How to Start a Youth Group: 4 Foundations for Lasting Discipleship

Which social media platforms should we use? What is a catchy name? Where do we stand on audio/visual equipment? Where’s a good location to meet? Who can we get to help out? How many people do we hope will show up? These are very good questions that my friends who run youth basketball clubs ask. Unfortunately, these same questions tend to be ones that my friends who start youth ministries begin with too. It might sound blunt and obvious, but it must be stated explicitly: There must be differences between starting a secular and a sacred group. Starting a youth ministry is less like launching an event and more like laying a foundation. Clarity early on can prevent confusion later. To start a youth ministry, you must: begin with Jesus Christ, understand youth and discern your context, clarify your specific ministerial context, and start in a strategic way. Understanding youth ministry Before we do that, we must answer two basic questions: What is youth ministry? Youth ministry has three components. First, it’s Christian. The word “ministry” can be used broadly. It is derived from Latin ministrare, which means “to serve” or “attend.” In certain parts of the world, you can have a Ministr...