North Alabama looks to future of youth ministry with Conference youth ministry assessment

3/17/2010

To better live out the North Alabama Conference priority of Empowering a New Generation, the North Alabama Conference Office of Connectional Ministries contracted with Youth Ministry Architects to do an assessment of North Alabama Conference youth ministry as well as provide recommendations and a suggested timeline for the future of conference initiatives in youth ministry in North Alabama.

On March 8-9, 2010, Mark DeVries (who was one of the featured speakers at Annual Conference 2009) and his co-worker Missy Carfield, a youth pastor from Venice, Florida, spent three days in listening sessions with North Alabama leaders in youth ministry. The focus groups included senior ministers, youth directors, Sumatanga representatives, the Conference Youth Ministry Leadership team, Wesley Foundation Directors, the Cabinet and numerous others who have a heart for youth ministry. Over the two days they interviewed 53 people in 11 focus groups.

During the time in North Alabama DeVries explained that Youth Ministry throughout the nation seems to be in a period of chaos and turmoil. He noted that even ministries like Youth Specialties, a long-time leader in providing resources and training for Youth Ministry, has experienced some stress in trying to reorganize around the new cultural environment for ministry in the 21st century.

On Wednesday evening, March 10, Mark DeVries presented Youth Ministry Architects report. It includes the assets and challenges identified, along with recommendations and a proposed timeline for these recommendations.

North Alabama Conference Director of Connectional Ministries Rev. Dale Cohen says, “We must strengthen Youth Ministry throughout the annual conference and we see Youth Ministry Architects as a valuable partner in helping us get to where we need to be. The report they prepared is comprehensive and provides an excellent blueprint for developing a more sustainable Youth Ministry. Although we are going to have to work to come up with the necessary resources to fund the implementation of this process, we are committed to doing whatever it takes to see that we get this process moving forward as quickly as possible.

“The timeline in the report indicates an immediate start, however we may need a couple of months to secure the financial resources, but we’re not interested in waiting long,“ Cohen adds. “We would also like to have some time to receive feedback on this report as we prepare to move ahead.”

You can download the entire report (as a PDF file) below.

Click to download report.

Comments

1. Mike Holly wrote on 3/18/2010 10:42:00 AM
Mark is a wonderful coach and I am excited about this partnership. He has certainly helped Canterbury UMC's turn-around in youth ministry.
2. Larry Wright wrote on 3/18/2010 12:39:41 PM
I just read the entire report. I'm going to ask all my adult/youth to read it. I'm impressed with a couple of things. For example, in a good many of the issues raised, like the feeling of disconnet in a supposedly connectional church, you could just as easily substitute "the laity" or "the clergy" of the North Alabama Conference, for "youth" and "youth workers". I also remember well that it was at a UMYF sub-district retreat that I first met the girl I fell in love with and subsequently married. The two of us were named to serve as the District Youth reps to Annual Conference the following June. We sat with over 40 other reps in the balcony of the old Munger Auditorium. The Bishop would recognize our presence every morning of conference. A reception was held for us, and the Bishop came by and greeted us all individually, taking time to ask us about where we went to school, what our future plans were for college, etc., and you felt like it was a very special thing to serve as a youth representative from the district. We've lost that sense of distinction in serving the church, and it's not just among our young people.
3. Brandon Harris wrote on 3/19/2010 7:36:13 AM
I believe this report offers some important insight into the factors affecting our youth ministry; much of this was very helpful to me as someone who isn't in a position to work directly with conference youth ministry programming. I am somewhat concerned that the number of suggestions they offer--appropriate though they may be--will make it difficult to sustain an emphasis on youth ministry. If we're already dysfunctional, is it reasonable to believe that we can effectively address this complex issue in a nuanced, multifaceted way? I hope that the consultant will be an integral, ongoing part of the "renovation" process they suggest in order to ensure that all the suggestions receive adequate attention.
4. Winston Baccus wrote on 3/20/2010 10:19:13 AM
As one of the youth volunteers (I direct Senior High 1, and have been on the Encounter team for 4 years), I think the most crucial issues that we're facing is that the youth ministry program, which used to have a system in place to grow new leaders and pastors, was dismantled, resulting in a dearth of potential new leaders for the next 10 years. Leadership doesn't occur in a vacuum, it has to be grown organically. The system in place that grew leaders from the summer camps, while not perfect, ensured that we would have future volunteers and pastors in the conference. Sure, there were kids elected based on popularity, who didn't offer much, but there were also kids elected based on merit, who went on to become leaders in the program 10 years down the road. Well, 10 years down the road is here, and now we're starting to see the results: It's harder and harder to find the next generation of leaders to come in and take over leadership roles for events like Encounter, or to continue the great programming at Senior High camps that are what make camp so effective a tool for having youth experience the reality that there is a God who loves them and knows them. Whatever happens next, rebuilding the leadership opportunities of youth is important, as is having someone at the top who really understands how to communicate effectively via the internet. Marketing the events is a big job, one that can't be handled by volunteers. There has to be someone at the top making that happen, in constant communication with the youth and youth leaders of the conference.
5. Rev. Stephen Strange wrote on 3/20/2010 7:01:21 PM
I teach the Youth Ministry Classes at Southeastern Bible College and I can tell you the frustration is across the board in every denomination. I have had many in my class that want to work on the mission field or for parachurch organizantions but do not want to work in the Church. Even those who are considering minsitry feel they have been let down by the Church. We are unequip to minister to a generation that did not grow up in Church let alone a United Methodist Church. We need to network our youth ministers better. We need to learn to work with other youth groups and work together. We need to focus our efforts on training our youth leaders and training youth to be leaders.
6. Jake Barrett wrote on 3/22/2010 5:14:42 PM
YMA is a great resource and I am glad that the conference reached out to them to begin to take steps toward youth ministry in this conference producing more spiritual fruit. I have had YMA come into my church and would recommend them to any local church. That being said I hope that there will be intentional focus on two things. One) Solidifying what it is we want our youth to know about God when they graduate high school. The time for theological debate and non-scriptural theories being explored comes soon enough when our students get to college and continues through out life. I can't tell you the number of students I have encountered during my career in Youth Ministry who basically don't know what it is they are supposed to believe about God. Several years ago I had a youth come back from leadership camp that said that she heard the name of Jesus spoken the entire week about five times. The focus was more, her words "believing anything is OK just as long as you don't offend anyone." Again the words of a fifteen year old -- she never went back. Believe what you want but if you are going to be a part of the Christian church teach its children what it means to be Christian. Second) The focus should be on the local church. If the goal of the conference is to strengthen youth ministry within the conference then focus on strengthening local youth ministry, that’s where lives are changed and that’s where ministry is happening right now.
7. Clayton Grider wrote on 6/1/2010 5:05:54 PM
It has been some time since this study has taken place. I am ready to see some things put into place and into action. Much like Winston, I have seen the Conference Youth program boom only to be dismantled. If it was not for the strength of the Conference Youth program, its connection with Sumatanga, and the strong inclusion of youth at Annual Conference, I would probably not be a Methodist today or be in the wonderful ministry I serve at this time. It's time to get reconnected and talk is only good if it is followed with action. May God's guidance lead our young people forward to doing His work in the world.