How can you educate parishioners who think youth ministry is just playing games and eating pizza with teenagers? Here are three key ways to share the complexity and strengths of youth ministry.

The Relationships in Ministry

We all know that Jesus’ life was built on relationships. His interactions with Mary and Martha provide guidance for us. Jesus respected and honored the time Mary gave in building a relationship. This mattered more than the work Martha was doing. When our ministry builds relationships, those relationships will encourage lives focused on sharing gifts, serving others, and following Christ. These examples will be seen by others and provide evidence of the depth of youth ministry.

CAUTION: Relationship building is not limited to teenagers! The relationships you build with volunteers, parents, and staff members will also spread what is happening within your ministry. When we show respect for parents, listen to their needs, and help encourage their vital role in the faith formation of their teenagers, our ministry is given a huge positive boost. When we incorporate volunteers of all ages we open youth ministry up to many different populations in the parish family. These volunteers may then become advocates for youth ministry in the parish.

The Photos of Ministry

We have all heard it before, “This photo is worth a thousand words!” Sharing photos through the bulletin, website, youth room, and/or bulletin board at church or school will allow others to see all that you are doing with teenagers. Showing them in service to others or during prayer can demonstrate the depths of your ministry.

The Words of Young People

Sharing what teenagers thought about a retreat, service project, conference, home group, or just life as a teen can make people more aware of youth ministry. I struggle to coordinate this happening, but whenever I do I get the most positive feedback from the most random of parishioners.

Ask a small group to write down three sentences at the end of a meeting. On the ride home from a retreat write down what the teenagers are talking about to each other (and get their permission to print it). Have a teenager write about something cool they did over the summer. Their words open your youth ministry world to the rest of the parish and help show the variety of activities, prayer, service, and relationships that exist through your youth ministry.

Good luck sharing the wonderful depths of youth ministry!