parents, Guardians, and Families

The most critical partner in this partnership is the family.  Youth Ministry events are opportunities for parents to be with their child; to share and impart family Christian values to that youth; to create memories; to display faith and have fellowship with other Christian families.  The Youth Ministry is made up of families; it is not designed to be a surrogate family.  Our society regularly tells God, “Thanks, but no thanks—we don’t want You here.”  Youth Ministry events give each of us an increasingly unique opportunity to continue to build on our relationships with our children in a Christian environment.  Being involved, we lead by example, imparting our values and establishing servant values in our children.  This ministry is committed to families and encourages collaboration with the Youth Board to grow and nurture Bethany’s Youth Ministry.

Youth and Young Adults

Youth are entering, engulfed, and surviving adolescence.  In the middle of all of that, there are some basic expectations.  Youth Ministry events are all about fun, fellowship, service, and becoming stronger disciples of our Lord.  There is a time for play and a time for work and they should conduct themselves accordingly.  Christian behavior is always expected—which doesn’t mean we all like each other, but it does mean we all get along while we are with one another.  Bethany youth have an outstanding reputation in the Christian youth community and we are quite covetous of that reputation.  Similarly, young adults in or out of college still need a relational contact.  More than ever before in their lives, they need to nurture their daily faith walk with Christ.

Youth Ministry is a collage.  The Board is the backboard that provides the surface for the collage.  The youth are the beautiful pictures and words that make up the collage.  Parents are the glue that bring the pictures, words, and backboard together and make them work together to form the youth ministry collage.  Ultimately, the collage should be a reflection of God’s Glory in response to His Grace.  Youth Ministry isn’t always neat and orderly—it is very often very “kid-like” and frequently is little more than managed mayhem; but it is always in His service.