Philosophy
Nailing down a youth ministry philosophy is really hard work, especially since any youth worker's approach to ministry changes with the needs of the student. Secondly, youth ministries as we know them today didn't exist in Bible times, so there really is no explicit biblical basis. Nevertheless, based on the framework of the Church in scripture, there are a couple of things we try to keep in mind regarding the way we minister.
Youth Ministry isn't supposed to be "mini-church" for teenagers. In other words, real church is when EVERYONE comes together in a common setting with common goals, working toward those goals together as a family in Christ. Youth ministry is simply a construct that allows teens to go even deeper into the Word and into relationships with each other in an environment that specifically addresses the challenges that teenagers face and the goals they desire to accomplish.
Youth Ministry is done best in the greater context of family ministry. The Bible makes it clear that rearing a student in the knowledge and love of God is completely the responsibility of parents. In other words, the youth pastor isn't supposed to be a babysitter. He's supposed to be a coach, helping to develop what is already there. He should serve as an asset to the family of the student, able to equip them with the tools necessary to ensure the spiritual progress of the student.
