Best Practices

It is a sin to bore teens with the gospel. –Jim Rayburn  

The good news of Jesus Christ and the Church needs to be proclaimed to our youth with a fervor and witness that helps plant the seeds of conversion in their hearts. This message is relevant for every generation, even when ‘generations’ of teens are said to come anew every four years. Our job as youth ministers is to reach teens where they are at, in the culture they live, without detracting from the beauty of the Gospel!  We need to be flexible in our methods about how we evangelize and teach. We must not hold on to what worked years ago if the present is crying out for something different. We must be attentive to the Holy Spirit to guide us in how best to witness to each generation of youth people.  

At the Pathways program for adolescents, four basic steps are taught in how to put together a basic model. The first step is to introduce the topic in a fun and interesting way. The second step is to present the message in a clear and creative way. The third step is to break the topic open through discussion, often done in small groups. Finally, wrap up with a sort of prayer experience, challenging the youth to live what they have learned.  

If you have specific questions about what works best, we encourage you to reach out to the other youth ministers in your LPA or neighboring LPAs.  You are also welcome to contact us anytime.