Disciple Building Youth Ministry
Published on Mar 11, 2020
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
“In virtue of their baptism, all the members of the People of God have become missionary disciples (cf. Mt 28:19). All the baptized, whatever their position in
the Church or their level of instruction in the faith, are agents of evangelization"
(#120) Evangelii Gaudium
Pope Francis has situated missionary discipleship as a means of
being Christ in the world by healing, sharing good news, and witnessing to the faith in
a way that combines lives of service and faithfulness with evangelization. In this call,
our life as disciples becomes a witness and a proclamation of the good news. It is all
about “both and”. Our life of faith is service AND witness. As disciples we are engaged
in justice AND evangelization. This kind of life flows from an encounter with Christ’s
presence that draws into deep relationship with the community gathered in his name.
This is a description of our hoped for outcome of youth ministry: the formation of
missionary disciples. This outcome leads us to really look at all of our ministries in a
new way.
being Christ in the world by healing, sharing good news, and witnessing to the faith in
a way that combines lives of service and faithfulness with evangelization. In this call,
our life as disciples becomes a witness and a proclamation of the good news. It is all
about “both and”. Our life of faith is service AND witness. As disciples we are engaged
in justice AND evangelization. This kind of life flows from an encounter with Christ’s
presence that draws into deep relationship with the community gathered in his name.
This is a description of our hoped for outcome of youth ministry: the formation of
missionary disciples. This outcome leads us to really look at all of our ministries in a
new way.
Photo by Aleteia Image Partners
Ministry with New Eyes
In many parishes, much of the effort put into ministry with youth focuses on
participation and promoting education in the faith, providing a very
programmatic response to adolescents that complements the evangelization and
formation that they receive at home and as children within the community. The
problem is that many youth haven’t been evangelized and don’t have a
relationship with Christ that would provide the context for the good activities
and helpful faith learning that they find in youth ministry and in sacramental preparation programs. This could be the reason that so many youth discontinue
their practice of the faith after they have been confirmed.
participation and promoting education in the faith, providing a very
programmatic response to adolescents that complements the evangelization and
formation that they receive at home and as children within the community. The
problem is that many youth haven’t been evangelized and don’t have a
relationship with Christ that would provide the context for the good activities
and helpful faith learning that they find in youth ministry and in sacramental preparation programs. This could be the reason that so many youth discontinue
their practice of the faith after they have been confirmed.
Photo by Library Lady Amy
Individual Faith Journey
- Exploring Christ
- Growing in Christ
- Close to Christ
- Becoming Christ Centered
What was needed was a focus on the individual faith journey. They identified
four phases and three movements. An aspiring disciple moves from Exploring
Christ to Growing in Christ, then moves from Growing in Christ to being Close to
Christ. The final movement is Becoming Christ-Centered. What surprised the
researchers was the large number of faithful members in good churches who felt
that they were stuck after their initial exploration of what is means to be a
Christian. These churches seem most suited to attracting members but the
ministries did not provide enough differentiation to really help members grow
spiritually from one phase to the next.iv
four phases and three movements. An aspiring disciple moves from Exploring
Christ to Growing in Christ, then moves from Growing in Christ to being Close to
Christ. The final movement is Becoming Christ-Centered. What surprised the
researchers was the large number of faithful members in good churches who felt
that they were stuck after their initial exploration of what is means to be a
Christian. These churches seem most suited to attracting members but the
ministries did not provide enough differentiation to really help members grow
spiritually from one phase to the next.iv
Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin
Help Disciples Grow
- Focus on spiritual growth and the needs of individual youth
- Focus on helping youth belong
- Help youth develop internal faith practices
Photo by Chris Smith/Out of Chicago
Help Disciples Grow
- Help youth engage in communal practices of faith
- Focus on service, faith-sharing, witness, inspiring prayer, and hands-on faith experiences
- Support parents, families and faith-filled adults sharing faith with youth
Photo by Jeremy Bishop
Our relationships with Young People
- More than students
- Connect youth with faith filled people
Photo by Park Troopers
"Faith will always be head, heart and hands, but the access ramp today is much more the heart and the hands and later on down the road comes that cognitive understanding." Frank Mercadente
Photo by Curtis Gregory Perry
Relationships that deepen
- How can we retool our ministries, take on an accompaniment model for ministry, and build the relationships that will help young disciples grow?
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez
Practices that form
- Prayer
- Reading the Bible
- Growing in faith
- Living faith
- Witnessing
- Belonging to community
- Participating in Mass & Reconciliation
Photo by cesarastudillo
Mission that energizes
- Youth experience having a chance to serve others through acts of service, ministry, and leadership.
Photo by Ben White
Look broadly at the youth population and develop targeted ministries for different segments.
Photo by NeONBRAND
Engage families and see parents as part of our ministry.
Photo by Mike Scheid
Engage lots of adult disciples who are willing to spend time with youth
Photo by Alexandre Dulaunoy
Focus on spiritual growth and attend to youth in a holistic way
Photo by Erol Ahmed
Help youth do what disciples do and get good at it!
Photo by antwerpenR
Touch their hearts and make it personal
Photo by Tim Marshall
Provide multiple contact points
Photo by Michael Dziedzic
Include the youth, families, and leaders from among the diverse cultures within the community
Photo by angela7dreams
Go where the youth are, including technology
Photo by Frau Hölle
Engage youth in ministries that help them belong, believe, and share their gifts
Photo by Thomas Hawk
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to
observe all that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20 (NAB)
Photo by Arturo Rey
"Each young person’s heart should thus be considered 'holy ground', a bearer of seeds of divine life, before which we must 'take off our shoes' in order to draw near and enter more deeply into the Mystery."
Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, 67
Photo by Nacho Arteaga
“All too often, there is a tendency to provide pre-packaged answers and ready- made solutions, without allowing young people’s real questions to emerge and to face the challenges they pose. Listening makes possible an exchange of gifts in a context of empathy.“ Final Document for the Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment, 8
A Parish that Accompanies
- "...community has an important role in the accompaniment of young people; it should feel collectively responsible for accepting, motivating, encouraging and challenging them." Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, 243.
Begin with the Parish
- Engagement of youth in liturgy, community life, service?
- Involvement of youth in ministries, leadership and decision making?
- Engagement of members of the parish community with young people?
Photo by Markus Spiske
Potential Faith Companions
- Family connections
- Sacramental connections
- Ministry connections
- Community connections
Photo by aquopshilton
Transform ministry efforts
- Strengthen current ministry efforts
- Eliminate some programs and strategies
- Create new efforts paying particular attention to outreach
Photo by Kyle Glenn
