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  The Essentials Gospelflava.com is honored to be support the ministry of UrbNet. The nationwide network of anointed urban youth ministers aims to inform, encourage and enlighten all who are willing to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to where it so often needed in North America —the so-called urban jungle. We encourage everyone to check out the UrbNet website, which offers a bundle of resources for anyone involved in any aspect of urban youth ministry. We encourage you to prayerfully consider supporting this ministry. Below is an article by UrbNet's Tommy Carrington. Born and raised in Jamaica, Carrington served as Youth Evangelist with Miami Youth for Christ for twelve years, and as the Urban Training Director for Reach Out Youth Solutions for five years. In 2002, he founded the Urban Training Network, a ministry established to train and develop student leaders and youth workers. Here, he describes the valuable essentials of an urban youth ministry. It was over 15 years ago when I was handed the keys to an old van, a list of 15 kids from one of Miami's most crime-ridden communities, and given the assignment: "Your mission —should you choose to accept it —is to rehabilitate those troubled kids on the list." I had just accepted the position as an Area Director for Miami Youth for Christ, and at that moment I began to doubt my calling to inner-city youth ministry.  With Bible-in-hand, one volunteer, and few resources, I set out to reach these kids for Christ. I felt alone, unprepared, and isolated from the rest of the Christian world. Surely there was no one else on the earth doing this type of ministry … no one brain-damaged enough. What do I do? Where do I start? How do I get them to listen to me? Suppose these kids gang up on me? I was scared to death, but felt a deep calling to this ministry. Many lonely years later, numerous frustrating nights, and many less hairs on my head, I was able to start with that core group, and eventually develop six small groups, eventually reaching over 100 kids per week. This was only possible with a massive dose of God's Grace, and with the help of dedicated volunteers. So how do you begin a youth group with kids in the inner-city . . . with virtually nothing? It is important to note that there is no "magical formula." There really isn't a "how-to" manual for urban ministry. The needs of kids are as diverse as the cultures, ethnic groups and personalities of those who make up the inner-city. Although there are no set formulas, there are a few essential ingredients, which, if implemented, make it more likely for kids to want to keep coming back. Here are some things I learned along the way. 1. Identify Your Resources. You might say: "I don't have any resources." But if you look around, you will begin to see that you do indeed have something. You have at least three basic resources you can begin with. (i) Spiritual resources: You are able to equip yourself with Bible aids, books, Christian music, videos, etc. Start with a few resources, and as you grow, you can add more to your resource library, (ii) Facility resources: You have access to a church building, homes, schools, gyms, parks and recreational facilities where you could possibly meet and host activities for kids. Check around to see what is available and what would work best for you. You can even rotate your meeting places. (iii) People resources: There are adults from your church who can help you, special speakers you can invite, and local music groups who might be willing to come for free. The key is to look around and identify the resources that might already be around you and available to you for little or no cost. 2. Start Small You don't have to feel pressured that you need to have a large group of kids in order to have an effective ministry. It is perfectly acceptable to start with a small core group of students (5-7 is ideal). As you meet and build relationships, let the kids know what you plan to do. They will need to see your level of commitment, and know that you are not going to start something and leave in a few months. Once you have gained their trust, and an effective program is in place, you have laid the foundation for your ministry to grow. They will then feel more comfortable to invite their friends. 3. Be Creative and Flexible There is often a basic and traditional format for a youth group meeting, which is really a reproduction of the Sunday morning service:
Early on in my ministry I adopted a philosophy which said: "I am willing to do whatever it takes to reach kids ... as long it never compromises the message of Gospel." I believe that was the overriding principle in Paul's letter to the Corinthian Church in 1 Corinthians 9, where he states in verse 22: "... I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." Referring to the establishment of the New Testament Church in Scripture, Dr. Robert Coleman says: "The Church's policy of pragmatism encouraged creativity. The rule seemed to be: Within the guidelines of the apostles' teaching, whatever facilitates the ministry, do it —what was important is that the most helpful means be found in every setting to accomplish the task at hand." I believe one key to effective youth ministry, is: variety. Do things different each week. Maintain the element of surprise, so the kids don't know what to expect. Incorporate as many creative ideas as possible and rotate their use. Examples could be things like:
