Direct Ministry
Introduction
Objective: Exercise leadership discernment to analyze, develop and grow a movement of leaders who are supported by faithful adults who enter the lives of young people. They will verbally and non-verbally proclaim the gospel to help young people come to know Jesus and become his disciples, inviting them to the dream for the next kid and the next place.
Supporting Scripture: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
Evidence of this objective at the senior level:
Identifies, lives out and can lead ministry in Young Life missional distinctions below:
- The next kid is reached by a team of equipped leaders in the lives of young people.
- Ministry is supported by adults close and far.
- There is a regular verbal proclamation of the gospel.
- There is follow-up discipleship and leadership development with the invitation to reach the next kid using a map, tree, and list.
Volunteer Leaders from a club level on up, living out Map, Tree, and List:
- Map-Intentionally asking the Lord about where the next steps are for new contact work and new clubs.
- List- Praying for kids, potential leaders, and adults who God will call to himself and call into being part of Young Life ministry.
- Tree- Intentionally investing time in non-believer friends and disciplining a few who are new in their faith, to help them grow deep as followers of Jesus who can disciple others.
Fully understands direct ministry encompasses: authentic friends, humor, service, leader-centered, adventure, surprise, talking about Jesus with warmth, inviting celebration and enter suffering, excellence, listening to kids, dreaming for others, diverse teams who love each other, hospitality, and being culturally relevant.
Lead multiple teams of leaders in multiple contexts to do great Young Life in the school or neighborhood.
Able to identify and replicate thriving Young Life ministry
From a distance, able to lead change in existing work when it needs to improve.
Teaching Principle- The Why
The essentials of direct ministry and what we are working towards
Indicators of healthy ministry - what are we working towards?
- Adults engaged - praying and supporting
- Trained leaders doing contact work
- Regular incarnational meetings where the gospel is shared
- Follow up - discipleship
As leaders who supervise ministry teams, can we determine how well ministry is going, assess what needs to be changed, and lead others to bring about change?
Building Teams
Young Life is done in teams. One of the greatest skills a Young Life leader can possess is to build and lead multiple high-functioning teams. In year two, we will do a deep dive into building high-functioning teams and creating a culture of missional community.
Why We Work in Teams in Young Life
HOT (hands on training)
Rather than hearing from others, go out and do direct ministry with a new leader. Rather than being the one leading the training, let them guide you and show you what they do. Do contact work, go to a club, or campaigners meeting with a new leader, and then spend some time in reflection.
As you follow your leader, be curious about their ministry. Be sure to ask about their vision for their ministry (map), who they are developing in their ministry (tree), and who they are praying to help with the ministry (tree).
When you're done doing HOT with a new Leader, head to Direct Ministry Part 2.