4. Develop a Balance Between Healthy Fun and Building Relationships I wish I could truly say (in my best King James voice): "Young people cometh to my Bible Studies because they want to heareth the word of Godeth." Or I wish I could say that kids come to hear the eloquent messages I stayed up all night to put together. I wish I could even say that they come because of their love for God and their deep commitment to Christ. Some do, but the vast majority of the un-churched, urban kids I have worked with initially came to youth group for two reasons: fun and relationships. In all honesty, that's why I began to attend youth group as a kid...at least initially. I attended the local youth group for the following main reasons: (1) Fun —The youth leaders at the church I grew up in dared to allow us to have fun. We played games, went on trips, camps, all-nighters, and many other activities. This might not be a revolutionary principle for you, but many churches are reluctant to incorporate fun into their youth services. I have heard it said: "You're just entertaining those kids." Key word: just. If all you are doing is having fun and playing games with kids, then you are missing it. If, however, you are incorporating fun as an integral part of what you do in youth ministry, mixed in with solid Biblical teaching, I see that as a healthy and balanced approach to youth ministry. and (2) Relationships —I developed close friendships with the other kids who were there. During that process, I developed relationships with caring adults who didn't just see me as a name on a roster, but who took the time to ask me how I was doing in school, and who talked to me openly and honestly about issues I really cared about. Eventually, as I built relationships with caring adults, this ultimately led me into a closer relationship with God! Paul told the church in Thessalonica: "we loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well . . ." (1 Thess. 2:8). Dr. Howard Hendricks reminds us that "you can impress people from a distance . . . you can only impact them up close." 5. Get the Kids Involved According to Dr. Robert Laurent, the number one reason why kids leave the church is "lack of opportunity for church involvement." Kids need to feel that they are significant and valuable. If they don't feel that from the church, they will go somewhere else where they can feel a sense of belonging. One of the most significant lures of cults and gangs is that they immediately give young people responsibilities and opportunities for involvement. Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu quotes a notorious gang leader who said: "We will always get the youth because we know how to make them feel important." Sometimes we make young people feel like they are not important, or don't have anything to offer the church. We push them aside; tell them to be quiet; get off the platform; don't play with the microphone. Then when they are older, we wonder where are our young leaders? We must make our kids feel important very early on. Give the kids real responsibilities. Let them know you believe in them and that they are valuable to you and to the growth and development of the group. 6. Have a "Kick-off" Event As you put the program in place, and meet for a few weeks with your core group, the momentum will build, and the kids will "catch the vision." Then plan some form of "kick-off" event that will inspire the kids to go out and invite their friends. The kids could pass out flyers and invite their friends to attend this special event, which could be a pizza party, athletic tournament, "game night," or other activity which would be high energy and exciting. Make sure it includes an evangelistic presentation, and an opportunity to follow-up new kids. 7. Be Committed for the Long Haul. Almost nothing is stable in a young person's life in the inner-city. Dr. John Perkins points out that 70 percent of inner-city children are growing up without a father. In order to make ends meet, their single-parent might have to move frequently, thus changing neighborhoods, friends and schools. If there is one thing that should remain consistent, it should be their youth worker, who is very often the one positive adult role model a child may have. Youth ministry in the urban setting is just one of those fields that you cannot do for a short period of time and expect significant results. You must have a long-term commitment to the kids, their families and their neighborhoods. It has now been 17 wonderful years since I first got my feet wet in urban ministry in Miami. Sure, I have had my share of disappointments, failures, and frustrations, but it has been the joy of my life to know kids who have grown up in the "hood," and who have now become positive members of society and some who have even entered the ministry! It has made all those sleepless nights and hair loss … worth it!
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